Page Text Content
Thomson Destinations
One of Europe's top holiday spots, this dramatic coastline has got the lot - beaches, beauty and Barcelona on its doorstep.
Costa Brava & Costa de Barcelona
Llanca
Costa Dorada Brava & de Barcelona
Le Seu d'Urgell Ripoll Berga
1558 Puig de Comanegra
Figueres
Cap de Creus
Rosas Estartit
Olot Banyoles
Girona
Ponts Balsareny Manresa
Playa de Pals Tamariu
reviews Video tour & customer
Palafrugell Llafranc Playa de Aro
thomson.co.uk
Balaguer Tarrega
It's no wonder these sun-kissed coasts bring holidaymakers back year after year. A cocktail of great beaches, traditional towns and frothy resorts, one visit here has you hooked. There's Costa de Barcelona which snakes up from the big city its named after. And, a little further up the map, is the Costa Brava, Spain's original sunshine strip. In fact, this is where Britain's love affair with Spain began. Ever since Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra first visited Tossa de Mar in the 1950s, its small fishing villages morphed into bright, bustling resorts. Now what you find is a marriage of old and new - neon lights and Brit pubs sharing space with cobbles and tapas bars. The big hitters here are Platja d'Aro, Lloret de Mar, Tossa de Mar and Estartit. Whichever you choose, golden sands come as standard. Beach resorts aside, you've got the Spanish titan of Barcelona. With eye-popping architecture and seriously good shopping, the Catalan capital's a must. So if you're torn between beach and city, this corner of Spain delivers on both fronts. Things to see and do Sagrada Familia There can't be many cities in the world where the main attraction is a building site. But this is Barcelona, after all. The Sagrada Familia, is little more than a shell surrounded by cranes and scaffolding rigs. But this half-finished church still nets over two million visitors every year. The reason? It's like nothing you've ever seen. Designed by visionary architect Antoni Gaudi, it seems to defy all building conventions. So much so that its spires look like dribbled candlesticks. Parc Guell Another Gaudi special, this park is festooned with cartoony objets d'art. At the entrance you're welcomed by two Hansel and Gretel-like gatehouses. Beyond them lies one of Barcelona's most famous faces, a colourful mosaic dragon. He guards the base of a staircase that sweeps up over the side of a hill. Rounding off this leafy wonderland is the Room of a Hundred Columns - a cavernous hall supported by crooked pillars. Las Ramblas Barcelona's famous tree-lined boulevard runs all the way from the main square to the sea. It's lined with flower stalls, outdoor cafes and newspaper stands, not to mention buskers and street performers. Upbeat and lots of fun, Las Ramblas heaves right round the clock.
Igualada
Tossa de Mar Lloret de Mar ava a Br Monserrat Malgrat / Santa Susana Blanes Cost Calella de la Costa Pineda Mataro arcelona B a de Martorell Cost
Vilafranca del Penedes
1073 1201 Valls Tossal de la Baltasana
BARCELONA
N
El Prat de Llobregat Sitges a Se Villanova n Comarruga ea n a Salou ra Cambrils orad er Portaventura ta D dit La Pineda Cap de Salou Cos Me El Vendrell
COSTA DORADA, BRAVA & DE BARCELONA
30 km
© TUI 2005
Beaches When it comes to beaches you're spoilt for choice here. Tossa de Mar's golden sands boast two Blue Flag strips backed by a string of beach bars and cafés. Lloret de Mar has plenty of buzz with its tree-lined promenade and watersports. And it's got a huge sweep of creamy sands, so it never feels crammed. Then there's Calella de la Costa. Blending Gran, Garbi and Les Roques beaches, you've got three kilometres of spotless shores. One of the Costa's top spots, it's got watersports and even a beach library.
Average daily maximum temperature
30
80 70 60 50 40
25 20 15 10 5
London Costa Brava
°F
Apr 7 5 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Average daily hours of sunshine 8 9 10 9 7 6 7 6 6 5 Oct 6 3
°C
Pineda
Location On Costa de Barcelona, 15km south of Lloret de Mar and 45km from Barcelona Transfer time 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes If you're looking for a summer escape where you can get away from it all, look no further than Pineda de Mar. Because it's impossible not to relax and recuperate here. If you want some time to yourself, and to steep yourself in great bathing, the warm sun and good food, Pineda is the place you've been looking for. Sitting pretty on the Costa de Barcelona, it's fairly unknown by the package holidaymakers, so it's not over-catered for mass tourism. Good news, as its original character still survives. You'll come across the whitewashed houses and tiny streets that wend their way into three main squares. Drop in here on the attractive churches, traditional bars and open air restaurants, and maybe tuck into an authentic meal. So, if you're looking for a holiday with two speeds - relaxation on the one hand, and nightlife on the other, Pineda will please.
Tossa de Mar
Location 12km north of Lloret de Mar and 35km from Girona Transfer time 1 hour 15 minutes Tossa de Mar provides a glimpse of the traditional old Costa Bravian way of life, visible in the narrow streets and quaint, stone houses. You'll soon see why this beauty spot has attracted so many artists and painters over the years. And when you want to relax, the gently sloping beaches which sink into sun-warmed waters are a great starting place. When you want to stretch your legs, pull on some sturdy shoes and, with a little exploration, it's easy to find an undiscovered spot beside the sea for an afternoon's bathing and sun-basking, or in a secret place in the woodlands for a picnic. Be sure to take locally-produced cheese, bread, chorizo, olives and wine - and a doze in the shade of the trees. With a good selection of hotels, restaurants and low key amenities Tossa de Mar makes a great choice for a summer escape.
Sky digital 647 Visit your travel agent up to Call 0871 230 2555 Calls costMobile 10p/min plus 6p set up fee from a BT landline. and other providers' charges may vary.
239
|
Save it »
inbro