Barcelona Costa Brava

Skirting the Mediterranean Sea from Barcelona to the French border, the Costa Brava’s cliffs and beaches draw throngs of European visitors—especially French—-in July and August. Early June and late September can be remarkably peaceful; the water is warm and the beaches are much less crowded. In winter, the “Wild Coast” lives up to its name, as fierce winds batter quiet, practically empty beach towns. These rocky shores have long attracted romantics and artists like Marc Chagall and Salvador Dalí, a Costa Brava native. No wonder, then, that the Costa Brava is so distinctively Catalan—this is a region that prides itself on its history and on the architectural and artistic treasures it holds. Among these are Dalí’s house in Port Lligat and his museum in Figueres. Certain towns have survived the summer-tourist onslaught better than others (Cadaqués has fared well), but there are still clear waters and pine-covered cliffs almost everywhere you turn.

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