The Road Less Traveled: Calella de Palafrugell

Calella de Palafrugell is by far one of our favorite spots on the Costa Brava! This little town, located an hour and a half from Barcelona, feels like you've stumbled upon a hidden treasure. Our good friends have a vacation home there with a beautiful view of the Mediterranean sea that we stayed in a number of times throughout the year. We loved to sneak away from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona to visit this little bit of heaven with friends and family when they came to visit us. Calella is the perfect place to get away for a quiet weekend to simply relax.

There is a great walking trail in this area that takes you along the rocky shoreline, in and out of its clear blue coves, with beautiful views of the gorgeous town in the distance. Our favorite beach in the area is actually at the end of the trail, about a 15 minute walk southwest from the town center. It seems like only a few people know about this picturesque pebble beach that backs up to a stark cliff, you'll rarely find more than 10 people enjoying it's sunny shore. We also loved climbing along the rocky coast, jumping off of some lower cliffs into the clear turquoise water below.

There are a number of hiking trails just outside of the town to explore as well as the stunning Cap Roig Botanical Gardens, which you can walk to from the town center and explore for an afternoon. Be sure to spend some quality time in the town center, grab a fresh seafood dinner at one of the seaside restaurants. Our favorite spot for dinner was at the Sant Roc Hotel, with views that overlooks the sea and town center. They have a beautiful backyard terrace where you can sit and order anything from tasty cocktails to a 5 star seafood dinner. After dinner, grab some creamy gelato for dessert, and stroll along the waters edge while you watch the sun dip below the horizon.