Camping by the Costa Brava

The Costa Brava, a rugged landscape between the French border and the global metropolis of Barcelona. There's no question that in some holiday resorts you can turn night into day on kilometres of sandy beaches. But the region is not only attractive for party holidaymakers. On the contrary: its wealth of variety and excellent infrastructure are aimed at couples and parents, those seeking relaxation and active holidaymakers alike. When camping on the Costa Brava, children enjoy the gently sloping bathing areas on the Mediterranean with pleasant water temperatures and the family-friendly campsites with a very positive overall impression, some of which have their own entertainment team.

The campsites on the Costa Brava are designed and classified differently. The selection ranges from good camping villages to excellent mobile homes of the most modern design, which cater for all tastes and requirements. Many campsites even allow you to bring your dog if you give advance notice. Those who prefer a more authentic holiday can spend their holidays in the hinterland, where life in the mountain villages is quieter. All around, rushing mountain rivers and the hilly landscape tempt you to take part in many an adventure sport.

Special features of camping on the Costa Brava

The Costa Brava stretches around 220 kilometres southwards from the Pyrenees. Camping on Spain's Costa Brava is possible close to the sea or directly on the sandy beaches. The variety of coastlines is matched by the diversity of holiday accommodation on offer. The quality category ranges from functional to higher-quality campsites.

In addition to a fantastic location, the campsites also impress with their family friendliness. Swimming pools with fresh water and paddling pools for children are standard features at most campsites. Some campsites on the Costa Brava also impress with their great entertainment programme for children and adults. Whether it's a wide range of sports activities for the grown-ups or age-appropriate clubhouses for the young campers - variety is guaranteed. Playgrounds, water slides, saunas and massages here and there provide an additional feel-good atmosphere. The sea with its pleasant water temperatures tempts you to jump into the supposedly cool water every now and then.

Things are far more tranquil inland. Far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, camping in nature is a delight. Signposted hiking and mountain bike trails lead the way through deep valleys, forests and wide gorges, along the foothills of the Pyrenees and through national parks. Crystal-clear streams and rivers invite you to go fishing. It is also worth mentioning that - whether by the sea or in the mountains - many campsite operators are extremely pet-friendly and look forward to welcoming your dog.

Destinations on the Costa Brava

The diverse towns on the Costa Brava offer just the right thing for every taste and every requirement.

Explore the lively Lloret de Mar

The lively seaside resort is known for its enterprising holidaymakers and excellent infrastructure. Countless clubs, pubs and restaurants characterise the townscape, which culminates between the old town and the kilometre-long sandy beach. But Lloret de Mar also has another side: a castle from the 11th century that is well worth seeing, idyllically perched above the sea in front of evergreen pine forests.

Active time in Empúriabrava

The small town was planned on the drawing board and its countless canals are reminiscent of the cities of Venice or Amsterdam. Most of the houses have their own jetty, from where the owner goes shopping in his stylish motorboat. An extensive water sports programme is offered in the harbour and on the extensive beaches, parachutists take off from the sports airport for a trip to lofty heights and hikers and cyclists explore the designated paths in the surrounding area.

Tracing the past in Girona

The city with its almost 100,000 inhabitants is characterised by its romantic old town. The historic centre is particularly beautiful along the course of the River Riu Onyar, where magnificent, colourful buildings dominate the scenery. Numerous winding staircases lead through the urban labyrinth up to the massive fortress wall. The effort of the climb is rewarded with an impressive panorama.

Top 5 sights

• Ruines d'Empúries: Excavation site with well-preserved fortifications and harbour facilities, temples and burial grounds from the 6th century.
• Old town of Tossa de Mar: fortified walls of the castle surround the picturesque alleyways and time-honoured buildings from the 12th century.
• Parc Natural de Cap de Creus: Spain's easternmost point is picturesquely surrounded by the flanks of the Pyrenees, which drop steeply into the sea on this stretch of coast.
• Castell Gala Dalí Museum: The magnificent 14th century mansion contains many interesting exhibits by the Spanish painter Salvador Dalí.
• Poblat Ibèric: The Iberian village near Ullastret is one of the most important archaeological sites in Catalonia, with stone artefacts dating back to the 2nd century.

Activities and excursions

Active cycling, hiking or water sports

Whether it's road cycling or mountain biking, the well-maintained mountain roads and rugged slopes have a lot of fans among cyclists. There are also family-friendly routes known as greenways. The rugged peaks of the "wild coast" tower into the Spanish sky, where designated hiking trails lead to the most beautiful stretches of countryside. An attractive destination for hikers is the nature park on the Cap de Creus peninsula with its remarkable lighthouse dating back to 1853. Surfers and kiters can often be found in the bay of Rosas and in Palamós. The "Mistral" and "Tramontana" winds provide excellent conditions for board acrobats in the early and late summer. Divers, on the other hand, are drawn to the small town of L'Estartit, with the Islas Medas off the coast.

Exciting excursions on the Costa Brava

For many locals and travellers, the coastal road between Sant Feliu and Tossa de Mar is one of the most beautiful stretches of road on the Costa Brava. Serpentine bends wind around idyllic bays and picturesque rocky outcrops, where parking bays invite you to stop. Escape the everyday on board a hot air balloon. The balloon rides for the whole family take off from La Bisbal d'Empordà and open up completely new impressions of the holiday region for those interested.

events

February - March

• Carnival in Girona: With its colourful parades and fun street dances, the carnival in the provincial capital is a popular destination.

March - Apri

• Semana Santa: Easter celebrations with processions, marching music and magnificently decorated floats.

July

• From the Festa del Carmen to the Festa Major de Santa Anna: Festa del Carmen: 16 July; large boat procession in honour of the patron saint of fishermen with market activities and dancing.
• Festa Major: 23-26 July; funfair in Lloret de Mar and Blanes. There are performances for the youngest and festivals for the older ones.
• Concurso de Sardanas: 25 July; Catalan folk dance competitions. The different groups compete in the central square in Sant Feliu de Guíxols.
• Festa Major de Santa Anna: end of July; international fireworks competition. Specialists from all over the world light up the sky of Blanes with colourful displays.

Gastronomy

When it comes to cookery, the Catalans primarily use ingredients from their own backyard. With ingredients from the Mediterranean and delicacies from the mountains, they create "Mar i Muntanya" (sea and mountains) cuisine. It is not uncommon for fish and meat to be combined in culinary terms, resulting in imaginative delicacies such as sausage with prawns or octopus with meatballs. Peppers, artichokes, tomatoes, courgettes and lots of fresh herbs from the garden are also indispensable ingredients. Bread is served with every main meal - crispy toasted or untoasted with salt or garlic. A small bowl of home-made allioli as a side dish - and the treat is perfect. Escalivada, a cold platter of marinated, grilled vegetables, is just as tasty. Fish lovers, on the other hand, should not miss the fried codfish baccalà.

To round off a successful evening meal - which is typically eaten quite late in the evening, usually around nine o'clock - there is a sweet dessert. Between crema catalana with caramel sauce, juicy-sweet doughnuts or mel i mató, goat's cream cheese with honey, the choice is difficult for those with a sweet tooth. Local wines are recommended for drinking, with red wines in particular enjoying a good reputation among gourmets. If you want something special, a well-chilled cava, a Spanish sparkling wine, is perfect.

Best time to visit

Although camping on the Costa Brava by the sea is possible all year round, the period from May to October is considered ideal. Usually at the end of April, the Mediterranean air warms up noticeably and the thermometer climbs above 20 °C. In midsummer, the sun shines more intensely and temperatures rise. They reach peak values of 29 °C and more.

Ideal conditions for water lovers: The swimming season is perfect between June and September. This is when the Mediterranean Sea averages 21 °C and impresses with its pleasant water temperatures. The milder months of spring and autumn are recommended for extensive exploration tours in the cities or sporting activities on land. From November onwards, temperatures drop to around 14 °C.