The Costa Brava does beach holidays with a twist. Yes, there are golden sands and family-friendly resorts but also wild cliffs, wind-sculpted pine forests and secluded coves that feel like private secrets. Stretching from Blanes, less than an hour’s drive from Barcelona, to the French border, this rugged Catalan coastline has long lured everyone from Dalí to discerning sun-seekers. Along its length, you’ll find options for all tastes: luxe boltholes in artsy Cadaqués, spa hotels with show-stopping sea views in Roses and converted farmhouses tucked inland near Platja de Pals’ dune-backed beaches. Whether you’re after barefoot romance, splashy family fun or something low-key in nature, the Costa Brava has a spot to match. These are 14 of the best.
1. Hotel Mas Tapiolas, Solius valley
£ | SPA | POOL | Best for families
Surrounded by the peaceful landscapes of the Solius valley, this opulent, family-friendly retreat is set in an ancient Catalan farmhouse. Rooms are flooded with natural light, the best of them featuring grassy gardens that tuck you — and, more importantly, the kids — in behind hedges, while the pool is surrounded by Bali beds that invite a snooze. The kids will be busy enough — there’s a playroom with a ball pit, games and toys aplenty, plus a kids’ pool, and there are also bikes to hire and a padel court. The restaurant serves local cuisine, often based on fresh fish from nearby Palamos, and there’s an extensive wine cellar.
2. Camiral Golf & Wellness, Caldes de Malavella
££ | SPA | POOL | Best for golf
The European Tour often calls at Camiral and the Stadium Course here has hosted the Spanish Open three times. It’s a tough round — though the Tour Course is kinder — so make time to recover in the wellness centre afterwards, perhaps with a session in the oxygen chamber (said to calm the mind) or a more traditional massage. Rooms here are elegant but you won’t spend much time in yours; there’s tennis, padel, Pilates and yoga as well as — naturally — mini golf.
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3. Hotel Montecarlo Spa & Wellness, Roses
£ | SPA | POOL | Best for beachfront location
Roses has one of the most enticing stretches of golden sand on the Costa Brava and Hotel Montecarlo makes the best of it. Every bedroom here comes with a sea view from its terrace and the spa is an Instagram favourite — its hydrotherapy pools stare straight out at Santa Margarita beach with nothing but a smooth glass wall between you and the view. There’s a cracking vista from the bar terrace too, with direct access to Roses boardwalk, and there are free bikes to borrow for exploring further afield.
4. Talaia Plaza EcoResort, Sa Riera
£ | SPA | POOL | Best for value
Set just back from the Catalan coast and surrounded by Mediterranean pine forest, this glamping resort goes easy on the camping, instead offering canvas rooms that come with a private bathroom in an adjacent wooden hut, plus lodges with kitchens and sea view terraces. Kids will love the play area with its bouncy castle, while tours and masterclasses run the gamut from cocktail-making to tree-planting — after dark there are even astronomy tours via the mobile planetarium. Days are spent by the pool, or perhaps in the alfresco Jacuzzi, while evenings start with sunset drinks at the Sky Bar before a hyperlocal dinner at Brasa i Flama restaurant (think paella and organic veggies from the resort’s own garden).
5. Parador de Aiguablava, Aigua Blava
£ | SPA | POOL | Best for sea views
Spain’s state-owned Paradores hog some of the best locations and the Parador de Aiguablava is no exception, standing in glorious isolation on the unspoiled Punta D’es Muts and facing out to sea. The pool is a stunner, with wraparound Mediterranean views, while the fresh modern bedrooms have large balconies and even the sauna offers a sea view. An enticing line-up of small coves and sandy beaches runs along the coast nearby but in summer you might just stay right here, eating lobster rice on the terrace at Restaurante Mar i Vent and watching the yachts bobbing in the bay below.
6. Hostal de la Gavina, S’Agaro
££ | SPA | POOL | Best for all-out luxury
Salvador Dali, Elizabeth Taylor, Lady Gaga: when a hotel’s former-guest list features names such as these you can bet it’s something pretty special. Hostal de la Gavina’s illustrious history of welcoming the rich and famous tells you everything you need to know — this is the Costa Brava’s premier address and you can expect faultless service and plenty of grandeur. Top-notch facilities are a given, with a seawater pool, two clay tennis courts and a beach just below the hotel for water sports. Dining options are extensive, from formal Candlelight to poolside Garbi, while the breakfast buffet is one of those generous affairs that comes with cava.
7. L’Azure, Lloret de Mar
£ | SPA | POOL | Best for a lively location
Want the bells and whistles of a proper Spanish beach resort? Lloret de Mar is the top choice in these parts, with everything from blue-flag beaches and decent scuba diving to the liveliest nightlife on the Costa Brava. Stay in the heart of it all at L’Azure, a fun base with bright rooms decked out in sunshine yellow, four bars and an adult-only rooftop pool. The spa has an indoor pool, Turkish bath and treatments, while the kids’ splash park is arranged around a classic camper van. The resort’s main beach is just a ten-minute stroll away and there are several nightclubs within easy staggering distance.
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8. Atzavara Hotel & Spa, Santa Susanna
£ | SPA | POOL | Best for water babies
Want to fly and flop? Book this laid-back hotel in the resort of Santa Susanna and get ready to suss out the best spot by the outdoor pool area. It’s a whopper, with six saltwater pools, some tailor-made for little ones, and you’ll find dozens of loungers, plus a smattering of Bali beds, to choose from. Alternatively, the beach is just 400m away. Rooms can sleep up to four and some have private swimming pools, while the hotel’s four restaurants include the Bamboo Pool Club on the rooftop and the extensive El Mercat buffet.
9. Mas Salvi, Pals
£ | SPA | POOL Best for a rural feel
There’s a sense of true escape at this country house hotel, and it begins as you drive up the private gravel road to reach the 17th-century stone farmhouse (it takes around ten minutes). The setting is glorious, all well-kept trees and lush green lawns, and you could spend day after day by the outdoor pool, lazing in the whirlpool overlooking the grounds and playing tennis or billiards. Rouse yourself, though, for idyllic Platja de Pals, a dune-backed strand overlooking the Medes islands offshore — it’s just a 15-minute drive.
10. Hotel Lloret Santa Rosa, Lloret de Mar
£ | POOL | Best for a budget break
You’re sure to spend plenty of time in the kidney-shaped rooftop pool of this bright and breezy coastal hotel, though it’s an easy stroll to the beach as well, just 150m away. You’re surrounded by the thrum of fun-loving Lloret de Mar and the bedrooms here feel designed for retreat, featuring cool white decor and small balconies. At day’s end head up to the rooftop once more for a drink at the bar, complete with panoramic views across the resort and down to the sea.
11. Can Mascort Eco Hotel, Palafrugell
£ | POOL | Best for a romantic stay
Among Palafrugell’s medieval alleyways a short hop back from the Mediterranean coast, this 17th-century former apothecary is now a chic bed and breakfast tempting couples to hole up and stay a while. You’ll start your days with a local, seasonal breakfast, served in the charming, frescoed dining room, before heading up to the roof terrace to soak up the sun — and the scent of the hotel’s herb and flower garden. Downstairs you can laze in the Roman-style caldarium (like a giant bath) while evenings are best spent in the library, over board games and a glass of wine from the honesty bar, or even playing the piano.
12. Hotel Peralada Wine Spa & Golf, Peralada
£ | SPA | POOL | Best for wine lovers
The Emporda region is known for its fabulous wines, and this estate stands at the heart of it, an oenophile’s playground offering tours, tastings and not one but two wine bars. You’ll need a proper dinner to soak it all up and the hotel can certainly provide; book a table at Michelin-starred Castell Peralada for a tasting menu inspired by the local area or settle in to L’Olivera for upscale dishes that make the best of Emporda’s produce. Days can be spent by the saltwater pool, surrounded by olive trees and with views to the Pyrenees; on the 18-hole golf course; or in the spa. The bedrooms are spacious, with calming decor.
13. AQUA Hotel Silhouette & Spa, Malgrat de Mar
£ | SPA | POOL | Best for a grown-up beach break
Just back from the blue-flag beach of Malgrat de Mar and within easy striking distance of the resort’s seafront bars and restaurants, this adult-only hotel has a laid-back feel despite its size. Rooms are simple but chic, while the alfresco pool area has in-water loungers and is shaded by lofty palms. Throw in an extensive breakfast buffet and a spa offering massage treatments and it all adds up to an easy, breezy beach break. There’s daily entertainment, including live music in the evenings.
14. Hotel Casa Cacao, Girona
£ | Best for city centre location
Every foodie worth their salt knows of the buzz around El Celler de Can Roca, holder of three Michelin stars and the trickiest tables in Girona to get hold of. Lacking a booking? Stay instead at the restaurant’s boutique hotel, offering 15 hip suites dressed with high-quality natural materials, a chocolatier and a chocolate-themed café. The real draw, though, is the rooftop terrace, with fabulous views of the city. A fine dining-style breakfast is served up here, along with cocktails at sunset and intimate set-menu dinners.
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Additional reporting by Imogen Lepere