Guide to Empuriabrava

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With an extensive canal network for leisure boats, Empuriabrava is one of the largest residential marinas in the world.

Empuriabrava's beach

Empuriabrava’s beach. Photo by Cliché Online.

Empuriabrava is located in the bay of Roses and consists of a 22 kilometre network of canals making it one of the largest marinas in the world. The Costa Brava town (known as Ampuriabrava in Castilian) was built on swampland during the 1960s and ’70s and in the summer sees its population swell from less than 8,000 to 80,000.

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There are some hotels but holiday accommodation mainly consists of privately owned villas and apartments, many of which overlook the canal network. There are a number of campsites serving the town too.

While Empuriabrava may not be for everyone, it has a lot to offer for those seeking a relaxing beach holiday or an active outdoor adventure. The best reason for visiting Empuriabrava is to explore the canal network either on a boat tour or renting a boat and exploring for yourself. And while the town lacks the picture postcard looks of many Costa Brava towns, Empuriabrava does have a long, deep beach which can comfortably accommodate many visitors.

The town is located within easy reach of several other attractions, such as the Dali Museum in Figueres, the medieval town of Girona, and numerous beaches including those at Roses, Sant Pere Pescador and L’Escala.

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For those who love outdoor activities, Empuriabrava has plenty to offer. The town is a popular destination for water sports enthusiasts, with a range of activities available including windsurfing, kitesurfing, and sailing. There are also plenty of opportunities for hiking and cycling, with many scenic routes available.

Although 20th century development Empuriabrava has no real history to speak of, in the 11th century the nearby Castelló d’Empúries became capital of what today is the Empordà. In the early part of the 14th century the town underwent expansion until, in 1385, it came under Aragon crown.

Beaches

Although Empuriabrava may lack the charm of the old Costa Brava fishing villages found along the coast, it does at least boast 1.6 kilometres of sand beach. The beach is bounded by the entrance to the marina in the north and the mouth of the river Muga in the south and can be accessed from the promenade.

The beach is wide and spacious, with plenty of room for visitors to spread out and relax. The beach is also equipped with a range of facilities, including showers, changing rooms, and sun loungers. During the summer months, the beach can get busy, but it’s still possible to find a quiet spot to soak up the sun.

But that’s not the only beach available to anyone staying in Empuriabrava as there are a couple of beaches within protected areas surrounded by nature. North of the marina entrance is Platja de la Rubina, another long sandy beach backed by dunes that extends up to the Santa Margarita, a smaller scale version of Empuriabrava. The beach is part of the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park and it remains completely undeveloped with no facilities. Dogs and kitesurfing are allowed on the area closest to Santa Margarida but you do need to keep to the paths as the dunes the ecosystems they support are protected.

Another popular beach in Empuriabrava is Platja de Can Comes. It’s nearly 4 kilometres of sand that that runs from the mouth of the river Muga down to the Fluvià and completely undeveloped without any facilities. The area behind the beach is the protected Aiguamolls d’Empordà nature reserve and some species nest in the dunes. You should avoid these areas.

Where to stay

Empuriabrava offers a large selection of accommodation options for visitors, most of which is privately owned apartments and houses within the marina’s large network of canals. There are a number of hotels, aparthotels and hostals, but if you’re looking for more variety then Roses is probably a better choice – see our page on hotels in Empuriabrava. The town is also home to a number of campsites for those who prefer to stay closer to nature.

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Some of the popular hotels in Empuriabrava include the 4-star Port Salins Hotel (Avinguda Fages de Climent, 10-15), 3-star Hotel Portofino (Carrer Portofino, 1) and Ampuria Inn Hotel (Avinguda Tramuntana). These hotels offer a range of facilities, including swimming pools, restaurants, and bars. The first two are close to the beach with Ampuria Inn being ideally situated for Skydive Empuriabrava.

For those who prefer self-catering accommodation, there are plenty of apartments and rental villas available in Empuriabrava. Some of the popular options include Holiday Home Empuriabrava with Pool, Apartament Marina 1605, and Apartment Port Grec. These accommodations offer a range of amenities, including kitchenettes, living areas, and private balconies or terraces.

Empuriabrava also has several campsites on the edge of town with facilities that include swimming pools, restaurants, sports facilities, and children’s entertainment. Depending on which you choose you may have direct access to the beach too.

Overall, there are plenty of accommodation options available in Empuriabrava to suit all tastes and budgets. Whether visitors prefer the luxury of a hotel, the flexibility of a rental property, or the simplicity of a camping trip, there is something for everyone here.

Eating in and eating out

Empuriabrava has the usual assortment of restaurants serving Catalan and international cuisine aimed at the tourist market. Many restaurants are canal side but given that the town dates back just a few decades you should head for Castelló d’Empúries if you are looking for something more authentic and Roses also offers a range of excellent restaurants. As in all Spanish towns, look out for the menú del día, two or three courses generally for an exceptionally good price and often inclusive of drinks.

When it comes to self-catering, Empuriabrava has several supermarkets and grocery stores where visitors can stock up on provisions. Some of the popular options in the town include Esclat, Spar and Lidl and you’ll find Mercadona and Carrefour supermarkets on the road towards Roses.

There is also a weekly market on Passeig marítim every Friday morning between 8:30 am and 1:30 pm. However, for more specialized items or a wider selection of products, it may be necessary to visit larger nearby towns such as Figueres or Roses.

What to see and do

Empuriabrava offers a range of activities and attractions for visitors to enjoy, beyond its beautiful beaches. The town is home to one of the three largest skydiving centres in the world. Founded in 1985, more than a million jumps have taken place at Skydive Empuriabrava, and so if you have ever wanted to try your hand at parachuting then this is your chance.

With the network of canals, boats are everywhere and probably the best reason to stay in Empuriabrava. Sailing is in the town’s DNA but visitors can enjoy a range of other water sports, including windsurfing, paddle boarding, and jet skiing.

Empuriabrava marina

Empuriabrava provides an impressive 5,000 moorings and is the largest residential marina in Europe. It is also one of the biggest residential marinas in the world.

The town lies in a privileged position next to the protected marshland of Aiguamolls d’Empordà in the wide open Gulf of Roses. It’s also close to Girona-Costa Brava airport and to Figueres. Barcelona is a couple of hours away by car.

Empuriabrava marina

Empuriabrava marina. Photo by levirus.

Beyond the town of Roses is the peninsula of Cap de Creus. It’s an area of outstanding natural beauty that has been protected since 1998 and where construction is completely banned. With small, rocky coves it makes an ideal destination for a day’s sailing.

The idea to build a residential marina an area of marshland near Castelló d’Empúries dates back to the mid 1960s, with construction commencing a few years later. The original project was completed in 1975.

Within an area of eight square kilometres Empuriabrava now has a total of 23 kilometres of navigable waterways. While most moorings are privately owned, some 700 are available for visiting boats of up to 26 metres in length.

The marina is easily seen from a distance with high rise buildings standing out from afar. One of these is the control tower, which is seven wide and nearly 50 metres high. It can be seen from wherever you are in the bay and is illuminated at night.

Facilities

As you’d expect from Europe’s largest residential marina, Empuriabrava port is equipped with up to date facilities and modern equipment. To support the huge number of boats there are no less than 15 marine service companies catering for all your nautical needs.

There are also boats available to rent, including small vessels not requiring a licence. In these boats you can explore the many kilometres of canal in Empuriabrava marina.

The port area also has more than 50 restaurants and as you’d expect in a town with a summer population of 80,000 there are taxis, banks, car hire, doctors, hairdressers, cleaners and vets. There are also estate agents for buying property in Empuriabrava and for holiday rentals.

Empuriabrava marina also hosts the biggest second-hand boat market in Spain. Every year at Easter some 400 pre-owned boats are on sale at the market.

Sailing

Empuriabrava is ideally located to sail to the nearby Cap de Creus. The southern side of the peninsula is located just the other side of Roses and around 3 nautical miles way but Llançà, on the far side of the peninsula, is around 20 nautical miles.

Cap de Creus is stark but beautiful and largely unspoilt. You’ll find there the picturesque towns of Cadaqués and Port de la Selva. In between are dozens of small coves, many of which are difficult to access by land.

The dark rock typically has bubbles within it, something that can be seen in many works by the surrealist Salvador Dalí. He was born in Figueres, where you can visit the museum dedicated to him, but had a house in Portlligat, near Cadaqués. Today his old house is also a museum and decorated with some typical Dalí flourishes.

For those interested in nature, the nearby natural park of Aiguamolls d’Empordà is a must-visit. This protected area covers over 4,000 hectares of wetlands and is home to a variety of bird species, making it a great destination for birdwatching with more than 300 species of wildlife.

Those looking for a little history should head for nearby Castello d’Empúries, which today is rather eclipsed by Empuriabrava in scale. Figueres is 20 minutes by car and Girona can easily be done as a day trip, while the Cap de Creus and towns such as Cadaqués should make a welcome change from the marina.

Visitors can also enjoy biking along numerous bike trails and routes, ranging from coastal paths to inland countryside routes. The town’s weekly market is another attraction, where visitors can browse local goods and handicrafts.

Finally, the town offers a vibrant nightlife scene, with a range of bars, clubs, and live music venues to choose from. Overall, Empuriabrava has something to offer anyone from thrill seekers to those looking for a more relaxed holiday experience.

How to get to Empuriabrava

Getting to Empuriabrava is relatively straightforward, and there are several options for travellers. By car, the town can be accessed via the AP-7 motorway from the French border, which takes approximately 40 minutes. From Barcelona, the drive is just under 2 hours via the same motorway. There are also several scenic coastal routes that offer a slower, but more picturesque drive.

For those using public transport, the nearest airports to Empuriabrava are Barcelona-El Prat and Girona-Costa Brava. From Barcelona, visitors can take a direct bus from the airport to Figueres, which takes around 2 hours, and then transfer to a local bus or taxi to reach Empuriabrava. Alternatively, visitors can take a train from Barcelona to Figueres and then take a bus or taxi to Empuriabrava.

Girona-Costa Brava airport is 45 minutes away, while Figueres is 20 minutes in the car. Buses to Figueres run about once per hour, and with the train service from Barcelona makes a fairly painless trip from the Catalan capital. There are also options for car hire and taxi services from both airports.

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