Left or Right of Barcelona (Beaches an Coast) - the question

Hola! So, me and my beautiful girlfriend/wife want to head out to Spain in September... and I have been there a few times, she has not...
so we want to go to some nice Beaches and Beachtowns closer to Barcelona...she would like to experience the big city, while I want to
get some remote beach action going. I remember having been there long time ago, the costa brava/costa del sol are nice, but I forgot
which side to go from Barcelona...do you go towards France or Towards Portugal (west vs.east)...
what do you all recommend? I want to avoid crazy tourist towns, is there anything fairly untouched with an hours drive from Barca left ?
I was in that area last time in 1986..so I am sure it has changed a bit.

Any tips for particular towns to settle in and enjoy the local food and beaches, and nature are highly welcome...or any thread that may relate
as link.

gracias!

c

No, the nearest for something relatively unspoilt would be about two hours, by car. A bit more by public transport. Think Costa Brava, but right in the north, around Palafrugell.

Yes, Costa Brava is to the north of Barcelona. For a small beach cove only accessable by car or boat, try Santa Cristina, in between Blanes and Lloret del Mar. Type in "santa cristina, barcelona, spain" in Google Maps and you'll see it. There are many other nice little beaches on the Costa Brava. Also try Hostal Empuries at Empuries (Ampurias) out of Figueres. To get to most small beaches easily, you will need a car. You can find bus service, though, if you have to.

Thanks! I will have a rental car to get around... i usually rent a smart car for me and my girlfriend, this worked
great in Sardinia and other places.

What is the water quality like in Spain? I will check out the EU water ratings after this post, but I remember that
back in the 80s it was not that great, but it was rumored to be much better...

Also, in the places you mentioned do you recommend places to go eat, any specialties in that area , like solid seafood and such?

thanks for the tips, i will be there in september

c

Christ,
I'll look up some suggestions for restaurants for you; don't remember the names right now. Do some searches on Catalan food to find out about local specialties. Olot (out of Girona) is known as a center for Catalan cuisine; it is inland, though. Generally, I ask for recommendations on restaurants from local bakeries or other stores. With seafood, get what is fresh and you should be OK. Careful about paella. Since it is a tourist favorite, a lot of places serve that don't have the right too. There should be a Paella Jail for those guilty of culinary crimes.

Water Quality? It varies. I usually find it is best early in the summer, gets worse later on. Worse near campgrounds and other tourist beaches. Also worse after a summer storm because of runoff from the hills etc. I remember reading that the Generalitat had done a lot to improve water treatment plants on some of the major rivers that feed into the Med. That was a few years ago, so hopefully there has been some improvement.

Here's a suggestion for a restaurant and a daytrip from Barcelona:

Restaurant Can Net, Mosqueroles

Go north from Barcelona on the AP-7 freeway about 50 km to Sant Celoni. From the center of Sant Celoni take the Carretera de Campins (not to be confused with the Carrer de Campins) out of town, west toward the mountains. You will leave town right away if you are on the right road. The road winds around and you will come to a round-about.

Go straight through the roundabout and toward the town of Mosqueroles. You have to leave the main road to the right. There is a sign. There is not much in Mosqueroles but some houses, a very old church, and a restaurant, Restaurant Can Net. I know the family that owns this place. I've been going there for years. During the week they have only set menus, but there are usually enough choices. On the weekend you can order a la carta. In the summer or holiday weekends this place is usually packed at lunch time (1 to 4 PM), but you can usually find a table.

If you go right at the roundabout toward Campins. There is a nice restaurant at Campins if you happen to be there at lunch or dinner time. Continue on the road past Campins; it is very windy and hilly from here on. Follow the signs to Sant Fe de Montseny. This is a great place for a picnic, a hike, a drink, and a look around. There is a restaurant here too, but I've never eaten there.

Later you can continue onto the highest point in the park, El Turo de l'Home. You can make a circle and come back to Sant Celoni a different way. I suggest buying a good map. Ask at any bookstore in Barcelona for a driving map of Montseny.

Thanks so much , everyone! Great tips for a starter...

cheers

c

In addition to great advice on Costa Brava, I suggest you also explore Sitges. It's only 30 min by train from Barcelona but it's a world away - nice beaches, great nightlife (it's a renowned gay resort but nightlife is mixed and caters to all), pretty town with a bit of history. A perfect spot with your girlfriend/wife (which is it?)

You can go up the coast or down quite easily by train to seaside towns. Sitges is lovely but the beaches are very crowded in summer. Also, south of Barcelona the sand is fine and sticks to you whereas north it is grainy and easier to brush off. A word of warning: jellyfish are on the increase (due to overfished sea and global warming). Last year they plagued the beaches in this part of Spain.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>corruption much shallower.<hr></blockquote>

What does that mean?

Just south of Barceloan is Garraf not too far from Sitges or Barcelona

Its wife, but I am still in denial that I married (recently) so I slip on the girlfriend/wife part...

we have been together for a long time prior to getting married. she is great tho, don't misunderstand me.

i want to be close to barcelona since it's always a good choice... i will explore
the area too, so it's part absorbing the town of barcelona and the option to go to a nice (!) beach and smaller town with
it's own flair.

cheers

c

If you want an interesting day trip that not very many tourists see, rent a car and head southwest to the monastery of Poblet. Eat lunch at one of the great nearby restaurants. Let me know if you want details.

Its wife, but I am still in denial that I married (recently) so I slip on the girlfriend/wife part...

we have been together for a long time prior to getting married. she is great tho, don't misunderstand me.

i want to be close to barcelona since it's always a good choice... i will explore
the area too, so it's part absorbing the town of barcelona and the option to go to a nice (!) beach and smaller town with
it's own flair.

cheers

c