Torroella de Montgrí Holidays: Castle, Caves and Coast
Província de Girona · Catalonia · Spain · 11,598 residents · on the coast
Torroella de Montgrí is a coastal Catalan town of around 11,600 people in the Província de Girona, close enough to Girona airport that you can land from the UK and be unpacking in about half an hour. Its appeal is unusually concentrated. Montgrí Castle stands just over half a mile from the centre, the Museum of the Mediterranean and the Palau Solterra photography museum are a short stroll apart, and a cluster of caves, including the archaeological site of Cau del Duc, lies within little more than a mile. Add a string of Costa Brava towns such as Pals, Begur and Roses within 16 miles, and you have a compact base for a culture-led holiday that works well with children.
Why go
- Montgrí Castle, a listed cultural property, is barely 0.7 miles from the town centre.
- Girona airport, with direct flights from the UK, is only around 30 minutes' drive away.
- Family-friendly caves such as Cau del Duc and Cau d'en Calvet lie within a mile.
Top sights in Torroella de Montgrí
Castle, Museums and Caves
The headline sight is Montgrí Castle, a protected cultural property about 0.7 miles from the centre. Closer in, The Museum of the Mediterranean sits roughly 0.2 miles away and is a good choice for families, while the Palau Solterra, a historic palace, is right in the heart of town and houses the Museo Palau Solterra, a museum of contemporary photography.
The surrounding hillside is riddled with caves. Cau del Duc, about 0.7 miles out, is an archaeological site; Cau del Duc d'Ullà and Cau d'en Calvet are both around 0.8 miles away, Cau de l'Olivar d'en Margall about 1.1 miles and Cau de les Dents about 1.2 miles. A little further, at roughly 2.5 miles, is Castell de Fontanilles, another listed castle.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly on this page, where you will find the current selection of activities.
1castle
2museumThe Museum of the Mediterranean
In the centre · Photo
The Museum of the Mediterranean in Torroella de Montgrí
3museum
4palace
5cave
6archaeological site
Castell de Fontanilles
castle · 3 miles from the centre
Cau del Duc d'Ullà
cave · 1 mile from the centre
Cau de l'Olivar d'en Margall
cave · 1 mile from the centre
Cau d'en Calvet
cave · 1 mile from the centre
Tours & tickets in Torroella de Montgrí
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Torroella de Montgrí can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Torroella de Montgrí
Choosing Your Base in Town
With the castle, both museums and the Palau Solterra all within a mile of each other, staying in the centre puts most of Torroella de Montgrí's sights within walking distance. The town is coastal but modest in size, with around 11,600 residents, noticeably smaller than nearby Palamós or Roses, so expect a calmer feel than the larger resorts along this stretch.
If you want livelier evenings, the bigger towns of Palamós and Roses are within about 16 miles. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare options for your dates.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Torroella de Montgrí and the villages around it is a hire car from Girona (GRO), about 30 min away.
Best time to visit Torroella de Montgrí
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and Driving
Girona airport (GRO) is the obvious choice: it has direct flights from the UK and lies about 21 miles away, roughly a 30-minute drive. Barcelona (BCN) also has direct UK flights and is around 75 miles off, about an hour and 45 minutes by car. Reus (REU), again with direct UK services, is about 119 miles away, close to a three-hour drive.
If you prefer to drive from home, the journey from Calais takes around 14 and a half hours at the wheel, so most people split it over two days. Barcelona's ferry port, about 68 miles away, has sailings to Palma, Alcúdia, Maó, Ciutadella and Ibiza, as well as to Italy and Morocco, which is handy if you want to combine the mainland with an island.
By air
- Girona (GRO)21 miles, about 30 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Barcelona (BCN)75 miles, about 1 h 46 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Reus (REU)119 miles, about 2 h 48 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 14 h 23 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Barcelona (68 miles).
Torroella de Montgrí is good for
Around Torroella de Montgrí
Day Trips Along the Costa Brava
The closest outings are inland: Verges is about 4 miles away and Pals around 5 miles. Begur lies roughly 8 miles off, and the small seaside village of Calella de Palafrugell, with fewer than 800 residents, is about 11 miles away.
Further along the coast, Calonge is around 13 miles, with Palamós and Empuriabrava both about 14 miles away. Roses, the largest town on the list at over 19,000 people, is roughly 16 miles north.
_-_3.jpg/500px-Recinte_emmurallat_i_Castell_de_Tossa_(Tossa_de_Mar)_-_3.jpg)
Tips from Robin
Practical Advice for Your Stay
Car hire makes sense here. The museums are walkable, but the caves, Castell de Fontanilles and the day-trip towns are spread across the surrounding area, and the nearest airport is a half-hour drive.
The town sits just 29 metres above sea level, so there is no altitude to think about, though the caves and castle approaches call for sensible footwear, particularly with children. If you are driving down from Calais, plan an overnight stop rather than attempting the 14-hour-plus run in one go.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Torroella de Montgrí?
Girona airport (GRO) is the nearest, about 21 miles away and roughly a 30-minute drive. It has direct flights from the UK, making it the quickest way in. Barcelona airport is the alternative, about 75 miles away.
Can I fly direct from the UK to the area?
Yes. Girona, Barcelona and Reus airports all have direct flights from the UK. Girona is the closest at about 30 minutes by car, Barcelona about an hour and 45 minutes, and Reus close to three hours.
How long does it take to drive from Calais?
The drive from Calais takes around 14 and a half hours of driving time. Most British travellers split the journey with an overnight stop in France rather than tackling it in a single day.
What are the main things to see in Torroella de Montgrí?
Montgrí Castle, about 0.7 miles from the centre, is the best-known sight. The Museum of the Mediterranean and the Palau Solterra with its contemporary photography museum are in town, and several caves, including the archaeological site of Cau del Duc, are within about a mile.
Is Torroella de Montgrí good for a family holiday?
It suits families well. The Museum of the Mediterranean and Museo Palau Solterra are both family-friendly, and caves such as Cau de les Dents, Cau d'en Calvet and Cau del Duc are all within roughly a mile, ideal for short outings.
Which towns can I visit on a day trip?
Pals is about 5 miles away and Begur about 8 miles. Calella de Palafrugell is around 11 miles, Palamós and Empuriabrava about 14 miles, and Roses roughly 16 miles, all easy drives with a hire car.