A guide to hotels in Roses, one of the most popular resorts in the northern Costa Brava.
Hotel door. Photo from Pixabay.
Roses has a large number of hotels ranging offering everything from basic holiday accommodation up to five star luxury. The town is broadly divided in three distinct areas, each with its own pros and cons.
The town centre has the benefit of the nearby castle and medieval walls, which lend the area great charm. It also has shopping of all kinds as well as easy access to the beach.
More modern is the residential area of Santa Margarida, which features a giant marina with an extensive network of canals. It lacks the charm of Roses town centre but does have a long sand beach, but for many that is enough.
East of Roses the coastline is less populated and, as you reach Parc Natural Cap de Creus, new buildings are strictly prohibited. There are few hotels but at those that exist the emphasis is on guests’ comfort.
See the main page on Roses for more information about the town. You might also want to visit Tripadvisor to check prices and availability of all hotels in the area.
Roses town centre
The hotels in Roses are aimed firmly at the mid-level tourist market. There are currently a total of 13 hotels in the range of 1 to 3 stars.
Hotel Carmen
Trinitat, 41
This hotel is ideal for the main beach at Roses, which is around 50 metres away. The three fishing cottages in which Hotel Carmen is now located have been renovated by local artisans into a distinctive style in the heart of Roses.
With an intimate ambience, the hotel is ideal for couples and while it lacks a restaurant, guests can use the restaurant at the nearby Hostal Rom. The rooms are comfortable and while the hotel does lack some facilities, it is an excellent choice if you can do without.
Hotel Marina
*** Avinguda de Rhode, 81
Hotel Marina is another establishment with an easy walk to the beach. The hotel is pet friendly and as well as a lounge and terrace bar it has a gym and rooftop pool. The view from the roof across the Bay of Roses is definitely worthwhile.
The hotel opened in 1926 but has been extensively refurbished. While some communal areas are decorated in a rather classic style with traditional glazed tiles, the rooms are modern. Comfortable, if unremarkable.
Hotel Parc
** Avda. Rhode, 85
The family run Hotel Park opened in 1957 and while it offers fairly basic facilities, but highly regarded by guests who have stayed there. It was refurbished in the 1980s to bring it up to modern standards.
The hotel is right on the seafront, and the rooms at the front of the hotel offer fantastic a view across the bay from their balconies. The hotel also has a buffet restaurant and terrace bar and it is pet friendly.
The rooms are comfortable enough, as long as you can stand the sight of the orange bed covers, although rather functional in design.
Santa Margarida
The hotels in Santa Margarida tend to provide more facilities than those in Roses town centre. All are 3 or 4-star establishments but in an area that lacks the charm of the old town.
Hotel 1935
**** Avinguda del Salatar, 16
Despite its name, Hotel 1935 only opened in 2015. The name derives from the founding of Hotel Terraza (see below), which is part of the same family run hotel group, which actually did open in 1935.
The hotel building itself is unremarkable to look at but the rooms are furnished in a comfortable modern style with wooden floors. And as there are just ten rooms, you know the focus is on service, and it is less than 200 metres to the beach.
Guests have access to the pool and chillout zone and there is a terrace where breakfast is served. While all rooms have a terrace, superior rooms also have a kitchenette and breakfast table as well as a huge 20m² terrace.
Hotel Mediterráneo Park
**** Quevedo
The Mediterráneo Park is located in a hotel complex shared with its 3-star sister, the Mediterráneo.
The hotel is just 200 metres from the beach and all 200 rooms have a terrace. The rooms are modern and fairly minimal in design and as well as standard rooms there are a number of family rooms with two distinct sleeping areas.
Within the large gardens there are swimming pools and a sports area, and the hotel also offers spa facilities. There is also a restaurant and two bars, both inside and out.
Hotel Terraza
**** Avenida de Rhode, 32
Hotel Terraza is just 20 metres or so from the main beach at Roses with gardens overlooking the Bay of Roses. The original hotel opened in 1935 but is now part of a small hotel group operated by the family of the founder.
Although the original building was small and had real charm, today’s hotel is rather plain. But it is set in gardens near the beach and highly rated by guests for its location. There is also a spa and “well behaved” pets are accepted with proof of vaccinations.
The rooms are comfortable and modern with wood flooring and the restaurant serves modern dishes inspired by traditional Catalan cuisine. The hotel also has a bistro serving lighter dishes and a terrace cocktail bar.
Out of town
Continue out of town towards the natural park of Cap de Creus and you’ll notice the number of properties starts to thin out. There are few hotels, but they are some of the best in Roses.
Hotel Cala Jóncols
Carretera Cala Joncols, s/n, 17480 Roses, Spain
Located in the natural park itself, Hotel Cala Jóncols opened in 1955 and offers 34 rooms plus a suite with private terrace. The original building has been tastefully refurbished and the rooms and bungalows are basic but comfortable.
With construction now prohibited within the natural park, the hotel occupies an extremely privileged position set back slightly from the beach.
The gardens are well cared for with olive trees, pine and palms and within the grounds area restaurant, beach bar and swimming pool.
Hotel Vistabella
***** Avenida Díaz Pacheco, 26
The Vistabella is on top of a small cliff set right next to the beach and offers fabulous views over the Bay of Roses and of the mountains.
It’s a small hotel dating from 1963 with just 34 rooms, and all but four have a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. The remainder look out over the gardens. Significantly reformed during the early nineties, in 2000 the Vistabella became the first hotel in the Northern Costa Brava to gain a 5-star rating.
While El Bulli is now long closed, the Michelin starred Els Brancs is one of the best restaurants in Roses offering creative food inspired by Catalan cuisine. There are also a number of other restaurants and a bar.
Hotel Almadraba Park
**** Platja Almadrava
The Almadraba Park is situated right next to the beach and near to the boundary with the natural park. It’s nothing special to look at and rather boxy in design, but the location provides guests with spectacular views.
The 60 rooms and six suites are comfortable but rather dated in design but all have a private balcony. And within the gardens guests can use the swimming pool and tennis and squash courts.
There is a traditional restaurant with simple dishes made from local products as well as a snack restaurant and the hotel does allow pets to stay.
Canyelles Platja
**** Av. Diaz Pacheco, 7-9
Canyelles Platja is another hotel with a great location right next to the beach from which it takes its name. The hotel won’t win any design awards but the rooms have been tastefully refurbished to bring them up to date.
The hotel does have some great sea views over the bay of Roses though and all rooms have a private balcony. And within the grounds of the hotel are a swimming pool and on site supermarket.
Guests can relax with a cocktail and order snacks from the beach bar and restaurant, while the main restaurant offers international and local dishes for lunch and dinner.
For even more choice see Costa Brava hotels, which lists all the hotel pages on this site.
