Catalonia is one of the most beautiful and visited regions in Spain. With an absolutely enviable geography, between one of the most beautiful coasts of the Mediterranean and the imposing Pyrenees, Catalonia has some of the most pretty villages in Spain.
Continue reading and discover in this post the most beautiful villages in Catalonia and the ones we consider essential for a weekend getaway, as well as for a complete route throughout the autonomous community. In addition, we mention some travel tips and explain the best way to create a travel itinerary.
Which are the most beautiful coastal villages in Catalonia?
Cadaqués
Probably if you think of pretty villages in Catalonia, the first that comes to mind and the one that tops most internet searches is Cadaqués. Located in the province of Girona and on the shores of the Mediterranean, Cadaqués stands out for its narrow, white, cobbled streets and thousands of bougainvilleas adorning the windows of the houses in its historic quarter
It is so beautiful that Salvador Dalí himself chose the hamlet of Portlligat, belonging to Cadaqués, to build his house which, today, is also a museum and one of the must-sees in Cadaqués.
Also located on the beautiful Costa Brava, Cadaqués is surrounded by secret beaches and coves (and not so secret in high season) with beautiful views of pine-clad mountains.
Calella de Palafrugell
Less touristy than Cadaqués, but undoubtedly just as beautiful. The town of Calella de Palafrugell is a must on the list of the most beautiful towns in Catalonia. Calella de Palafrugell is an ideal holiday destination for lovers of beaches, nature and peaceful surroundings. Of course, as one of the most picturesque villages on the Costa Brava, it is full of life in summer and the flats sell out quickly, but it never fails to maintain that feeling of a place where time passes slowly.
While there are no major medieval monuments or house museums of distinguished artists to highlight, the reality is that it doesn’t need them. Its whitewashed streets, turquoise-water beaches and laid-back atmosphere are more than enough to make Calella de Palafrugell one of the prettiest towns in Catalonia and Spain.
Sitges
Although many of Catalonia’s prettiest seaside towns are on the Costa Brava, there are some, such as Sitges, in the province of Barcelona, that also stand out for their beauty and lively atmosphere.
Internationally renowned for its famous film festival, Sitges is an ideal destination not only to enjoy the seventh art, but also to relax on one of the best beaches in Catalonia. Admire its beautiful old town while strolling through its narrow streets.
Among the essential places to visit in Sitges are the Church of San Bartolomé, which overlooks the rest of the town from its high bell tower, and the Palau de Maricel, an artistic ensemble in the Noucentista style which forms part of the Architectural Heritage of Catalonia. In addition, of course, to one of its greatest charms, its marvellous beach.
Tossa de Mar
It is difficult to list all the towns worth visiting on the Costa Brava… But Tossa de Mar is undoubtedly one of them. With its cultural heritage and located in a dreamlike natural enclave, it deserves to be included in the list of the most beautiful villages in Catalonia.
Among its main attractions is its 12th-century castle, of which only its impressive walls remain, guarding the coast from pirates and enemies. At the foot of the walls is the pleasant Cala Codolar. It is a small beach with breathtaking views of a tower of the walls, the stunning blue sea of the Costa Brava and the mountains.
Finally, we can’t leave out the two most charming neighbourhoods of Tossa de Mar: Vila Vella and the Roqueta neighbourhood. The first corresponds to the old quarter of the town, where the brown of the stone and the green of the plants invade everything. The second, the Barrio de la Roqueta, is the old fishermen’s quarter. It is notable for the white houses and pleasant atmosphere.
To organize your trip, we recommend using the website or app de Passporter where you can get inspired by the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you most to add them to your route map.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Which are the most beautiful inland villages in Catalonia?
Besalú
La Garrotxa is one of the most beautiful regions of Catalonia. It is located in the province of Girona and is home to some of the most beautiful villages in Catalonia. Therefore, if you are travelling in the area, we recommend that you visit at least Besalú. Although its neighbour Castellfollit de la Roca is just as wonderful.
Although Besalú is a majestic town for many reasons, its main protagonist is an impressive Roman bridge that crosses the River Fluvià.
Besalú’s enviable location also means that from here you can walk or cycle through the nature. Discover the wonderful Garrotxa region and some of its key points, such as the Vall d’en Bas viewpoint and the Salt del Sallent.
Miravet
Belonging to the province of Tarragona, Miravet is one of those towns that make you dream of medieval stories. Miravet is located on the banks of the Ebro. One of its most representative images is that of its beautiful terracotta houses piled up on the river.
In addition to its beautiful views and the narrow streets of the old town, Miravet has a powerful historical and cultural heritage that make it one of the most beautiful villages in Catalonia. Its Templar Castle, located on the river Ebro and declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, stands out. Its origin is Andalusian, built in the 9th century. But due to the takeover of the Templars it underwent changes and remodelling in Romanesque style, resulting in a beautiful eclectic style castle.
Other interesting visits in Miravet are its Old Church in Renaissance style and the pottery workshops, a craft deeply rooted since Arab times.
What should I know before a trip through the most beautiful villages of Catalonia?
- Catalonia is a very safe area. However, watch out for pickpocketing and pickpocketing in crowded areas
- Two official languages coexist in Catalonia: Spanish and Catalan. However, in the more touristy areas you will have no problem communicating in English.
- Emergency cover: travel insured
- Respect the beaches and natural surroundings on your journey through the most beautiful villages in Catalonia.
- Book well in advance if you’re travelling in high season.
- If you’re travelling in summer, in addition to cool clothes and sunscreen, take something warmer for the evenings (especially if you’re visiting inland towns). Temperatures cool down.
- Don’t forget your sunscreen if you’re travelling in the summer or going skiing.
How to organize a trip through the most beautiful villages of Catalonia?
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat. You can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference.
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map. You can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post.
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need to make and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you have visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers the most beautiful villages in Catalonia.
In case of any doubts, check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip through the most beautiful villages of Catalonia
The climate in Catalonia depends on the area. As we said at the beginning of the post, this community has coastal areas and mountainous areas, so it is advisable to check the weather depending on the town that you are going to visit. Having said that, Catalonia has a mainly Mediterranean climate, with mild temperatures throughout the year and little rainfall.
Of course this depends on what you are looking for. If you want to visit the mountain villages and perhaps go skiing in the Pyrenees, then November-March is certainly the best time. If, on the other hand, you want to relax in the sun and swim in the turquoise waters of the Costa Brava, the ideal months are June-September.
In general, communications in Catalonia are very good. The region has a good transport network and the larger villages are well-connected to the provincial capitals by bus. However, if you want to move around the different towns in Catalonia without depending on timetables, the best way to use a car, as sometimes the frequency of buses is not very high.
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