Calella Holidays: Beaches, Lighthouse and Travel Guide
Província de Barcelona · Catalonia · Spain · 18,728 residents · on the coast
Calella Lighthouse
Archaeological site of Calella
Calella Josep M. Codina i Bagué Municipal Archive Museum
Platja de Garbí
Museu del TurismeCalella is a coastal town of around 18,700 people in the Província de Barcelona, sitting barely 15 metres above the Mediterranean. Its appeal is easy to grasp: Platja Gran de Calella and Platja de Garbí lie well under half a mile from the centre, and Calella Lighthouse stands on the edge of town. Culture is close at hand too, with an archaeological site, the Municipal Archive Museum and the Museu del Turisme all within walking distance. Summers are warm, with August highs around 29°C, and three airports with direct flights from the UK sit within about two hours' drive. Girona is the closest, roughly half an hour away.
Why go
- Platja Gran de Calella and Platja de Garbí are both under half a mile from the centre.
- Calella Lighthouse, just over half a mile away, gives the town a fine coastal viewpoint.
- Girona airport has direct UK flights and is only about 30 minutes' drive away.
Top sights in Calella
Beaches, Museums and the Lighthouse
The best-known sight is Calella Lighthouse, about 0.6 miles from the centre and a natural goal for a walk along the coast, especially for couples. Right in the heart of town, barely 100 metres away, is the Archaeological site of Calella, while the Calella Josep M. Codina i Bagué Municipal Archive Museum is about 0.2 miles off and suits families looking for a cultural hour out of the sun. The Museu del Turisme, roughly 0.4 miles away, completes the trio of indoor sights.
The beaches are the other half of the story. Platges de Calella, the town's beach front, begins about 0.2 miles from the centre, with Platja Gran de Calella and Platja de Garbí both around 0.4 miles out. Further along you reach Platja de les Roques at about 0.7 miles, then Playa de Poblenou and Roca Grossa, each roughly a mile away.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly on this page, where you will find the available activities shown as booking cards.
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Tours & tickets in Calella
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Calella can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Calella
Choosing Your Base in Calella
Calella is compact, so most of what you will want lies within a mile or so. Staying near the centre puts the archaeological site and the Municipal Archive Museum on your doorstep, with Platja Gran de Calella and Platja de Garbí a short stroll away, which suits families who prefer not to rely on a car.
If you would rather be closer to the lighthouse and the rockier stretches towards Platja de les Roques and Roca Grossa, look a little further from the centre along the coast. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare locations and dates side by side.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Calella and the villages around it is a hire car from Girona (GRO), about 30 min away.
Best time to visit Calella
When to Visit Calella
- 14°CJan19 mm
- 15°CFeb49 mm
- 17°CMar46 mm
- 19°CApr68 mm
- 21°CMay50 mm
- 25°CJun74 mm
- 28°CJul16 mm
- 29°CAug55 mm
- 25°CSept76 mm
- 23°COct105 mm
- 18°CNov39 mm
- 15°CDec18 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
July and August are the most pleasant months for a beach holiday. July is notably dry, with only about 16 mm of rain over four days and highs around 28°C; August is the hottest month, reaching about 29°C with warm nights near 22°C.
Autumn is the wettest spell: October brings around 105 mm of rain, and September and October each see about ten rainy days. May has the most rainy days of the year, around twelve, though temperatures are already climbing to about 21°C. Winter is mild rather than warm, with highs of 14 to 15°C from December to February, and January and December are fairly dry.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14°C | 5°C | 19 mm | 8 h |
| Feb | 15°C | 6°C | 49 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 17°C | 9°C | 46 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 19°C | 10°C | 68 mm | 11 h |
| May | 21°C | 13°C | 50 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 25°C | 18°C | 74 mm | 12 h |
| Jul | 28°C | 21°C | 16 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 29°C | 22°C | 55 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 25°C | 17°C | 76 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 23°C | 16°C | 105 mm | 9 h |
| Nov | 18°C | 11°C | 39 mm | 7 h |
| Dec | 15°C | 6°C | 18 mm | 8 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flying and Driving From the UK
Girona airport (GRO) is the closest, about 21 miles away and roughly 30 minutes by car, and it has direct flights from the UK. Barcelona airport (BCN), also served directly from the UK, is about 37 miles away, or around 53 minutes' drive. Reus airport (REU) has direct UK flights too, but it is about 83 miles away and takes close to two hours by road.
If you are driving from home, allow around 15 hours of driving from Calais. The port of Barcelona, about 30 miles away, has ferries to Palma, Alcúdia, Maó, Ciutadella and Ibiza, as well as routes to Italy and Morocco, useful if you plan to combine Calella with an island stay.
By air
- Girona (GRO)21 miles, about 30 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Barcelona (BCN)37 miles, about 53 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Reus (REU)83 miles, about 1 h 59 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 15 h 1 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Barcelona (30 miles).
Calella is good for
Around Calella
Day Trips Along the Coast
Neighbouring towns are close enough to reach in minutes. Pineda de Mar and Sant Pol de Mar are both about 2 miles away, the first a larger town of over 26,000 people and the second a much smaller one of around 5,000. Santa Susanna and Canet de Mar lie about 4 miles off, with Malgrat de Mar at roughly 5 miles and Arenys de Mar at about 6 miles.
For a bigger outing, Blanes, a town of around 40,000, is about 8 miles away, and Hostalric, a small place of some 3,400 residents, is about 9 miles from Calella.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Stay
Calella sits just 15 metres above sea level and most sights are within about a mile, so this is a town for walking rather than driving; the beaches, museums and lighthouse can all be reached on foot.
If you travel outside high summer, pack a light waterproof: October is the wettest month, and May, June and September each bring around ten or more rainy days. With July and August the most popular months, it is wise to plan ahead if you have your heart set on those weeks.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Calella?
Girona airport (GRO) is the nearest, about 21 miles away and roughly 30 minutes by car. It has direct flights from the UK. Barcelona airport, also with direct UK flights, is about 37 miles away, or around 53 minutes' drive.
When is the best time to visit Calella?
July and August are the best months. July is very dry with about 16 mm of rain and highs near 28°C, while August is the hottest month at around 29°C. October is the wettest month, with about 105 mm of rain.
Is Calella good for a family holiday?
Yes. Platja Gran de Calella and Platja de Garbí are both under half a mile from the centre, and the Municipal Archive Museum and Museu del Turisme offer indoor options nearby. Everything is compact, so getting around with children is straightforward.
Can I drive to Calella from the UK?
You can. The drive from Calais takes around 15 hours. Once there, the port of Barcelona, about 30 miles away, offers ferries to the Balearic Islands, Italy and Morocco if you want to extend your trip.
What is there to see in Calella besides the beaches?
Calella Lighthouse, about 0.6 miles from the centre, is the best-known sight. The town also has an archaeological site right in the centre, the Calella Josep M. Codina i Bagué Municipal Archive Museum and the Museu del Turisme, all within walking distance.
Is Calella warm in winter?
It is mild rather than warm. Daytime highs from December to February sit around 14 to 15°C, with lows of 5 to 6°C. December and January are fairly dry, which suits walking, but it is not beach weather.