Cadaqués has been nicknamed “Pearl of the Costa Brava”, with its white washed buildings, terracotta roofs, pebbled beaches and glistening oceans. You would be forgiven if you mistook it for a Greek island village. and there are just as many great things to do here in Cadaqués.
Cadaqués is a fishing village located the on the Costa Brava in the province of Girona. As one of the less visited towns along the Costa Brava it can feel as though it is in a world of it’s own. It hits the sweet spot of enough tourists to give the village a lively atmosphere but not enough to feel overrun, instead it is peaceful.
The best time to visit Cadaqués is between May, June, July, and August. During this time the weather is hot and tourism picks up. Let’s jump into the best things to do in Cadaqués during this time.
Things to do in Cadaqués
1. Hike to Far de Cala Nans (Cala Nans Lighthouse)
The trail begins at the southern end of the town on Riba Pitxot, a narrow coastal road. You’ll pass by beaches, walk through quiet rugged paths with nothing but the sounds of wildlife, and finally, you’ll reach the Cala Nans lighthouse, offering incredible views of the rugged cliffs and ocean. While the lighthouse is not open to the public, there is a large wall where you can relax, overlooking the ocean with your lunch and perhaps some wine! If you want a moderate hike then this is one of the best things to do in in Cadaqués.
The path is well-marked and has a gradual incline, reaching 692 feet. The round-trip hike from Cadaqués town is a total distance of 7 km and takes approximately 2 hours to complete.
2. Salvador Dali House
A 15-minute walk from central Cadaqués you’ll find the home of Salvador Dalí, the village’s most famous export. As expected, it is a truly unique residence. Only a limited number of guests are allowed in at a time, which makes the visit much more pleasant and relaxing. The house serves as a visual representation of Dalí’s life and imagination, and it’s truly fascinating.
I recommend purchasing tickets in advance to avoid long wait times. Please note that the site is not accessible for individuals in wheelchairs or with mobility issues due to the presence of many stairs.
3. Esglesia de Santa Maria
Esglesia de Santa Maria is a neo-gothic church white walled church perched on a hill overlooking the town.
To reach it you will need to climb the narrow cobbled streets to reach this place, but I promise it’s worth it! The church is a prominent landmark in Cadaqués, visible from nearly anywhere in the village. Additionally, you can enjoy fantastic views of Cadaqués from the outside.
4. Beaches
One of the (many) best aspects of Cadaqués is there are so many beaches to swim or relax on.
Platja Port d’Alguer is small mostly stone but a little bit of sand. Beside Blu Bar which is lovely for some tapasa!
Platja Gran y Esportal is a small pebbly beach, very picturesque.
Es Pianc is a small sandy cove at the top of the town.
Platja del Ros, one of the best beaches in town, it is sandy with a beautiful mountainous view.
5. Monday Market
This is a large and vibrant market with about 50 stalls, selling food, clothing, bags, souvenirs, and much more. What makes this market truly unique is that it is held in a storm drain!
It takes place on Riera de Sant Vicenç, every Monday from 8am until 2pm.
6. Have A Drink In Brown Sugar
Although there are a few bars in Cadaqués, Brown Sugar was my favourite one (in fact it is one of my favourite bars in the world…seriously), sipping a cocktail here is one of the best things to do in Cadaqués at night. During the day they sell delicious healthy smoothies and meals but by night the place comes alive. Brilliant music, yummy cocktails, and an energetic atmosphere. People even sit on the floor outside, it’s that popular.
Brown Sugar is located on Carrer Vigilant, s/n, 17488 Cadaqués.
7. Boar Safari
Although this is one of the more unique things to do in Cadaqués, it is nevertheless one of the best. One night my boyfriend and I were walking to a restaurant in town when I heard strange grunting noises, out ran a large boar going bin to bin eating whatever it could find. We ended up seeing that boar every single night.
I enjoyed seeing it run around town, it is quite fun to see one in person. However, do not get close to it or provoke it in anyway as they can be dangerous if they attack.
8. Wander the cobbled streets
Cadaqués is a beautiful town to walk around and get a little lost in. Although the coastal side of the town is beautiful don’t miss out on the stunning little streets. The town is quite hilly but dotted along the paths are gorgeous boutiques, ice cream shops, art galleries, restaurants and cafes.
9. Wine + Dine
Sitting back with a glass or jug (no judgement) of sangria and some delicious tapas overlooking the mediterranean is one of the most relaxing things to do in Cadaqués.
There are plenty of dining options but during peak season you will have to book because they fill up fast. We were turned away from many restaurants, sometimes our first AND second choice were fully booked. Below are some of the restaurants I loved, the link will bring you to google maps so you can save it for your trip Iif you are searching where to eat in Cadaqués
Celeste – you will not regret visiting this cute Italian restaurant. The food is divine, menu includes spaghetti with octopus, carbonara and a generous serving of tiramusu.
El Moon Hamburguer – casual spot serving artesian burgers, choice of gluten free bread.
Nord est scp – Spanish food, I had really nice clams in white wine sauce here. The views are amazing!
Pizzeria Plaza Cadaqués – lots of pizza and italian dishes
La Sal Es Xiringuito Ses Oliveres – cocktails and paella, what else would you want 🙂
Getting to Cadaqués
Flights to Cadaqués
The closest airport to Cadaqués is Girona, which is 84km away. It is a small airport with only Jet2, Ryanair, TUI, Sunwing and Transavia operating from there. It is possible to fly directly from airports in UK & Ireland. Check Skyscanner to find the best prices for your dates of travel.
Once you arrive at Girona airport you will need to take the train X into Girona city centre followed by a bus Cadaqués, I cover this in the next section along with arriving from Barcelona airport.
Bus to Cadaqués
From Girona Airport
The route you take will depend on the time your time of arrival. All buses depart from outside the arrivals terminal, you will also find all bus timetables displayed there.
Option 1 – take a Sagales bus to the town of Figures from this stop at the airport. It will take 1 hour 30 minutes. You will need to transfer at Figures bus station to the number 12 Moventis bus to Cadaqués, this will take one hour. Total journey length of 2hours and 30 minutes.
You can book the Sagles ticket on omio.com and the Moventis bus on their website.
Option 2 – this is the quickest option but involves 3 modes of transport. Take the number 2 Sagles bus to Girona town (20 minutes), transfer to the train to Figures (15 minutes) followed by the number 12 Moventis bus (1 hour). Total journey length of 1 hours and 25 minutes.
You can purchase the sagles bus onboard, the train can be booked on omio.com and the Moventis bus on their website.
From Barcelona Airport
Option 1 – Moventis has a bus that goes directly from Barcelona Airport. It takes 3 hours 20 minutes, tickets can be booked on omio.com.
Option 2 – Take the R2n train from Barcelona airport to the city centre station of Passeig de Gracia (27 mins), transfer to a regional Renfe train to Llançà (2 hours 20 mins). When you arrive in Llançà you will need to take a taxi to Cadaqués (27 minutes). This taxi can be be booked via WhatsApp with a local company Taxi Llançà.
The train can be booked on omio.com.
Where to stay in Cadaqués
Accommodation was left to the last minute meaning there really was no choice on where to stay. However, we got very lucky where we did end up staying – Hotel Nou Estrelles. The room was clean, spacious, quiet and had air con. It was also around the corner from the bus station and a 5 minute walk to the town centre.
Hotel Nou Estrelles is a beautiful 2 star hotel a two minute walk from the bus station. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, some rooms have a large terrace. I stayed here and found the owner to be so kind. Prices start at €80 per night.
Hotel Calina is on Port Lligat Bay, a 15 minute walk to Cadaqués town with views of mountains and sea. The hotel has two large swimming pools along with rooms that are bright, spacious with air conditioning and a minibar. Prices start at €120 per night.
Boutique Hotel Villa Gala is located uphill with stunning views of Cadaqués. The hotel is inspired by Dali with the decor a homage to his work. Each room has either a balcony or terrace, air conditioning, fridge and, coffee machine. Facilities of Boutique Hotel Villa Gala include an outdoor pool and garden. Prices start at €317 per night.
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