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
The many colors at the beach of Calella de Palafrugell
Check out this post for more tips on what to do in Barcelona
Charming restaurants line the beach front
Views out over the ocean … what dreams are made of
Climb to the top of the hill to get the view of the three bays below
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Gabby is a native (Northern) Californian who spent the majority of her 20’s living the expat life in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, exploring Europe and beyond. 27 countries later, she’s relocated back to her home base in California where she explores her passions for the travel and the outdoors.
14 Comments
Absolutely love costa brava! Your photos are absolutely lovely and your tips as well. Such a perfect day trip!
-Alyssa
alyssaallday.com
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
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.
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!
thank you! hope you will visit soon!
I always wanted to visit Costa Brava. It seems like a relaxing place to go and great for a girlfriends’ getwaway!
it is the perfect place for a girl’s getaway!
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.
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.
at least this town doesn’t feel very visited from non-Spanish tourists, in case that changes his mind 😉
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 🙂
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.
Wow!! I love its coastline! The white houses with blue windows look very thematic.
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