Best Beaches in Costa Brava: Our Top 11 Picks

Map of the Most Beautiful Beaches on the Costa Brava

Before we introduce all eleven of our favorite beaches on the Costa Brava in detail, here they are on a map first — so you get an instant overview of where the best beaches in Costa Brava are located.

The Best Costa Brava Beaches for Families

Beach vacations with kids can sometimes be tricky. We’ll show you beautiful beaches on the Costa Brava for families: easy to reach, with good infrastructure and shallow water.

Aiguablava

Aiguablava is just a few minutes’ drive from the quiet, small resort town of Begur and is our first pick for a beach day with kids on the Costa Brava. Fair warning though: this beach is definitely not going to be empty.

The water entry is super shallow, the sea is calm, and there are no rocks hidden on the bottom — so even little kids can splash around without a worry. At the beach you’ll find showers, restrooms, and small beach bars for a midday snack or ice cream. You can also rent lounge chairs and umbrellas if you want.

How to Get to Aiguablava

The nearest well-known town is Begur. From there it’s just a few minutes by car to Aiguablava. The beach is well signposted and there’s a large parking lot, though it does charge a fee in summer. You can also stay at one of the hotels within walking distance of the beach.

Our Hotel Tip: Hotel Aigua Blava – Boutique hotel with pool and ocean views

Cala de Sant Francesc

A small but lovely sandy beach with lifeguards, where you’ll also find plenty of local families with their kids. Swimming with the little ones is great here, or you can take a stroll beneath the pine trees along the beach promenade. The beach has really solid infrastructure and has even earned the Blue Flag for water quality.

Just five minutes away by car is Blanes — widely considered the most family-friendly resort town on the Costa Brava.

How to Get to Cala de Sant Francesc

You can reach Cala de Sant Francesc via Blanes. Just follow the signs in town toward the botanical garden Jardí Botanico Marimurtra. There are parking lots that are free outside of peak season.

Our Hotel Tip: Can Terrats – large vacation home with garden in Blanes

The Most Beautiful Sandy Beaches on the Costa Brava

A beach day without sand — not your thing? No problem. Here are our top three sandy beaches on the Costa Brava — you’ll feel like you’ve landed in the Caribbean!

Platja del Castell

This stretch of coastline stands out for not just one but two reasons. First: it sits right in the middle of nature, and no hotel blocks have been allowed to be built around it. Second: right next to the beach, on a small hill, there’s a castle — a wonderfully romantic view, especially at sunset. It’s just one of many highlights on the Costa Brava — check out even more top attractions on the Costa Brava.

The beach stretches for several hundred meters of the finest sand — perfect for lazy days. And if you need a change of pace, you can rent a kayak from a small stand right on the beach.

How to Get to Platja del Castell

Simply head toward Palamós on the C-31 and take exit 328. From there, follow the signs to Castell. At the beach you’ll find a free parking lot.

Playa de Sa Boadella

Between Blanes and the party town of Lloret de Mar you’ll find Sa Boadella. While things are loud and crowded just a few kilometers away in Lloret, Sa Boadella offers real peace and quiet. The beach is completely undeveloped, with just a small beach bar.

Otherwise, as far as the eye can see there’s nothing but sandy beach, a few rugged rocks scattered throughout, and forested cliffs behind. Honestly, the panorama here is stunning.

How to Get to Sa Boadella

From both Blanes and Lloret de Mar, take the GI-682. Then follow the signs to Jardins de Santa Clotilde. There’s no parking lot directly at the beach — you’ll need to walk about 200 meters through a park.

Our Hotel Tip: Hotel Santa Marta – 5-star beachfront hotel with spa

Costa Brava Beaches Right by Resort Towns

Want to roll straight from bed onto your beach towel? These Costa Brava beaches sit right next to resort towns with great places to stay. Our hotel recommendations are located directly on the beach.

Platja de Roses

Roses is one of the most popular resort towns on the Costa Brava and is relatively large. There are a variety of beaches around Roses. The main beach, Platja de Roses, sits right in front of the town center. Stretching for many hundreds of meters, it offers fine sand and clear, clean water.

The beach gets busy in summer, but people spread out well. Behind it you’ll find a lovely promenade and plenty of shops, restaurants, and cafés right on the seafront.

How to Get to Platja de Roses

You can reach Roses via the GI-610 or the GI-614. There is free parking along the beach promenade (Avenida de Rhode). Or you can simply stay at a hotel right on the beach in Roses.

Our Hotel Tip: 1935 Hotel – lovely boutique hotel, just 100 meters from the beach

Port Bo

Port Bo is one of the most beautiful beaches in front of Calella de Palafrugell. Numerous coves line up in front of the resort town, with sand, gravel, or rocks. The scenery is seriously dreamy: whitewashed little houses and bobbing fishing boats — exactly how you picture a Mediterranean vacation.

Calella de Palafrugell itself is a smaller resort town. We love that, despite the many vacation homes and hotels, it still has the charm of an old fishing village.

How to Get to Port Bo

To reach Calella de Palafrugell, you need to drive through the larger town of Palafrugell. There are several paid parking lots in town.

Our Hotel Tip: Hotel hcp – Hotel with ocean views, 100 m to the beach

Cala de Senyor Ramon

A beautiful long sandy beach set against a steeply dropping rocky coastline. Access isn’t entirely easy — which has the advantage of keeping the crowds away.

One thing worth knowing: Cala de Senyor is one of the nudist beaches on the Costa Brava. The motto is anything goes, nothing is required. So if a few nudists don’t bother you, you can absolutely lie on the beach in your swimsuit without any issues.

How to Get to Platja Senyor Ramon

From Tossa de Mar, take the GI-682 heading toward Sant Feliu de Guixols. The road is a bit winding and goes through the mountains. The parking lot at the beach is signposted and charges a fee. From there you still need to walk 300 meters.

Our Hotel Tip: Casa Granados – Boutique hotel in the old town of Tossa de Mar

Secluded Beaches on the Costa Brava

Crowded beaches driving you crazy? There are actually some genuinely quiet, off-the-beaten-path coves on the Costa Brava. Here are our three under-the-radar picks — but shh, keep it between us!

Sa Tuna

Sa Tuna is a small cove near Begur. There’s just one hotel and a handful of whitewashed houses used by locals on weekends. Otherwise, you’ll find real peace and quiet here — especially if you’re not visiting the Costa Brava during peak season.

The water is very clear and you’ll spot plenty of fish while swimming. For us, this beach is a great compromise between seclusion and still being relatively easy to reach.

How to Get to Sa Tuna

You can reach Sa Tuna by driving through Begur and staying on the GIV-6535. The beach is also signposted. You’ll usually have no trouble finding a parking spot in the small village.

Our Hotel Tip: Hotel Sa Tuna – right on the beach, great fish restaurant

Cala Pedrosa

Cala Pedrosa is truly the definition of a secluded cove — tourists don’t just stumble upon this beach by accident. The cove is only about 30 meters wide, framed by rocks and pine forests, with a long, narrow inlet leading out to the sea. You can swim here in complete peace.

There are no beach bars or restrooms. But in return, you’ll likely have the rocky beach all to yourself and can swim completely undisturbed.

How to Get to Cala Pedrosa

Your best bet is to park on the road between Palafrugell and Tamariu. From there you’ll need to walk 800 meters — just follow the GR-92 trail. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes, as parts of the path are quite steep. The cove is also easier to reach by boat.

Our Hotel Tip: Hotel Voramar – very modern, beautifully decorated, and with ocean views

Costa Brava Beaches for Water Sports Enthusiasts

Diving, kayaking, snorkeling — as long as you spend as much time in the water as possible? If you’re after a Costa Brava beach for water sports, these two are seriously worth your time.

Illes Medes

The top spots on the Costa Brava for diving are without a doubt the Illes Medes — seven small uninhabited islands off the town of L’Estartit.

The islands are known for their colorful reefs with abundant fish and coral. You can dive here with a tank, or simply take a boat trip and jump in at one of the beaches with fins and a snorkel.

How to Get to the Illes Medes

You can reach the Illes Medes by boat from L’Estartit. The harbor is at the northern end of town. You can also book a guided tour so you don’t have to worry about a thing.

Snorkeling excursion to the Illes Medes
Our Hotel Tip: Hotel Terraverda – Design hotel set in lush greenery, with pool

Sant Pere Pescador

We already mentioned the Gulf of Roses (#5). A little further along from Roses is Sant Pere Pescador — the go-to spot for all kitesurfers, windsurfers, and wing foilers. There’s plenty of wind here year-round, making for fantastic conditions for water sports enthusiasts.

If you have no experience but want to try something new, you can take a course at the ION Club water sports center right on the beach.

How to Get to Sant Pere Pescador

Coming from the C-31, take the exit toward Sant Pere Pescador and follow the signs. There’s also a local road connecting Sant Pere Pescador with Roses. Parking is usually available behind the three campgrounds at the beach.

Our Hotel Tip: El Molí – very large garden with pool and children’s playground

General Tips for Your Costa Brava Beach Vacation

What Do You Need to Pack for a Beach Vacation?

Does packing for a beach vacation stress you out too? We always feel like we’ve forgotten something. To make sure that doesn’t happen to you, we’ve put together a packing list for beach vacations.

Packing becomes super easy: just go through it item by item and check things off!

Our beach vacation packing list

Rise and Shine!

We’re not exactly early birds ourselves, but trust us — it’s worth it! Especially in summer, the most beautiful beaches in Costa Brava fill up fast.

Get to the beach early and you’re not only guaranteed a spot for your towel — you also get to enjoy a few hours with far fewer people around.

What Do the Beach Flags Mean?

The sea can have its surprises. To make sure nothing goes wrong while you’re swimming, here’s a quick rundown of what the different flags mean.

• Green flag: Swimming is permitted and safe.
• Yellow flag: Caution! You can swim, but watch out for currents and similar hazards.
• Red flag: Swimming is genuinely dangerous — stay out of the water.
• Blue flag: An environmental award. The water here is particularly clean and pure.

Unfortunately, there’s no specific flag for jellyfish. Whether jellyfish are present varies completely from year to year. If you do get stung, rinse the area with salt water and see a doctor if you experience severe pain or redness.