Costa Brava Day Trip from Barcelona: Medieval Villages & Beach

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/30

Duration10h 30m

GroupUp to 16

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Pine cliffs, hidden coves, and a medieval town in one morning and afternoon.

A small-group day trip from Barcelona to the Costa Brava visits a secluded beach cove near Blanes, the clifftop Marimurtra Botanical Gardens, and the fortified medieval town of Tossa de Mar, with a traditional lunch and drinks at a local restaurant included. The group stays under 16 travelers with an English-speaking guide, and you choose how to spend your time at each stop—beach swim, gardens walk, or both.

10h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Costa Brava and Medieval Village Tour

Meet guide at Palau de la Música
Depart Barcelona through Eixample district
Arrive at Cala de Sant Francesc beach
Swim or walk along the beach
Visit Marimurtra Botanical Gardens
Enjoy traditional lunch with drinks
Stop at Castle of Sant Joan viewpoint
Drive to Tossa de Mar
Explore Tossa de Mar medieval town
Return to Barcelona, end at Plaça Catalunya

The Experience

You start at 8:15am next to the Palau de la Música in Barcelona, meet your guide, and leave at 8:30am for a 60-minute drive north through the Eixample district toward the coast. By 9:45am you're at Cala de Sant Francesc, a cove locals know and tourists miss, with turquoise water and no crowds because the early departure gets you there first. You can spend two hours swimming in the cove, or walk up to the Marimurtra Botanical Gardens perched on the cliffs above—or do both, since the schedule gives you the flexibility. The gardens sit high enough that the Mediterranean stretches out endlessly below, and the views alone make the climb worth it.

At 12:30pm you stop at the Castle of Sant Joan for views over Blanes, then head into town for lunch at a family-run restaurant known for handmade traditional dishes. A glass of sangria, wine, beer, or a soft drink comes with the meal. After eating, it's a short drive to Tossa de Mar, where you have a couple of hours to walk the cobbled streets of the old fortified town, climb to the lighthouse on the hill, and wander back down through narrow lanes lined with whitewashed houses and shops. The medieval walls and the Costa Brava coastline frame everything you see there.

The day ends around 7pm at Plaça de Catalunya in Barcelona, where you can take the metro or a taxi back to your hotel. The whole tour runs about 10 and a half hours, and you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a guide who speaks English and knows the region well enough to explain what you're seeing as you drive.

What’s included

English-speaking guide.
air-conditioned vehicle.
traditional lunch with a glass of sangria, wine, beer, or a soft drink.
entry to the Marimurtra Botanical Gardens if you choose to visit.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Explore Catalunya

Is this one for you?You're in a small group of no more than 16 travelers, which means the pace stays relaxed and your guide can give personal attention at each stop. The fixed schedule and included lunch let you focus on the coast and the towns instead of arranging transport or finding a restaurant—everything is timed so the day holds together without you building it.