Tossa de Mar Beach
Best for. Anyone who wants a proper town behind the sand, a medieval walled quarter to wander, and a long lunch of fresh fish a short walk from the water.
Best spot. Walk the Vila Vella walls at the southern end for the view back over Platja Gran, then drop into the old town lanes for lunch.
Know this. Platja Gran fills fast in July and August and the seafront can feel package holiday loud, so come in June or September and eat in the old town.
Tossa earns its fame on looks. The golden curve of Platja Gran runs for around three hundred and fifty metres below the Vila Vella, the only fortified medieval old town left standing on the Catalan coast, its stone walls and seven towers rising straight from the rock. The sand is soft, the water shelves gently and turns clear turquoise in the morning light, and the whole scene has the kind of postcard balance that drew artists to settle here a century ago.
The reason to linger is the town behind the beach. Climb into the Vila Vella and the lanes narrow into cobbles, small squares and stone houses, with the lighthouse and its little interpretation centre at the top. Down at sea level the kitchens still cook the local fishermen's stew, cim i tomba, alongside paella, fideua and whatever came in that morning. Family run terraces such as Can Pini look straight onto the ramparts, La Placeta sits at the foot of the castle walls, and the much praised La Cuina de Can Simon hides in an old fisherman's house for a slower, finer meal.
The honest read is the crowd. Tossa is no secret and the seafront promenade tips into package holiday territory in high summer, loud and shoulder to shoulder by midday. Come in June or September, swim early, and walk the Cami de Ronda south to the quieter cove of Es Codolar when Platja Gran fills. Eat up in the old town rather than on the busiest stretch of promenade and the place keeps its charm.
Clubs on this beach
Tossa is a town beach with a long seafront of bars, terraces and sunbed concessions rather than a daybed club scene. Sunbeds and umbrellas are hired on Platja Gran in season, and the eating and drinking happens in the old town and along the promenade. Operators and prices change each summer, so confirm before you travel and use the Costa Brava beach clubs guide for the wider coast.
Platja Gran seafront terraces
Seafront bars, sunbed hire and restaurant terraces line the main beach. Specific operators and prices to be confirmed.
South coast, Costa Brava
Tossa de Mar sits on the southern Costa Brava in La Selva, around an hour and a quarter north of Barcelona by car and a short hop from Lloret de Mar along the cliff road, one of the prettiest coastal drives in Catalonia. Paid car parks sit behind the beach and fill early in summer.
Buses run from Lloret, Girona and Barcelona in season, and a summer ferry links Tossa with the neighbouring resorts along the coast. Once you arrive the beach, the Vila Vella and the old town restaurants are all within an easy flat walk of one another.
Photo: CECILIA MONSALVE MERCADAL via GoogleBook a beach club
Tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange a daybed or table at a club near Tossa de Mar. We reply by email.
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Common questions about Tossa de Mar
Is Tossa de Mar worth visiting?
Yes, for the rare combination of a good sandy beach and an intact medieval walled town right above it. Platja Gran is soft and central, and the Vila Vella lanes and ramparts give you somewhere to wander and eat once you have had enough sun. Come outside the peak weeks for the best of it.
What is the main beach in Tossa de Mar?
Platja Gran, the long golden bay below the old town walls, around three hundred and fifty metres of sand with full services and easy access to restaurants. Just around the headland sits the smaller, quieter cove of Es Codolar, reached on foot below the Vila Vella.
Where should you eat in Tossa de Mar?
Up in the Vila Vella and around the old town rather than the busiest promenade. Local kitchens cook the fishermen's stew cim i tomba, fresh fish, paella and fideua, with terraces such as Can Pini and La Placeta looking onto the medieval walls. Reserve in high summer.
When is the best time to visit Tossa de Mar?
June or September for warm, calm water and far lighter crowds than July and August, when the seafront gets loud and the beach packs out by midday. Spring and early autumn also make the old town and the coastal path far more pleasant to walk.
Is Tossa de Mar good for families?
Yes, in calm conditions. Platja Gran shelves gently, has sand rather than pebbles and sits right by the town with showers, sunbeds and food close at hand. The main drawback is summer crowding, so arrive early for space and treat the sea as unsupervised.
