What to see & do in Platja d’Aro

There’s always something going on in Platja d’Aro, whatever the time of year. 

Cala sa Cova is a world away from Platja d’Aro’s main beach. Photo by Jordi Sanchez Teruel.

Unlike many coastal towns on the Costa Brava, Platja d’Aro doesn’t turn into an off-season ghost town. It doesn’t matter what time of year you visit, the high street bustles with activity at weekends and there is plenty of scope for entertainment.

As well as the high street stores, Platja d’Aro has a retail park, plenty of restaurants and bars, offers live music, a cinema, bowling alley and a whole lot more.

In this article we take a high-level view of the things you can do when visiting. It’s really an introduction, so if you really want to dig in you’ll see useful links where you’ll find much more detailed info. So let’s get going…

Key dates

Like many towns on the Costa Brava, the festa major – town fair – is held each year on 15th August. Then you’ll find various events organised to celebrate.

Platja d’Aro’s Festa de la Cervesa takes place every year in October (PixaBay)

Other important events in Platja d’Aro include the festival of Sant Isidre in May, the summertime Jazz Nights and October’s Beer Festival, which you can find out more about here.

History and museums

Although Platja d’Aro only became established with the growth in tourism, the area it now occupies was settled by the Romans. The ruins of a villa can be seen in the town.

Benedormiens castle in Castell d’Aro. Photo by Wikiaps.

Prior to Platja d’Aro’s expansion, the nucleus of the municipality was at nearby Castell d’Aro. There you can find a medieval castle, built to protect the valley from pirates, and a church of the same period.

There is also a doll museum, although at the time of writing that is closed for renovation. It is unknown if or when it is due to reopen. Read this article for more about Platja d’Aro’s historical sites and museums.

Markets

Every week on a Friday you’ll find dozens of market stalls set up in the free car park opposite Carrefour.

Platja d’Aro’s weekly market. Photo by David Leigh.

In the summer it gets really busy with tourists, but Platja d’Aro’s market operates throughout the year. You’ll find stalls selling fruit and veg, kitchenware, clothing, shoes, sunglasses, kids toys and anything else you can think of.

Activities

While lazy days on the beach are enough for many of us, if you’re feeling more energetic – or have kids who are – then we’ve got some ideas to keep you occupied.

From the water park to hiring a kayak, a boat tour to boat rental we’ve got it covered.

Shopping

One thing you’ll notice about Platja d’Aro year round is how busy the shops can get.

Shop till you drop! (Pixabay)

The high street gets particulalrly packed in the summer, but there’s a very good reason for that. Platja d’Aro simply has a great choice of stores.

Nightlife

Spend all day napping under a parasol on the beach? Do you only start to come to life at sundown?

As well as lots of bars and a good selection of clubs, you’ll also find a number of other night time venues catering to various age groups.

Did we miss anything here? Or do you have a question, praise or a complaint?

Let me know in the comments below! I’ll respond as soon as I can.