Costa Brava

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• Spain - Coasts: Costa Brava

This dream place is a coastal region in Catalonia, north-east area of Spain.

Costa Brava, between the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees, is the popularly accepted name of the littoral of the province of Girona. Its 214 km of coastline stretch between Blanes in the south, surrounded by El Maresme and El Montseny, and Portbou in the north, on the French border.

Costa Brava offers the mediterranean climate, sweeping landscapes, stunning beaches, delicious food and more than 300 days of sunshine a year. Blanes, Cadaqués, San Feliu de Guixols, Lloret de Mar and Rosas are certainly the most touristic destinations available at Costa Brava where Golf and Acuatic sports stand out among the different leisure activities available in this region, alongside sunbathing on one of the numerous beaches.

The modern tourist infrastructure of the area has turned Costa Brava into one of Spain's most popular tourist destinations.

• Public holidays

  • 01st January: New Year
  • 06th January Epiphany
  • March / April: Easter Friday
  • March / April: Easter
  • March / April: Easter Monday
  • 01st May: Labour Day
  • 15th August: Assumption of Mary
  • 11th September: Regional Holiday Catalonia
  • 12th October: Columbus Day
  • 01st November: All Saints
  • 06th December: Constitution Day Spain
  • 08th December: Immaculate Conception
  • 25th December: Christmas.

• Top things to do

  • Discover Costa Brava beaches and coves.
  • Boat ride along the coast.
  • Diving at  Medes Islands.
  • Visit Dali´s Museum.
  • The old town of Tossa, Pals, Peretallada and Cadaques.
  • Volcanic Area of La Garrotxa Natural Park.
  • Catalan Gastronomy.
  • La Selva botanical gardens.
  • Gerona Jewish quarter.
  • Countryside: Rupit and Besalú.

• Getting there

  Geographic extension and data:
  The Costa Brava is a coastal region of northeastern Catalonia, Spain, in the comarques of Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà and Selva, in the province of Girona. The Costa Brava stretches from Blanes, 60 km (37 mi) northeast of Barcelona, to the French border. The Pyrenees are its northern border, between El Puig de Querol and El Puig de l'Abet Coronat, near Meranges and the Cape of Cervera, which submerges into the Mediterranean Sea. The western border is a broken line that separates it from the province of Barcelona. The coastal strip is its eastern border, which extends along 158 linear kilometres (85 nautical miles) or 256 kilometres of the intricate profile of the Costa Brava.

  
  Climate:

  typically mediterranean, mild and temperate, characterized by hot, dry summers, and moderately cold winters. The annual average temperature ranges from 7 to 28 °C, while the highest temperatures are recorded in the months of July and August.
  
  Language:

  Catalonia has two official languages, Catalan and Spanish. Most of the local population habitually speaks Catalan, and all the population understands and can express themselves perfectly well in Spanish.

  Times:

  Opening times of businesses vary according to their function and size. Small shops normally open between 9 and 10 am and close at 13.30h. Open again at  5pm and close between 8 and 9 pm. On the other hand, the large department stores and hypermarkets open continuously from 10 am to 10 pm. On Sundays, businesses are shut, except at certain times of the year (over the Christmas holidays and at sales time). Sometimes smaller establishments close for an extra half day, often a Monday morning. Banks are usually open from 8:30 am to 2 pm, Monday to Friday. Banks also open on Saturday mornings from 8:30 am to 1 pm (except in the summer) and from October to June, savings banks open on Thursday afternoons from 4:30 to 7:45 pm.

  Airports: Girona and Barcelona

  Local currency: Euro

  Useful telephone numbers:
  Mossos d’esquadra: 088
  Local Police: 092
  National Police: 091
  Guardia Civil: 062
  Firemen: 085
  Citizen attention (Generalitat of Catalonia): 012
  The Red Cross (Urgencies): 972 222 415
  Catalan service of the Health (Urgencies): 061
  The RENFE (Train station): 902 240 202
  Girona – Costa Brava Airport:  972 186 600

• Did you know...?

  • The second best restaurant in the world is “ El Celler de Can Roca”  in Girona and Michelin Red Guide awarded 41 catalan restaurants with its stars.
  • The Dalí Museum in Figueres is the second most visited museum of Spain
  • Costa Brava is one hour drive from Barcelona, the Pyrenees and the French border.
  • The Medes Islands off the coast of L'Estartit are in Spain's first marine reserve and provide a home to a wide range of fish and aquatic flora.

• Trips, Tours & Activities

  • Cultural trips: Barcelona & Gaudi, Dali´s World, Montserrat, Girona, Catalonia country side: Rupit & Besalú
  • Family trips: Water world, Marineland, Barcelona visit & FC Barcelona experience, Port Aventura, Barcelona visit & Aquarium, Dophi Jet boat trip along the coast
  • Night excursions: La Siesta dinner & flamenco show, Medieval Castle dinner & medieval tournaments
  • Active trips: Jeep Safari, Catamaran cruise, Medas Islands cruise
  • Shopping trips: La Roca Village, Tordera Market
  • Private guided tours for groups or families.
  • Themed tours for groups: educational, religious…
  • Professional guide services in several languages.

• Accommodation

  Costa Brava offers all type of accommodations:

  • Hotels with their own particular charm, hotels right beside the sea or nestling among the hills, hotels in historic buildings, small family-run business,  hotels with sport facilities, vacational hotels with facilities for families, Wellness & Spa hotels, Boutique hotels, Youth hostels…
  • The categories range from 1 to 5 stars Grand Luxe,
  • Self catering holiday rentals: Apartments and Villas.

• Transfers

  • Shuttle
  • Private taxi
  • Limousines
  • Coaches; wide range of seat capacities: 15, 30, 44, 55 ,70
  • Meet & greet
  • Guide Assistance

• Meetings and events

  The wide range of venues and specialised services in Costa Brava makes it suitable for hosting all kind of events.  We offer a highly trained team to manage your groups and incentive travel and for the organization of events, meetings, team buildings, congresses, and sport activities.

• What we recommended

  • Restaurante El Trull (Lloret)
  • Restaurante  Les Panolles (Santa Cristina d´Aro)
  • Restaurante S´Auguer (Blanes)
  • La  Siesta dinner and flamenco show (Santa Susana)
  • Restaurante Cala Canyelles (Lloret)
  • Restaurante Can Pini (Tossa de Mar)
  • Restaurante Bahia (Tossa de mar)
  • Disco Tropics (Lloret de mar)
  • Disco St Trop (Lloret de mar)

• Special events

  • Costa Brava  International Firework competition Blanes (from 22 to 27 July)
  • Corpus Christi Floral carpets, Tossa de Mar (7th June)
  • International Music Festivals in  Perelada, Cap Roig, San Feliu de Guixols (from July to August)
  • Living nativity scenes from Castell d´Aro ( from 18th December to 8th January)
  • MIC  Mediterranean International Cup football tournament Lloret ( 26-31 March)
  • Carnival Lloret de mar, Platja d´Aro, Blanes (February / March)
  • Montmelo Formula I Gran Prix (May)
  • Rally Costa Brava  Lloret de mar  (April)

  Cap Roig Gardens Festival
  Calella de Palafrugell in the auditorium of the Botanical Garden, located in a particularly unique place, the sea, is the seat of this summer festival is open to different stage disciplines. Early July to mid August.

  Music Festival in Torroella de Montgrí
  Torroella de Montgrí at the Festival began in 1980 and has always called the Western classical music as a centerpiece of its programming, but over time it has been introducing extra musical elements and other types of samples and cultures. Late July to mid August.

  International Music Festival of Peralada Castle
  a Peralada, held continuously since 1987 in July and August in the monumental Peralada Castle.

  Festival Porta Ferrada
  Sant Feliu de Guixols, Catalonia is the oldest, was born in 1958 at the Monastery of Sant Feliu de Guixols and its name responds to the oldest part of this monumental. Mid July to mid August.

  International Music Festival of Cadaques
  Cadaques in the first week of August. Festival has sought to reflect the eclectic art of the town that inspired countless artists. Its programming covers a wide range of musical genres, from jazz to classical music or even [Pop music|[pop]] and rock, always committed to good music and keeping their uniqueness.

  Music Festival Calonge
  Calonge is the oldest festival in the Costa Brava (since 1968). Classical, folk, flamenco, jazz and soul. August.

  Musicant
  Campllong a festival that is committed to spreading the musical repertoire Catalan for all time. Late August and early September.

  Schubertíada
  a Vilabertran, where festival include Schubert recitals of lieder, but also programmed works by other composers, especially of his contemporaries. Mid-August to first week of September.

  Acústica Festival
  Figueres, below the acoustic or unplugged, there are both emerging and established artists. First week of September.

  Black Music Festival
  Salt, Catalan black music festival. In mid-March to mid April.
  Guitar Festival Girona in different locations in the province of Girona. Last half of July until the first week of September.

  Festival of the Voice phònica
  Banyoles, explores the possibilities of this element is visible but not everyone has joined. Around 24th, June.