Tossa de Mar Beach

Tossa de Mar is arguably the most photographed town on the Costa Brava, and for good reason. The main beach — Platja Gran — curves gently in front of a perfectly preserved medieval walled fortress called the Vila Vella, its stone towers rising dramatically above the turquoise bay. When the afternoon light catches the fortress walls reflected in the sea, the scene is unlike anything else in the Mediterranean.

The beach itself is sheltered, clean, and family-friendly, with warm, calm waters ideal for swimming and snorkelling. The rocky seabed just beyond the beach supports a diverse marine ecosystem, and Tossa is a popular base for scuba divers exploring the nearby Reserva Natural de les Illes Medes, one of Spain's finest marine reserves. The town's narrow medieval streets behind the beach are lined with whitewashed houses, art galleries, and seafood restaurants.

Tossa de Mar was famously visited by Marc Chagall, who called it "blue paradise" — a label the town has embraced proudly. A bronze statue of the actress Ava Gardner on the seafront promenade commemorates her filming of "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" here in 1950, and the town maintains a charmingly romantic atmosphere that draws visitors back year after year.