Holiday apartments, airbnb and villas in Costa Brava

Visit Costa Brava, the wild coast!

Catalonian journalist and native, Agulló, referred to the unspoilt Mediterranean shores as ‘Costa Brava', meaning ‘wild coast', which is a more than fitting name for this free natural paradise. Delve into the pure beauty of this primitive coastline, where aside from its stretch of golden sands, you can indulge in a Catalan city break and explore the streets of Girona, or head up on a mountainous adventure from the foot of the Pyrenees. Costa Brave is the epitome of a Northern Spanish escape, so if you are looking for accommodation in Catalonia which brings out the best of its fierce culture, look no further than right here in Costa Brava.

When to visit?

There is never a bad time to visit the Costa Brava, though June to September welcomes the largest crowds of families and summer holidaymakers to its shores. If you can avoid this period, then you will find the beaches and cities will be quieter, while enjoying a slightly more moderate temperature. There are also many festivals around the region which take place all year round, including Girona's ‘Gastronomy Week' and Temporada Alta Theatre Festival which begins in October and continues right through to December.

How to get there

Located on the northeast coast of Catalonia in Spain, Costa Brava is easily reachable from the UK by air. With budget airlines such as Ryanair and Jet2 offering direct flights from London Heathrow, Bristol, Nottingham, Leeds and Glasgow to Girona, and a flight duration of approximately 2 hours, the Costa Brava is closer than you may have ever imagined! The capital of Catalonia, Barcelona is only one hour away from Costa Brava, so if you already have a holiday letting in Barcelona and you want a day trip, or if you have flown into Barcelona airport, you can make it to Costa Brava by rail, road or by hopping in a taxi! If you would rather get to Costa Brava without flying, you can catch a ferry from Portsmouth to the northern Spanish city of Bilbao, which takes around 24 hours, before hitting the road for around 7 hours to reach the heart of Costa Brava, though you could always grab a apartment rental in Bilbao where you can discover this port city and relax, before moving on to Costa Brava in your own time.

Where to stay in Costa Brava?

Cap de Creus

Located in the most eastern point of Costa Brava, the beautiful Iberian Peninsula of Cap de Crues is famed for its rugged coastline, mystical coves and beryl blue shores which are among the most spectacular in Catalonia. Choose a holiday villa with a sea view in this organic paradise, which has been categorised as National Park, and once you have spent only a few hours along its rocky landscape, you will not be surprised why this has been nationally recognised as an area of pure and unrefined beauty.

Girona

Reserve a holiday apartment in Girona, the neoclassical haven of Catalonia, for a city-break unlike any other in the country. Whether you want to wander through age-old The Jewish Quarter, bathe in the Arab Baths or get a taste of Catalonian culture in the Film Museum. Choose to stay in a bed and breakfast in a gothic townhouse, and wake up in a room with a view of the iconic Girona cathedral, which is one of the most historic and impressive structures in the country.

Pals

Renowned as one of the most beautiful places in the Costa Brava, there is no more exceptional place to reserve a medieval retreat than in Pals. Whether you desire a luxury apartment rental for a romantic weekend away with your other half, or you want a family-friendly holiday villa which is big enough for your whole party, the historic neighbourhood of Pals has something for every visitor.

Calella de Palafrugell

From the Sculpturepark Jardíns de Cap Roig, a tropical garden to Far de Sant Sebastià, a lighthouse and a bar which offers panoramic views across the Mediterranean. Reserve a self-catered apartment in the ancient fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell, where you can eat and drink like a local by sampling some of the local Catalan cuisines, including tapas from Calau tapas restaurant.

Cala Boadella

The beautiful seaside haven of Cala Boadella is the perfect place to choose a beach-front holiday villa, where you can reserve your spot on the white sands before the crowds arrive. Lay on the sun-glazed shores in this beryl Catalonian jewel, or indulge in the under-water Mediterranean kingdom by trying your hand at diving or snorkelling in this water-sport hub. Alongside its stunning beaches, Cala Boadella is also known for its nightlife scene, so choose a cost-effective accommodation in a youth hostel, then stay out beyond dusk to discover how Costa Brava comes alive at night.

Portlligat

If you are a fan of the surrealist artist Salvador Dalí, then there is no better place to reserve a holiday home than in Portlligat, where you can explore the Salvador Dalí House and museum, where Salvador Dalí lived throughout the nineteenth century. Gaze upon the unique Vernacular architecture and learn more about the work of this Catalan icon. Once you have had your fill of art, head to the bay, for a little slice of tranquillity in the Costa Brava.

Things to do in Costa Brava

Cathedral of Girona

Known also as Cathedral of Saint Mary of Girona, this romanesque and gothic structure is the most recognisable landmark in Costa Brava, where it has towered above the city of Girona since the second bell tower which was completed in the 18th century. No visit to colourful Girona is complete without gazing at the grandeur of this Baroque masterpiece, where the decorative detail continues to impress as much on the inside as it does on the out.

Salvador Dalí House Museum

Salvador Dalí is the indisputably the artistic king of Catalonia, with his surrealist work admired across the region. Therefore, in visiting the Salvador Dalí House, you are borderline visiting a royal palace… almost. Explore the rooms where this 20th-century icon lived and produced some of his most famous pieces.

Cala Culleró

If you are into your geology, then don't pass up the opportunity to discover the incredible beauty of Cala Culleró, which has evolved through hundreds of years of saltwater and Tramuntana mountainous winds. There is no shortage of rocks to explore along is landscape, but if you want something a little smoother, then you hunt down one of the small patches of sand to bathe on your own secret slice slice on the Mediterranean Coast.

Ride on the River Onyar

Flowing through the veins of Girona, this river is framed by colourful-kissed architecture and quaint bridges, which you can pass under when you take a cruise along the river. For a romantic treat, choose to ride the river at sunset, then head back to dry land for dinner in Costa Brava's bustling city.

Monasterio de Sant Pere de Rodes

Visit the Monasterio de Sant Pere de Rodes, a Benedictine monastery whose Romanesque beauty has existed on the hills of Costa Brava since the year 878. You don't need to be a history buff to be captivated by this impressive structure, as a trip to the Monasterio de Sant Pere de Rodes offers beautiful views across the harbour, along with the beryl fringed coastline.

Dine on Aigua Blava

The picturesque bay of Aigua Blava is a hive of small beaches and sailing boats, but if you are going to visit the area, for one thing, let it be the exquisite cuisine which is dotted around the water's edge. Sample seafood from Restaurant Aigua Blava or Restaurant L'Aixart, which is a vibrant outdoor restaurant on the coastline of Aigua Blava.