Spain’s Secret Seaside: Lovely Llafranc.

Post 7/9 in our Spain series

Although ‘costa’ destinations may conjure up images of high rise hotels and overcrowded beaches the Costa Brava is a coastline that completely contradicts such preconceptions. Located in the Girona region of Catalonia, the Costa Brava beaches are beautiful sparkling bays set at the foot of pine clad hills with sprawling towns and villages that call these fishing ports home. Easily accessible by car from Girona or Barcelona airport this stretch of coastline is considered one of Spain’s top 3 holiday coasts and Llafranc sits at its heart.

Lovely Llafranc

Llafranc is essentially a cove chipped out of a rugged hilly landscape. A landscape which with its rocky hilly-ness has inadvertently protected this coastline from major development, thus ensuring it maintains 100% of its idyllic charm! Llafranc is filled with a tranquil beach and turquoise crystalline waters, a pretty promenade fringed with white washed buildings and a select handful of restaurants and hotel. It is perfectly proportioned to keep its visitors amused for the length of their stay, whilst remaining small enough for a bit of much coveted peace and quiet.

Besides soaking up the sun on the beach or snorkelling in the rocky headlands at either end of the beach, Llafranc is well placed to enjoy a few pleasant walks. Besides the promenade which makes for a delightful evening stroll, there is the headland path to the nearby town of Calella de Palafrugell. This takes just 15 minutes, or you could try the slightly longer Cami de Ronda footpath which takes you north to the village of Tamarui.

Picture perfect Palafrugell

Calella de Palafrugell is a seaside village plucked right off a postcard, with pastel coloured boathouses and beach apartments spanning its coves. Its tangle of streets is usually bustling with activity during the summer months. It is also home to a collection of restaurants all serving delicious seafood dishes, each one more mouth-watering then the last! Be sure to visit the beautiful Cap Roig castle and botanical gardens built in 1927 high above the bay offering stunning views. Besides rock pooling for the little ones and snorkelling for the bigger kids, visitors to the main beach also enjoy kayaking and sign up for lessons at the sailing school.

Treat your tastebuds in Tamarui

The walk to Tamarui is a bit longer in length, taking just under an hour and a half to complete, but offers a bit more in terms of scenic vistas and historical monuments to look out for. Keep your eyes peeled for the 19th century lighthouse at Sant Sebastia and ancient Iberian remains. Whilst Llanfranc and Calella de Palafrugell cannot be considered rowdy, Tamarui has a reputation for being the most sophisticated of the three and marks the beginning of the more exclusive resorts that pepper the northern tip of Catalonia’s Costa Brava. This stretch of the coast is in fact a foodie’s paradise and Llafranc boasts a couple of Michelin starred restaurants. While it may be a tad more expensive in the restaurants in Tamarui, they are by no means any less friendly. The village is the perfect place to spend an evening enjoying good food, the superb locally produced wine, and good company.

It is hidden gems like Llafranc that prove a little piece of paradise can easily be found on your doorstep, providing the perfect holiday without having to travel a million miles to some far flung undiscovered destination.

If you are familiar with the Costa Brava and perhaps have some recommendations on the Catalonian coastline then don’t hesitate to leave a comment- we’d love to hear from you!

If you want to explore this wondrous gem stress free, make sure that you opt to hire a car in advance. Not only will you secure cheaper rates, but it is one less thing to worry about before your trip! To make sure you are fully prepared, read our guide to driving in Spain too.