🇪🇸Costa Brava & Girona

Kayak hidden coves, explore medieval Girona, and eat your way through Catalan food culture. Costa Brava and Girona is one of Spain's most rewarding family destinations.

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Your family guide

Costa Brava & Girona with kids

“Skip the resort towns entirely. Costa Brava's real magic is the pine-backed coves and Girona's riverfront old town, both built for families who hike and explore.”

— San & Jo

Costa Brava means 'Wild Coast', and the name could not be more fitting. This stretch of northeastern Spain, running from the town of Blanes all the way to the French border, is one of the most dramatically beautiful coastlines in Europe. Turquoise coves tucked between pine-covered cliffs, whitewashed fishing villages, and over 200 kilometres of coastline that feels nothing like a typical package-holiday destination. For active families who want more than just a sun lounger, this region delivers in every direction.

Inland, the city of Girona adds a whole other layer to your trip. Its medieval old town, well-preserved Jewish Quarter, and colourful houses reflected in the Onyar River have earned it a devoted following among travellers who love history with their holidays. You might even recognise a few streets from Game of Thrones. Beyond the city, the landscape stretches from the wetlands of the Empordà to the peaks of the Girona Pyrenees, topping out at nearly 3,000 metres.

What makes this region such a great fit for families is the sheer variety on offer. On any given day you could be kayaking around sea caves in the morning, wandering cobbled medieval streets in the afternoon, and sitting down to a plate of pa amb tomàquet, the iconic Catalan toasted bread rubbed with fresh tomato and olive oil, before sunset. It is the kind of place where every member of the family finds something to love, and where the pace feels genuinely relaxed rather than rushed.

Catalonia, SpainNortheastern coast to the Pyrenees

200+ km of coastlineCoves, cliffs, and Blue Flag beaches

Sea to 3,000 mCoast, countryside, and alpine peaks

Cities and places in Costa Brava & Girona

5 places

Costa Brava

Costa Brava blends dramatic cliffs, Blue Flag beaches, medieval villages, and the surreal world of Salvador Dalí into one of Spain's most rewarding family destinations.

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Figueres

Figueres is home to the Dalí Theatre-Museum, a giant fortress, and a toy museum. A compact, walkable city that surprises and delights families of all ages.

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Girona

Girona is a compact medieval city in Catalonia with ancient walls, a stunning cathedral, colourful riverside houses, and brilliant food. Perfect for a family day trip or short sta…

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Lloret de Mar

Lloret de Mar combines safe sandy beaches, coastal hikes, a water park, and Catalan culture into one of Spain's most complete family beach destinations.

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Tossa de Mar

Tossa de Mar combines a real medieval fortress, pristine beaches, hidden coves, and great Catalan food into one of the Costa Brava's best family destinations.

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What makes it special

Why families love Costa Brava and Girona

A coastline built for adventure

The Costa Brava is not just beautiful to look at: it is made for getting into. Hidden coves, sea caves, and clear water make kayaking, snorkelling, and paddleboarding genuinely exciting here. The Medes Islands marine reserve is one of the best snorkelling spots in the western Mediterranean, with octopus, sea anemones, and shoals of fish just below the surface.

Medieval towns that feel genuinely alive

From Girona's Jewish Quarter and cathedral to the cobbled streets of Tossa de Mar and the hilltop village of Pals, this region is full of medieval history that does not feel like a museum piece. Kids who have watched Game of Thrones will get a real kick out of walking the same streets and cathedral steps they have seen on screen.

Three natural parks and real wilderness

Cap de Creus, Aiguamolls de l'Empordà, and Montgrí, Illes Medes i el Baix Ter together protect some of the most diverse landscapes in Catalonia. Whether your family loves birdwatching in the wetlands, hiking dramatic coastal headlands, or kayaking around the easternmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, there is proper nature here.

Culture that goes beyond the beach

The Dalí Triangle alone is worth the trip: the surrealist artist's museum in Figueres, his home in Port Lligat, and his castle in Púbol form one of the most distinctive cultural circuits in Spain. Add Girona's flower festival, the botanical gardens at Marimurtra and Cap Roig, and a food scene rooted in 'mar i muntanya' (sea and mountain) cooking, and you have a region with serious cultural depth.

Year-round possibilities

Most families visit in summer for the beaches, but the Girona Pyrenees open up a completely different side of the region in winter. Skiing, snowshoeing, and ice climbing are all on the table when the coast is quieter. Spring is spectacular too, especially if you catch Girona's Temps de Flors festival when the old city is filled with elaborate floral displays.

Your kind of holiday

Beach and water adventures

The Costa Brava's coves are some of the most beautiful in Spain, and the water is genuinely clear and calm in the right spots. Snorkelling the Medes Islands, paddling the Camí de Ronda by kayak, and discovering hidden beaches accessible only by boat or on foot: this is a coastline that rewards the curious.

History, culture, and slow exploration

Girona's old town, the Dalí Triangle, the medieval villages of Pals and Tossa de Mar, and the canals of Empuriabrava give culture-loving families an enormous amount to explore. The pace here is relaxed, the streets are walkable, and there is always a terrace nearby for a cold drink and a plate of pa amb tomàquet.

Active and outdoors

The Camí de Ronda coastal path, the hiking trails of Cap de Creus, birdwatching in the Aiguamolls wetlands, and skiing or snowshoeing in the Girona Pyrenees make this a region where active families can genuinely push themselves. The variety of terrain means you can mix a beach morning with a proper hike in the afternoon.

Fun facts

Things to know about Costa Brava & Girona

Girona was in Game of Thrones

The cathedral steps, the old city walls, and several streets in Girona's medieval centre were used as filming locations for Game of Thrones. If your kids are fans, spotting the real-life versions of scenes they recognise is a genuinely fun way to explore the city.

There is a Venice of Spain nearby

Empuriabrava has 25 kilometres of navigable canals and the largest residential marina in Europe. It is often called the Venice of Spain, and exploring it by boat gives you a completely different perspective on the Costa Brava.

Salvador Dalí lived and worked here

The surrealist artist Salvador Dalí was born in Figueres, just inland from the coast, and spent much of his life in the region. His theatre-museum in Figueres is one of the most visited museums in Spain, and his home in the tiny village of Port Lligat is one of the most unusual houses you will ever walk through.

Taste Costa Brava and Girona

What to eat with your family in Costa Brava and Girona

Pa amb tomàquet

This is the snack you'll eat every single day and never get tired of. Toasted bread rubbed with ripe tomato and drizzled with olive oil, sometimes topped with ham or cheese. It is the foundation of Catalan food culture and the perfect thing to order while the kids are still deciding what they want.

Daily treat

Fideuà

Think paella, but made with short noodles instead of rice. Cooked in a rich seafood broth with shrimp, clams, and cuttlefish, then served with aioli on the side. It is a coastal staple across the region and a great introduction to Catalan seafood cooking for younger eaters.

Must try

Xuixo

Girona's very own pastry: a sugar-coated, cream-filled fried dough that is crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. It is the city's signature sweet treat and the first thing to buy when you arrive in the old town. Kids absolutely love it.

Kids love it

Suquet de peix

A traditional fisherman's stew made with rockfish, potatoes, garlic, tomatoes, and a picada of almonds, parsley, and saffron. It is one of the signature dishes of the Costa Brava and a good way to taste the region's 'mar i muntanya' cooking philosophy in a single bowl.

Local favourite

Gambas de Palamós

These large red prawns, caught fresh off the Costa Brava coast near the town of Palamós, are considered some of the finest in Spain. Simply grilled with sea salt, they are sweet, meaty, and unlike any prawn you have had before. A treat worth ordering on a special evening out.

Must try