Planning a trip to the Costa Brava but don’t have a car? No problem! From stunning beaches to charming coastal villages, there are plenty of amazing places you can explore using public transport. In this guide, we highlight the best towns and destinations on the Costa Brava that you can easily reach by train or bus from Barcelona — no rental car needed.

The Costa Brava stretches from Barcelona to the French border and is one of Catalonia’s most diverse coastal areas. You’ll find medieval villages, quiet mountain views, and some of the best beaches in Spain — from sandy resorts to rocky coves perfect for snorkelling.

Getting to the Costa Brava without a car: train and buses from Barcelona

🚆 Rodalies Train – Line R11: Figueres is the only town on the Costa Brava accessible by train via the R11 line, departing from Barcelona Sants or Passeig de Gràcia stations. You can check the schedule and buy your tickets here.

🚌 Moventis-Sarfa Buses: Moventis-Sarfa operates direct bus services from Barcelona’s Estació del Nord (and some from the airport) to many beautiful Costa Brava towns, including Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Platja d’Aro, Sant Antoni de Calonge, Palamós, Begur, l’Escala, Roses, Empuriabrava, and Cadaqués. Check the timetable and book your tickets here.

🌄 Day Trips & Tours: joining a day tour is the most convenient way to visit the Costa Brava without worrying about schedules or connections. Just book online, show up at the departure point, and enjoy the experience stress-free.

Top destinations you can visit without a car

• Calella de Palafrugell & Pals
• Tossa de Mar & Lloret de Mar
• Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Platja d’Aro, Sant Antoni de Calonge & Palamós
• Cadaqués & Figueres
• Empuriabrava & Roses

Calella de Palafrugell: traditional fishing village

One of the most beautiful villages on the Costa Brava is Calella de Palafrugell, a traditional fishing village with whitewashed houses and stunning seaside views. This full-day tour includes not only Calella, but also Girona and Pals, a charming medieval town. The 8-hour tour departs from Barcelona and also includes a walk along the easy and scenic coastal path (camí de ronda) that links Calella de Palafrugell with the nearby village of Llafranc.

For a more affordable option, there’s also a guided tour that takes you through Girona, Calella de Palafrugell, Pals, and Peratallada, other beautiful medieval villages. You’ll have 90 minutes of free time in Calella de Palafrugell and enjoy a glass of local wine in Peratallada. There’s also another tour where, in addition to Calella de Palafrugell, you’ll visit other charming coastal towns like Begur and Llafranc.

➡️ Discover more about Calella de Palafrugell, Girona, and the surrounding medieval towns (content in Spanish).

Figueres & Cadaqués: discover Dalí’s world

If you’re a fan of the surrealist artist Dalí, don’t miss the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. This tour takes you deep into the heart of Dalí’s surreal world, with guided visits to both Figueres and Girona. The price includes museum admission and a guided tour, giving you the chance to fully immerse yourself in Dalí’s extraordinary and imaginative universe. Figueres is easily accessible by train, so why not stay for a couple of days and explore the city at a more relaxed pace? We recommend visiting the Dalí Theatre-Museum and the Sant Ferran Castle.

Another one of the most beautiful villages in the Costa Brava is Cadaqués. To visit this small village closely connected to Dalí, there’s a tour that includes Girona, Figueres, and Cadaqués. It’s one of the most affordable day trips available.

➡️ Discover top-rated hotels in Figueres and Cadaqués and start planning your getaway today

Lloret & Tossa de Mar

Tossa de Mar is another of the most beautiful villages on the Costa Brava. Strolling through its old town and walled enclosure is a real delight. Since there’s no train to Tossa de Mar, the best option is to book a one-day bus excursion. This tour to Lloret and Tossa de Mar is especially interesting, as you’ll arrive in Tossa by boat. In the morning, you’ll visit Lloret, and by midday, you’ll be exploring Tossa de Mar. You might also be interested in another, more affordable tour that focuses exclusively on Tossa de Mar.

If you have time, we recommend spending at least one night in Tossa de Mar. This way, you can enjoy the camí de ronda coastal trail and hike to Cala Pola, where you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views of the Tossa de Mar coastline.

In Lloret de Mar, you can visit the Castle and the beautiful Santa Clotilde Gardens. You can also enjoy a wide range of water activities like kayaking, boat trips, or diving.

➡️ Browse the best hotels in Tossa de Mar or Lloret de Mar, and start planning your stay.

Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Platja d’Aro & Sant Antoni de Calonge

The Moventis-Sarfa bus line runs through Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Platja d’Aro, and Sant Antoni de Calonge. In these Costa Brava towns, you can enjoy beautiful coastal walking paths — perfect for hiking along the sea:

• From Platja d’Aro to Sant Antoni de Calonge
• From Sant Antoni de Calonge to Can Cristus beach
• From Sant Feliu de Guíxols to Sant Pol beach

You can spend a night in Platja d’Aro, one of the liveliest towns on the Costa Brava. It’s full of shops, restaurants, and fun activities for kids — including a small amusement park. You can also enjoy a boat trip to Tossa de Mar or Calella de Palafrugell. Check out this article for a special discount.

➡️ Book your stay in Platja d’Aro and enjoy the coast at your own pace. We recommend the Park Hotel San Jorge — it’s located right in front of the beach.

If you’re looking for a day trip, explore Costa Brava’s stunning coastline by kayak, snorkel, and cliff dive into the sea on this full-day tour from Barcelona. Plus, enjoy a delicious lunch.

In Sant Feliu de Guíxols, you can enjoy a variety of water and adventure activities such as snorkelling tours, kayaking, paddle surf, and the incredible Cala del Molí Via Ferrata — one of the few in the world set right above the sea. If you want to stay overnight, we recommend the S’Agaró Hotel, located just outside Sant Feliu de Guíxols, on one of the most beautiful beaches in the area.

Empuriabrava: the largest marina in Europe

You can reach Roses and Empuriabrava by bus from Barcelona — Other places on the Costa Brava accessible by bus. Empuriabrava is a residential area that belongs to the municipality of Castelló d’Empúries and is the largest marina in Europe. It’s famous for its 24 kilometers of navigable canals, where residents can moor their boats right in front of their homes.

Once there, you can hop aboard a tourist boat that cruises through the canals while explaining interesting facts about the area. There are also small self-drive boats that don’t require a license. These are the companies operating in Empuriabrava: Canals i Mar, Eco-Boats, and Los Barkitos. If you want to go a bit further and try snorkeling, you can rent a license-free boat for up to 6 people.

In addition to the canals, you can relax on one of Empuriabrava’s three beaches: the main urban beach, La Rubina Beach (which has a dog-friendly area), and Can Comes Beach, located inside the natural park. Empuriabrava is also a great destination for water and adventure sports, officially recognized as a Tourist Sports Destination by the Catalan government. Here are just a few of the activities you can enjoy: Indoor skydiving at the Wind Tunnel, Kayak trip and SUP Yoga class.

➡️ Book your ideal stay in Empuriabrava and experience the Costa Brava at your own pace.

Roses: a lively coastal town on the Costa Brava

Roses is a coastal town with a long seafront promenade, plenty of restaurants, shops, and hotels. While in Roses, you can visit the Castell de la Trinitat, which offers great views of the town, and the Ciutadella de Roses, a Renaissance fortification with Roman ruins. Another highlight of Roses is the wide range of water activities available, including boat tours and snorkelling. Here you can see some of the best options to enjoy the sea.

➡️ Find the perfect place to stay in Roses and enjoy the Costa Brava at your own rhythm.

You can find official tourism information about the Costa Brava in English on these websites:

• Lloret de Mar
• Tossa de Mar Tourist Office
• Alt Emporda Tourism
• Visit Baix Empordà

Whether you’re looking to relax on beautiful beaches, explore picturesque towns, or immerse yourself in local culture, the Costa Brava offers something for everyone. Thanks to the convenient train and bus connections from Barcelona, you can visit these stunning destinations without the hassle of a car. So, pack your bags, hop on a train or bus, and get ready to discover the magic of the Costa Brava!

Other places to visit on the Costa Brava (in Spanish)