House-hunters chasing year-round sun have tended to bypass the Costa Brava in northern Spain. But could they be missing a trick? For many people, its temperate climate could make it more attractive than the increasingly searing temperatures of the southern Costas. And be warned – once you experience Catalonia’s most famous coastline with its picturesque bays, charming resorts, rich culture and world-class gastronomy, there is no going back…
Heatwaves are normal in Spain but 2025’s is being reported as the most intense on record. Unsurprisingly, the mercury peaked in Andalusia in the south, which this year experienced a new June high of 46 degrees. For some property-buyers, the prospect of putting up with southern Spain’s increasingly long, sweltering summers just to enjoy warm winters may no longer be worth it.
Cue the Costa Brava and why now could be time to seriously consider it as a place to own a home. This winding, pine-clad stretch of Mediterranean coast – which starts at Blanes around 70 kilometres north of Barcelona and ends a stone’s throw from the French border – has a more seasonal climate compared to most other Spanish Costas. This is thanks largely to its northerly location and being close to the Pyrenees.
Browse properties on the Costa Brava
Summers there get hot still, with max temperatures averaging 31 degrees in the summer, while winters are cool (max 14 degrees). Spring and autumn are wetter but generally pleasant during the day. In the words of the Met Office, “its location on the northeast coast of Spain means the Costa Brava often has more comfortable temperatures than other parts of the country, which can be appealing to those who find the searing summer heat a little too much”.
The fresher winters mean most of the resorts are very seasonal. Beachside tourist areas will be quiet between October and May, with many tourist businesses not opening up till Easter weekend each year. But the ‘old town’ areas of resorts, where locals tend to live, and hubs like Figueras and Girona are lively all year-round.
And how about access? Options for getting there (without driving across France) include flying to Barcelona (typically 75-90 mins transfer), or Girona (approx. 30-45 mins transfer), or these days, why not consider a TGV train – via Paris if coming from the UK – direct to Figueras or Girona.
Culture and food
The Costa Brava, with its hidden coves and picturesque resorts, is far more than a summer beach destination. Creative types and foodies have been coming to this corner of Catalonia for decades. Its most famous native was the surreal artist Salvador Dali, said to have been inspired by the wild seascape – as were Picasso and Miro who spent time there.
Another local boy is ground-breaking chef Ferran Adria, creator of the famous El Bulli restaurant, who put Catalonia on the international gastronomic map. The Roca brothers in Girona grew its reputation further with their ‘world’s best’ restaurant. Today Catalonia is the Spanish region with the most Michelin stars. In a nod to all this, Catalonia is the World Region of Gastronomy 2025.
Writers lured by the natural scenery and local charm over the years include Truman Capote, Tom Sharpe and George Orwell. Even Hollywood actresses Madeleine Caroll and Eva Gardner fell in love with the coastline. You’ll find statues of them in their favourite resorts.
Landscape for year-round living
The Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park
A 10-minute drive inland from the Costa Brava coast and you can be in rolling farmland or amongst forested foothills. Rivers fed by the Pyrenees ensure the landscape is lush and fertile. Highlights in the northern Costa Brava, or Alt Emporda, include the wild lunar-like Cap Creus peninsula and the Aiguamolls wetlands natural park on the Bay of Roses, where the sweeping seven-kilometre beach at Sant Pere Pescador is one of Spain’s top kite-surfing spots.
Up and down the coast, the Cami de Ronda trail and other paths weave along the coast and along pine-clad cliffs, through dunes and ancient stone villages. The whole area is a year-round paradise for walking and cycling, or river-based activities. Or discovering new places to eat – local restaurants in old farming communities are open year-round and excellent value. Venture a couple of hours towards the Pyrenean peaks in the winter months and you could be on a ski slope.
Don’t know where to start searching? You may have heard of Lloret de Mar, arguably the Costa Brava’s largest and most famous resort, one where package holidays helped put the north-east of Spain on the tourism map in the 1960s. Put that to one side. Our partner, Great Estates has a wide selection of homes across the Costa Brava, available right now. Here is a run-down of some of the Costa Brava’s other spots we think you should know about…
Dali’s arty sanctuary – Cadaques
This is one of the Costa Brava’s most famous towns, thanks to its connections with Sr Dali. Born in Figueres, the art maestro lived much of his life in the Port Lligat area of Cadaques. The town forms one corner of the so-called ‘Dali Triangle’ along with Pubol and Figueres.
Set in a bay, surrounded by a wild rocky landscape, the narrow streets and quayside of this pretty, white town are lined with restaurants and art galleries. With its arty bo-ho vibe, the most desirable properties are on the edge of town away from the tourists. Budget around €500,000 for a central pied-a-terre and anything up to €2m for a detached villa.
An equally charming fishing town on the other side of the Cap Creus peninsula could be Port de la Selva.
Full-package family resort – Roses
All-inclusive hotels that line the beachfront put Roses on the tourist map, but this family oriented resort has lots to offer homeowners. Highlights include a sweet old town, castle, leisure marina and fishing port (the largest fleet in the Costa Brava), water park and access to lots of gorgeous coves.
Away from the busy centre, popular residential areas are around the beaches at Canyelles and Almadrava. Or for stunning views across the bay, opt for a hillside community, such as Mas Fumats, Mas Boscà or Puig Rom, a short drive inland. Roses also has a purpose built marina community at Santa Margarita, where homes have private moorings.
Lots of choice for large apartments in the €150,000-€300,000 range. For a small house/ villa budget from €375,000.
Waterside community – Empuriabrava
A couple of kilometres west of Roses is Empuriabrava, Europe’s largest marina community. With 24 kilometres of navigable canals lined with waterfront properties, this is Europe’s largest marina community. It’s a year-round destination, although many homeowners let their property during July and August and prefer to spend time there out of season.
Set beside the estuary of the Muga river, Empuriabrava has its own beach, as well as restaurants and basic amenities. Budget from €400,000 for a typical ‘fisherman’ style (terraced) house with a mooring, or €200,000-€300,000 for a good choice of apartments on the canalside.
Beautiful bays and ancient ruins – L’Escala
On the southern end of the Bay of Roses, L’Escala is a picturesque fishing town famous for its anchovy production that has grown into a popular summer destination. A scenic prom links its maze-like old town, set around two coves, with its newer more touristy district at Riells, home to a large beach and L’Escala’s marina and fishing port.
The town includes the Greco-Roman Empuries ruins and ancient stone village of Sant Marti d’Empuries. Round another headland to the south is Montgo Bay, home to some of the town’s most exclusive villas perched on the hillside. Heading south takes you into a natural park area that ends at L’Estartit, a livelier more touristy resort. Off the coast there are the Medes Islands, a protected marine reserve with excellent diving. In L’Escala, budget €150,000-€275,000 for an apartment, from €375,000 for a small house or villa and upwards of €750,000 for a premium villa with views.
Pals, Begur and Palafrugell – dreamy bays and ancient towns
Three-bedroom house in Begur: €880,000
The crown in the Costa Brava’s jewels is the area covering Pals down to Palafrugell. You’ve seen the postcards of tiny coves with crystal clear water tucked beneath pine-clad cliffs – this is where you find them.
Pals and Begur are enchanting fortified towns, the former built into a lump of natural rock, while equally old Palafrugell is larger, with majestic squares and a year-round population. All are within a few kilometres of each other and hubs serving this stunning stretch of coastline. Starting at Pals beach, a string of secluded coves winds south around overhanging cliffs, where private villas peak you from amongst the pines. These include Sa Riera, Aiguafreda, Sa Tuna, Fornells, Aiguablava and Tamariu. Most are nothing more than beaches, some with a bar/restaurant and mooring area. The final two bays at Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell are bijou and highly desirable resorts, which ooze Catalan fishing village charm.
Besides sea-facing villas and apartments, luxury villas and converted farmhouses with large plots, set amongst the olive groves and a short drive from the coast are sought-after properties. Budget from €400,000 for a sea-facing apartment or small house without a view; anything from €800,000-€2.5m for a large detached family villa.
The Golden Triangle – Palamós to Sant Feliu
Two/three/four-bedroom apartments in Palamós: from €269,000
The corners of the so-called coastal Golden Triangle are Palamós, Sant Feliu de Guixols and inland at Santa Cristina d’Aro. This area offers a bit of everything that makes the Costa Brava so appealing. Palamós and Sant Feliu are old fishing towns, where an active fleet and marina keep them busy most of the year, while in the summer months they become family beach resorts.
Calonge is a small medieval town in the wooded hills just off the coast, where small villa communities, such as Vizcondado de Cabanyes, Mas Pere or Mas Ambros, are especially popular with British owners. Its beach area, an extension of Palamós beach, is a couple of kilometres away at Sant Antoni de Calonge and offers modern apartment blocks.
In amongst this stretch is the chic gated community of S’Agaro set around pretty Sant Pol Bay and with its hidden beach at Sa Conca. By contrast, neighbouring Platja d’Aro is a lively resort with a sweeping 2.5-kilometre beachfront, overlooked by apartment blocks and hotels, and known for its lively bars and nightlife that attracts residents of Barcelona.
A budget of €125,000-€200,000 will deliver a choice of apartments a few minutes inland. Budget from €250,000 for an apartment a short stroll from the beach, €350,000 upwards for village or modern terraced houses and €500,000-plus for detached houses or villas.
Two-bedroom house in Calonge: €440,000
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