Costa Brava has become a popular holiday destination for tourists wanting to explore more of the Catalonian territory, and a hidden town called Cadaqués will leave you daydreaming
After months of counting down to the annual summer trip with my friends abroad, the day finally came – a week in Cadaqués, the most gorgeous and hidden town on the Costa Brava, which is just under three hours away from my beloved Barcelona.
Cadaqués is known for its gorgeous views, as if it were straight out of a painting. You have to see it with your own eyes to believe it. The streets, the whitewashed buildings and blue windows reminded me of Mykonos and the Amalfi Coast, which I absolutely loved. It’s a small, quiet town with approximately 3,000 residents. Everyone knows each other.
As the town faces the Mediterranean Sea, there are beach coves located around where visitors can dive and see tiny fish and crabs. But if you turn to the other side, you can find yourself hiking for hours uphill. Essentially, Cadaqués is a town with water on one side and mountains on the other: the best of both worlds, as they say.
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There are also barely any tourists – even during the summer. We went during the last week of August, and we saw more locals walking around the street. Our Airbnb was located right in the middle of the town, which was convenient. Everything was five minutes away from us: the beach, restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets, and nightclubs.
What’s even more interesting about Cadaqués is that taxis aren’t a thing. People commute to work using their cars, motorbikes and bicycles. However, to travel from one side of the island to another, or if a boat seems to be in an unwalkable location, you can call a private boat taxi.
I have to say, their gastronomy wasn’t the best. Besides the typical Spanish restaurant with tapas and paella, and bakery stores, there were only Italian restaurants and fusionised burgers.
After a day, I wanted to eat something else, but shockingly, food delivery services aren’t a thing. Nonetheless, their prices are reasonable, but anywhere is cheaper compared to the extortionate London prices.
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Since you can see Cadaqués in one day, you can visit other nearby villages, such as Roses, Figueres and Empuriabrava, which are 30 minutes away by car. Since the town is limited in the number of activities you can do, those who like adrenaline can try all types of water sports, such as jet skis, banana boats, and paragliding. The banana boat, I highly suggest you do at least once in your life – the laughter is worth the price.
For the art lovers, there’s also a strong artistic heritage thanks to Salvador Dalí, a famous Catalan painter. His family owned a house in Cadaqués, which people can visit for 15€, which is roughly £13. Alternatively, people can also travel to Figueres to visit a museum dedicated to him and his surrealist work.
After four days, I must admit that I fell in love with Cadaqués. It has everything you need, plus more, to have a dreamy summer. I had the best time ever with the people that I love the most, and there was always something to do. So, if you’re looking for a city break with tranquillity and beautiful views for a perfect Instagram picture, this is the place I recommend to you.