Have you ever heard about this dreamy fisher village on the Costa Brava? If not, then you definitely should! Cadaqués is a true hidden gem of Spain. And if I can be honest with you, one of the most beautiful places in Spain I have ever been to. You will fall in love with the white houses, the clear blue water and wait until you find out about Cadaqués’ history! Did you know the Spanish painter Salvador Dalí used to live there? Cadaqués looks like a very small place, but trust me, there are lots of things to see and explore. The best thing is: Cadaqués is perfect for a weekend trip from Barcelona. Let’s see what you can do and see during a weekend in Cadaqués:
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Where is Cadaqués and how do I get there?
Cadaqués is a small fisher village located on the Costa Brava, around two hours drive away from Barcelona. I would really recommend going there by car. I found a few ways how to get there by bus, but it is so time-consuming and the roads going there are so curvy, that I really would not want to do it. When you take the highway from Barcelona, you can decide whether to take the highway where you have to pay a toll or not. It costs around 13€ in total and is 40mins faster, which is what we did. Just letting you know that if you tend to get carsick, the last 20km might kill you.
What is Cadaqués famous for?
You might have heard that this small village has a lot of art history. Salvador Dali had a house there where he lived with his wife until she died. Now it is a museum, that you can visit (see below). But Cadaqués has been visited by more famous artists, like Pablo Picasso and Gabriel García Marquez.
Once you are there, you will understand why. The whole village just seems so dreamy and idyllic. All houses are painted white, and look so beautiful from the distance. There are so many beaches you can go to in Summer. The nature surrounding the city is just absolutely gorgeous!
Where should I stay in Cadaqués?
When I went there in winter 2020, many places were closed. There was not much choice regarding hotels or places to stay in, so we just got an Airbnb in the center. You have to keep in mind that if you stay really close to the beach you might have difficulties finding a free parking space.
But I saw some nice places to stay when I was walking around the city:
Hotel La Residencia (location is great!)
Hostal Vehí (cheap & location is great)
When is the best time to visit Cadaqués?
In my opinion, all places in Costa Brava have a “mild” climate compared to the rest of Spain. It does not get too hot during summer, and it does not freeze during winter. But, we went in December and it was quite cold and windy, many restaurants were closed because it is the low season. A good thing is that the city was quite empty. But if you want to enjoy the beach, swim in the water and try out different restaurants, I think you should go between May and September.
What places should I definitely see in Cadaques?
House of Salvador Dalí
I was not sure what to expect when I made the reservation to enter this museum (During Covid times you need to make a reservation online). Especially, because the entrance costs 14€. But I do not regret it and definitely recommend going there! The house has unique architecture, is full of art pieces, and is worth visiting. The majority of the furniture that is displayed there is original. You will also get explained how this house (more like a villa) was initially just a small studio that Dali got extended when he had more money. The garden is really artsy and features some unique pieces as well. As mentioned before, Salvador lived there until his wife passed away. He abandoned this house after her death, and even left two unfinished paintings there, that you get to see during the tour.
I was not sure what to expect when I made the reservation to enter this museum (During Covid times you need to make a reservation online). Especially, because the entrance costs 14€. But I do not regret it and definitely recommend going there! The house has unique architecture, is full of art pieces, and is worth visiting. The majority of the furniture that is displayed there is original. You will also get explained how this house (more like a villa) was initially just a small studio that Dali got extended when he had more money. The garden is really artsy and features some unique pieces as well. As mentioned before, Salvador lived there until his wife passed away. He abandoned this house after her death, and even left two unfinished paintings there, that you get to see during the tour.
By the way: You can make the reservation online here.
Seems like Dali liked Cadaqués a lot as he has painted it a few times in his life!
Church Santa María de Cadaqués
The church is the big white building that stands out in all these photos of the white houses in Cadaqués. Even, if churches don’t interest you too much, the view you have from outside to the beach is incredible.
Walk around the city and the beach
We loved walking around the city and just following the roads by the beach until we got tired. The streets look gorgeous and you can find some unique shops and beautiful beaches if you are lucky they will be abandoned!
See the reflection of Cadaqués in the ocean at night!
When you walk to the public beach “Es Pianc” at night you can see the reflection of the houses of Cadaques and all its lights in the ocean. It looks so beautiful. I tried to capture it on camera but it looks so much better in real life:
Go to Cap de Creus with a catamaran
We went to Cadaqués in December, so it was quite cold and windy. I imagine the beaches are gorgeous in summer and the water is so clear. Several companies offer boat tours to Cap de Creus in Summer. It is definitely on my list. You can find one here.
Cool Bars and Restaurants in Cadaqués
Brown Sugar
An alternative bar in the old town of Cadaqués. The owner is really nice and we ended up staying there talking to him for quite a while. It looks like a great place to go during the evening!
Bar Casino
A place where mostly locals go, a typical Spanish taberna. It is quite loud and noisy, but the drinks are cheap.
Can Shelabi Restaurant
Another place full of locals with great Spanish food. During Covid, they had a short menu that was changing daily, depending on what they currently had. But everything we tried tasted amazing!
All in all, we had an amazing time and I really want to come back during the summer! Have you ever been to Cadaqués? What did you think about it?
