Costa Brava Travel Guide

The Costa Brava is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Spain due to its beaches, historic sights, cultural heritage and vibrant cities and towns.

The Costa Brava is located in north-eastern Spain, it's a coastal region of Catalonia, which has a population of over 7 million people. Catalonia's capital is Barcelona and there are two official languages, Spanish and Catalan.

Barcelona has everything you could wish for, treasures like Sagrada Familia and the colourful Parc Güell created by the renowned Spanish architect Gaudi. The Gothic Quarter's enchanting labyrinth of atmospheric streets, churches, and historical buildings will captivate you. Plus, there's a bountiful choice of tapas bars to tempt your taste buds. Stroll along Las Ramblas and visit the wonderful food market La Boqueria. Other top places to visit in Costa Brava include Girona, famous for its vibrant Jewish Quarter and Cathedral, the Dali Museum in Figueres and Montserrat, the location of the 10th Century Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria. If you’re staying in the town of Roses and want to explore the Pyrenees, you can easily do so by train and enjoy the stunning mountain views.

We've outlined some useful information below which may help you when planning your next holiday to Costa Brava.

Time Zone & Currency

Spain is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) throughout the year. The currency in Spain is the Euro.

Weather In Costa Brava

The Costa Brava enjoys a standard Mediterranean climate. Expect it to be hot and dry during the summer months and mild during the winter.

Reading For Your Trip To Costa Brava

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Homage to Barcelona by Colm Toibin

Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell

Best time to go to Costa Brava

The Costa Brava is known for its sunny coastline and beautiful climate that brings heat and the sun to the region all year-round. In spring and autumn, days are generally warm and sunny with temperatures of around 20 degrees with cool breezes, making it an ideal time for sightseeing as well as relaxing without the high heat of peak summer.

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Top Tourist Attractions In Costa Brava

La Boqueria

Located on La Rambla and arguably one of the best food markets in the world, La Boqueria gives visitors the chance to sample local ingredients and enjoy Catalan delicacies.

Girona

Known as the 'City of the Four River', this picturesque medieval city is renowned for its colourful architecture like the Houses on the Onyar and its well preserved Jewish Quarter.

Parc Guell

This public park is an iconic landmark of Barcelona with its colourful tiles and mosaics. You could easily spend hours admiring this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was designed by renowned architect Anton Gaudi.

Montserrat Monastery

Founded in the 10th Century, the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat is located high in the mountains overlooking the Costa Brava coast. The Abbey is a key symbol of Catalan nationalism, as it was used as a hiding place for many of Franco’s opponents during his reign.

Nuria Valley

A valley located within the Pyrenees mountains, it's highly revered for its natural beauty and Nuria Valley is only accessible by hiking or by taking a scenic train ride on the Nuria rack railway.

Food & Drink In Costa Brava

A wide range of international and Spanish style food is available on the Costa Brava, but do make sure you try some of the food local to the Catalonia region. Basics include pa amb tomàquet, which is simply bread or toast smeared with tomato, salted and drizzled with olive oil. Fish is also eaten widely in this seaside region. For dessert you can have a regional favourite, crema Catalana ; a Spanish custard very similar to a creme brulee. Among many superb wines produced in Catalonia is the sparkling and refreshing Cava, which you can try during one of your included excursions on this holiday.