Lloret de Mar

Lloret de Mar is one of the Costa Brava’s best-known package-holiday resorts and the obvious choice if you want plenty happening around you. The town combines long-established tourism with beaches, restaurants, shops, bars and a sizeable hotel scene.

The main beach sits directly in front of the town, while Fenals offers another popular stretch of coast nearby. Visitors who like exploring rather than staying on one beach can also discover smaller coves and sections of rocky coastline around the resort.

Families often choose Lloret because of the availability of larger resort hotels, pools and nearby attractions. At the other end of the day, the resort has a reputation for lively nightlife, making it suitable for groups and adults who want busy evenings.

Lloret is therefore a good all-rounder, but it will not suit everyone. If your idea of a Costa Brava holiday is old stone streets, a smaller bay and quiet evenings, neighbouring Tossa de Mar may fit better.

Tossa de Mar

Tossa de Mar is one of the Costa Brava’s most memorable coastal towns. The old fortified section, Vila Vella, rises beside the beach and creates the kind of historic Mediterranean scenery that feels very different from the larger purpose-built holiday resorts.

The main beachfront gives you easy access to swimming and sunbathing, while the old town is made for slower exploration. Walk uphill through the historic streets and viewpoints and you get wide views over the sea and coastline.

Tossa works particularly well for couples and families who want a proper resort but prefer atmosphere over nightlife. You can still choose a hotel with pools and all inclusive options while having a beautiful town to explore outside the resort.

Santa Susanna

Santa Susanna sits south of the Costa Brava proper on the Maresme coast, but is commonly included in the same package-holiday market. It has a long beachfront tourism area with hotels, restaurants and family-friendly facilities.

The resort has a more spread-out feel than compact Tossa de Mar and can work well for families who want a straightforward beach-and-pool holiday. Its location also makes it useful for trips north towards Costa Brava resorts or south towards Barcelona.

Choose Santa Susanna if the hotel, beach and easy coastal access matter more to you than staying inside the historic Costa Brava boundary.

Pineda de Mar

Pineda de Mar is another Maresme resort often sold alongside Costa Brava holidays. It provides a long beach, a more relaxed town atmosphere and family hotels without the intense nightlife associated with Lloret.

It can be particularly appealing when the hotel itself provides pools, slides and children’s facilities because families can enjoy a resort holiday while still having a genuine coastal town outside the hotel.

Pineda is worth considering if you want a quieter pace but still want good access to the wider coast and Barcelona region.

Blanes

Blanes marks the southern beginning of the Costa Brava and mixes tourism with a stronger local-town feel. The resort has beaches, a marina, traditional streets and attractive gardens above the coastline.

The Marimurtra Botanical Garden is one of the best-known local attractions and makes a change from the usual beach-and-pool day. The views from the gardens also show why this stretch of coastline became famous for its cliffs and Mediterranean scenery.

Blanes suits visitors who want access to the Costa Brava without choosing the busiest resort atmosphere of Lloret de Mar.

Malgrat de Mar

Malgrat de Mar lies beside Santa Susanna on the Maresme coast and is another established package-holiday destination. It combines a long beachfront area with a more traditional town centre behind it.

Holidaymakers can use it as a relatively relaxed base, while still having easy access to neighbouring coastal resorts. Families often appreciate the straightforward beach holiday format and generally less intense evening scene.

Calella

Calella is another large Maresme resort south of the Costa Brava. It has a long beach, shops, restaurants, bars and a more substantial town centre than many smaller coastal holiday areas.

One of its advantages is the coastal rail connection, making it a useful base for holidaymakers interested in independent trips towards Barcelona as well as relaxed beach days.

It suits travellers who like the convenience of a developed resort but want more freedom to move around without relying entirely on organised excursions.

Platja d’Aro

Platja d’Aro has a smart, energetic holiday atmosphere built around beaches, shopping, restaurants and evening life. It feels more polished and commercial than many of the smaller historic towns but considerably less party-focused than Lloret de Mar.

Couples and families who like going out for dinner, browsing shops and walking around the resort in the evening may find it particularly appealing.

The wider coastline around Platja d’Aro also provides access to coves and coastal paths, so beach days do not need to mean staying in one spot.

L’Estartit

L’Estartit sits further north and is well known as a gateway to the Medes Islands just offshore. That makes it particularly interesting for boat trips, snorkelling, diving and travellers who enjoy being close to the sea rather than concentrating on nightlife.

The resort has a broad beach and relaxed holiday atmosphere, with the dramatic Montgrí landscape rising behind the town.

It can suit active families and couples who want to spend more of their holiday exploring the natural side of the Costa Brava.