Cadaques in Costa Brava

Salvador Dalì said that Cadaques is the most beautiful village in the world. You have to believe him, as after him, artists such as Picasso, Garcia Lorca, Miro, Luis Bunuel, and Paul Eluard chose to live in this beautiful little town on the Costa Brava. It is one of the few villages in the Costa Brava that has resisted urban development and the rapid growth of concrete buildings.

Today, it is a charming place, with a protected and romantic bay ideal for those who want to experience the most beautiful and less touristy side of the Costa Brava and possibly imagine how it used to be. Cadaques is not a place to go to the beach; the beach is small and crowded. It is more of a place for social life, to see and be seen. Those who truly love it only go when the crowds of vacationers disappear.

For general information on how to get to the Costa Brava, we recommend reading the page on how to get to the Costa Brava. The recommended exit to reach Cadaques from the A7 highway is N.3 (Figueres N.-Roses). Upon reaching Figueres, take the N-II towards Port Bou and then the N-260 towards Vilajuïga, from there follow the signs to Cadaques. For those arriving at Girona airport without a car, you can reach Cadaques with the Sarfa buses that leave from the center of Girona from Monday to Friday.

In the territory of Cadaques, there are many beautiful beaches and coves; they are usually tiny, true postage stamp-sized beaches and therefore very crowded during high season. It is worth visiting some of these because they are set in very picturesque scenes. For example, right in front of the church of Cadaques is Port d'Alguer, a small beach where you can admire the fishermen's boats. From the beach, you can see the Isola de s'Arenella. Also, in the center of Cadaques is Espianc, a small beach with a beautiful view of the entire bay. Those seeking more secluded beaches should head to Pere Fet, a pristine and tranquil beach. The largest (and most crowded) beach is d'es Portal, located right in the center of the bay. Locals also call it Playa Gran. The beach of s'Arenella is the one located right in front of the islet of the same name.

The white houses and narrow alleys; the fishing boats overturned on the small beaches; the bay illuminated by warm yellow lights at sunset; the animation of the streets at night; the clinking of plates outside restaurants. These are the sights to see in Cadaques; there is no extraordinary monument to admire, but life itself, the shape of the town, and the spectacle of the widest natural bay on the Costa Brava represent the things to admire. In the town's architecture emerges the Iglesia de Santa María, white like the whole town, with a stunning baroque altarpiece. It may seem strange, but Modernism has also left its mark on this secluded seaside village. Some of the city's most important buildings, such as the Casa Serinyena. Cadaques has been a source of inspiration for many artists; it is no surprise that there are a large number of art galleries and museums, such as the Museo Municipal de Arte, which showcases works by artists who have had a close emotional bond with Cadaques. There is also the Museo Perrot-Moore, which houses works by European artists. Anyone visiting Cadaques should not miss a visit to the nearby house-museum of Salvador Dalì, located a few kilometers from here, facing the bay of Port Lligat. You can only reach it on foot with a 1 km walk.

We recommend El Baluard, located in an ancient bastion a few meters from the port. Menu for 37 euros with a market cuisine made from seasonal products from the sea and countryside of Empordà. It is located on Via Riba Nemesio Llorens 2, the street that lines the bay.

Cadaques is not very large, so it does not have many accommodation facilities. It is advisable to book in advance. You can check availability and offers on Costa Brava with Booking.com, one of the world leaders in online hotel and lodging reservations. You can read comments from those who have already stayed in the hotels, check availability and prices, and make a reservation without any upfront payment. Book with Booking.com