Calella de Palafrugell Holidays: Beaches, Coves and Cap Roig
Província de Girona · Catalonia · Spain · 747 residents · on the coast
Calella de Palafrugell is a small coastal village in the Província de Girona, home to just 747 people and sitting barely 29 metres above the sea. What it lacks in size it makes up for in shoreline. Platja del Canadell, Port Bo and Port de Malaspina are all about a quarter of a mile from the centre, and a string of further beaches and coves runs along the coast in both directions. The Far de Sant Sebastià lighthouse and the Jardíns de Cap Roig are each around a mile away. Girona airport, with direct flights from the United Kingdom, is roughly half an hour's drive, which makes this an easy choice for a beach holiday with the family.
Why go
- Platja del Canadell, En Calau and Port Bo all lie within about a third of a mile.
- Girona airport has direct UK flights and is roughly a 31-minute drive away.
- July and August bring highs of 29°C, and July sees only around 11 mm of rain.
Top sights in Calella de Palafrugell
Beaches, a Lighthouse and Cap Roig
The beaches are the main event here, and most of them are close enough to reach on foot. Platja del Canadell and En Calau are the best known, at roughly a quarter and a third of a mile from the centre. Platgeta d'en Cosme and Port de Malaspina are just as close, and Port Pelegrí and Platja de Llafranc are both around 0.4 miles away. Port Bo, also about a quarter of a mile out, is listed as a protected cultural property.
For something other than sand, the Far de Sant Sebastià lighthouse sits about 0.9 miles away, and the Jardíns de Cap Roig, a cultural property of Palafrugell, is around 1.1 miles off. Further along the coast you will find Cala de Gens at about 1.1 miles, Cala Pedrosa at 1.5 miles, Cala Estreta at 2 miles, and Platja de Tamariu and Cala Corbs at about 2.1 miles each.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly on this page.
1lighthouse
2beach
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4beachCala Pedrosa
1 mile from the centre · Photo
5protected area
6beach
7beach
8castle
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11beach
12beach
Cala de Gens
beach · 1 mile from the centre
Tours & tickets in Calella de Palafrugell
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Calella de Palafrugell can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Calella de Palafrugell
Staying by the Water
With fewer than 750 residents, Calella de Palafrugell is a village rather than a resort town, and almost everything revolves around the seafront. Staying close to Port Bo and Platja del Canadell puts you within a few minutes' walk of several beaches. Llafranc, about 0.4 miles away, is an easy stroll if you want a second base for swimming.
If you prefer a larger town with more going on, Palamós, about 4 miles away with nearly 18,000 residents, is the nearest sizeable option. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare what is available for your dates.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Calella de Palafrugell and the villages around it is a hire car from Girona (GRO), about 31 min away.
Best time to visit Calella de Palafrugell
When to Visit Calella de Palafrugell
- 13°CJan34 mm
- 15°CFeb50 mm
- 16°CMar61 mm
- 18°CApr64 mm
- 21°CMay79 mm
- 25°CJun66 mm
- 29°CJul11 mm
- 29°CAug52 mm
- 25°CSept60 mm
- 22°COct72 mm
- 18°CNov62 mm
- 14°CDec44 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
July and August are the best months by the numbers, with daytime highs of 29°C and nights that stay around 22°C. July is also the driest month of the year, with only about 11 mm of rain over five rainy days, while August is a little wetter at around 52 mm.
The wettest stretches are May, with roughly 79 mm across ten rainy days, and October, with about 72 mm. June and September are warm at 25°C and make a sensible compromise if you want gentler heat. Winter is mild rather than warm, with January highs of around 13°C.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13°C | 7°C | 34 mm | 8 h |
| Feb | 15°C | 7°C | 50 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 16°C | 10°C | 61 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 18°C | 11°C | 64 mm | 11 h |
| May | 21°C | 14°C | 79 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 25°C | 18°C | 66 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 29°C | 22°C | 11 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 29°C | 22°C | 52 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 25°C | 18°C | 60 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 22°C | 16°C | 72 mm | 9 h |
| Nov | 18°C | 11°C | 62 mm | 8 h |
| Dec | 14°C | 7°C | 44 mm | 7 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights and Drives from the UK
Girona airport is the closest, about 22 miles away or a 31-minute drive, and it has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Barcelona airport, also with direct UK flights, is around 70 miles away, roughly an hour and 40 minutes by car. Reus is a third option with direct UK flights, though at about 116 miles it is a drive of around two and three-quarter hours.
Driving from Calais takes roughly 14 and a half hours of motorway and road time, so most people break the journey overnight. The port of Barcelona, around 63 miles away, has onward ferries to Palma, Alcúdia, Maó, Ciutadella and Ibiza, as well as to Civitavecchia, Genoa and Porto Torres in Italy and Tangier Med and Nador in Morocco.
By air
- Girona (GRO)22 miles, about 31 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Barcelona (BCN)70 miles, about 1 h 40 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Reus (REU)116 miles, about 2 h 45 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 14 h 37 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Barcelona (63 miles).
Calella de Palafrugell is good for
Around Calella de Palafrugell
Day Trips Along the Coast
Begur and Palamós are both only about 4 miles away, the first a small town of under 4,000 people, the second a larger coastal town of nearly 18,000. Pals and Calonge are each around 6 miles off.
A little further, Torroella de Montgrí and Sant Feliu de Guíxols are both about 11 miles away, Verges is around 14 miles, and Tossa de Mar, at roughly 18 miles, is the furthest of the nearby towns and an easy half-day outing by car hire.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Stay
This is a very small village, so expect a quiet place rather than a big resort; for larger shops and more choice, Palamós is the nearest sizeable town at about 4 miles.
With Girona airport so close, a car hire pick-up there makes sense, especially if you plan to explore the coves further out, such as Cala Estreta or Platja de Tamariu, or the nearby towns.
If you travel in spring or autumn, pack for rain: May and October each average around ten rainy days.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Calella de Palafrugell?
Girona airport is the nearest, about 22 miles away or roughly a 31-minute drive, and it has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Barcelona, around 70 miles and an hour and 40 minutes away, is the main alternative and also has direct UK flights.
Is Calella de Palafrugell good for families?
Yes, for a beach-focused holiday. Several family-friendly beaches, including Platja del Canadell, En Calau, Port de Malaspina and Platgeta d'en Cosme, are within about a third of a mile of the village, and Platja de Llafranc is roughly 0.4 miles away.
How hot is Calella de Palafrugell in summer?
July and August are the warmest months, with daytime highs of about 29°C and night-time lows around 22°C. July is also the driest month, with roughly 11 mm of rain. June and September are a little cooler at about 25°C.
Can you drive to Calella de Palafrugell from the UK?
Yes. The drive from Calais takes roughly 14 and a half hours, so most travellers plan an overnight stop on the way. Having your own car also makes it easy to reach nearby towns such as Begur, Pals and Tossa de Mar.
What is there to see besides the beaches?
The Far de Sant Sebastià lighthouse is about 0.9 miles from the village, and the Jardíns de Cap Roig, a cultural property of Palafrugell, is around 1.1 miles away. Port Bo, close to the centre, is also listed as a protected cultural property.