Essential information for Costa Brava

When to go

This wild coastal region is treated to a wonderfully mild climate that rarely inches into ‘too hot’ territory. The hottest months tend to be from May to September, making this the ideal time to enjoy All Inclusive holidays to Costa Brava.

The summers are hot and dry and the winters moderately cold, with temperatures dipping down to an average of 9°C. For this reason, much of the region shuts down during the winter, only seeing a select number of restaurants and attractions remaining open.

Because Costa Brava enjoys such a warm climate, the great outdoors will be your year-long playground, with beaches, golf courses and waterparks all within reach.

Health and safety

It’s recommended you take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover you and your family while on holiday. It’s also a good idea to apply for a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK, as this entitles you to the same emergency medical treatment as Spanish nationals. However, it won’t cover you for medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment or non-urgent treatment.

If you’re visiting Costa Brava specifically to participate in sports, including hiking, you should make sure your insurance covers this. See our holiday extras page for more information. For the latest health and safety information visit gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/health.

Passports and Visas

British citizens don’t need a visa to enter Spain, but they must have a valid passport. By law, you must carry your passport with you and may occasionally need to show it when paying by credit card. For the most up-to-date passport and visa info, visit gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements.

Getting around

Those staying in Costa Brava have their pick of two Spanish airports, which should be chosen depending on your final destination. In just over two hours, you can touch down in Barcelona El-Prat Airport and from there, the drive is around an hour to get to Calella, Santa Susanna, Pineda de Mar and Malgrat de Mar. If you’re going to Lloret de Mar or Tossa de Mar, you’re best off choosing Girona Airport, where you can either take a quick bus ride or taxi to your resort. Most tour operators can arrange your transfer, so you won’t have to worry about securing a car once you’ve landed.

Depending on your Costa Brava holiday package, most hotels are within walking distance from town centres, and can be explored on foot or by bike. You can also hire a taxi, which can be arranged by your hotel concierge to avoid any language barriers, or utilise the public bus system offered in most areas. Most towns also have car rental services (excluding Pineda de Mar, so you can cruise along the coast and see the sites at your own pace.

Conveniently, there’s also a train directly connecting towns like Pineda de Mar, Santa Susanna and Lloret de Mar with Barcelona. It runs along the coast, so even your travel connections are scenic.

Advice for travellers with children

Holidays to Costa Brava are generally great for all the family. It’s an incredibly family-friendly destination, with a hundreds of outdoor activities and parks to keep kids occupied. Most restaurants and bars welcome children and will accommodate parents with special menus or activities. Lloret de Mar is an especially great resort town for kids, as it’s home to WaterWorld, one of the biggest water parks in Europe. Additionally, most hotels offer kid pools, clubs and daytime entertainment for little ones.

Electricity

Connector type: Generally two-pin plug and socket Voltage info: 220 Volts, 50 Hertz

Emergency information

In an emergency, dial 112 and the operator will put you through to the police, fire brigade or ambulance service. The line is operated in five languages including English.

British consulate

If you are a victim of crime, affected by a crisis overseas or if something happens to a relative or partner, contact the British Consulate. It is open to the public from 08:30 to 13:30.

Address: Edificio Espacio, Rambla Mendez Nunez 28-32, 03002 Alicante Email: spain.consulate@fco.gov.uk Telephone (from within Spain): 902 109 356 Telephone (international/alternative number): +34 913 342 194

Hospitals

Clinica Girona Cl Joan Maragall 26, 17002 Girona Tel: +34 972 010 300

Clinica Bofill Cl Pare Claret 4, 17002 Girona Tel: +34 972 204 350 Tel: +34 900 842 484

Centro Medico Catalunya Heroina Santa Barbara 6, 17004 Girona Tel: +34 972 485 265 Tel: +34 900 131 211

Hospital Comarcal de La Selva Accés Cala Sant Francesc, 5, 17300 Blanes, Province of Girona Tel: +34 972 353 264

CAP Centre d’Assistencia Primaria Girona 8-10, Lloret de Mar Tel: +34 972 372 909

Useful links

Benidorm All Year Round – Up to date news, features and information on Benidorm, one of Costa Blanca’s most popular resorts.