White washed houses splashed with bright blue shutters and climbing ivy with vibrant purple flowers. A pebbled beach front punctuated with the colored parasols of local beach goers. A coastline filled with cacti taller than a double decker bus. Welcome to the Costa Brava, and more specifically Calella de Palafrugell.

I visited Calella de Palafrugell on a girls weekend away to visit a friend who grew up in Barcelona. Locals, as usual, always know best, and she took us to one of her favorite weekend destinations.

Most people I know love Barcelona. Most rave about the beaches of Barceloneta, which honestly, I’ve never understood. The beaches of Barcelona are nothing too special. If you’re looking for a beautiful coast line, visit la Costa Brava – or don’t – I’m sure the locals would prefer it that way. Calella de Palafrugell is about an hour and twenty minutes north of Barcelona, and is worth the trip if you’ve got a rental car during your visit in Barcelona. I’d even recommend ditching Barcelona for a few days and enjoying the Costa Brava instead.

While Barcelona feels busy with other tourists and Spanish alike, Calella de Palafrugell feels like a taste of real Spain. Visiting the area feels like a real holiday. Stroll the water front, take a dip in the sea, eat paella, repeat. The perfect Spanish weekend away.

Looking for more amazing getaways in Spain? Check out this guide to Ibiza

Calella de Palafrugell
Colors on colors

The many colors at the beach of Calella de Palafrugell

Calella de Palafrugell
The seaside of Calella de Palafrugell



 

Calella de Palafrugell

Check out this post for more tips on what to do in Barcelona

Charming restaurants line the beach front

Calella de Palafrugell
Dining next to the ocean

Calella de Palafrugell

Calella de Palafrugell
Colorful houses fill the seaside

Calella de Palafrugell

Views out over the ocean … what dreams are made of

Calella de Palafrugell
Looking out to the sea

Calella de Palafrugell

Calella de Palafrugell
House front in Calella de Palafrugell

Climb to the top of the hill to get the view of the three bays below

Calella de Palafrugell
Views from the Sant Sebastian lighthouse over looking Calella de Palafrugell

Calella de Palafrugell

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Calella de Palafrugell

14 Comments

  1. Absolutely love costa brava! Your photos are absolutely lovely and your tips as well. Such a perfect day trip!

    -Alyssa
    alyssaallday.com

  2. Calella de Palafrugell is one of the most amazing places in Spain!… I dream of moving here someday 🙂 You took some awesome photos and really captured the charm of this cute little overlooked town in your descriptions.

    Thanks, Perri
    http://www.seekingthespanishsun.com

  3. Calella de Palafrugell looks like paradise! It definitely looks like it is worth the drive. These pictures are giving me wanderlust. I need to go here ASAP.

  4. Costa Brava is so high on my to do list – and this post has given me even more serious wanderlust! I love your pictures of the place – exactly what I imagine! Such a great post!

  5. I always wanted to visit Costa Brava. It seems like a relaxing place to go and great for a girlfriends’ getwaway!

    • gab.grow@gmail.com Reply

      it is the perfect place for a girl’s getaway!

  6. Awesome pictures indeed of Cost brava .. I love the small chair table in blue-color would love to relax there after a nice beach time.

  7. Costa Brava is one of those “tourist visited” place, I would love to visit here to see the magnificent coastline but my partner refuses it cause he doesn’t like tourist (a matter of taste) well I just respected his decission and went to visit another place instead. If ever I would have the chance to go here alone I will with no hesitation.

    • gab.grow@gmail.com Reply

      at least this town doesn’t feel very visited from non-Spanish tourists, in case that changes his mind 😉

  8. That’s a great one day trip of Costa Brava. I loved the sea view look from the stairs. I would love too stay at a place like this that is so close to beach 🙂

  9. That’s a great one day trip of Costa Brava. I loved the sea view look from the stairs. I would love too stay at a place like this that is so close to beach 🙂 You pictures are mind blowing.

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