Costa Brava

What Arenys de Mar is really like: a Maresme coast town with the area’s biggest marina, sandy beaches and a long tradition of bobbin lace-making.

What Alella is really like: a small wine town just north of Barcelona, home to the DO Alella appellation and easy beaches on the Maresme coast.

What Besalú is really like: one of Catalonia’s best-preserved medieval towns, with a fortified Romanesque bridge and a rare Jewish ritual bath.

What Palamós is really like: a working Costa Brava fishing town famous for its prawns, with a fishing museum and coves like La Fosca and Castell.

What Figueres is really like: the Dalí Theatre-Museum, the vast Sant Ferran castle, and the old town at the gateway to the Costa Brava.

What Girona is really like: a walled medieval old town, the widest Gothic cathedral nave, colourful Onyar riverfront houses and Game of Thrones filming spots.

What Sant Antoni de Calonge is really like: a long Costa Brava beach, quiet coves, the Camí de Ronda path and a medieval castle inland.

Guide to Begur — medieval hilltop village above Costa Brava’s finest coves: Sa Riera, Sa Tuna, Aiguablava, Indianos mansions, food and travel tips.

Guide to Hostalric — medieval walls, castle and old town between Girona and Barcelona, an easy inland day trip from the southern Costa Brava beaches.

Guide to Arbúcies in the Montseny hills behind Costa Brava — bus-building heritage, chestnut forests, hiking trails, local food, and how to get there.