Lloret and Tossa de Mar from Barcelona

At first sight

In this half-day tour you will have a fairly complete view of what the Costa Brava is.

On this tour, we are going to visit the Girona coast, christened 100 years ago as the Costa Brava.

The name is due to its unique rocky, rugged and cut shape coastline, composed of small coves surrounded by pine forests and lapped by crystal water.

Its natural wealth and beauty are apparent in several territories and protected areas, such us Cap de Creus, the Emporda Marshes and the Marine Reserve Medes islands.

The fame of Costa Brava is also due to its villages. Small fisherman towns, with whitewashed walls and narrow winding streets, today still retain their charm.

This area has historically been a point of entry, transit, and settlement for different cultures and civilizations. Each has left its footprints until nowadays.

In this half-day tour, we will discover the southern part of the Costa Brava visiting two villages that represent the essence of that coast. They are opposed to each other but, at the same time, complementary, and after a few hours after leaving Barcelona, we will go back with a complete idea of what Costa Brava is.

Program:

Our departure is “Estació del Nord” (platform 16) in Barcelona every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 8:30 am but we recommend to be there about 15 minutes earlier.

We will take the motorway and after 1h15m we will be at Lloret de Mar, the main touristic village of Costa Brava. Upon arrival we immediately realize of its bustle: there will be multiple coaches arriving from all over Europe which bring visitors to enjoy its beaches, hotels, shops, activities and, above all, its lively nightlife.

We will have about an hour to explore this colourful and dynamic village with a strong personality.

Along its unique beach promenade, we will be able to enjoy great views of its beaches, arising from the majestic beach of Lloret to the hidden Sa Caleta. In addition, two small hills on both edges of the beach promenade are privileged viewpoints throughout the site and surroundings.

Walking through its narrow streets, which still have a reminiscence of its recent maritime past, we will find plenty of shops to suit all tastes: from the latest brands to the typical beach bazaars.

In the middle of its most famous shopping street we will also be able to admire architectural jewels of great value such as Saint Roma church, with an exquisite modernism style, and inside the church, a 16th-century altarpiece which is still so well preserved.

At approximately 11:30h am we will go on board DOFIJETS, which will lead us to the neighbouring village of Tossa de Mar. During the sailing trip, we will be able to enjoy the unique and characteristic landscape of Costa Brava: a procession of different huge cliffs which have been shaped in fanciful forms over the centuries by the strength of sea and wind.

At about 12:15h pm we will get to the emblematic village of Tossa de Mar, considered “the pearl of Costa Brava” because in this small area we can find all those landscapes and historic elements which have given it such well-deserved fame. Its spectacular sceneries, from its shores, beaches, caves in the cliffs to its lush vegetation, turn it into one of the locations that have better preserved its natural environment in perfect harmony with the tourism industry.

History has left his footprints, from the Romans in the Vila Romana dels Ametllers, one of the most important villas in the ancient Roman province of Tarraco, which is a classic example of a Roman Mediterranean farming establishment, to its emblematic fortified Vila Vella or Old Town of Tossa, which was listed as an artistic-historic monument in 1931 as it is the unique remaining fortified medieval town on the Catalan coast. Today, little is left from the original 13th-century structure and today’s ramparts are the result of several restorations undertaken throughout the years, especially that one dating from the late 14th-century.

Outside its walls, we can find the traditional fishing neighbourhood, known as Sa Roqueta, which still maintains the sailor atmosphere of these typical villages on Costa Brava.

Once we arrive in Tossa de Mar, we will begin a walking tour from the beach, following the fortified perimeter up to the lighthouse on the top, for those who are interested. Over there, you will appreciate stunning views from the coastline. When descending, we will go through the narrow streets and stone houses of Vila Vella until we get to the fishing district. From there on, you will have free time to have lunch. This village has the greatest gastronomic offer from all Costa Brava.

At 4:00 pm the tour will be finished and we will go back to Barcelona, where we will arrive at about 5:30 pm.

*It is necessary to indicate the number of kids under 6 in the “Observations” section of the booking, given that they occupy a seat on the bus.