Best beaches on the Costa Brava: 10 coves you will never forget

Pine trees leaning over the water, golden rocks and coastal paths linking one cove to the next. This is the coastline of Girona, a jagged shore where every bay has a character of its own.

Choosing the best beaches on the Costa Brava means deciding what kind of day you want. There are small coves you reach on foot, unspoilt stretches of sand next to Iberian archaeological sites and beaches that run for kilometres, open to the wind.

Join me on this journey from south to north, from Lloret and Tossa to Cap de Creus and the Gulf of Roses. At each stop I explain how to get there and what to expect.

How to read the Girona coast

The Costa Brava is not uniform. The southern stretch, between Lloret de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guíxols, is rugged and full of coves beneath cliffs.

The Baix Empordà, with Begur and Palamós, adds fishing villages and coastal paths. To the north, Cap de Creus is pure rock, and the Gulf of Roses opens onto long sandy beaches.

Tip before you set off: many coves are reached on foot along paths with steps. Comfortable shoes and water in your backpack, always.

1 Sa Boadella, the quiet cove of Lloret de Mar

Far from the bustle of the town centre, Sa Boadella is about 250 metres long and around 40 at its widest point. It is surrounded by a pine wood that shields it from development.

Some rocks divide it into two areas, one of which is nudist. Over the years the beach has also attracted other kinds of visitors.

Cars cannot reach the sand. You leave yours by the road that leads to the Santa Cristina hermitage and walk a little over 200 metres along a dirt track.

2 Cala Pola, the hidden corner of Tossa de Mar

About 4 kilometres from Tossa de Mar, Cala Pola is tucked between headlands covered in vegetation. Access is through the campsite that bears its name.

Its clear water and sheltered shape make it one of the most photographed coves in the municipality. Boats are often seen anchored off the shore.

Glass-bottom boats leave from Tossa to tour the coast and its caves, such as those of La Galera, Cala Bona and Cateura.

3 Cala Giverola, the neighbour with the seabed

Very close to Cala Pola, Giverola opens onto a deep bay surrounded by pines. Its rocky seabed makes it very appealing for snorkelling or exploring by kayak.

Boat trips from Tossa also come here. If you get seasick easily, bear in mind that small boats rock quite a lot when there are waves.

4 Cala del Senyor Ramon, the most hidden of all

Between Tossa de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guíxols, in the municipality of Santa Cristina d’Aro, lies the hidden cala del Senyor Ramon. Its only link to the outside world is the GI-682 road, famous for its bends.

Beside the road there is a viewpoint some 66 metres above the sea. From there the descent begins, on a well-kept path with wooden sections, but a steep one.

The shore is coarse sand with gravel and stones, and it shelves steeply into the water. There are no facilities, so bring everything you need.

The best beaches on the Costa Brava in the Baix Empordà

In this district the coast becomes gentler, with fishing villages and coastal trails that invite you to string coves together.

5. Cala Aiguablava, the clear sea of Begur

In the south of the municipality of Begur, Aiguablava owes its name to the blue colour of its water over a pale sandy bottom. It is one of the best-known coves on the Costa Brava.

From here, the southern section of the camí de ronda links it with Fornells beach and Platja Fonda. A perfect walk for stringing swims together.

6. Sa Tuna, white houses and boats on the shore

On the eastern side of Begur, Sa Tuna keeps the feel of an old fishermen’s shelter: white houses clinging to the rock and boats pulled up on the stony shore.

From one side of the cove, a flight of steps marks the start of the path to neighbouring Cala d’Aiguafreda. It is a route of about 2 kilometres there and back, easy, taking around an hour.

Travel tip: Sa Tuna and Aiguafreda make the perfect plan for a morning on the camí de ronda, with a swim at each end.

7. Platja del Castell, unspoilt sand and Iberian history

About 2 kilometres from Palamós, Platja del Castell is one of the last large undeveloped beaches on the Costa Brava. A crescent of sand surrounded by pines and fields.

On the headland at its far end stands the Iberian settlement of Castell, inhabited between the 6th century BC and the 1st century AD and declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest.

The site preserves remains of walls, silos and cisterns, and the view over the bay from the top is superb.

The Costa Brava on video

If you want to see what these coves look like through the eyes of other travellers, take a look at this video:

The north: Cap de Creus and the Gulf of Roses

Here the tramontane wind sculpts the rock and the landscape becomes almost lunar. Further south, the Gulf of Roses offers just the opposite: sand and horizon.

8. Cala Montjoi, the cove of elBulli

About 7.5 kilometres from the centre of Roses, inside the Cap de Creus Nature Park, lies Cala Montjoi.

Its name is linked to elBulli, Ferran Adrià’s restaurant. Today, on the same site, stands elBulli1846, the foundation’s headquarters and a museum opened in 2023, open to the public from May to October.

At certain times of year, car access to the park is restricted. If you arrive by sea, there is no jetty: boats moor to a buoy.

9. Cala Culip, history under the water in Cadaqués

About 8 kilometres by road from Cadaqués, Cala Culip is one of the wildest spots on Cap de Creus and a favourite place for snorkelling.

A fascinating story lies beneath its waters. In 1984 the remains of the Culip IV were located, a Roman ship that sank around the year 75, and at least six wrecks have been identified in the bay.

10. Platja de Sant Pere Pescador, kilometres of wind

On the Gulf of Roses, the beach of Sant Pere Pescador is the longest in the gulf, with some 6.3 kilometres of sand and dunes next to the mouth of the Fluvià and the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà.

It is one of the few places on the Costa Brava where kitesurfing is specifically regulated, with zones reserved for kite and windsurfing. Every year it hosts an event on the windsurfing world tour.

Its size means you can find quiet stretches for a walk even in summer.

Tips for your trip along the Girona coast

• Water shoes and goggles: many coves are stony and the seabed is worth a look underwater.
• Arrive early: the small coves fill up quickly in July and August.
• Coastal paths: they let you link coves on foot and avoid some of the traffic.
• Wind: when the tramontane blows, the southern coves are usually a better option than Cap de Creus.
• Water and food: essential at Senyor Ramon, Culip and other coves without facilities.

Which of these spots on the Girona coast will be your first stop this summer?