Discover Empuriabrava: The Venice of Spain on the Costa Brava
What a wonderful little slice of heaven on earth. Empuriabrava is a unique vacation destination on the Costa Brava, Spain. Located less than 2 hours from Barcelona and an hour from the French border, this area is known for its breathtaking views, beaches and canals.
Some call it the Venice of Spain, but it has a very different vibe from what you’ll find in Venice. The canal network boasts expansive waterways ensuring that a robust boating culture is a live and well.
Whether you want to toodle around in a tiny 4 person boat or marvel at the luxury speedboats, the experience is unlike any other I can think of.
As well, the canals are home to many gorgeous holiday houses, hotels and flats of various sizes. Although there are many fantastic places on the Costa Brava, something about Empuriabrava feels like home. For this Canadian, the multiple languages, and cultures had me feeling nostalgic for home and Cuba.
The whole area is like one big resort where you will hear French, Dutch, German, Arabic, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Catalan, and maybe some English lol! This is probably the most multicultural enclave north of Barcelona and I’m here for it.
Although, I willingly work away on my Spanish and Catalan skills truly adoring both languages, I actually felt more empowered to speak Spanish in Empuriabrava and more readily accepted.
There is an understanding here that most people are from somewhere else and are here for a good time, not a long time so enjoy yourself!
We hope to call this happy place our second home one day, as it’s the perfect location for endless fun and opportunity. It’s only a 20-minute drive to Figueres, a good-sized city that, aside from shopping and essential services, is the home of the Dali Museum. It’s also under an hour to Girona, the region’s capital and another stunning location for history and culture. Check my Girona post if you’re curious.
What to See and Do on the Costa Bravaβ¦
There is so much to do! You need to ask yourself what type of traveler you are.
The Costa Brava has everything;
Aquabrava water park, Butterfly Park, Sky Diving and Indoor Sky Diving, Surfing and Sailing, Boat Rentals, Salvador Dali museums, Art,Architecture,Museums and Cultural Festivals, shopping, wining and dining.
Or, if youβre like most, some site-seeing, dining, and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, mixed with lounging on the beach.
We sunbathed on the beach, swam in the beautiful warm water, visited Roses and LβEscala, browsed the shops of Empuriabrava, took a boat ride through the canals, and enjoyed some great vegan options at some Costa Brava restaurants.
We also played some fun games, told stories, and took in every last moment of our Airbnbβs incredible views.
To be honest, we were really excited to spend most of our mornings at the beach and our afternoons at the Airbnb, snoozing, reading, and watching some TV – my son discovered the show Bluey- and taking a boat ride or strolling around the commercial center occasionally.
The boat ride was so much fun. You donβt need a boat license, only a driverβs license. We had a little boat for four people max and drove through the canals looking at all the beautiful homes, apartments, and hotels.
However, aside from the canals, itβs very different. The houses range from quaint holiday homes to large luxurious homes – some of which had sprawling lawns, gardens, and swimming pools. Everyone seems to own some kind of power boat, with many of them huge, definitely made for sea voyages and fishing – a bit big for the canals.
As for travelers looking to get into museums and famous sites – be warned! The high season on the Costa Brava is June – September. So, if you hope to visit one of the many museums, such as the Salvador Dali House or Dali Museum, be sure to book your tickets ahead of time. I was certain we could get tickets for the Dali house by the end of the week, but I was out of luck!
Restaurant Recommendations
Although there are very few Vegan or even Vegetarian restaurants along the Costa Brava, many places have Vegan and Vegetarian options.
We were impressed and very satisfied with our options, but our Airbnb had some of the most beautiful views we had ever seen, so we dined in more than we had expected. And, this summer, I have been chronically and habitually obsessed with this Vegan Chckβn salad (center photo) so tasty!
As well, due to my sonβs current spaghetti kick, we had tasty seitan and red bean pasta a few times and tofu, broccoli, and green peas in a coconut sauce, pasta some other times.
I should note that all of these dishes also contain saffron! A lot of saffron – my husbandβs go-to spice! We joked that our restaurant was called Saffron Y Gazpacho Vista Cafeβ¦because there was a lot of gazpacho consumption as well.
Enjoy itΒ Carrer Salins 1 LΓnea, 17487 Empuriabrava, Girona
This is a large, popular spot on the beach. Itβs classy, stylish with wonderful staff. There is something for everyone here, including vegans and vegetarians.
TaroΒ Β Carrer Moxo, 6, 17487 Empuriabrava, Girona
Close to another end of the beach, this place had a few vegan and vegetarian options and a lot of everything else. As well, the staff is very friendly and efficient.
Mandala KitchenΒ Carrer del Pintor Joan Massanet, 22, 17130 L’Escala, GironaLβEscala
Lovely Vegan Cafe that you need to visit if youβre spending any time on the Costa Brava, and LβEscala in particular. The food was delicious and so healthy. And the owner/chef is so friendly and kind. This spot is definitely going on my favorites list!
Evening Games and Reading?
This was a great round-up of games! Though I think the Vampire game was the fave on this trip, and of course, we always like a good game of Dobble. This is the Louvre version we bought in Paris, but we also have the original.
Recently, my son declared that he is a Winnie the Witch and Wilbur fan! Finally, now I have an excuse to buy more books. I love this series and read them often with my students. I didn’t realize they had reading-level readers, so now I’m in heaven; aside from the full-size books, I bought reading-level 5 books.
We are also a multilingual household, so we always bring some Spanish books – and at least one Catalan book.
Where to stay
There are so many options for accommodation. We stayed at a charming Airbnb with as you can see, amazing vistas. This flat was only a one bedroom with a pull out couch – totally fine for a short term stay.
We loved the cozy, bright decor, and it was very quiet. There wasn’t an elevator, so we got a workout many times a day, carrying our bags and groceries up and down three flights of stairs.
If you have mobility issues, be sure to confirm that your accommodation has an elevator. It’s very common in these old buildings to only have a windy old staircase.This spot was clean, friendly, and reasonably priced.
There are so many options for accommodation. We stayed at a charming Airbnb with as you can see amazing vistas.
But, there are also quite a few hotels and resorts nearby. Check out my post How to plan the perfect beach holiday and booking.com for accommodation!
For tours and activities see Get your Guide Costa Brava
Have you ever stayed on the Costa Brava? Do you have any favorite spots or tips to share?
