- Currency: Euro (€)
- Capital city: Girona
- Language: Spanish and Catalan
- Key phrase to learn: Que parla anglès? (Do you speak English?)
- Time difference: The Costa Brava is one hour ahead of the UK
- Average flight time: Two hours
- International phone code: +34
- Emergency services number: 112
- Public holidays: New Year's Day (January 1), Epiphany (January 6), Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday), Easter Monday (Monday after Easter Sunday), Labour Day (May 1), St John’s Day/San Juan (June 24), Assumption Day (August 15), National Day of Catalonia (September 11), National Day (October 12), All Saints’ Day (November 1), Constitution Day (December 6), Immaculate Conception Day (December 8), Christmas Day (December 25), St Stephen’s Day (December 26).
- Link to FCO travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain
Why go to the Costa Brava?
Touch down on Costa Brava holidays and it quickly becomes clear why it translates to the ‘wild’ or ‘rough coast’.
The staggeringly rugged shoreline has pockets of turquoise coves and huge fluffy white sand beaches that never go out of fashion.
Stretching from just north of Barcelona to the border with France, the sunny climate of the Costa Brava and its postcard-perfect beaches made it one of Spain’s very first package holiday destinations. In fact, savvy sun-worshippers have been descending on this got-it-all corner of Spain since the 1950s.
The staggeringly rugged shoreline has pockets of turquoise coves and huge fluffy white sand beaches that never go out of fashion.
Stretching from just north of Barcelona to the border with France, the sunny climate of the Costa Brava and its postcard-perfect beaches made it one of Spain’s very first package holiday destinations. In fact, savvy sun-worshippers have been descending on this got-it-all corner of Spain since the 1950s.
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Costa Brava holidays blend old and new
The modern and traditional go about their lives happily hand-in-hand on the Costa Brava.
Picturesque fishing villages cling to the rocky shoreline, their crumbling fishermen’s houses and narrow lanes giving them an old-world charm. Modern, all-inclusive Costa Brava holidays are easy to find in resorts such as Blanes and Lloret de Mar, while upmarket hotels, spas and golf courses provide luxury Costa Brava holidays by the (gold-plated) bucket load.
Postcard-worthy towns such as Tossa de Mar and La Pineda tread a very tricky line, managing to be popular tourist holiday destinations with a range of amenities without sacrificing their traditional appeal.
Both are firm favourites for those in search of cheap holidays to the Costa Brava or great family package deals.
Away from the coast
A Costa Brava holiday doesn’t have to mean sandy toes.
Girona, the regional capital, is a vibrant little city with a beautiful medieval centre, great shopping and authentic tucked-away tapas bars.
In the north of the Costa Brava, the Gulf of Roses harbours an important nature reserve.
For a taste of the ultra-modern, visit the flashy marina of Empuriabrava, where you’ll find gleaming superyachts, bars, restaurants and a buzzing nightlife scene.
Medieval charm
The Costa Brava is also up to its neck in history and culture.
Roman archaeological sites, imposing castles and walled medieval towns such as Begur, Peratallada and Tossa de Mar are woven into the scenery.
And if you didn’t know much about Salvador Dalí before you visit the Costa Brava, you certainly will before you leave. It’s the birthplace of Spain’s most famous artist; his home in the beautiful and bohemian village of Cadaqués has been preserved for all to visit. There is also a museum dedicated to his life and works among the quaint little jumble of houses of Figueres.
When to go
The Costa Brava is a year-round holiday destination, with almost guaranteed sunshine most months.
July and August are peak season, during which Girona Airport groans under the weight of flights, and hotels the length and breadth of the coast fill up. For the best 2017 Costa Brava holiday deals, start looking now!
Cheap holidays in the Costa Brava are easy to find if you’re not restricted by school term dates. May, June and September are excellent alternatives to the height of the summer and have plenty of all-inclusive Costa Brava package deals on offer.
Other pleasant times to book holidays along the Costa Brava include early spring (February to April) and late autumn (October and November), especially if you plan on hiking, golfing, windsurfing, cycling or any other kind of outdoor activity. The sun still shines yet the extreme summer sizzle will have dropped to a simmer.
Events for your diary
Visiting in autumn gives you the opportunity to experience the Festival of Sant Narcís (also known as the Fires of Girona), a colourful annual fiesta with exploding fireworks and a procession of giant wooden figurines.