family travel guide
The coastline of Spain, where the pine-covered Pyrenees descend directly to the Mediterranean Sea, is called the Costa Brava, a rocky, wild coastline. Whether because the coast of the province of Girona is so-called, the mountains seem impregnable, or because these areas were unknown to tourists until the mid-twentieth century.
But today, the Costa Brava is synonymous with summer family holidays at relatively low cost. In addition, many resorts in the region specialise in family tourism and have a special certificate issued by the Catalan Tourism Agency. It means that holidays with children in the Costa Brava will be a success.
The Costa Brava is located in eastern Spain, in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, in the province of Girona. It stretches from Portbou in the north, near the border with France, to the town of Blanes in the south. The provincial capital of Girona is 58 kilometres from the main resorts: Blanes, Lloret de Mar 56 km, Tossa de Mar 52 km, L'Estartit 24 km, Roses 61 km, Portbou 78 km.
The aptly named Costa Brava first appeared in the early twentieth century, the title of an article about the Catalan coast. But it wasn't until the 1970s that tourists learned of the location of the Costa Brava. And very soon, the specialisation of its resorts began to emerge.
Lloret de Mar, Blanes, Roses, Sant Antoni de Calonge, and Sant Feliu de Guixols have a family tourism destination certificate (DTF) issued by the Catalan Tourism Agency. The towns have free children's clubs on the beaches, animation and children's activities programmes, playgrounds and parks.
What else is there to mention about the geographical advantages of the Costa Brava? The proximity to Barcelona, of course. An hour's drive and you're walking the La Rambla, marvelling at the imagination of Antoni Gaudi and climbing Mount Tibidabo to see all of Barcelona at once instead of lying on the beach.
The Costa Brava could be called a region of contrasts if it weren't for the distinction between good and... good. The mountains are impregnable, the beaches are ennobled, ancient Roman ruins and modern hotels, wildlife and plenty of fun activities, colourful local restaurants and all-inclusive hotels. So you can tailor your Costa Brava holiday to suit your lifestyle and needs. Why do we recommend holidays in the Costa Brava with children? There are several reasons.
The first reason is the lack of heat. No other resort region in Spain boasts such mild mid-summer weather. Here you can holiday with a baby during peak season and not have to deal with the strains of acclimatisation.
But as early as September, the Costa Brava is chilly for a beach holiday, at the same time September weather is ideal for excursions.
The second is convenient transfers. The journey from the airport to any resort takes no more than an hour, even on public transport. The third is the abundance of options to keep your child occupied. The Costa Brava has a network of activities for children, from beach playgrounds to amusement parks. As for museums, they are more like entertainment centres.
Close to Barcelona's Costa Brava: once you've had enough of the beaches and mountains, head to the vibrant, bustling city with plenty of activities for the whole family.
The fourth and foremost reason is that hotels are geared towards travellers with children. Maximum facilities for younger guests, from cots to babysitting services, make it possible to enjoy a whole holiday with your child.
The beach season in the Costa Brava is frustratingly short, from early June to mid-September. The period when you can swim in the sea is even shorter — the water is only warm in July and August. But luckily, holidays on the wild coast are not limited to beach pastimes.
Firstly, the opening of the season in the Costa Brava can be celebrated not by dipping into the sea but by going on an excursion. May is an excellent time to visit small towns, and breathing in Barcelona in the spring is much easier. Secondly, the holidays can affect your choice of when to visit the Costa Brava.
In Catalonia, it's customary to celebrate the patron saint of the city. There are theatrical parades, children's attractions and fireworks in the cities for a few days. The town of Blanes celebrates on 24-28 June, Tossa de Mar between 28 June and 1 July and Lloret de Mar on 24-30 July. In addition, at the end of July, fireworks displays are held in Blanes, and for a week, the evening sky is lit up with fireworks.
The Costa Brava is Spain's coolest coastline. The average temperature during the summer months is only +25°C, and by mid-September, the beach season is over. However, this state of affairs has at least one undeniable advantage.
The dry, mild climate of the Costa Brava is most suitable for those who cannot tolerate the heat, such as young children.
Summer on the coast starts according to the calendar, i.e. in June. Temperatures reach +22-25°C as early as the first days of the month and then rise to +30°C. The temperature does not rise above this level in July and August. Moreover, even in the hottest months, the thermometer dips to +18-20 ° C in the evenings, so jumpers and light jackets in the luggage do not hurt.
Unlike Costa Blanca or Costa Dorada, where it's mosa cold snap to +20 ° Ct enjoyable to holiday in September, the best holidays in Costa Brava with children are in July and August. Only in these months does the sea become warm enough for bathing. September weather is generous with surprises. In the first half of the month, as a rule, it's still warm, +25-28 ° C. Autumn holidays in the Costa Brava are best planned at the start of September to ensure good weather.
The autumn rains begin in October. The air is filled with a delicate scent of pine needles and citrus fruits as a reminder of the coming winter and New Year's holidays. The air temperature during the day stays at around +18-22° C, and it's time to plan a non-beachy holiday with your child.
From November to March, the Costa Brava is quiet and chilly. The thermometer readings drop to between +13 and 15°c. The spring sun warms to +18°C only in April and +20°C in May. If you enjoy long walks by the sea and are not keen on bathing, May is a good time to take your baby to the Costa Brava.
No matter how hot the Spanish resorts get, the sea temperature is by no means consistently as high as the air temperature. In the Costa Brava, the situation is precisely the same. Even in the second half of summer, the water temperature in the Costa Brava does not exceed +22-23°C. If the heat is unprecedented for these places, the sea can warm up to +24°C. But in July and August, the sea temperature is only +21°C.
The Costa Brava should be visited in early July at the earliest to swim. In June, the sea only gets as warm as +20°C.
However, in the first half of September, the sea retains the warmth accumulated during the summer. The temperature stays around +23°C until mid-month, then gradually decreases. In October, the sea cools down to +18-19°C.
Costa Brava hotels offer a variety of dining concepts, from breakfast-only to all-inclusive. The most common option is a buffet breakfast, which is included in the accommodation price. Such a buffet usually includes porridge, egg dishes and dairy products suitable for children. Family hotels also offer children's and diet menus. Hotel restaurants often have a corner where you can heat baby food. More often, however, tourists eat in restaurants, learning the intricacies of Catalan cuisine and savouring sparkling cava.
A typical Catalan snack for children is Pa Amb Tomaquet, a slice of bread rubbed with tomato and garlic and drizzled with olive oil. The bread can be topped with cheese or a portion of ham.
If you are going to cook on your own, you can buy everything you need in the supermarkets. Lidl supermarkets are in almost all towns along the coast, and Spanish supermarkets Mercadona and Dia in Blanes.
You need public transport in the Costa Brava just as much as you intend to travel. Tourists usually move around on foot in small towns, but when it comes to travelling to Girona or Barcelona, trains and buses can help.
Only Blanes is connected to Barcelona by train. The journey takes 1.5 hours, and the ticket price is €5. You can also take a train from Blanes to Girona and Figueres. Buses run between the other resorts. They run pretty frequently, but it doesn't hurt to check the timetable.
A relatively popular mode of transport in the Costa Brava is ferries and boats that take you from one seaside town to another. The cost of a boat trip depends on the distance. For example, a journey from Blanes to Tossa de Mar will cost €26, and tickets for children from 4 to 12 years old cost €18. The most expensive way to travel around the Wild Coast is by taxi. For example, a trip to the airport will cost at least €100.
But the only way to travel around the Costa Brava is by car. You can rent a car at the airports in Girona and Barcelona, as well as from car rental companies in the resorts. There are both paid and free parking spaces in the cities. Free parking is usually indicated in white.
Family holidays in the Costa Brava are good simply because the heat is almost non-existent. You can lie on the beach all day, take to the extreme slides at the water parks, or stroll through the streets of the old towns for outdoor fun. And there's plenty to choose from.
The top places to spend time with children are Aqua Brava in Roses, Water World in Lloret de Mar and Aquadiver in Playa de Aro. The Marineland Centre near Blanes is three in one: a water amusement park, an animal show and a marine zoo. Marineland is the first one to open in May. The other water parks open in June.
The rope parks are equally popular with children. In a wooded area near Lloret de Mar, the Gnome Park has rope courses, tree-top huts, a play maze, a pool with slides, and a list of other fun activities. Similar adventures await children at Sant Feliu Parc Aventura near Tossa de Mar.
There are also two small amusement parks on the Costa Brava: Sould Park in Lloret de Mar and PP'S Park in Playa de Aro.
These will appeal to children of all ages as the rides range from baby carousels to steep roller coasters and other attractions. A small amusement centre for children operates in Figueres. On the other hand, the Fang Aventura theme park in Girona is not a seesaw but a paintball range, a fortress quest for those who like to combine mind and body, quad biking trails and activities for the more adventurous.
If that's not enough, we recommend a trip to Barcelona:
The best amusement park in Spain, Port Aventura, is a 2-hour from the Costa Brava.
Another notable feature of the Costa Brava is the ancient castles. Some can be seen right in the towns. For example, the stunning medieval fortress of Vila Vella is located on the central beach of Tossa de Mar, with walls the same colour as the sand on the coast — as if the sandcastle builders had overplayed and built an enormous structure. Lloret de Mar is famous for the fortress of Sant Joan.
Nearby L'Estartit, you'll also find the Castle of Montgri, a Roman villa and the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Emporion. An even older pagan sanctuary from the Neolithic Age can be found in Palamos.
A lovely feature of the Costa Brava is the tourist trains. They ride through the old streets and help you spot the places you want to visit on a guided tour. You can take a ride around Girona on one of these trains. The tour train leaves Figueres for Roses and Cadaqués. In Blanes, tyou can use a sightseeing bus.
The main jewel of the Wild Coast is still the beauty of nature. Just stroll through the botanical garden of Marimurtra in Blanes or the Park of Sa Riera in Tossa de Mar to see the treasures of the Mediterranean flora. Here are other places to take your child for a walk:
It's tempting to look into the mouth of a volcano — not only children will find it an adventure! Catalonia has some great walking and cycling routes if you like an active holiday. One of these is the Garrocha National Park near the town of Olot. It is situated in an area of extinct volcanoes.
Perhaps you're ready to go to the ends of the earth when you're craving a relaxing break in nature? The Costa Brava is also the end of the world: Cape Creus, Spain's easternmost point, is called the end of the world. Volcanic activity has left its mark here too. If you are on holiday with your child on the Costa Brava, you can take the Cape Creus by train from Porto Lligat.
The Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Nature Reserve is not far from the cape. It offers mesmerising landscapes, an excellent way to observe animals in the wild and a chance to admire ancient castles.
The certificate of family tourism destination in Catalonia is not an empty word. It is commonplace for hotels to have children's clubs, playgrounds and swimming pools for the little ones. Staying in a family hotel will take the guesswork out of what to do in the Costa Brava with your child and allow you to finally have some time to yourself.
It is not easy to count the number of beaches on the Costa Brava that have been awarded the Blue Flag for their high cleanliness and safety standards. On the small stretch of coastline between Pineda de Mar and Tossa de Mar alone, one and a half dozen beaches win the award year after year. Entrance to all the Wild Coast beaches is free, and many people prefer to sunbathe on their beach towels or mat. The municipality and coastal hotels take care of the cleanliness and safety of the beach.
Still, you should choose your seaside holiday destination carefully because the Costa Brava has rocky beaches and rocky bays unsuitable for young children. The best sandy beaches are in Lloret de Mar, Blanes and further south. The coastline is relatively expansive, framed by cliffs. The sea is calm, clear and shallow.
The S'Abannel and San Francesc beaches in Blanes are great for children. There are playgrounds and water slides, and snorkelling is available by the beach.
The beaches are mostly rocky in Tossa de Mar and the rest of the resorts to the north. But there are exceptions, such as the beautiful sandy beaches at L'Estartit, Playa de Aro and Palamos. The beaches at L'Estartit Gran de l'Estartit and S'Abannel in Blanes are the longest on the Riviera. Each of them extends for 3km. But for a secluded beach holiday in the Costa Brava, look for smaller beaches: they are just as good, but the crowds and noise are much less.
With its constant light sea swell, the Costa Brava attracts sailing enthusiasts and windsurfers. The windsurfing centre is considered to be Rastrel Beach in Roses. L'Estartit, Blanes, and Lloret de Mar resorts invite beginners to learn how to dive. Learn to dive and enjoy the fantastic underwater scenery near the Medes Islands.
If it's too early for your kids to plunge, let them see the sea through the glass bottom of the pleasure boat. There are boat trips like this in both L'Estartit and Tossa de Mar.
The warm Costa Brava can make even avid sightseers lose their appetite for museums. If you want to visit a museum or two in the Costa Brava with your child, reassure them there won't be any adult excursions but lots of non-serious, surprising and even amusing things to see.
The Maritime Museum in Lloret de Mar is an excellent place for children who yearn for distant travel and new geographic discoveries. Antique maps, models of sailing ships, reconstructions of captains' quarters and sailors' cabins — children are ready to play for hours in this setting.
The Girona Film Museum completes the list of things to see in the Costa Brava. Here pictures in a magic lantern come to life, shadows move in a mysterious dance, and a cracking machine projects a film on the screen about the bumbling man the world knows as Charlie Chaplin.
The most unusual museum on the Costa Brava is the Museum of Magic in Santa Cristina de Aro. Here you can explore the props of illusionists, guess the secrets of magic tricks and ponder how old-fashioned automaton puppets worked to guess numbers.
A holiday in the Costa Brava with children can also take you to the village of Cadaqués, where the genius Salvador Dali lived. The town is home to his museum — or is it a maze of surprises? If you want to introduce your kids to the work of the zany painter, the Dali Museum in Figueres is a must (and a good toy museum in Figueres is an excellent place to start).
What else is there to see with children in the Costa Brava? If you have time to go to Barcelona, take the chance to visit the most exciting museums in the Catalan capital:
The question of where to stay in the Costa Brava with children has a solid and sincere answer: any of the certified family resorts. A certificate means that the resort has everything you need for a holiday with children and that hotels comply with child safety requirements (protected sockets, certain balcony heights, fenced-in playgrounds, etc.).
Note, however, that child-friendly hotels are not always located on the beachfront.
Despite the abundance of family hotels, many tourists prefer to stay in apartments. It is handy for an independent holiday in the Costa Brava with children, as it lets you keep your daily routine and cook what your family likes. But be sure to check if you'll have to go down a mountain on the way to the sea. Costa Brava areas have some peculiarities: they're worth considering when choosing where's best with children.
The holiday capital of Costa Brava and the noisiest town. The resort's sandy and shingle beaches are extensive and well-equipped. Hotels range from the posh A's to the modest B's. Most of the children's activities are concentrated here.
A leafy town with well-developed infrastructure and a large number of budget hotels. Suitable for a relaxed beach holiday, but its main beaches are usually crowded.
The southernmost resort is on the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada border. It is an ancient town with a peaceful air. The three-kilometre-long Sa Abanel beach has enough room for everyone, but jellyfish sometimes come ashore. Direct train connections to Barcelona and the opportunity to explore the surrounding Costa Brava countryside are further advantages. Blanes has relatively few hotels, but villa and apartment rentals are trendy.
The resort can be described in short: mountains, sea and beaches. Windsurfers occupy the coastline in the town centre. The best place for kids is Almadrava, 5km southeast of Roses. There is no wind or waves, and the area is covered in fine golden sand with a vista of Cape Creus. The main hotel category is three stars, although the resort also has luxury hotels.
Although a former fishing village, the resort has a few attractions. Three-star hotels are typical in L'Estartit, with plenty of apartments for rent. The coastline is 3 kilometres long, providing the opportunity to play in the sand or go for a boat ride.
Other places to stay on the Costa Brava include Malgrat de Mar, Pineda de Mar, Playa de Aro and Palamos. Close to the Costa Brava is another resort region, the Costa Dorada resorts are also suitable for family holidays.
The nearest airport is Aeropuerto de Gerona-Costa Brava. It is located 12 km from Girona. There are regular bus services between the airport and the Costa Brava resorts.
Buses scheduled to Blanes, Figueres, Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar can be found on the airport website. Buses only operate during the day and at night you need to take a taxi or rent a car.
Other options on how to get to the Costa Brava
There are trains from Barcelona to Blanes. You can learn about train timetables and book tickets on the website of RENFE, the Spanish railway company: https://www.renfe.com/.
Bus routes link the Costa Brava resorts. Buses depart from the Estacio Nord Bus station from Barcelona towards the Costa Brava. In Girona and Blanes, the train and bus stations are nearby.
Car hire is very popular and convenient in Spain. It is especially beneficial if you want to travel with children or stay in campsites.
How to get to the Costa Brava resorts:
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