ESCAPADA TO COSTA BRAVA
Before the summer is over – here is one more suggestion for a weekend break (or escapada.) Actually this one can be done in spring and in autumn, but if you want to combine it with some sunbathing and swimming – you might want to do it this month.
The best thing is to use a “puente” or long weekend (in September there are 2 bank holidays in Barcelona – 11th and 24th) as this time we will go further North in Costa Brava, closer to the French border. There are many small villages that deserve our attention. Some of them are summer resorts, others offer Spa treatments, and some others such as Cadaques offer a very unique atmosphere and landscape.
First of all you will need a village to stay in and of course if you want to visit many places around you will need a car. For the stay in villages we can recommend Sant Feliu de Guixols, Lloret de Mar and Tossa del Mar from personal experience. But of course all the Costa Brava Villages have their own charm and things to be seen and done, so the choice is up to you.
Where to go?
Girona: it is a must see in Cataluyna. Unique architecture, nice restaurants and terraces and several touristic attractions – Girona Cathedral, Jewish Quarter, the Passeig Archeologic.
Figueres: in Figueres you can see the Dali museum. Even if you are not a big art fan – the museum and the collection is worth seeing.
Cadaques: Cadaques is surrounded by the natural park Cap de Creus and the sea. It is considered one of the pearls of Costa Brava and it is where Dali´s house is.
France: If you have more days you can also spend a day in France. You can visit Carcassonne famous for its Fortress– listed in UNESCO World Heritage sites. Perpignan is another really beautiful town to visit, and it’s a little bit closer to the coast.
SPA: If you are a fan of spa treatments, some of the Costa Brava area and nearby inland villages are very famous for its hot springs. For example in Caldes de Malavella you will find the very famous Vichy Catalan SPA.