After a stay in Torrent, Catalonia I plan to head to the coast to visit the small towns and historic places. I need some guidance on the best way to move about in that area. Should I get a rental car? I'm not finding many car rental locations outside of the Girona airport. Perhaps there is a local company that someone could recommend? Should I hire a driver instead? Or, should I use the bus? Is there bus service in this area? I will have 3 days to visit this region before heading back to USA from Barcelona. If you have suggestions on places I should see, please advise. Thank you. I will be there in mid September.
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
3056 posts
TRAIN: La Costa Brava is called such because of the roughness of the coastline, thus, no train line is available there. In fact, by train from Barcelona, the R1 line travels by the coast until Blanes, the southern end of Costa Brava, then turns inland.
BUS: There is indeed a network of buses, but frequency -especially among smaller towns- doesn't always fit one's schedule when visiting as a tourist.
PRIVATE DRIVER: Hiring a driver is going to be quite costly.
RENTING A CAR: This is probably the most convenient way to really visit Costa Brava.
What to visit? there are literally dozens of places worth visiting, you should do a bit of leg work first, arm a rough itinerary according to your preferences and then suggestions can be made here. Start by checking these:
- https://costabrava.org/en/
- https://empresa.gencat.cat/web/.content/20_-_turisme/publicacions/documents/arxius/Costa-Brava_en.pdf
- http://act.gencat.cat/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/CataloniaMap.pdf
Enjoy!
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7070 posts
Places I have bookmarked to visit in that area include, Castle of Peratallada, Rupit, Besalú, Castellfollit de la Roca, and Camprodon. The furthest is less than a two hours drive from Torrent, but all are inland from it. Where you visit depends on your interests.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you for the information. I appreciate it.
Posted by
Barcelona + Sweden
4155 posts
Yes I agree, the car is the way to go when exploring northern Catalonia. If based in Torrent, you have a few options. You have Pals next door, a charming medieval stone village. North you find Empúries, ruins of an ancient Greco-Roman colony. Excellent onsite museum with a beautiful blend of historic architecture and natural beauty. Calella de Palafrugell is due south, this is a typical whitewashed Catalan fisherman's village, but very popular with tourists for its beach in the summer. Inland you have Girona, a city characterized by its medieval architecture, also holds a significant Moorish history. With a well-preserved Jewish quarter and a complex history of religious and cultural exchanges.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you. I am narrowing some plans based on the suggestions above. :)
Posted by
Citizen of the World
1887 posts
For a car rental on the Costa Brava, I found a well-reviewed agency called Ganxo Rent-a-Car last September and was very happy with their service and prices. Very reasonable rates and Ganxo will deliver the rental car to you at your hotel in dozens of locations in the Costa Brava and pick the car up when you are done with it at no extra charge. Ganxo also will add additional drivers of the vehicle at no extra charge. Comprehensive insurance coverage is available for a daily charge around €12. Daily rental rates begin at about €55 for a compact car.
www.GanxoRent.com
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Great suggestion, thank you!