Travel Guide: Costa Brava, Spain

Many people visit Barcelona each year, but few make the short two-hour journey up north to the counties in the foothills of the Pyrenees, where beach towns, mountain lodges, and medieval towns await. Known collectively as the Province of Girona and the Costa Brava (rugged coast) region, this area offers immersive travel opportunities rich in Catalonian history, arts, and adventure. Below, we break down the different towns and sights to see along the way.

Girona

The name of the greater province is also the namesake of its central city. Girona is the site of very well preserved medieval remains, including a walled-in Old Quarter, a Roman fortress, and Gothic churches. Outside the old part of the city is a happening, sprawling modern Catalonian city, home to El Celler de Can Roca. It was voted the best restaurant in the world two of the last four years (it has been first or second each year since 2011).

Where to Stay: Hotel Duran. We choose this hotel because of its Dali-related history. When Dali was living and painting in Figueres, he frequented this hotel for dinner and drinks. You can see old photos on the wall and even eat in the room where Dali preferred to dine. The Dali Museum is just a few minutes' walk from the Hotel Duran, as are dozens are bars and restaurants along the town square.

Cadaques

The charming beachfront town of Cadaques sits at the end of a peninsula in the Costa Brava region, the eastern most point in Spain. Its beauty drew artists like Hemingway, Dali, and Picasso for inspiration and respite, and you'll see why after a drink at one of the outdoor cafes on the waterfront Plaça Passeig in front of its whitewashed, red-roofed Mediterranean canvas.

Where to Stay: Horta d'en Rahola. Now that you've "come down the mountain," this is the place to treat yourself. Cadaques is fit for a postcard, yet the hotel prices don't seem to reflect that. Even the most exclusive experiences, like the seven-room Horta d'en Rahalo, will only run you about $125 per night (though not beachfront, it is in the middle of Cap de Creus Natural Park). If you're craving views of the water, check out the Hotel Sol Ixent, Hotel Playa Sol, or the Hotel Llane Petit Cadaqués.

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