Getaway near Barcelona: Palamós

Summer warm weather is already here and every weekend we have more desire to go to the beach to sunbathe under the sun. But why not get away from Barcelona and discover nearby places that can also offer tranquility, scenery and good food? From ShBarcelona we invite you to visit a town in the Costa Brava, in the north of Catalonia, called Palamós, known as a fishing village with idyllic beaches where you eat the best fresh fish and seafood. We have already spoken on this blog about the Costa Brava, the most beautiful coast of Catalonia and we dare to say that of Spain (with much respect). Here you have one of the most recommended places in this coast for both tourists and locals.

Gastronomy: seafood at La Lonja

This is one of the aspects, along with their beaches, which attracts more visitors to Palamós. The authentic cuisine of fishermen, with the freshest products taken from the sea, can be found in most restaurants. We can also visit the Fish Market, where a daily auction of fish is performed by fishermen in touch with sellers. Right there chefs cook traditional seafood recipes that you can try paired with a wine from the area. Surely if you’re going to Palamos you must try the famous prawns, visit the “Espai del Peix” and don’t forget the delicious traditional lobster or fish pot. Also in Palamós there are various places to try some of the best tapas and nouvelle cuisine dishes.

Best Beaches

If you are looking for the quietest beaches and coves (calas) at La Costa Brava, Palamós won’t disappoint you. We recommend the virgin beach called Castell, which is close to the remains of an Iberian town, close to the Cala Sa Foradada, also well known as a natural setting of incomparable beauty. In the Cala de S’Alguer you even can stay in one of the 12 fishermen houses there to enjoy that place for a longer time. To reach the Cala Estreta you have to walk for 15 minutes from Playa Castell, but it’s worth the short walk to enjoy one of the best beaches on the Catalan coast. You should not miss the harbor and the bay of Palamós, where you’ll take a long walk at dusk and buy some souvenirs in the 9 km of nice walk.

Other activities

As a windy coastal town which is, Palamós also offers the possibility to do water sports and other leisure attractions during the time you stay there (karting, paintball, hiking, mountain biking, etc.). You can jump aboard Rafael, a latee sailboat from the 1915 and travel to other towns on the Costa Brava like Tamariú. You can also choose to visit the depths of the sea if you dare to dive, to rent a kayak, to water skiing, or practicing paddle surf. The possibilities are endless, you choose!