Costa Brava - Summer 2015

We visited in November 2013 - not exactly prime beach time, but had a great trip. I'm guessing you're planning on seeing the Salvador Dalí museum in Figueres and house in Port Lligat, just over the ridge from Cadaqués (make reservations online for your visit to the house). We didn't make it to the 3rd Dalí sight, the Casa-Museo Castillo Gala-Dalí, in Púbol. If you drive from Cadaqués to Port Lligat, expect a curvy, hilly road with some tight switchbacks and blind curves, with locals passing on those blind curves!

In Girona, we stayed at the Pensió Bellmirall, a great setting in a 400-year old building in the old town. The breakfast was outstanding, but watch your head - a heavy wooden shelf mounted on the wall beside the bed was a hazard in the middle of the night - and the all-glass door inside the entrance (which wasn't closed when we arrived, but was closed later on, when the lights were turned down and you couldn't see that there was a clear glass door in the way) can give you a potential "close encounter of the wrong kind."

After visiting the Dalí house in Port Lligat, we spent the night just a mile inland from Roses town, at Hotel Mas Palou. They're renowned for their outstanding restaurant, but unfortunately the restaurant was closed for the season in November. You'd have better luck in the summertime.

Such good tips. Thank you!

We spent 5 days in Tossa De Mar in July 2012.. had only booked 4 days, but on arrival just decided to shave another day off Barcelona just to chill in Tossa. This was part of a much longer vacation.. we had already been to many large cities and were burnt out, and needed a vacation from our vacation. Tossa fit the bill,, no Starbucks or McDonalds.. no learning the metro, tube or buses.. we walked everywhere.. ( a car is useless in Tossa , the best parts , the oldest parts are almost car free.. narrow streets many pedestrians) .

We booked many months in advance and got the BEST room ever at the Capri Hotel . Third floor( top) balcony was large and faced directly onto beach,,with the ruins of the old ramparts on our right,. beautiful, good air conditioning, and comfy bed,, clean bathroom... all for 100 euros a night!! ( included breakfast ) and the this hotel is family run and owned.. such nice people.

I would recommend at least 2 nights in Tossa.. I wouldn't say it was worth a lot more if only on a shorter vacation with so many other places to go , but for us it was different( our trip was 26 days long, we had more time to just relax)

The water is so lovely.. the restaurants were amazing , and the ambience in the evening was incredible.

I've only been to Girona and Barcelona. Re: Girona, stayed at these tourist apartments: Suites Ressort Hap-Dreams. They're not luxury, but are well-equipped, in the historic center, spacious, and quiet. I'd say that 2 nights/3 days is enough to see Girona. If you're up for it, definitely go for a small hike around/on the old city walls. Go to the tourist office and someone can give you a map marked with the entrance. The apartments actually have the wall in their backyard. I absolutely love Girona and hope you do to!

I would recommend the Greek and Roman ruins at Empuries, the beach at Llafranc, the town of el Port de la Selva and the monastery of St Pere de Rodes. Cadaques, Figueres and Girona go without saying. St Feliu de Guixols is also pretty with some modernist beachfront villas.

The suggestions are great. I've contacted Capri Hotel and the pension in Girona to stay in both places. Thank you all.
-Marc

Hi Marc,
Since there's plenty of text recommendations above, I'll just point you to a few sites:

http://catalunya.com/ -Catalonia’s Tourism Agency
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/ -Barcelona’s Tourism Agency
http://en.costabrava.org/ -Costa Brava Tourism Agency
http://www.baixemporda-costabrava.org/en/

and for great videos: a general overview of La Costa Brava: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/AioW1 and also http://www.infocatalonia.eu/w/?s=costa+brava