If you are travelling to the Costa Brava with children you're probably looking for a comfortable, safe, quiet holiday destination that also has plenty of cultural and outdoor activities on offer. Calella de Palafrugell has both natural beauty and plenty of entertainment, meaning that there’s something for everyone, from grandparents to children.
Calella de Palafrugell is still one of the most charming villages on the Costa Brava. The tranquillity that emanates from its white houses, pristine beaches and calm clean sea creates the perfect environment for enjoying a relaxing beach holiday with your loved ones.
Relax on the Beach
The beaches of Calella are some of its main attractions. From the urban beaches which lie just moments from the town centre; their sands dotted with colourful fishing boats, to the hidden coves which we can access only by the magical Camino de Ronda hiking trail.
Most of the beaches in Calella have lots of facilities, including first aid services. In general, the seawater here is clean and calm, making it perfect for snorkelling and discovering the beautiful underwater world.
The cove of "El Golfet" really stands out as one of the best beaches in this area, due purely to it’s natural beauty and breathtaking colour palette - the deep blue of the sea, fresh green of the trees and soft, golden sands.
The Camino de Ronda Hiking Route
In previous articles we have briefly covered the beautiful Camino de Ronda, a hiking route that runs along the coastline of the Costa Brava and which was originally used to monitor the arrival of pirates. Nowadays, many stretches of the route have been restored to a high standard and we can now enjoy a beautiful walk down the Mediterranean coast.
A great idea for a family activity is to do the Camino de Ronda either on foot or by bike. Along the way, we’ll pass some of the best beaches in Calella, where we can stop and refresh ourselves in the cool sea. Grab some cream and water and discover the Mediterranean in all its splendour by renting a holiday home on the Costa Brava.
Cultural Events for all Tastes
To enjoy the Costa Brava with your family, some of the best events in the area are the "Fiestas de Primavera" or Spring Festivals. They are celebrated in Calella de Palafrugell during the month of May and party-goers dress up in costumes and perform “comparsa” songs and there are floats of all designs and colours filling the streets. The festivals celebrate the warmer weather and the coming of spring.
You may also enjoy the "Cantada de las Habaneras" festival, it’s one of the most important Catalonia events of the summer and is celebrated in Calella de Palafrugell on the first Saturday of July. It’s been going for more than 50 years and each year fills Calella’s beaches with live music and fun.
Adventure Sport in Calella de Palafrugell
If you enjoy the beach life but like to stay active during your holiday, there’s plenty of water sport options along this stretch of the Costa Brava. For a holiday with children, a great idea is to rent a couple of kayaks and explore the beaches along this stretch of coast or rent some snorkelling gear and explore the life beneath the waves. There’s also boat rental companies, so you can rent a boat and enjoy the tranquillity of the Mediterranean sea and the views of the the Costa Brava coastline.
If you’re looking for a different kind of day out with the family, try an afternoon go karting at Palamos Karting which is located less than 10km from Calella and has circuits for both adults and children.
Discover the nearby villages of Llafranc and Pals
Calella de Palafrugell isn’t the only beautiful town in the area, the nearby towns of Llafranc and Pals are also worth a visit. Less than 1km away from Calella is the town of Llafranc and the Sant Sebastià lighthouse which offers incredible views of the sea.
About 15km further down the coast is the fantastic medieval village of Pals - one of the most charming towns on the Costa Brava. Give yourself time to get lost in the cobbled streets of the old town and enjoy its beaches and coves.
The Tourist Bus
If we visit Calella during the summer months, we can have a ride on the "Julivia Tourist Bus" which passes the most interesting points of the town, so it’s a great option to see the all the highlights in one day.
The bus ticket is valid all day, so we can get off and on as many times as we want and spend as much time as we choose at each stop. The bus even has a free app which has all the schedules, routes, stop locations, history and general information about all the sites along the route.
The route of the Julivia Tourist Bus runs past all the beaches and coves of Calella up to the Cap Roig Botanical Garden. Going in the other direction, it runs along the beach promenade up to the Sant Sebastià lighthouse and to Llanfranc Port. All routes give us great views of the whole coastline.
Adult ticket: 5€ or 12€ for a 3 day pass.
Child ticket (4 to 12 years): 2,50€ or 5€ for a 3 day pass.
Children under 4 years travel free.
Explore the Cap Roig Botanical Garden
The Cap Roig Botanical Garden is less than 3 kilometres from the centre of Calella and is a must-see if you are visiting the area. This botanical garden is part of a beautiful palace that was built at the beginning of the 20th century and which is now a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site of National Interest due to its interesting architecture.
A great time to visit both the palace and the garden is during the summer, when there is a great mix of cultural events held. The garden is divided into different terraces that descend gradually from the castle to the sea. The upper terraces are connected by a staircase called the Cyprus Stairs, so keep that in mind if you are travelling with wheelchairs or prams.
The best time to visit the garden is after the sun has gone down and the temperatures drop a bit. A great way to structure a day trip to this area would be to spend an afternoon on El Golfet beach and then wander down to the garden when the sun starts going down. The view of the sunset from the upper terraces of the garden is wonderful. We can get here either by walking down the Camino de Ronda or by car as parking around here is easy to find.
Booking a holiday home in Calella de Palafrugell is the best option for an unforgettable holiday on this part of the Costa Brava. Its natural landscape, beaches and great range of outdoor activities make it one of the best options for enjoying a family holiday in Spain.