Calella de Palafrugell is a small fishing town in the municipality of Palafrugell, but it is equally a cozy family resort. The area features many small and genuine coves and Palafrugell's largest beach, Llafranc. There are plenty of restaurants and places to stay when visiting.
Understand
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Calella de Palafrugell has an excellent setting and, whilst busy in the summer season, it does not have the large hotels and mass tourism of other Costa Brava resorts such as Malgrat or Lloret de Mar. The coastline of the town stretches south some 2 km south to the El Golfet beach - part of the Cap Roig headland where beautiful Botanical gardens are located. Heading north you can find the neighbour beach/village of Llafranc.
The town has some standard hotels, apartments and, at a distance from the beach, some campsites. Like much of the picturesque section of the Costa Brava, north of Palamos and south of L'Estartit, Calella offers some very high quality restaurants and hotels - at prices to match. The beaches are Blue Flag standard.
Calella de Palafrugell has some beautiful small coves linked to Llafranc via a coastal walk. The first of the beaches at Calella de Palafrugell is 'El Canadell' where you have the Tragamar restaurant on the beach which is open during the summer season.
Port Bo is a small sandy cove just south of central Calella de Palafrugell. Les Voltes is a beach where a small promenade is set back from the beach with several restaurants and a beach shop. Platja Sota Can Calau is the next one along and after that Port Pelegri, Sant Roc and El Golfet which is approximately 1.5 km from central Calella de Palafrugell.
Calella de Palafrugell is a very popular destination dominated by apartments blocks set just back enough not to be seen from the beach. There are only a few hotels in this area.
Tourist office
[edit]- 1 Tourist office, Carrer de les Voltes, ☏ +34 972 30 02 28, [email protected].
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]The nearest airports are in Girona (GRO IATA) 50 km (31 mi) and Barcelona (BCN IATA) 135 km (84 mi).
From Girona airport take the bus to Girona and then the bus to Palafrugell .
By train
[edit]Calella de Palafrugell does not have a train connection. The closest train station is Caldes de Malavella 35 km (22 mi), but it's probably better go to Girona 47 km (29 mi) and there take the bus to Palafrugell(1 hr 30 min).
By bus
[edit]SARFA (Grup Moventis), offers regular bus service from Barcelona, Girona or Caldes de Malavella among other towns.
By car
[edit]- Palafrugell is on the C-31 , which comes from Figueres 65 km (40 mi) in the north and connects to Girona via the C-65 and to AP-7 (Barcelona-France) via the C-35
- From Palafrugell take GIV-6546
Get around
[edit]Camí de Ronda (Seashore path)
[edit]- The Cami de Ronda is a path that runs the whole Costa Brava, and usually is the nearest path to the sea, no matter if is a beach or a cliff. Is quite difficult at some points and all the time goes : "down to the beach, up to a cliff, and so on". Many times it joins the GR-92. It provides access to many hidden Coves and beaches. Usually it has breathtaking views over the sea.
Parking
[edit]- 1 Parking Carrer del Port Pelegrí, Carrer del Port Pelegrí, toll-free: noPhone with wrong format.
- 2 Parking Avinguda de la Costa de la Luz, Avinguda de la Costa de la Luz, toll-free: yesPhone with wrong format.
- 3 Parking Cap Roig, Carrer Camí del Rus.
- 4 Parking Avinguda del Mar, Avinguda del Mar, toll-free: yesPhone with wrong format.
- 5 Parking Carrer Chopitea, Carrer Chopitea, toll-free: noPhone with wrong format.
By car
[edit]There are many places to park for free, so there's no reason to use paid parking. However, violating parking rules will definitely result in a fine quite fast, even on a weekend. There are a number of parking lots and walking to the waterline is easy and allows you to admire the surroundings. Calella is a small village and heavy traffic is far from beneficial.
See
[edit]- 1 Cap Roig Botanical garden (Jardí botànic del Cap Roig). It has a privileged location sheltered from the northern winds (tramuntana) which creates an ideal microclimate for around 800 species that make up it. There is a picnic area for visitors. There are a dozen large-format sculptures by renowned authors. There are permanent and seasonal guided tours, where the historical context of the construction of the garden, the vegetation and curiosities and characteristics of the different plants found there are explained.
- 2 Sant Pere de Calella church. The church building was built in the 19th century. It was greatly expanded in 1958 and has subsequently undergone a variety of renovations, including the finishing of the bell tower that remained unfinished. The apse is presided over by an image of the apostle Saint Peter, patron saint of the parish. It contains mural paintings by the painter Raimon Roca: on the vault, Christ triumphant, with angels and saints; on the walls the miraculous catch and the donation of the keys to Peter, both in the landscape of the Calella coast.
- 3 Calella arches buildings (Voltes de Calella), Carrer de Miramar. The set of arches and the square and beach of Port Bo are a great example of traditional architecture and one of the most photographed corners of Calella. Port Bo beach was the natural port of Palafrugell and a center of commercial and fishing activity. The arches, from the 19th century, were used as a shelter for fishermen to sew their nets and have gatherings.
Viewpoints
[edit]- 4 Mirador de les Formigues (access by Camí de Ronda). viewpoint of the Formigues islands
- 5 Castellets Viewpoint, Carrer Castellets.
- 6 la Foradada Viewpoint.
- 7 ses Aigües Mortes Viewpoint, Carrer del Marina (access by Passeig els Forcats).
- 8 Punta d'es Burricaires Viewpoint, Carrer de Fransec Estrabau.
- 9 Manuel Juanola i Reixach Viewpoint.
- 10 Platja del Canadell Viewpoint.
Do
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- Walk. There are several villages available in a walking distance—the routes to them are well-marked and typically goes along the sea.
- Visit a water park. There are two water parks within visiting distance of Calella de Palafrugell - Aquadiver in Platja d'Aro, and Water World in Lloret . There are buses to and from the parks which depart from various holiday destinations around the area, including La Siesta and Kim's Camping. Both parks offer a large number of water-based rides, in addition to Jacuzzis, swimming pools (with wave machine) and food/ice cream kiosks. Water World is approximately 52 km (32 mi) to the south, usually around 50 minutes to an hour by car. There is also a bus service available.
- Take a walk down the coast from El Golfet to Platja de Castell. The coastal path is not challenging, no particular footwear required. It passes dozens of public and private coves, many of which are sandy and empty of tourists and can be climbed down to by foot. The GR 92 long-distance route crosses the city.
- Swim along the Vies Braves, a marine path following the coast which is closed to recreational boats. Apart from the beauty of the sights (usually from the opposite point of view), the bottom is rocky and inviting for snorkeling and diving as well. The swim is 1.5 km each way. Going early in the morning is recommended. In the afternoon water is quite opaque due to current and wind, but at 09:00 it shines like a mirror.
- Bike: The Pirinexus and the EuroVelo EV8 long distance bike routes cross the parent city of Palafrugell.
Events
[edit]- Atend to Festival of the Gardens of Cap Roig: Held at the Auditori del Jardí Botànic, located in a particularly unique place next to the sea. This summer festival is open to various performing arts disciplines. Early July to mid-August
Beach
[edit]- 1 Platja del Golfet (It can be accessed on foot via a flight of stairs or the coastal path camí de ronda.). Oriented to the east, it is 75 meters long and 17 meters wide, composed of dark sand and a very steep entrance to the water.. It has a high level of occupancy in summer. It does not have any services. Near the beach there is the castle and the Botanical Garden of Cap Roig.
- 2 Platja de Sant Roc (It has a pedestrian walkway above it from which you can go down to the beach by stairs.). It is located at the southern end of the village, surrounded by cliffs and fishermen's huts. Oriented to the southeast, it is 17 m long and 7 m wide, made up of coarse sand and gravel. At one end it has a kind of raised viewpoint.
- 3 Platja Port Pelegri, Carrer del Canyers (It is accessed by steps that leave from the promenade.). surrounded by cliffs and fishermen's huts, or guarda bots, Oriented to the southeast, it borders the north with the tip of Burricaires, where there is a viewpoint, and the south with the Verdaguer house, which had been the Banys d'en Caixa. It is 70 m long and 24 m wide, formed by coarse sand and gravel,[3] with a slightly steep entrance to the water, and the seabed is sandy for the first few meters before becoming rocky. At the top of the beach there is a restaurant, a bar and a diving center
- 4 Platgeta d'en Cosme, Carrer de Fransec Estrabau. It borders to the north with Calau beach, separated by rocks on which stands Can Cosme, the house that gives its name to the beach, and to the south with Port Pelegrí beach, separated from it by the Burricaires point, where there is a viewpoint. It is 28 m long and 20 m wide, made up of coarse sand.
- 5 Platja de Port Bo, Plaça Port-Bo. It is flanked by the Voltes de Calella, through which runs a covered promenade, where there are several bars, restaurants, ice cream parlors and other shops. Traditional fishing boats are moored on the beach, which contribute to giving it a picturesque image. Oriented to the south, it is 55 m long and 15 m wide, with garnet and golden sand, with a gentle slope into the water and the seabed is sandy in the first few meters. It is used by fishermen in the area to moor their small boats. It has a car park with less than 100 spaces, and also provides access for people with reduced mobility. Next to the beach there is a Red Cross house, danger signs, surveillance, and toilet services, bins, ashtrays, showers and access walkways.
- 6 Platja del Canadell. Oriented to the south-southeast, it is 191 m long and 17 m wide, made up of coarse sand and gravel, with a moderate slope into the water. The level of occupancy in summer is high. It is accessible on foot and by car. It is flanked by elegant summer houses from the early 20th century and on the beach itself there are old fishermen's huts transformed into homes. As a security service, it has a surveillance team, local police, danger signs and the Red Cross. In addition, the beach is equipped with toilets, showers, foot wash, telephones, bins, ashtrays and cleaning services.
Scuba diving
[edit]- 7 Poseidon Diving, Platja Port Pelegri s/n, ☏ +34 972 615 345.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]- La Torre, ☏ +34 972 61-46-03. 13:00-15:30; 20:00-22:30. A seafood restaurant with a great view of the sea and a sunset. Tried and recommended dishes: mussels (musclos); gaspatcho; calamars a-la Romana; turbot. Menu del dia is not a good choice--doesn't allow to choose dishes, but available both for lunch and dinner. salads €5.60-7.50; fish main courses: €9.50-18 (mussels €7.10); meat main courses €8.90-19.50. Menu del dia €17.
- 1 Restaurant Tony's, C. de les Voltes, 9, ☏ +34 972 61-41-27. Tony's has a great location with a view of the beach (depending on seating), and a good standard of food. from €30.
- 2 restaurant gelpi fish, Carrer Les Voltes, 11, ☏ +34 972614572. €50.
- 3 Margarita, Carrer Calau, 10, [email protected]. €40.
Drink
[edit]- 1 La Croissanteria de Callella, Xopitea, 3-5, ☏ +34 972 614 512.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hotel Alga, Avda. Joan Pericot i Garcia, 55, ☏ +34 972 617 080, [email protected].
- 2 Hotel Port-bo, Carrer August Pi Sunyer 6, ☏ +34 972614962, [email protected].
- 3 Hotel La Torre, Carrer dels Tres Pins, 30, ☏ +34 972 614 603, [email protected].
- 4 Hotel Sant Roc, ☏ +34 972 61 42 50, [email protected].
Camping
[edit]- 5 Kim's Camping (Camping Kim's), Av. del Mar, Km2 - Llafranc, ☏ +34 972 30 11 56, [email protected]. Check-out: 12. Kim's Camping is a privileged campsite right in the heart of the genuine Costa Brava, located between Calella de Palafrugell and Llafranc, the largest beach in Palafrugell. EUR.
- 6 Camping Moby Dick, Costa Verda 16-28, ☏ +34 972 61 43 07, [email protected].
- 7 Camping La Siesta (camping calella de palafrugell), C/ de Fuerteventura s/n, ☏ +34 972 61 51 16, [email protected]. is a holiday site around 500 m from the village of Calella, offering various types of accommodation - camping spaces, bungalows, pine lodges, apartments and mobile homes are all available. The site also features various conveniences such as a supermarket, bakery, gift shop, restaurants, bars, internet cafe, ice cream shop, two swimming pools, videogames arcade and sports courts/pitches. The site-provided accommodation (bungalows, lodges, apartments) feature toilet facilities, and for campers there are toilet and shower blocks on the site.
Connect
[edit]As of Jan 2024, Calella de Palafrugell and its approach highways have 4G from MasMovil and Orange, and 5G from Movistar and Vodafone.
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Calella de Palafrugell |
| Pals ← Begur ← | N  S
|
→ Palamós → Platja d'Aro |