Catalonia Holidays

You’ll find Catalonia up in the northeast of Spain. It’s a good-looking region, with hilltop hamlets, seaside towns and chic cities sandwiched between the snow-capped Pyrenees and the sparkling Mediterranean all crowds.

City-wise, you can’t get any better than Catalonia’s capital, Barcelona. Its buzzing streets are filled with stylish boutiques, gourmet tapas bars and quirky Gaudi architecture.

Running south from Barcelona is the Costa Dorada, or ‘Golden Coast’. As its name suggests, this stretch of shoreline is edged with golden sandy beaches – 81 kilometres’ worth to be precise. One of the best is in Salou. This family-friendly resort also has Spain’s biggest theme park, PortAventura, right on the doorstep. Quieter towns, like Cambrils and La Pineda, are also popular picks for families, while night owls tend to make a beeline for Sitges’ clubs and bars.

The Costa Brava is Spain’s northernmost Costa, and one of its prettiest, too – the coastline is scalloped with sandy bays and tucked-away coves hemmed in by rugged cliffs. When it comes to choosing a place to stay, you’ve got lively spots like Tossa de Mar and Calella de la Costa, and quieter seaside towns, such as Llafranc and Pineda.