Portbou is a small village at the very north of the Costa Brava just 3 kilometres from the French border. The town is very different from the Costa Brava’s main beach resorts and while it does have a tourist industry, it is extremely limited.
Image from Pixabay
Because of that your choice of hotel accommodation available in Portbou is small. An alternative is to rent a privately owned holiday home.
However, these are often rented to the same holiday makers year on year and can be difficult to find.
The hotels
You’ll find no big hotel chains in Portbou and the ones that exist are small. They are well regarded though and will suit anyone who doesn’t need for 5-star facilities. Remember, less is more.
So if you’re looking to really step off the gas for a couple of weeks and take a step back in time then Portbou will suit you perfectly.
Hotel la Masia
* Passeig de la Sardana, 1
This family run 1-star hotel is located right on the promenade, making it ideal for access to the town’s main pebble beach.
Guests have the choice of double, single and family rooms, some of which have a balcony. The rooms are slightly old fashioned in style but all have private bathrooms, aircon, a safe and satellite TV and some have a sea view. If you’re travelling with toddlers the hotel can also provide a cot but get contact with the hotel prior to your stay.
Staff members are helpful and friendly and while Hotel la Masia is simple it is clean. The hotel’s restaurant specialises in local seafood dishes and Catalan delicacies. While you can book private parking, pets are not allowed.
Hotel Comodoro
* Carrer Mendez Nuñez, 1
Although Hotel Comodoro occupies a corner set back from the seafront, Portbou is so small that it’s difficult to ever escape the sea.
What this traditional looking 1-star establishment lacks in mod cons it makes up for in comfort and quality of service. On top of that it has old fashioned charm in spades. It’s family friendly with a choice of rooms that have either private or shared bathroom facilities.
The continental breakfast even includes homemade jam and the hotel provides complimentary beach towels and parasols. If you require parking you need to reserve in advance and there is a small fee. Pets are welcome for no additional fee, but let the hotel know in advance.
The hostals
As well as the town’s two hotels there are also a couple of hostals. These offer inexpensive private accommodation but shouldn’t be confused with hostels, which have shared dormitories. It’s a class of accommodation frequently found in Spain that is really a basic hotel.
Hostal Juventus
Avinguda de Barcelona, 3
Hostal Juventus is in a side street just off the promenade, just 20 metres from the beach. While the rooms are fairly basic, they are decorated in a colourful, modern style. Equipment includes a kettle, coffeemaker and washbasin. But while some rooms have a terrace there are no private bathrooms.
Downstairs there is a bar and a restaurant serving pastries in the morning, as well as a pizza, tapas and burgers during the day and evening. Hostal Juventus does allow pets, but notify them in advance.
The staff is friendly, guests and locals alike love the pizza, and the hostal is well suited to solo travellers. A good continental breakfast is served in the morning and there is no charge if you bring your pets.
Hostal Costa Blava
Carrer de Cerbere, 20
Like everywhere in Portbou, Hostal Costa Blava is just a stone throw from the beach and staying here is a bit like stepping back in time.
Expect to find traditional touches, like the tiled floor and the decor of the ground floor restaurant serving traditional Catalan cuisine. But the rooms are furnished in a contemporary Mediterranean style and all have a safe. Superior rooms have a private bathroom with shower, but standard doubles and twins have shared bathroom facilities.
The hotel serves a continental breakfast and there are vending machines if you need snacks at any time of day or night. There is also a terrace bar for something refreshing during those long summer nights. Note that there is only on street parking and pets aren’t accepted.
For even more choice see Costa Brava hotels, which lists all the hotel pages on this site.
