Girona’s coast is a magical place where you will find incredible areas that are not always crowded, unlike elsewhere on the Mediterranean. Here are ten of the most incredible places in this province for an unforgettable swim, either among large rocks or in enormous golden sandy beaches, but always with rough, blue waters.
- Cala de Sa Boadella
- Cala Pola
- Cala Estreta
- Cala Rustella
- Cala Aiguablava
- Playa Illa Roja
- Playa Es Castell
- Cala Aigua Xelida
- Cala de Sa Tuna
- Playa de Sa Conca
- Mejores hoteles de la provincia de Girona
Sa Boadella Cove
This cove combines the most natural side, as it is the only unspoilt cove in Lloret de Mar, with the convenience of certain services such as showers and a beach bar where you can eat or drink whatever you like.
It is accessed through a pine grove and the Santa Clotilde Gardens, and its crystal clear waters and golden sand have earned it a Blue Flag to indicate the quality of the beach in an area that is still not very well known.
One of the unique features of this cove is its seabed, full of natural caves and grottoes that make it a paradise for snorkellers and water sports enthusiasts.
Pola Cove
This cove is located in Tossa de Mar, towards Sant Feliu de Guíxols. There is a campsite nearby where you can leave your car before descending some 400 metres to the sea.
The incredible vegetation that surrounds the beach, with pine and cork oak forests, turns the blue of the sea into a turquoise hue, which is very intense at times. In this case, the sand is golden but coarse.
Curiously, this beach, which is only accessible on foot, is a stop for tourist boats that make trips to other coves or sea caves.
The seabed in this area is very rich and you can snorkel while you enjoy swimming. It is also a good place for hiking enthusiasts as there are two routes that start from this cove to other bathing areas, one of which is more difficult than the other.
Although the beach itself does not have its own services, the proximity of the campsite means that there are showers and a bar where you can buy food and drinks.
Estreta cove
This is one of the most hidden areas along the Girona coastline. Located about eight kilometres from Palamós, it takes 25 minutes to walk to this natural paradise, which preserves all its scenic and marine value. Fortunately, the path is quite flat and does not cross any rock walls.
You start at the Es Castell beach, where you can leave your vehicle in the car park, and cross more coves that will give you an idea of what you are going to find at the end of the path: an unspoilt place surrounded by pine trees and cliffs that opens up to a large reef.
Curiously, in the middle of this paradise there is an old fishermen’s hut that has been restored by Palamós Town Council and can be rented for the day. It is a cove where nude bathing can be done and there are lifeguard services only at weekends in July and August, when it is usually more crowded.
Rustella cove
This is an unspoilt beach, not very crowded, next to Roses, one of the most touristy towns along Girona’s coast, which makes this bathing spot even more special.
Located some eight kilometres away, this cove with pebbles and coarse sand is reached by a dirt road that opens up before reaching Montjoi cove, full of Mediterranean pine trees.
Rustella cove forms a kind of bay where it is common for pleasure boats to anchor during the summer, although the beach does not have any services, so you should be prepared with everything you may need.
Although it is very narrow, barely 10 metres of beach, it is 110 metres long and on both peaks of the bay, the Bergantí and the Blanc, there are two unique places for diving.
Aiguablava cove
This is not a secret cove, far from it, but it is one of the most beautiful places along Girona’s coastline. Aiguablava cove is located in Begur and can be reached on foot, by car and, during the summer, also by public transport from the village.
It has all the services you may need (showers, lifeguards and even beach bars) and also a walkway adapted for people with reduced mobility.
Nevertheless, its setting, its golden sand and, above all, its turquoise waters make it a unique paradise on the Costa Brava that is sometimes too crowded.
Illa Roja beach
This cove (Illa Roja means Red Island), also located in Begur, is named after a huge rock that divides the area into two and is one of the best-known nudist beaches on the Costa Brava.
The huge reddish rock contrasts with the blue Mediterranean waters which, depending on the tide, drag it into the sea or leave it in the middle of the sand. This fast-changing situation makes it one of the most photographed places by Instagrammers looking for a unique and different sunset in this area.
To get there, you have to go down some steep stairs along the rock wall, so the access is difficult, making it a quiet place for bathers.
It is an unserviced bathing area about 120 metres long with coarser sand that provides a wilder and more beautiful nature.
Es Castell beach
This beach is an extensive unspoilt stretch of sand thanks to the residents of Palamós themselves, who decided to preserve the almost wild nature that makes it unique along the Costa Brava.
In the 1990s, a referendum was organised to see if a new construction would be allowed next to the beach and the inhabitants of Palamós decided that it should continue to be surrounded by reed forests and farmland.
Its fine golden sand is set in a shallow sea, which makes Es Castell an ideal beach for families with children. In addition, on one of the rocks that jut out into the sea are the ruins of an Iberian settlement dating from the 6th century BC, which are an obligatory path to another neighbouring cove.
Aigua Xelida cove
The name of Aigua Xelida (freezing water) already indicates what you will find in this rocky cove: cold and intense blue water. Located in Tamariu, two curiosities make it different: the famous Catalan writer Josep Pla visited it and described it in one of his books; and a house was built on the rock in 1953 whose materials had to be transported by sea due to its difficult access and can now be rented well in advance for a unique holiday.
The cove can easily be reached on foot along two different routes: the Avi Xicú route, which has a car park, and the Platja Gran route. This rocky formation is divided into two smaller beaches, La Gran and La Petita, which are an incredible place for swimming in the middle of almost wild nature.
Sa Tuna cove
Sa Tuna is not a secret cove in Begur but it is a typical corner of the Costa Brava that has managed to maintain the authenticity of its beaches and its fishermen’s cottages, some of which have now been transformed into restaurants where you can enjoy delicious seafood cuisine with unique views.
There is a section of the beach that has all the services you might need, such as showers and even sun loungers and parasols for hire, and which is accessible for people with reduced mobility.
If you want to visit the more unspoilt area, you have to cross a path that is not always easy and get to S’Eixugador, an area of grey stones that almost secretly guards a bathing area with incredible views.
Sa Conca beach
Sa Conca beach is one of the best bathing areas on the Costa Brava, with a section of fine golden sand, ideal for the more laid-back visitors or those travelling with children, and another section, Oriços cove, with a more rocky seabed and ideal for snorkelling.
This beach is located next to a housing development in S’Agaró and it is easy to see the houses on the cliff on one side of the beach from the long stretch of sand. This crescent-shaped bathing area has all the services you need: showers, toilets, and sun loungers and parasols for hire.
the long beach.
One of the most typical photographs of this incredible beach is the Sa Conca islet, a rock formation that divides the two bathing areas. In the rockiest cove where the sea is deeper, it is easy to observe sea urchins and a large variety of underwater vegetation.
Best hotels in the province of Girona
One of the best options for relaxing and visiting these idyllic coves is the Hotel Roses Platja, on the seafront and 300 metres from the centre of Roses, one of the most charming towns with the best services to enjoy your holidays.
With a colonial style, its 167 rooms are equipped for any type of visitor, whether alone, as a couple or with children.
Most of them have sea views and a private terrace where you can enjoy a unique sunset from your own room.
In terms of gastronomy, Hotel Roses Platja has a buffet restaurant specialising in Mediterranean cuisine and a snack bar with a huge terrace where you can enjoy an aperitif or a cocktail with direct views of the sea.
The hotel also has a garden area and direct access to the beach for guests’ convenience. If you do not want to step on the sand, the pool also has a solarium where you can relax.
The hotel has parking facilities (for a fee) for guests only.
