Tossa de Mar, Spain. Tossa De Mar: attractions and what to see Where to go from Tossa de Mar
Tossa de Mar or simply Tossa de Mar is one of the most beautiful Mediterranean coastal resorts belonging to the province of Girona and located on the Costa Brava.
From the first minutes, Tossa captivates with its picturesque, well-groomed and calm atmosphere. You want to stay in this city to fully enjoy it, take another leisurely stroll through the narrow streets of the historical center and admire the sea views from the resort’s observation points.
In our opinion, Tossa de Mar is one of those places that personify the Costa Brava, with its, on the one hand, attractive lively energy, and on the other, the regularity and versatility of nature.
Currently, Tossa attracts tourists with its beaches framed by hills with dense vegetation, the old historical center (the medieval fortified town of Vila Velha) towering above the city, as well as the colorful streets of the city center, along which there are an abundance of cafes, restaurants, shops and souvenirs shops
Beaches of Tossa de Mar
- central beaches of Tossa de Mar -
Gran Beach
Gran Beach or simply Tossa Beach is the central and busiest beach of the city.
Gran Beach lies at the foot of a rocky hill on which Tossa's most recognizable landmark is located - the medieval old town, surrounded by a wall with watchtowers.
Gran Beach has been awarded the Blue Flag.
The beach has coarse light-colored sand. Sea water is clean and transparent.
During the high beach season, the beach has all the necessary infrastructure to enjoy the sun and sea in complete comfort.
Reig Beach
A short, rocky beach bordering Gran Beach on its eastern side.
Depending on the weather conditions, there is sand on the beach, and sometimes the beach has only a rocky surface.
Concrete steps lead from the embankment to the beach. The seabed is characterized by rocks and rocky formations.
Menuda Beach (Playa de la Mar Menuda)
The second most popular, after the central Gran beach, is the beach in Tossa de Mar.
The beach has been awarded the Blue Flag.
On the eastern side of the beach there are large rock formations, between which there is a small cove known as the "ladies' bath", which, due to its shallow depth and calm waters, makes it an ideal place for children to swim.
Near Menuda Beach is the only 4-star hotel in the center of Tossa, Golden Mar Menuda, with direct access to the beach.
Codolar Beach
Codolar Beach is also known as the beach under the castle. This is a small cove beach, surrounded on both sides by rocky hills extending into the sea waters.
The beach is located a few minutes walk from the very center of Tossa, just under the wall of the old city.
- beaches of the western part of the coast of Tossa de Mar -
Llevado Bay (Cala Llevado)
A small pebble and rocky bay with large boulders.
Carlos Bay (Cala d'en Carlos)
A small sand and pebble bay.
There are bins in the bay, sun loungers and parasols can be rented during the season, there is a cafe with soft drinks and snacks, there is a shower and toilet, and there is also a designated area for water activities.
Figuera Bay (Cala d'es Rajols)
Or Cove des Rajols (Cala Figuera) - a small sandy bay with no beach services.
Cala Figuera is surrounded on all sides by rocks and coniferous vegetation, which makes it very picturesque.
Nudism is allowed on the beach.
Beaches of Llorell
The beaches of Llorell consist of two beaches: Llevant (Playa de Llevant de Llorell) and Gabri (Playa de Garbi de Llorell), separated by a small rocky area and together representing a single beach strip.
The beaches have coarse light sand, sometimes mixed with pebbles, and there are rare stones and boulders, both on the beach and in the water.
During the high beach season, the beaches have all the necessary beach infrastructure. There is a diving center at the eastern end of Llevant beach.
Playa de Porto Pi
The beach is a semi-urban beach with a minimal set of beach infrastructure.
The beach has coarse light sand, mixed in places with pebbles, and there are also rocks and boulders, both on the beach and in the water.
Porto Pi beach is divided by rocky ledges extending into the sea into several small sections, between which there is an equipped path.
Morisca Bay (Cala Morisca)
A small rocky bay, which can only be reached on foot.
This is the most remote part of the western coast of Tossa, located on the border of the cities of Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar.
- beaches of the eastern part of the coast of Tossa de Mar -
Bona Bay (Cala Bona)
A small bay, well protected by narrow rocky “sleeves”, extending far into the sea waters.
The bay has rocky shores that approach almost close to the sea waters. There is a narrow sandy area.
In the bay: cafe, trash cans and foot shower.
Pola Bay (Cala Pola)
A small bay with light coarse sand, protected on both sides by rocky shores extending far into the sea waters.
This bay is considered one of the most beautiful in Tossa.
In the bay: cafe-restaurant, trash cans and washbasins.
Playa Giverola Beach
A fairly large sand and pebble bay-beach, which, during the high beach season, offers the full range of beach services.
The bay is surrounded by rocky headlands with lush vegetation.
Futadera Bay
A small sandy and rocky bay, secluded on the rocky coast.
You can only go down to the bay on foot along a long staircase located at the western end of the bay.
This is a bay without services, but very quiet.
Salions Bay
A small sandy bay located near the cape of the same name and in the urbanization of the same name.
There is a cafe, trash bins and foot showers on the beach.
Vallpregona Beach
The easternmost point of the coast of Tossa.
The beach has large pebbles and stones, and there is no infrastructure.
The center of Tossa de Mar is relatively small and can easily be explored in one day.
In the center of Tossa are the main attractions of the resort, as well as a tourist center with an abundance of shops, cafes and restaurants.
Fortress of Tossa de Mar (old town / Vila Vella)
The fortress or castle of Tossa de Mar is a complex of medieval buildings surrounded by a defensive wall with watchtowers.
Tossa de Mar Castle is also known as Vila Vella, which means "Old Town".
The history of the castle dates back to the 12th-14th centuries. It was erected as a defense against enemy attacks.
Currently, the Tossa fortress is a small area of several streets and alleys, a walk along which can be an excellent solution not only for getting to know the history of the city, but also for a pleasant pastime.
Entrance to the fortress territory is free (free).
In the inner part of the old town there are some significant sights of Tossa, such as: defensive walls and towers; Gothic cross carved from stone; Tossa lighthouse; remains of the old church of Sant Vicente; the house of Sant Drap and the house of Batlle de Sac, where the Municipal Museum of the city is now located.
Fisherman's district
Behind the walls of the Tossa fortress, delimited by Portal and Estolt streets, lies the small district of sa Roqueta, a traditional fishing area, the fruit of the first stage of expansion of the municipality beyond the city defensive walls since the 16th century.
Notable in this area is the House of Ganga or the House of Leandre (Can Ganga / Can Leandre) - a former farmhouse from the 16th century, one of the first to be built outside the fortress walls, where some Gothic lintels, a large portal and a protective part on top floor.
The Ganges House is a striking example of former fortified houses, since during construction this was necessary, since the houses stood near the sea and could become easy prey for the enemy.
In the decor of the central window you can see small sculptures of angels. In the interior of the house, an old fresco found in living rock has been preserved.
The two names of the house with which it is known come from two owners, the famous family Ganga and Leandro Macaya Xibert.
Streets of sa Roqueta
Commercial center of Tossa de Mar
This is the place where the main tourist life is concentrated, where there are narrow, well-kept streets with typical Catalan buildings, on the ground floors of which there are an abundance of cafes, restaurants and shops.
The main artery of the area runs through the streets Socors, La Guàrdia, Plaza de España and Pou de la Vila until the intersection with Avenida Costa Brava, which is located in the more modern part of the municipality.
Photos of the streets of the district center
Products made from cork tree bark are interesting: bags, souvenirs, shoes and even hats.
There are some notable attractions in this part of the center of Tossa:
Parish Church of San Vicente or St. Vincent (Iglesia parroquial de San Vicente / Església parroquial de Sant Vicenç), which is the main and largest church in Tossa de Mar.
The shrine was built in 1775 in the neoclassical style and opened in 1776, after 20 years of construction.
The church is dedicated to the martyr Vincent of Zaragoza.
The church, which is quite simple in appearance, is notable for its spacious main nave and side chapels.
Small Chapel of Our Lady of Socorro (Capilla de la Virgen del Socorro), built in the 16th century
It is said that the founder of the shrine was the sailor Anthony Caixa, who erected the chapel in gratitude to the Virgen del Socorro for saving him from a shipwreck.
The chapel that can be seen today is the result of an 18th century renovation;
Plaza de España containing:
- house Sans (Casa Sans More), one facade overlooking the embankment, and the second - on the Plaza de España. The house was commissioned by Joan Sanz in 1906. Aesthetic eclecticism makes the building unique. The architecture subtly combines modernist elements with influences from colonial architecture. Over the course of history, the facades of the building have been changed, although some original elements still remain. Now within the walls of the house there is a 4-star Hotel Diana with a terrace overlooking the sea.
House of Sens, view from the embankment
- the house of the Friar Ferrer (Ca les Germanes Ferrer), adjacent to the house of Sens, built in 1905 and distinguished by such elements as the gallery on the top floor; ornaments located on the facade of the building (above the windows and under the cornices), as well as a sculptural shield in the central part of the facade, above which you can see the date “1905”.
In the photo, the Sanz house is on the left, the Ferrer house is on the right (view from Plaza de España)
Photo of Plaza de España
Photo of Avenida Costa Brava street
Promenade of Tossa de Mar
A separate section can be distinguished by the embankment, which runs along the beaches of the entire center of Tossa.
The length of the promenade in Tossa de Mar is 1 kilometer. The promenade stretches from the walls of Tossa Castle, along the central Gran Beach and Reig Beach and to the eastern end of Menuda Beach.
Along the embankment: places for rest; bars, cafes and restaurants; shops, kiosks with snacks, ice cream and drinks; children's and sports grounds; observation decks; sculptures and monuments, as well as some city attractions, car and bicycle parking.
In the eastern part of the embankment, along the Grand beach, near the ring, there are: a tourist information center, a park area with a children's playground and a parking lot ( Car rental in Spain… ). Tourist trains also stop here, where you can take a walk around Tossa de Mar. The duration of the trip is 45 minutes. The cost of a ticket is 6 Euros, reduced - 3.50 Euros.
Hiking routes
Hiking tourist routes (trails) running both along the coast and further away from them are popular among holidaymakers in Tossa.
Walking along these routes can be an excellent way to spend time, and will also provide an opportunity to get to know the surrounding area of the city and the coast of Tossa de Mar.
Sights of Tossa de Mar
In addition to those already listed in this article, Tossa has several more interesting attractions.
House of Mas Rabassa (Antiguo Mas Rabassa)
Old Mas Rabassa is a farmhouse built outside the town, possibly in the fourteenth century.
The current appearance of the house corresponds to the reforms carried out in the 16th and 17th centuries.
This house is a classic example of a fortified house with a square watchtower with a loophole (16th century).
The architecture of the house is also notable for the 17th century guard curtained balcony-turret, located on one of the corners of the building.
Roman Villa Ametliers
Roman Villa dels Ametllers (Villa romana dels Ametllers) is an archaeological excavation area, which is an open-air museum of antiquity.
The villa was founded in the 1st century BC and remained in use until the 5th and 6th centuries AD. This was a rural villa for growing grapes and exporting wine.
From an architectural point of view, the villa consisted of two differentiated areas:
The upper one is the residential "pars urbana", where you can see partially preserved floor mosaics, the remains of rooms, a patio with a fountain and thermae (Roman baths);
Lower - agricultural "pars fructuaria" ("pars fructuaria"), where there were warehouses and premises for processing agricultural products, where they produced wine, oil, salted fish and stored cereals.
Old Hospital of San Miguel
The Old Hospital of San Miguel (antiguo Hospital de San Miguel) is located opposite Villa Ametllers.
The Hospital of San Miguel or the Asylum of St. Michael was founded in 1773 as a hospital for the poor, thanks to the legacy of Tomas Vidal y Rey, who, having traveled to America and became rich there, returned to his homeland and left part of his fortune for the construction of the hospital.
In 1903, the hospital was converted into a convent for nuns and a school.
Now within the walls of the old hospital there is a cultural center (Casa de la Cultura) with a courtyard and a chapel dedicated to San Miguel (Saint Miguel / Capella de Sant Miquel).
Moorish Tower
The Moorish Tower, also known as the Tower of the Moors, the Tower of del Moros or Can Magí (Torre dels Moros / de Can Magí) is a typical example of the watchtowers that, at the behest of Philip II, were built in the 16th century along the entire Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula, for the purpose of defense population and territories from raids and robberies by pirates.
Communication between the towers was maintained using smoke signals during the day and lights at night. In case of danger, the watchmen warned the residents so that they had time to take refuge behind the fortress walls.
The tower at Tossa was built according to the generally accepted model of the time - two-story, with plank flooring, embrasures and loopholes. The tower was restored in 1997.
Sculptures and monuments
Also notable in Tossa are the monuments and sculptures located in different parts of the city and near the coast.
For example, the monument to the fisherman's wife (a la Dona del Pescador), located in the open area of the old town near Codolar beach; sculptural composition of the old market, etc.
Where to go from Tossa de Mar
From Tossa de Mar you can take one of the sea cruises (sea walks). For example, go for a walk in the open sea, go fishing or visit neighboring resort towns such as Lloret de Mar, Blanes, Malgrat de Mar, etc. or visit the bays of the east coast and go snorkeling. The cost of sea excursions starts from 15 Euro.
You can find out all the necessary information about boat trips and purchase tickets at the ticket office kiosks located on Grand Beach.
Visit neighboring towns and resorts on the Costa Brava, such as Palamos, Roses, Cadaques, etc.
How to get to Tossa de Mar
There is no airport in the city of Tossa de Mar. Nearby international airports are located in Girona and Barcelona.
Barcelona and Girona airports serve local and international flights, including low-cost airlines. As a result, you can get from Russia and many European cities to Barcelona and Girona at very attractive prices. Cheap flights to Spain…
You can get from the airports and centers of Girona and Barcelona to Tossa de Mar and from Tossa to the airports and centers, respectively.:
Taxi/Transfer
The easiest and fastest way to get from Barcelona and Girona airports to Tossa de Mar is by taxi. You can order a taxi/transfer in advance, from home. At any time of the day, at the airport, a driver will be waiting for you with a sign with your name and surname written on it. To order a taxi, just provide your flight details!
From Barcelona, Girona and Tossa to France, Italy and some other European countries you can travel by FlixBus. View all bus directions and buy a ticket
Where to stay in Barcelona! All accommodation facilities in Barcelona (hotels, apartments, hostels, etc.) are available
Where to stay in Girona! All accommodation facilities in Girona (hotels, apartments, hostels, etc.) are available
Currency and Visas
Spain is part of the Schengen zone, therefore, to visit the country and Tossa de Mar you need a Schengen visa and
Tossa De Mar is located 110 km from Barcelona Airport. This is a unique place that combines natural beauty and the atmosphere of an ancient city. It is believed that it was the Costa Brava that marked the beginning of the tourism boom in Spain. The population of the city is about 5 and a half thousand people.
Europeans began to actively visit this region in the 60s of the 20th century. This is the first tourist area in Catalonia where Russian-speaking tourists began to relax. The city has about 7,000 local residents. They host more than 20 thousand guests.
Here you can see many archaeological sites. The ruins of the ancient Roman Villa date back to the 4th century BC. As a result of archaeological excavations in 1914, the remains of domestic buildings, stables, and perfectly preserved mosaic fragments were discovered.
They say there were hot springs here, which is why fragments of a bathhouse were discovered. The Romans did not heat the water; they built baths only where there were hot springs.
The road to Tossa De Mar appeared only in the 20th century. Before this, the city, surrounded by mountains, resembled an island. The main attraction of Tossa De Mar is the fortress. It rises 70 meters above sea level. This is the only fortress on the entire Catalan coast whose walls have remained virtually unchanged. She is a symbol of the city.
You can get to the highest point of the fortress by a special car from the embankment or do it on foot. There are beautiful views from the fortress. The 12th century fortress could defend itself against attack by invaders for several years. When pirates sailed from Mallorca to the bay of Tossa De Mar, the gates of the fortress were closed. The absolutely steep coastline and rocks that were impossible to climb reliably protected the city.
On the other side, Tossa De Mar was surrounded by a fortress wall. Local residents had underground passages that allowed them to go down to the sea and catch fish, octopus or squid. They always had food. Tossa De Mar had water conservation technology. The water from the spring located in the fortress and the collected rainwater were stored in underground caves.
The fortress wall was defended by cannons. The cozy streets of the ancient city are a great place for walking. The Old Town often hosts classical music festivals.
Upon entering the old town, you can admire the Church of St. Vincent, built in the 15th century. The church building is spacious, quiet and cool. The smell of stone and the atmosphere of antiquity encourage you to get rid of unnecessary thoughts and touch eternity.
It’s nice to walk outside, enjoying medieval views, looking at the facades of buildings, plants and flowers, carefully placed by residents along the houses.
Location: Carrer Tarull - 6.
Chapel of the Virgin Mary, Savior of the Drowning
The Chapel of Our Lady, Savior of Drownings is located in the very center of Tossa. Entering it from a noisy street, you feel silence, peace and tranquility. It often features organ music.
The chapel was built by a local sailor in gratitude for his rescue from a shipwreck. In the 16th century, sailors and fishermen fervently revered the Mother of God and considered her their protector.
Location: Plaça Espanya - 1.
Romantic love story
One of the most romantic stories of Tossa De Mar is a love story Frank Sinatra And Ava Gardner. Gardner is one of Hollywood's most brilliant stars. It was here, in 1951, that she starred in the film Pandora and the Flying Dutchman. Ava was so engrossed in the city that she paid little attention to Frank. He suspected that his wife was having an affair, dropped all his affairs and came to Tossa.
The worries were in vain, they both fell in love with Tossa and spent several romantic months here. In 1955, Gardner settled in Tossa De Mar permanently and lived here for 8 years. In honor of this love, there is a monument to Ava Gardner in the city center. The atmosphere of the Mediterranean resort is conducive to the development of romantic relationships. A monument to loving tourists has been erected in the city.
Location: Carrer Abat Oliba - 6.
Picturesque beaches and azure sea enhance the flavor of the Catalan resort. You can enjoy the panorama of the city from the top of the fortress. From here you can see the central Grand Beach, located at the foot, where you can sunbathe and swim with a view of the ancient fortress. From a distance it may seem that the beaches are sandy, but in fact they are small pebbles.
There are hotels and restaurants along the embankment, the facades are beautifully decorated with flowers. Near the city there are many small bays and grottoes with wild beaches, some of which are inhabited by nudists. There are paths leading to the wild beaches, along which you can take walks while enjoying the sea views.
Like all Costa Brava resorts, Tossa De Mar is located in a cozy bay. Here you can take a ride on a tourist boat. A magnificent boat trip along the Costa Brava will leave a lasting impression.
In Spanish, Costa Brava means rocky coast. Rocks and cliffs descend to the very coast, forming picturesque bays and allowing you to admire the sea views.
Artists
It’s impossible not to enjoy creativity, it’s impossible not to get inspired in these places. Secluded bays, picturesque cliffs, fortresses and castles. Artists come here for plein air. They learn to draw natural phenomena: light, sun, sea space. For them, this is a godsend for creativity.
Films are often shot in Tossa; film studios have been coming here since the 20s; in the 50s, cinema began to flourish. In the former home of the Governor of Tossa, there is a city museum where paintings by Marc Chagall are kept, including the famous “Heavenly Violinist”. Other paintings by contemporary Spanish artists are also collected here.
Location: Plaça Pintor Roig Soler - 1.
Art lovers will enjoy visiting the Salvador Dali Museum, which is located 80 kilometers from Tossa De Mar, in Figueres. This is one of the most visited museums in Spain. It was created in his hometown by Dali himself. He renovated the old theater with a design in the spirit of surrealism. Dali himself painted the foyer, and placed in the museum not only his works, but also his own collection of works by Duchamp and El Greco.
Location: Plaça Gala i Salvador Dalí - 5.
Sculptures
Residents of Tossa De Mar have been engaged in fishing since ancient times; the city is decorated with many sculptures with a marine theme. Here is a monument to a seagull named Jonathan Livingston(pictured above) from Richard Bach's novella, there is a monument to the fisherman's wife (Lloret de Mar, pictured below).
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Tossa was an important center for the extraction of cork, surrounded by cork plantations with good quality raw materials. It was used to seal bottles of very expensive wine. Growing vineyards and exporting wine is one of the ancient activities of the inhabitants of Catalonia. Excellent wines can be found here in any store and coastal cafe.
How to get to Tossa de Mar
Tossa de Mar is considered both the most picturesque and northernmost resort in Catalonia. The picturesqueness of the resort is attributed to its location - Tossa de Mar is located in a cozy, quiet bay between rocky cliffs. Well, the resort is considered northern because the border with France lies further along. The northern one is very conditional, the swimming season here also lasts from June to September inclusive, in summer the temperature is moderately warm within +25, +28 degrees with little precipitation. Tossa de Mar is located 85 km north of Barcelona.
Of the ways to get to Tossa de Mar, the most relevant is a flight to Barcelona. Flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg fly year-round, from other large cities of Russia - in the summer. The flight from Moscow to Barcelona lasts, on average, 4.5 hours. You can check flight schedules from your city on international search sites. Aviasales, Buruki and others.
You can get from Barcelona to Tossa de Mar in various ways - by bus, train, taxi or transfer. If you need to get from Barcelona airport to Tossa de Mar directly, use the carrier's buses Moventis Sarfa. Buses to Tossa de Mar depart every hour throughout the day, starting at 07.10 am. Travel time is 2 hours 15 minutes. Ticket price per person is 14.25 euros. You can buy tickets immediately before boarding or in advance on the carrier’s website. Departures are made from both terminals of El Prat Airport.
You can also get directly from Barcelona Airport to Tossa de Mar by taxi or transfer. Taxis are usually on duty at the exit of the airport terminal. If you do not know the city and are not familiar with local prices, then in order not to overpay taxi drivers, you can pre-book a transfer from the airport to the resort. The advantage of the transfer is also that by the time of your arrival, a car of the chosen class and a driver with a sign will already be waiting for you. Travel time will be about 1 hour 25 minutes. You can find out the latest information on transfers on transfer service booking websites. , and others.
You can also get from Barcelona to Tossa de Mar by train with a change in Blanes. To do this, you need to go to Barcelona train station Barcelona Pl. Catalunya take the R1 train to Blanes. Electric trains run every half hour throughout the day, travel time is 1.5 hours. You can find out more detailed information at the railway service
.
Then in Blanes, change to a local bus service Pujol
, which goes directly to Tossa de Mar, the travel time will be another 40 minutes. This method is the cheapest, but also the most time-consuming.
When choosing a way to get to Tossa de Mar, you must remember that public transport only operates during the daytime. For night travel, you can only use 24-hour taxi or transfer services.
Hotels in Tossa de Mar
At the resort you can find hotels of any category of stars, but 4-star hotels in Tossa de Mar are especially popular; the price range of such hotels coincides with prices in neighboring resorts, for example, in Lloret de Mar or Blanes. 3-star hotels in Tossa de Mar are also popular due to their affordable prices. Apartments at the resort can be found in almost any price range; those options that are located further from the sea will cost less.
Delfin, 4 stars
Hotel Delfín is one of the best hotels in Tossa de Mar thanks to its location on the first line of the beach, rooftop terrace with panoramic views and hydromassage, restaurant and flowered garden. The city's main attractions are within walking distance, including the famous fortress. Free Wi-Fi is available to guests. Private parking is available nearby upon reservation.
The hotel offers rooms of varying sizes. All of them are equipped with telephone, satellite TV, safe, air conditioning, iron, hairdryer, kettle, minibar. Some rooms have a balcony. Breakfast may be included depending on room type. The hotel received the best reviews for the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms, as well as for the location.
The hotel has luggage storage and a tour desk. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 12.00. You can find out more about availability and hotel costs for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.
Florida, 3 stars
The hotel is located a short walk from the beach and 500 meters from Tossa de Mar Fortress. The hotel has a sun terrace, hydromassage, and bar. Free Wi-Fi and private paid parking are available on site upon reservation.
The hotel has rooms of varying sizes, all of them equipped with TV, telephone, safe, air conditioning, hairdryer, mini-fridge. Breakfast is included in the price. The hotel received the highest marks for the work of its staff and location.
The hotel has luggage storage, a tour desk, and a currency exchange office. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. Check-in is from 13.00, check-out is until 12.00. You can find out more about availability and hotel costs for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.
GHT Neptuno, 3 stars
Among the 3-star hotels in Tossa de Mar, this one is well located near the resort center and a 5-minute walk to the nearest beach. The hotel itself is surrounded by a garden and has a restaurant, swimming pool, and lounge area. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge. Private paid parking is available nearby (pre-booking required).
Hotel guests can stay in single, double or triple rooms. Each room is equipped with a safe, air conditioning, hairdryer, telephone, TV. Breakfast is included in the price. The hotel received the best ratings for the cleanliness of the rooms, location and staff.
The hotel has luggage storage, a tour desk, and a currency exchange office. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 12.00. You can find out more about availability and hotel costs for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.
Duplex en Cala Salions, apartments
These apartments in Tossa de Mar, Spain are located opposite the beach and offer sea views. The apartment is on two levels and has 3 bedrooms. Free Wi-Fi and free public parking are provided. The apartments are equipped with a TV, washing machine, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, kettle, stove, oven, toaster, coffee machine. There is a terrace, equipped with furniture. There is an additional charge for apartment cleaning for the entire stay in the amount of 70 euros.
This new accommodation option in Tossa de Mar is open for bookings from April 2017. Check-in is from 17.00, check-out is until 10.00. You can find out more about availability and cost of living in apartments for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.
Casa Montse, apartments
This two-storey apartment is located in a quiet, peaceful location with a swimming pool and garden. Free Wi-Fi is available to guests. In the apartment you can find a TV, iron, washing machine, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, kettle, oven, stove, toaster, coffee machine, barbecue facilities. The apartment has 2 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen. There is an additional cleaning fee of 70 euros for the entire stay.
Check-in is from 16.00, check-out is until 11.00. You can find out more about availability and cost of living in apartments for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.
Speed Kore/Tossa de Mar
Sights of Tossa de Mar
The Tossa de Mar resort is located in a rocky bay; its very location already suggests that the main attractions of the place are natural. Firstly, this is the coastline of Tossa de Mar, represented by 14 kilometers of beaches, cliffs, grottoes and bays. It is definitely worth taking a walk along the special walking route along the Costa Brava to see all the beauties of Tossa de Mar with your own eyes, including the medieval fortress of Villa Vella, one of the main attractions of the resort. Secondly, this is the old part of the city with many preserved architectural monuments and the Sa Riera botanical garden, which can be a great place for a walk on a hot summer day.
On the outskirts of Tossa de Mar, in a picturesque rocky bay, hidden medieval fortress Villa Vella, which was built back in the 12th century. This is a kind of city within a city, it has its own roads, towers, a fortress, fortress walls and even a museum, which is considered one of the first museums in Spain dedicated to modern art. A picturesque walking road leads to the fortress, allowing you to see the beauty of the Costa Brava. It’s hard to imagine a holiday in Tossa de Mar without visiting this attraction, which is a “postcard” and the most recognizable view of the town.
Alex Alishevskikh/Villa Vella Sa Riera Park located on 5 hectares of land, near the center of the resort. What can a tourist see here? On the territory of the botanical garden you can see many exotic plants, a pond with its inhabitants, centuries-old oaks and pine trees. In addition, the park is equipped with a children's playground, an indoor swimming pool, a football field, jogging tracks, fountains - everything for an active pastime.
A popular leisure activity in Tossa is visiting neighboring, larger cities, such as Barcelona or Girona. Also popular are such destinations as the Port Aventura amusement park, the mountain and monastery of Montserrat, the south of France and others. You can get there on your own or with a group bus tour. The list of group excursions from Tossa de Mar can be studied and ordered on the service Tezeks.com(from tour operator TEZ TOUR).
dynamosquito/Tossa de Mar Beaches of Tossa de Mar
Tossa de Mar is famous for its beaches. In addition to traditional beach holidays, tourists can go diving, spearfishing, and snorkeling. For this purpose, the resort even operates special schools that teach underwater sports. The beaches in Tossa de Mar can be either sandy or pebbly, depending on the proximity to the rocky bay.
The most popular and sought-after beaches in Tossa de Mar are Gran Beach, which is equipped with everything you need, including sun loungers, sun loungers, umbrellas, toilets, showers, bars and open-air cafes. The resort also has several unequipped secluded beaches, such as Reig and Mar Menuda. These beaches are more suitable for a relaxing beach holiday, the first is sandy, the second is pebble. The best place to go for scuba diving is at Es Codolar Beach.
You can learn more about the beaches and resorts of Catalonia, interesting routes and places, as well as useful life hacks when preparing for a trip to Spain, in a separate guide to .
Freebird/Gran Beach We will be happy to answer your questions in the comments!
When going on a trip to Spain, do not forget to take out a travel insurance policy, which is mandatory already at the stage of obtaining a tourist visa. You can take out insurance yourself without leaving your home. There are special services for this, such as , and others. You can purchase a policy online and then print it on a regular printer.
Photo at the beginning of the article: Alex Alishevskikh
The town of Tossa de Mar (Spain), whose sights will enchant any tourist, is one of the main resort places in the province of Girona. At one time this resort was considered quite fashionable, but now it has quite affordable prices.
Charming resort - photo
Tossa de Mar is a tiny (6 thousand inhabitants) town, which is part of the famous Costa Brava- the Mediterranean coast of Catalonia near the Spanish border with.
Where is it located and how to get there?
The city of Tossa de Mar is located in northeastern Spain in province of Girona Autonomous Community of Catalonia. The distance to is 90 km.
Tossa de Mar is one of the most remote resorts on the Costa Brava, so getting here is not so easy.
The starting point when traveling to the resort is Barcelona, but there is no direct train connection between the capital of Catalonia and Tossa de Mar. Therefore, tourists planning a trip to a remote resort have the following travel options:
Historical reference
Like many other cities in the Mediterranean, Tossa de Mar is quite old. The city existed before our era, and at the beginning of the 1st millennium AD, the Romans settled here, giving the city its name Turissa.
In the Middle Ages, the town became the possession of the Counts of Barcelona, and in the 12th century the main attraction of the city, the fortress, was built "Vila Vella". At the same time, the town, along with all of Catalonia, became part of the kingdom of Aragon, and after the “Iberian wedding”, which united Aragon and Castile, it became part of a single one.
For centuries, the city prospered thanks to its main product - balsa bark, however, by the 20th century, the need for traffic jams had dropped significantly and Tossa de Mar lost its importance and even began to decrease in number.
Tossa de Mar was saved by tourism - first the city was discovered by artists (Chagall, Masson, Miro), and after the filming of the film “Pandora and the Flying Dutchman”, which took place in the town, it received wide popularity and began to rapidly develop as a resort.
The outstanding actress Ava Gardner, who moved there after filming and stayed to live in Tossa de Mar, especially contributed to the popularity.
Where to go with children?
The unusual Humor Amarillo complex is located in the open air and is a large area filled with various attractions, obstacle courses, playgrounds and sports equipment.
Humor Amarillo is not like regular amusement parks and is intended primarily for sports enthusiasts of all ages.
Even in the summer, there is a free bus from Tossa de Mar to the water park Marineland, where young tourists can not only have fun on water slides, but also watch dolphin performances.
Watch a review of the fortress in this video Vila Vella:
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Weather in Tossa de Mar by months:
| Month | Temperature | Cloudiness | Rainy days / Precipitation |
Water temperature in the sea |
Number of solar hours per day |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| During the day | At night | |||||
| January | 13.2°C | 8.2°C | 25.5% | 2 days (32.9 mm.) | 13.8°C | 9 o'clock 33m. |
| February | 12.9°C | 7.7°C | 28.2% | 3 days (31.2 mm.) | 12.9°C | 10 o'clock 36m. |
| March | 15.2°C | 9.5°C | 27.8% | 3 days (58.3 mm.) | 13.1°C | 11 o'clock 57m. |
| April | 17.6°C | 11.6°C | 27.1% | 3 days (42.2 mm.) | 14.3°C | 13:00 21m. |
| May | 20.3°C | 14.1°C | 25.3% | 3 days (44.7 mm.) | 16.6°C | 14h. 33m. |
| June | 25.0°C | 18.1°C | 16.0% | 2 days (25.2 mm.) | 20.4°C | 15h. 10m. |
| July | 28.0°C | 20.7°C | 15.5% | 2 days (26.7 mm.) | 23.6°C | 14h. 52m. |
| August | 28.7°C | 21.3°C | 15.5% | 1 day (21.8 mm.) | 24.8°C | 13:00 48m. |
| September | 25.4°C | 19.1°C | 23.8% | 4 days (66.4 mm.) | 23.4°C | 12h. 28m. |
| October | 22.3°C | 16.5°C | 26.1% | 3 days (58.8 mm.) | 20.7°C | 11 o'clock 4m. |
| November | 17.3°C | 12.5°C | 29.5% | 4 days (64.2 mm.) | 17.5°C | 9 o'clock 51m. |
| December | 14.6°C | 9.6°C | 23.6% | 2 days (17.1 mm.) | 15.2°C | 9 o'clock 13m. |
*This table displays weather averages collected over more than three years
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HOLIDAY PRICES:
How much does a holiday in Tossa de Mar cost? October 2018.
tour cost
The tour was purchased through the early booking program at Pegas Touristik. The cost of the tour for four (two adults and two children - 12 years old and 3 years old), Tossa Beach 4* hotel, all inclusive for 8 days/7 nights amounted to 130 thousand rubles. This is flight + accommodation + insurance + group transfer, but excluding the cost of a Schengen visa.
Documents for visas were submitted later, for visas they paid 6 thousand per person, but children under 6 years old receive a Spanish Schengen visa for free, so the cost of visas for our company was 18 thousand. A nice bonus is that the Spaniards have opened up multiple visas for us, which are valid for two years.
There is a lot to see in Spain, the excursion program in this country is very interesting, but with children we mainly prefer a beach holiday. We only took a sightseeing tour of Barcelona, costing 30 euros per person. I liked the excursion; it turned out to be an easy, easy walk through one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
But we received a much greater impression from another excursion - visiting a football match with the participation of FC Barcelona and its living legend Leonel Messi at the famous Camp Nou stadium. This pleasure is not cheap, tickets cost 115 euros per person (we went alone with our eldest son), but the impressions we received, the crazy energy that Barca fans give, are definitely worth the money.
True, on the Camp Nou website you can buy tickets for Barça matches much cheaper, for 55 euros, but then the question will arise of how to get from Tossa to the stadium and back, in our case, from the Tossa bus station, the ticket holders for the match were picked up by a club bus FC Barcelona and brought them to the entrance to the stadium, after the match the same bus took everyone back to Tossa. Very comfortably.
Food and products
Prices for food and wine in stores are quite reasonable. For example, the famous vacuum-packed jamon can even be bought for 1 euro. And we bought a five-liter canister of good Sangria for only 5 euros. Prices for wines vary, but for 5-8 euros you can buy quite decent wines. Although very cheap young wine in boxes, which can be purchased for literally a couple of euros, the quality is also very, very pleasing.
Total money spent on vacation
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Holiday impressions in August
The temperature in early August in the Costa Brava is comfortable, but the sea was no longer very calm: when the flag is yellow, the waves literally knock you off your feet and don’t allow you to rise, so it’s worth keeping in mind that perhaps a couple of days will be lost from your beach holiday - for wind and bad weather.
What to take with you on vacation?
You shouldn’t go to Spain in general and Catalonia in particular without sunscreen! Of course, you can buy it locally, but all the information on the label will be in Catalan, plus the cost is higher than in Russia. I also advise you to take panthenol, because there is a chance of getting sunburned even just walking down the street.
If you are planning to go to Barcelona, bring clothes in which you can visit the temples (covered shoulders and knees), since the cost of scarves at the cathedral is 150 euros per piece.
Where is the best place to stay?
Tossa de Mar is dotted with hotels, even if you choose a hotel not on the first coastline, the walk to the sea is very short, a maximum of 10-15 minutes. If you have a hotel without meals, don’t worry, there are a lot of cafes where you can have an inexpensive snack of croissants or local sandwiches.
What to do at the resort?
Be sure to visit the fortified city of Villa Vella, located on the banks of Tossa, and the municipal museum in it: paintings by Chagall, Picasso, Dali are exhibited there, and the entrance costs only a few euros.
By going to the tourist center you can get a free map of local attractions; you can see them all in one day, even if you come here for the weekend from Barcelona.
On the shore you can buy a ticket for a boat trip to underwater caves lasting about an hour and a half - I highly recommend it, the feeling is indescribable.
In Tossa itself there are three beaches with small, small pebbles (for some reason they write everywhere that there is sand, but in Tossa itself there is none! Well, or it is very large and rocky!), there are no cabins, two toilets on the beach and then a little further away. If you use a boat that takes you on an excursion, you can get to the sandy beaches, drive for about 15 minutes, but you can only return until 18:00, then the boats don’t go and you’ll be stuck in the bay until the next morning.
I didn’t like that a lot of boats come to the main beach (there is a pier and a makeshift pier, but they also stop in other places).
For shopping, it is better to go to Barcelona or Girona; in Tossa, prices are above average and the choice is much smaller. Here I advise you to take only souvenirs, since there are many ceramic products (magnets, coasters, pictures, figurines, etc.).
Although food prices in the supermarket are higher than in Barcelona (they are about the same as here), you can even eat a little cheaper in a cafe/restaurant. The ubiquitous bocadillos cost from 4 euros, bravos potatoes - 3.5, meat with a side dish - 12 euros. The further from the beach, the cheaper. I didn’t eat anything super tasty, the portions were quite average, but you won’t leave hungry.
Entertainment
If we talk about the beach, then there is no entertainment there, only the sea excursion “Feel the Costa Bravo” (cost 17 euros per person), but if you have visited it once, you will not go again. The city has several nightclubs, a museum, a church, and the remains of an ancient fortress. If you want a more party place, it is better to choose neighboring Lloret de Mar.
Pros of a holiday in Tossa de Mar
A beautiful and calm place, clean air, everything is close. The castle is sooo beautiful, I was ready to walk in it every day, it captivated me.
An hour's drive from Barcelona, high in the mountains, against the backdrop of stunningly picturesque landscapes, lies the most unusual monastery that has survived to this day - Sant Miquel del Fai. The monastery is located in a natural cave surrounded by mountains, forests, waterfalls, stalactite grottoes and rivers. An amazing and unique place where nature and the desire to know God merged together...
The first mention of this monastery dates back to 997. Until 1557, a community of Benedictine monks lived in the monastery. Then it began to be managed by priests who did not take a vow of seclusion. And already in the 19th century, the monastery was discovered by romantic writers who told the world about its history, legends and the extraordinary beauty of those places.
In the church, special attention should be paid to the tombstone of Count Guillemy Berenguer...
