So you’re in north-eastern Spain and you want to get out of the cities? Well Economy Car Hire have an adventure for you, blessed with amazing scenery and culture.
Let’s look north of Barcelona to the area inland from the Costa Brava, the Baix Emporda. The region is less visited compared to the popular beach resorts along the coast but it is easily accessible from Barcelona with a short drive.
Our journey starts and finishes in Barcelona. The places that are included in our itinerary are also great for independent visits if you want more time there. We are suggesting you cram in a lot in a day, but that is only so you have more ideas of things to do and what the region has to offer. The time spent on the road should be around 4 hours, which is a lot but well worth it if you are stretching the day out.
The first leg of our trip is from Barcelona to Figueres via the C-17 and AP-7 motorways. This leg of the trip is half the overall driving in one stint. The beauty of this route however is experienced on the way back. Figueres is a medieval town known as the birthplace of artist Salvador Dali. The town has a great theatre museum dedicated to the artist which was designed by Dali himself. The town is a fantastic place to sit and relax after that long first drive. You can grab a snack in the sun drenched plaza and get some photos of the historic castle and the gothic St. Peter’s Church, before hitting the road again.
As you leave Figueres, take the C-31 for a more scenic drive through the vineyards towards Torroella de Montgri. As you travel through the countryside, the first clue that you are approaching the small town of Torroella de Montgri is the sneak peak of its elevated castle. The town is a charming place to grab some lunch and if you are a keen hill walker, the hike to the higher ground of the castle can reveal some spectacular views. You can get a sight of the plains from here, and on a clear day you can see the Pyrenees and the coast.
As you continue along the C-31 it is well worth a slight detour from the main road. The astoundingly pretty town of Peratallada is perfect for a short stop for a thirst quenching drink. Here you soak up the relaxed atmosphere and gaze down the small cobbled streets and wander through quaint archways. If you are looking to extend your trip in this area, Peratallada is a great place to stay as it has lots of small boutique hotels.
As you leave Peratallada the region’s capital La Bisbal is nearly upon you. This is a perfect place to have a look round the shops and maybe grab some dinner. The town comes alive at night and there are some great places to eat, including the Castell d’Emporda which is consistently among Spain’s top hotels and restaurants.
If you are not pushed for time then a visit to Begur is well worth a visit, particularly if you are not finishing this trip at Barcelona. The gorgeous coastal town is perfect for an afternoon stop or a few nights stay. Commonly considered to be one of the hidden gems of the Costa Brava, the chic town of Begur is very popular with Barcelonians which is always a good sign!
We did say we were going to cram a lot into a day, and ideally all this could be the focus for a whole week’s holiday. We hope that there are a few ideas here to inspire you to make the trip to the Baix Emporda. Read our Spain driving guide for more advice and check out other things to do if you are staying in Barcelona.
