Tossa De Mar, Spain - Easy Beach Life in Historic Surroundings

Things to do in Tossa de Mar

The nature at the seaside is truly beautiful, which is the main reason for many to visit Tossa de Mar. The beautiful Mediterranean offers astonishing surroundings for hikes and all kinds of outdoorsy activities. Moreover, the medieval town center offers fascinating sites to explore, providing nice contrast to the beauty of the nature.

Vila Vella

Vila Vella - Old Town Walls in Tossa de Mar

Translated as the old village, Vila Vella is the fortified part of the town. Overt time, the rectangular castle with a watchtower at the top has been transformed into the present-day lighthouse.

The Vila Vella itself is a charming place with narrow cobbled streets. Inside the Vila Vella, there are also the remains of the late-Gothic 15th-century church of Sant Vicenç, which is built on top of the remains of an earlier Romanesque church of the 11th or the 12th century. The 300-meter long rampart of the old town is an emblem of Tossa de Mar. The views from the top are unique.

Guided tours: Tossa Tour Experience

Snorkeling and diving

The waters in Tossa are bright with diverse underwater world. The area is great for snorkeling and diving, and therefore people come all the way from Barcelona to this tiny coastal town for underwater exploring.

Museu Municipal de Tossa de Mar

The municipal museum has been situated in the Old Town since 1935. It consists of two parts - arts and archaeological sections. The arts section exhibits collections of different artists such as Marc Chagall and Olga Sacharoff. In the archaeological section, you get to see the ruins of the Ametllers Villa from 2nd century BC., which is one of the most important Roman villas found in the Tarragona Province.
Address: Plaça Pintor Roig i Soler, 1.

Nature trail

Hiking trails go along the blue Mediterranean

The Mediterranean on the other side and the pine forest on the other, provide a pleasurable setting for a walk. A nature trail that starts from Vila Vella follows the coast to the South. There are several viewing points, Miradors, along the way.

Visit other towns in Costa Brava

While visiting neighboring towns is easier by a rental car, local buses shouldn't be forgotten. During the wintertime, Girona is connected via Lloret de Mar or Llagostera, but in the summertime (starting from the beginning of July), there are direct buses to Girona from Tossa de Mar. Local buses to Lloret de Mar: Autocars Pujol

Girona – located only 40 kilometers away and definitely worth a day trip. Girona is a significantly bigger city with a rich history and well-preserved architecture.
Besalú – some 70 kilometers north of Tossa, is a truly unique medieval village. The Tossa - Besalú connection operates via Girona.
Empuriabrava – the holiday hideout of the jet set is situated some 100 kilometers north of Tossa. Go and rent an electric boat to explore the villas and private yachts along the network of artificial canals in the middle of the town.
Figueres – the birthplace of the master artist Salvador Dalí. Visit the Dalí museum and explore the beautiful architecture of Figueres.

Beaches of Tossa de Mar

The beach in front of the town is vast with clear water. Because of its lively underwater sea life, Tossa is one of the best and most popular snorkeling and diving destinations on Costa Brava. You don't have to go far from the shore to see bright colored Mediterranean fish.

The vast main beach of Tossa de Mar provides plenty of space

Platja d’es Codolar - a lovely cove near the town center

Shopping

Tossa has a limited selection of smaller boutiques for buying souvenirs to commemorate your holiday. At least ceramics, arts and clothing are on offer. In the neighboring towns of Lloret de Mar and Blanes, you’ll find a larger selection of shops.

Prices in Tossa de Mar

Prices of restaurant services in Tossa de Mar are close to the average in the European Union. Hotel room prices are much cheaper in the early summer, before the real high season starts in July.

Below, there are some examples of restaurant and hotel prices in the town center. Costs of hotel rooms are median prices at Booking.com.

How to get to Tossa de Mar

From Barcelona airport

From Barcelona airport, there are a few direct buses to Tossa in a day (during summertime). Journey takes over 2 hours. Timetables: Moventis

From Barcelona City

The buses to Tossa de Mar leave from the main bus station of Barcelona, Estacio del Nord. Estació del Nord is located a little over one kilometer away from Catalonia Square next to the Arc de Triomf metro station.
Train connections from Barcelona up north to Costa Brava don’t go beyond Blanes. The railroad takes a turn to inland after that. The distance from Blanes to Tossa de Mar is 18 kilometers. Timetables for trains: Renfe.com.

From Girona Airport

From Girona airport by bus in about 35 minutes, but there are only a couple of daily direct buses.
Buses from Girona airport to Lloret de Mar operate more frequently, and you can switch to a local bus from there. The distance is about 10 km from Lloret to Tossa.

Weather in Tossa de Mar

Winter: Winters are mild with average daily highs between 5°C to 15°C. It rains frequently.

Spring: In March and April, temperatures may exceed 20°C. However, have a coat with you just in case, as mornings and evenings are somewhat chilly. Seawater is still too cold for swimming, but it rains less than in the winter. In May, temperatures exceed 20°C and the beaches begin to attract sunbathers.

Summer: June is a good month to visit Tossa de Mar. During the hottest hours of the day, temperatures climb to 30°C. July and August are the hottest and driest months of the year, with temperatures as high as 35°C in the shade.

Autumn: Temperatures and sea water remain warm in early autumn. The beach season continues until mid-October, after which temperatures begin to drop to 20°C and below. There’s more rain the further the autumn advances.