Guide for Visiting Costa Brava's Tossa de Mar in 2024

About Costa Brava's Tossa de Mar in 2024

Tossa de mar is one of the most southerly towns, (along with Lloret de Mar) on the Costa Brava, about 100 Km north of Barcelona, and is one of the most beautiful coastal towns in Catalunya.

What makes Tossa de Mar so special?

• Tossa de Mar Castle: from at least the 13th century, is a rare example of a preserved castle and walled city, many of which in Catalunya were destroyed during the Spanish civil war. Tossa de Mar castle is FREE to visit although the privately-owned houses within the walls are closed to the public. There is a museum of art inside the castle walls as well as great viewpoints and restaurants.

• The Shopping area of the historic Centre of Tossa de Mar: is a great place for a variety of shopping. There are stores selling clothes, souvenirs, crafts, art and beach wear and beach accessories can be found in the main pedestrianised street of Carrer de Socors.
• Chapel of Our Lady of Socorro: is a tiny 4 pew chapel in the middle of Carrer de Socors from the 16th Century that was for the village fishermen.
• Restaurants around the castle: in Carrer de portal with outside dining next to the castle walls. Traditional Catalan food for one of the best meals you will have in your life.
• Beaches and coves: Walking a few kilometres north or south of the town centre will reveal to most beautiful coves and beaches with crystal clear Mediterranean blue water with a back drop of nature made of pine trees and mountains. The rocky coastline here is stunning.
• Range of accommodation: in Tossa de Mar is small boutique hotels like Hotel Cap d'Or or Hotel Diana and the larger modern hotels like Gran Hotel Reymar as well as Hostels and Camping.
• Activities: Tossa de Mar boat tours, scuba diving, sea kayak, snorkel, hiking and bicycle rental.
• Frequent reliable public Transport: connections to Tossa de Mar from Girona airport, Barcelona City and Airport using a direct fast Sarfa Bus.

If you are still unsure, keep scrolling to the image gallery.

Visiting Costa Brava's Tossa de Mar in 2024

So you still interested in spending a long weekend or choosing Tossa de Mar for your holiday destination. lets get into more detail about why I love this place so much.

Beaches and Coves

• Platja Gran de Tossa: is the main beach in front of the town and is broad and deep and has great views of the castle while you swim and sunbathe.
• Cala es Codolar: is a large cove that can be reached at the end of carrer del portal and while you swim you are watched over by the castle. This is my favourite beach in Tossa de mar.
• Playa Cala de L'Ull de Vidre & Cala Figuera: are two small coves that can be found by walking about 4km south along the Cami de la Ronda trail starting the path at the top of Cala Codolar. There is a tiny beach restaurant here and it is a good spot to eat.
• Platja de Llevant de Llorell: is a large beach about 200m from Cala Figuera and also has a beach bar and restaurant. The beaches south of Tossa de Mar are all in small rocky coves.
• Platja Mar Menuda: Is a beach on the northern edge of Tossa de Mar town and it is where the KrakenDive school is based. The beach has a rock formation on one side with a small secluded bay.
• Cala Bona: From Aveninda Mar Meduda, in Tossa de Mar, you can find the Cami de la ronda trail through the cliff top pine forest heading north about 1.5Km to find this small rocky cove beach.
• Cala Pola: is a further 750m north from Cala Bona and is a medium sized beach within a cove and has a Xiringuito (beach bar) called Santa Clara. This is my recommended beach when exploring north of Tossa de Mar.
• Cala Giverola: is the next beach heading north and it is a cove backed by pines and cliffs. Madrugada Restaurant Bar can be found behind the beach.

Where to stay overnight

There is a comprehensive guide PDF already available from the Tossa de Mar tourism website and in the documents section of this page. Last time I stayed overnight I used Hotel Cap d'Or which is a charming little hotel at the foot of the castle walls. Any accommodation should be booked in advance. Camping is also an option.

use the bookings widget above to find your perfect Tossa de Mar accommodation.

Food and restaurants

When you exit the castle via the southern exit there is a multitude of restaurants with outside dining terraces that offer one dish to three dish meals and set menu's for prices starting from 20 euros per person. I highly recommend eating in one of these restaurants if your budget can stretch as the food is delicious. Note that a three-course lunch for two with wine, coffee, desert etc. may cost about 100 euros if ordering individual dishes from the menu. These restaurants may offer a set menu which will be cheaper per head.

For quick meals there is a multitude of pizzerias and hamburgueserias walking away from the castle along Carrer del Portal or along the front of the platja gran beach via Passeig del Mar. Tossa de Mar, even has a Chinese food restaurant.

Explore Tossa de Mar Castle

The castle has two entrances in the walls:

• Passeig de Vila Vella: in front of Platja Gran de Tossa follow the road along the walls until you get to an arched gatehouse entrance.
• Carrer de Portal: in front of Sa Muralla restaurant is another gate house entrance.

Museu Municipal de Tossa de Mar: is an art gallery museum inside the castle in Plaça Pintor Roig Soler. The museum opens from 10:00h to 14:00h every day. Some days it opens till later but best to visit in the morning.

Walk along the top of the castle rampart walls: starting by ascending the stairs in Plaça Pintor Roig Soler and finishing at the sea facing 17th century cannons.

Walk up to the Cap de Tossa Lighthouse viewpoint passing via the Església Vella de Sant Vicenç church ruin.

Follow Passeig de la Vila Vela to the hidden Xalet d'en Bram viewpoint overlooking Cala es Codolar beach

Find the Bronze Ava Gardner statue: Erected 8 years after her death because she filmed Pandora and the Flying Dutchman in Tossa de Mar and fell in love with the town.

Walk along Carrer Abat Oliba: and admire the shrine in the wall and the flowers in the window boxes of the houses.

Dine at Restaurant La Placeta inside the castle walls.

Bicycle Rental in Tossa de Mar

In the documents section there is a tourist brochure of all the cycle trails in the mountains behind Tossa de Mar. I recommend riding to the neo Romanesque Ermita de Sant Grau d'Ardenya church via Ermita de Mare de Déu de Gràcia ruins.

Bicycles can be rented from JimboBikes.

Where to Stay Overnight

There is a comprehensive guide PDF already available from the Tossa de Mar tourism website and in the documents section of this page. Last time I stayed overnight I used Hotel Cap d'Or which is a charming little hotel at the foot of the castle walls. Any accommodation should be booked in advance. Camping is also an option.

Use the bookings widget above to find your perfect Tossa de mar hotel.

Food and Restaurants

When you exit the castle via the southern exit there is a multitude of restaurants with outside dining terraces that offer one dish to three dish meals and set menu's for prices starting from 20 euros per person. I highly recommend eating in one of these restaurants if your budget can stretch as the food is delicious. Note that a three-course lunch for two with wine, coffee, desert etc. may cost about 100 euros if ordering individual dishes from the menu. These restaurants may offer a set menu which will be cheaper per head.

For quick meals there is a multitude of pizzerias and hamburgueserias walking away from the castle along Carrer del Portal or along the front of the platja gran beach via Passeig del Mar. Tossa de Mar, even has a Chinese food restaurant.

Explore Tossa de Mar Castle

The castle has two entrances in the walls:

• Passeig de Vila Vella: infront of Platja Gran de Tossa follow the road along the walls untill you get to an arched gatehouse entrance.
• Carrer de Portal: in front of Sa Muralla restaurant is a another gate house entrance.

Museu Municipal de Tossa de Mar: is an art gallery museum inside the castle in Plaça Pintor Roig Soler. The museum opens from 10:00h to 14:00h every day. Some days it opens till later but best to visit in the morning.

Walk along the top of the castle rampart walls starting by ascending the stairs in Plaça Pintor Roig Soler and finishing at the sea facing 17th century cannons.

Walk up to the Cap de Tossa Lighthouse viewpoint passing via the Església Vella de Sant Vicenç ruin.

Follow Passeig de la Vila Vela to the hidden Xalet d'en Bram viewpoint overlooking Cala es Codolar beach

Find the Bronze Ava Gardner statue. Erected 8 years after her death because she filmed Pandora and the Flying Dutchman in Tossa de Mar and fell in love with the town.

Walk along Carrer Abat Oliba and admire the shrine in the wall and the flowers in the window boxes of the houses.

Consider dining at Restaurant La Placeta inside the castle walls.

Bicycle Rental in Tossa de Mar

In the documents section there is a tourist brochure of all the cycle trails in the mountains behind Tossa de Mar. I recommend riding to the neo Romanesque Ermita de Sant Grau d'Ardenya church via Ermita de Mare de Déu de Gràcia ruins.

Bicycles can be rented from JimboBikes.

Costa Brava's Tossa de Mar in 2024 Summary of Prices Summary of Prices

Map for Costa Brava's Tossa de Mar in 2024

Weather for Costa Brava's Tossa de Mar in 2024