The giant discos of Lloret de Mar, the foam parties in Calella or the nightly celebrations in Malgrat de Mar - this is the one well-known side of a Costa Brava vacation and not everyone's cup of tea. It's a good thing that there are also much more beautiful places:romantic fishing villages, artists' enclaves and an almost adventurously curved coastal landscape. Bizarre rock formations drop steeply down to the sea, with tiny bays hidden in between that can only be reached by boat. A dream!
Highlight of a Costa Brava vacation: the artists' village of Cadaqués
The Tramontana, a temperamental north wind, is the master builder of this unique landscape, which inspired the surrealist Salvador Dalí to create his works of art. But today the sun burns down on lush Mediterranean vegetation: flowering cacti, cork oaks and strawberry trees. The first destination of our Costa Brava vacation is the charming artists' town of Cadaqués, which nestles in a shell-shaped bay at the very tip of Cap de Creus . The whitewashed houses smile at us from afar, the blue sea lapping at the shore.
Below the church of Santa Maria, winding alleyways creep up the hill. In some places, they are so narrow that two people can barely fit next to each other. Despite this, moped riders race over the uneven natural stone paving at breakneck speed. And there is still room for a sea of flowers. They grow from tiny corners up the walls of the houses.
Costa Brava: vacation in the footsteps of Salvador Dalí
In Figueres, Dalí's home town, a visit to his spectacular museum is of course a must. Even from the outside, the blood-red painted former municipal theater with its huge glass dome and giant yellow eggs on the roof arouses curiosity. And as soon as you enter the first room, it's clear that the curiosities on display here are not just a show of curiosities.
In the old town of Tossa de Mar
But a breathtaking backdrop also awaits us in the fishing town of Tossa de Mar, which has been inhabited for 5,000 years. The Villa Vella, the old town, is particularly captivating. A stroll through the historic alleyways up to the lighthouse is a must for any Costa Brava vacation. Those who climb the steep steps are rewarded with a spectacular view of the Cap de Tossa off the coast. After exploring the city, our stomachs are growling. The cozy tapas bar "La Lluna" comes in handy. We are served: Chorizo in cider, paella nests and the famous Crema Catalana. A feast for the palate, because the small bites taste so much better on a Costa Brava vacation than at a Spanish restaurant at home.
Costa Brava vacation: fascinating underwater too
Our Costa Brava vacation ends with an extended snorkeling trip along the Medes Islands. As soon as our heads are submerged, we discover that the wildly romantic rocky coastline continues underwater with caves and overhangs. There it is covered in a lively carpet of colorful sponges and anemones - an almost surreal underwater world. We are certain that Salvador Dalí could not have painted it any better.