The 13 Best Things to Do in Tossa de Mar, Spain
Last Updated on April 10, 2024 by Kelly
One of the most enchanting cities along Spain’s Costa Brava is Tossa de Mar. This medieval town has everything you can think of for a dreamy Spanish getaway: a historic castle overlooking the sea and clear turquoise water.
I used to live in Spain, and Tossa de Mar is one of my favorite cities in the country. When my parents were in Spain for the first time, this was one of their highlights. I vividly remember my dad floating in the water and saying it was one of the most relaxing days of his life.
In this guide, I’ll share the best things to do in Tossa de Mar, hotel recommendations, restaurant recommendations, and more!
Best Things to Do in Tossa de Mar
We created this map to help you find the best things to do in Tossa de Mar:
TIP: Also be sure to check out our post on Vilassar de Mar, another beautiful beach town along the Spanish coast!
1. Vila Vella
What really sets Tossa de Mar apart from other coastal towns along the Costa Brava is the Vila Vella. It’s not every day that you get to see a medieval enclosure on one of the most beautiful beaches you’ve ever seen! The Vila Vella is also known as the Old Part of Tossa de Mar. It’s a walled fortress that has 7 towers. It’s the only fortified, medieval structure that still stands along the Costa Brava.
You can enter the Vila Vella for free and walk the narrow cobblestone paths. Within the Vila Vella you can find Sant Vicenç, which is a Gothic-style church that was built in the 15th century. You can also find the Tossa de Mar Lighthouse, which was built over the previous castle. The original castle, Castillo de Tossa, was destroyed. Inside the Vila Vella you can also find a statue honoring Hollywood actress Ava Gardner. She starred in the 1951 film The Flying Dutchman which featured Tossa de Mar. Today, Vila Vella is a National Historic and Artistic Monument.
If you visit Tossa de Mar, make sure that you walk through the Vila Vella!
2. Platja Gran
The Platja Gran (or Playa Grande) is the most popular beach in Tossa de Mar. The beach sits right at the feet of the Vila Vella. One of my favorite travel memories in Tossa de Mar was swimming in the turquoise waters of Platja Gran with the Vila Vella as a backdrop.
The beach is about 350 meters long and is sandy. Because of its urban location, you can find all sorts of services. These include restrooms, showers, boat rental, kayak rental, etc. Within walking distance, you can easily arrive at restaurants and shops.
When we visited Tossa de Mar, we spent the majority of the day at Platja Gran enjoying the view!
3. Cami de Ronda Trail
If you have at least a couple of days in Tossa de Mar, we recommend that you hike the Cami de Ronda Trail. The full trail is 4.7 mile loop that will take you about half of a day to complete. The trail will take you along the Costa Brava with beautiful views of coves and sandy beaches.
4. Chapel of Our Lady of Socorro
As you walk through the beautiful streets of Tossa de Mar, you’ll find the Chapel of Our Lady of Socorro. The church is just steps away from the Platja Gran. We thought that it was a beautiful church that really added to the charm of the shopping avenue.
5. Explore the Many Coves
Tossa de Mar contains numerous coves with sandy beaches. While the main beaches can be quite busy, if you’re willing to go a little out of the way, you can find a much more quiet cove to spend the day swimming. The downside is that many of the smaller coves do not have services such as restrooms, bars, or restaurants. But if you pack everything you need, you can explore a pristine beach in relative solitude! We recommend that you ask the concierge at a hotel or a local resident for their recommendations.
6. Platja d’es Codolar
If you walk through Vila Vella, you’ll find a small path that leads to a beach on the other side of the castle walls: the Platja d’es Codolar. The beach is smaller than Platja Gran, but definitely feels more private. The waves are a bit bigger here, and the water gets deep pretty quickly. Be sure to explore this beach before you leave Tossa de Mar!
7. Platja Mar Menuda
Another beautiful beach in Tossa de Mar is Platja Mar Menuda. Platja Mar Menuda is located just a bit north of Platja Gran, but still within the urban setting of Tossa de Mar. It’s also close to restaurant and hotels.
8. Cala Llevadó
Just a few kilometers south of Tossa de Mar, you can find Cala Llevadó. This small beach is a little less busy because it’s only accessible by foot. There are camping spots nearby this beach.
9. Roman Ruins
The Villa Romana dels Ametllers is a Roman archaeological site that is located near the bus station in Tossa de Mar. At this site, you’ll find the remains of a Roman villa. The villa was discovered in 1914, and it’s an open-air archaeological site. Some of the floors of the villa even have remnants of intricate mosaics. The villa is a great reminder of Tossa de Mar’s rich history.
10. Municipal Museum of Tossa de Mar
You can find the Municipal Museum in Tossa de Mar’s Old Town within the Palau del Batlle de Sac. The museum was found in 1935 to showcase artwork from the many painters who have visited Tossa de Mar to paint its coastline. The museum also contains Roman artifacts found from the Villa Romana dels Ametllers site.
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11. Take a Day Trip to Tossa de Mar from Barcelona
If you’re staying in Barcelona and would like to spend the day in Tossa de Mar, there are plenty of tours that make reaching the city very easy.
- Kayak and Snorkel Tour: In this tour, you’ll receive transportation from Barcelona to Tossa de Mar. You’ll get to kayak and snorkel in many beautiful places, and lunch is included.
12. Eat Tapas
One of the things that we liked best about Tossa de Mar was eating excellent tapas with a view of the sea. There are a couple of good options close to Platja Gran, including Bar Corisco and Bar Don Juan.
13. Grab an Ice Cream
Summer is an ideal time to visit Tossa de Mar. We recommend that you grab an ice cream or gelato. There are numerous options that are just steps away from the beach! Bar Corisco is just steps away from Platja Gran.
Recommended Hotels
There are several great hotels located in Tossa de Mar that have excellent accommodations and even views of the sea.
Hotel Diana: This hotel is located right across the street from the Platja Gran. You can’t beat its location. You’ll be able to easily access the Vila Vella, downtown Tossa de Mar, and the Platja Gran. This 4-star boutique hotel has a rooftop pool, dining options, and a historic building.
Gran Hotel Reymar: Located near Platja Mar Menuda, this 4-star hotel also offers impressive views. The hotel has a swimming pool, spa, restaurant, and a playground for children.
Hotel Corisco: This 2-star hotel is a bit more affordable in comparison to the previous hotels, but it still has an excellent location right by the beach.
Summary
We visited Tossa de Mar as a day trip from the nearby town of Vilassar de Mar. I have family that lives in Vilassar de Mar, and they were eager to take us to Tossa de Mar for a beach day.
Getting to Tossa de Mar was very easy. We just hopped on a bus that took us right to the city center. (If you’re traveling to Tossa de Mar from Barcelona, we recommend either renting a car or taking the bus. There are no trains that easily reach Tossa de Mar.)
I hadn’t done any previous research on Tossa de Mar when I first visited, so when I caught my first glimpse of the Vila Vella and the sea, I was absolutely floored. It was one of the most beautiful sights that I had seen in Spain.
We spent a relaxing day at the Platja Gran. The turquoise waters were clean and we spent hours floating in the water and enjoying the view. We had lunch at a restaurant across the street from the Platja Gran, where we enjoyed fried seafood and lots of tapas. We capped off our meal with ice cream!
After lunch, we walked around Tossa de Mar before heading back to the bus.
Our visit to Tossa de Mar left me wanting more. I could have easily spent several days in Tossa de Mar. My parents still talk about Tossa de Mar as one of their favorite parts of our 3-week trip through Europe. If you’re looking for a beautiful place to stay along the Costa Brava, we highly recommend Tossa de Mar!
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