The Costa Brava stretches from Blanes northward to the French border, a succession of rocky coves, pine-scented headlands, and fishing villages that have drawn artists since Dalí settled in Cadaqués. The southern section around Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar offers medieval walled towns and broader beaches, while the Cap de Creus peninsula in the north remains dramatically wild. Between them, towns like Begur, Calella de Palafrugell, and Palamós retain their working harbors and whitewashed centers, largely unchanged since the mid-twentieth century.
Dining here follows the seasons and the daily catch. The Empordà region behind the coast produces exceptional wines, olive oil, and the local anchovy preparations that appear on every serious menu. Morning markets in L'Escala and Palafrugell set the day's offerings. Many visitors base themselves in one village and explore by car along the narrow coastal roads, discovering a different cala each day — though the most memorable meals often come from finding a chiringuito or family-run restaurant where the fishermen unload directly onto the kitchen's scales.
