Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Start in Barri Vell while the streets are still quiet, heading first to Girona Cathedral. Allow about an hour for the vast nave, cloister, and the long stone steps outside; winter opening hours can vary by day, and religious services may restrict access, so check the cathedral’s official schedule before setting out. Entry is typically around €7–10. From there, take your time wandering through El Call, Girona’s former Jewish quarter: the narrow Carrer de la Força, small arches, and steep lanes are best enjoyed without a rigid route. Wear comfortable shoes—the old stones can be slippery after rain.
Continue to the Museu d’Història dels Jueus, also in El Call, for a more focused understanding of Girona’s medieval Jewish community. Give it roughly an hour and confirm its winter opening days, as seasonal schedules can be reduced; admission is generally around €4–6. For lunch, stay in the old town rather than crossing the river: Le Bistrot on Pujada de Sant Domènec is a relaxed choice for Catalan dishes and a good-value midday menu, though it is worth checking current service hours in winter. Allow a little extra time for the uphill walk and possible waits.
After lunch, stop at Rocambolesc Gelateria on Carrer de Santa Clara, even in winter—the inventive frozen desserts and hot chocolate make it more than a summer-only stop. Budget about €5–10 and expect a short queue at busy times. Then walk towards the Passeig de la Muralla and follow the elevated medieval ramparts for about an hour. Enter near Pujada de la Catedral and continue along the walls at an easy pace, pausing for views across the rooftops towards the Pyrenees; access is generally free, but sections can close in poor weather. Finish back around Plaça de la Independència or the riverside for a drink, when the old town’s evening lights come on.
After arriving in Blanes, begin at Marimurtra Botanical Garden, perched above the coast on the hillside. Allow around 90 minutes for the Mediterranean terraces, cactus collection, and sea-facing viewpoints; the winter timetable can be shorter and some days may be closed, so check the official opening calendar before setting out. Wear shoes with a good grip, as the paths include steps. From the garden, take a taxi or drive down toward the waterfront—roughly 10 minutes—and continue to Sa Palomera, the rocky outcrop traditionally regarded as the start of the Costa Brava. A gentle 45-minute stroll around the promenade and rocks is enough, though it can be windy in winter.
Walk along the harbor to the Blanes fish market area, where the atmosphere is most authentic around the port and auction buildings, even when the market itself is not open to visitors. Set aside about 90 minutes for a seafood lunch at a well-reviewed harbor restaurant; Can Flores is a dependable local-style choice, while Sa Malica is a good option for fish and rice dishes when open. Expect roughly €25–45 per person, and check winter opening days and lunch service before relying on a specific table—many coastal restaurants reduce their schedules outside summer.
After lunch, drive or take a taxi to Tossa de Mar—allow around 30–40 minutes, with parking more practical in the newer town than beside the old walls. Spend the afternoon wandering through Tossa de Mar Old Town, entering the Vila Vella through the lower gate and following the narrow lanes uphill for the best views over the coves. The walls are free to explore, but individual museums and interiors may keep reduced winter hours. Finish with a 45-minute walk along Platja Gran, looking back toward the illuminated stone ramparts as the light fades; the promenade is easy, but the beach can be uneven and exposed to winter winds. For dinner, stay in Tossa rather than driving back late, and check restaurant opening days in advance, as several seafront places close or operate limited winter hours.
Start with the Camí de Ronda from Sant Feliu de Guíxols to S’Agaró, allowing roughly 2½–3 hours at an unhurried pace. Park near Sant Feliu de Guíxols harbour or the southern end of the promenade, then follow the signed coastal path past pine woods, rocky coves, and dramatic Mediterranean viewpoints. This is one of the more rewarding sections of the Costa Brava, but it includes steps, uneven stone, and exposed stretches; wear proper walking shoes and avoid it after heavy rain or strong winds. In winter, begin by about 9:00, as daylight fades relatively early, and carry water because cafés along the route may be closed.
The path brings you into S’Agaró and Platja de Sant Pol, where the broad sandy bay and elegant promenade make a good place to pause for around 45 minutes. Winter swimming is for the hardy, but the beach is lovely when quiet; for coffee or a light meal, check the handful of seasonal restaurants around the promenade rather than relying on every beachside venue being open. Walk a few minutes along the seafront to Hostal de la Gavina, the landmark luxury hotel at S’Agaró. You can admire its historic exterior and setting from the public areas and surrounding streets, but do not expect unrestricted access to hotel interiors unless you are dining or staying there. Take a taxi back to Sant Feliu de Guíxols if you would rather preserve your legs; otherwise, arrange a return transfer in advance, as winter bus services are limited.
Spend the afternoon at Sant Feliu de Guíxols Monastery, especially its distinctive Porta Ferrada, one of the town’s most recognisable Romanesque features. Allow about an hour, but check the municipal or museum website before setting out: winter opening days and hours can be restricted, and some areas may close for cultural events. Finish along Sant Feliu de Guíxols harbour, where the waterfront is pleasant for a late walk before dinner. Choose a Catalan or seafood restaurant around the port—look for local fish, prawns, suquet de peix, or seasonal dishes—and budget approximately €25–45 per person. If you are driving onward afterward, leave the harbour before the restaurants become busy; otherwise, this is a good town for an easy, unhurried evening.
Begin in Pals, arriving early enough to find a space in the car park below the old town before the lanes fill. Allow about 90 minutes to climb through the atmospheric Barri Vell, following the stone streets towards the Torre de les Hores and the viewpoint over the Empordà plain. The medieval centre is compact but uneven, so wear shoes with good grip; cafés may not open until mid-morning in winter, making a takeaway coffee from the newer part of town a sensible start. From Pals, drive around 15 minutes to Peratallada, with free parking areas outside the village walls—avoid trying to take the car into the narrow historic centre.
Spend the late morning wandering Peratallada, one of the Costa Brava’s most beautifully preserved medieval settlements. Look for the carved doorways, vaulted passages, and ivy-covered stone around the Plaça de les Voltes; an hour and a half is enough for a relaxed circuit with time for photographs. For lunch, settle near the central square at Cala Nena or Can Bonay, both good options for Catalan and Empordà cooking, including seasonal stews, rice dishes, and local produce. Expect roughly €25–45 per person. Winter opening days can be limited, so check directly and reserve if your visit falls near a weekend.
After lunch, drive about 25 minutes to Begur and park below the old centre, then walk uphill to Begur Castle. The ruins themselves are modest, but the summit gives one of the day’s best wide views across the coast and inland fields; allow about an hour, and take care on the exposed path in wet or windy weather. Return through Begur’s central streets for a short coffee stop if places are open, then continue roughly 10 minutes by car to Sa Riera. Finish with a quiet 45-minute walk along the beach and coastal viewpoint—winter is particularly peaceful here, though there may be very little open, so bring water and a warm layer. Check sunset timing before setting out, as the beach becomes shadowed early in winter.
Start at Cap de Creus Natural Park, allowing about two hours for the exposed coastal landscape and its remarkable rock formations. From Cadaqués, the road to the park is narrow and winding; in winter, arrive early for easier parking and check the park’s notices before setting out, especially after rain or strong winds. Keep a jacket and sturdy shoes handy—the Tramuntana wind can make the headland feel much colder than the village. Stick to marked paths and avoid the cliff edges, as the terrain is uneven and there is little shelter.
Return towards Portlligat for the Portlligat Museum-House, Salvador Dalí’s former home. The visit takes roughly 90 minutes and is best treated as the day’s fixed booking: admission is by timed entry, places can be limited in winter, and opening days and tour languages vary, so reserve directly in advance and leave a buffer for parking or the short walk down to the cove. For lunch, wait until you are back in Cadaqués rather than relying on the few seasonal options around Portlligat.
Spend the afternoon wandering Cadaqués Old Town, where whitewashed lanes climb away from the harbor and small galleries and cafés provide welcome shelter if the weather turns. Allow around 90 minutes without trying to follow a strict route, then climb to the Church of Santa Maria of Cadaqués for its impressive Baroque altarpiece and elevated views across the tiled roofs and bay. Access can be restricted for services, and winter hours are irregular, so check locally or look for the posted notice before making the climb.
Finish with a waterfront dinner at Compartir Cadaqués if it is operating that evening, or at Casa Anita, a long-established local choice slightly back from the seafront. Expect approximately €30–50 per person for seafood, rice dishes, and wine; reserve ahead because winter opening schedules can be surprisingly limited. Most of the village is comfortably walkable, but wear shoes with grip—the polished stone lanes become slippery after rain.
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