Getaways with Mediterranean Views
Discover El Far's experiences and getaways to enjoy the Costa Brava.
Llafranc is known for its bay, seafront promenade and the surroundings of Cap de Sant Sebastià, but its location also makes it an excellent base for discovering some of the most interesting towns and villages in the Empordà without having to travel far.
Fishing villages, medieval towns, castles, Indiano houses and stone streets are all part of a region where the coast and countryside lie remarkably close to one another.
If you're spending a few days in Llafranc and would like to combine the Mediterranean with some short excursions, here are six charming towns and villages near Llafranc that are well worth including in your stay.
Place Don't miss
Calella de Palafrugell Port Bo and its seafaring tradition
Tamariu Small coastal village surrounded by nature
Begur Castle and Indiano heritage
Pals Medieval quarter and Torre de les Hores
Peratallada Stone streets and medieval architecture
Palafrugell Culture, market and local life
Very close to Llafranc lies Calella de Palafrugell, a former fishing village built around a series of small coves and one of the most characteristic coastal villages in this part of the Costa Brava.
Its narrow streets, tiled roofs and old fishermen's houses still reflect the village's maritime past. Calella also holds the Poble amb Encant and Barris i Viles Marineres distinctions awarded by the Catalan Tourism Agency.
One of its most recognisable spots is Port Bo, where the traditional arches facing the sea form one of the best-known images of Calella de Palafrugell.
It's an ideal place to explore without following a strict itinerary, wander down to the sea and discover the architecture and atmosphere of a traditional fishing village.
Ideal for: a nearby excursion, a Mediterranean stroll and discovering the area's seafaring heritage.
Heading north, you'll find Tamariu, the smallest of Palafrugell's three coastal villages.
Surrounded by rocks and vegetation, the village is centred around its main beach and remains much smaller in scale than many other Costa Brava destinations. On either side are small spots such as Cala dels Liris and Aigua Dolça, while Aigua Xelida and Cala Pedrosa can also be found nearby.
Its compact size makes it easy to explore on foot and enjoy the landscape without needing to plan an extensive visit.
Ideal for: anyone looking to combine a small fishing village with the characteristic scenery of the Costa Brava.
3. Begur, Medieval History and Indiano Heritage
Leaving the small fishing villages behind for a moment, Begur offers a very different experience.
At the highest point of the town are the remains of Begur Castle, one of the landmarks that has shaped both its history and its distinctive skyline.
Walking through its streets reveals another of its major attractions: its Indiano heritage. During the 19th century, many inhabitants of Begur emigrated to the Americas, and some later returned, leaving a significant architectural legacy in the town.
Indiano houses, defensive towers and the streets of the historic centre reveal different chapters in Begur's history during a single visit.
Ideal for: anyone looking to combine heritage, history and a walk through one of the Empordà's best-known towns.
Pals is an essential stop if you want to discover the Empordà's medieval heritage.
The silhouette of its historic quarter, with the church and the Torre de les Hores, immediately reveals the town's historic character. The tower is one of the few surviving remains of the former castle and has become one of Pals' most recognisable landmarks.
Once inside the old town, the best way to explore is simply to wander through its cobbled streets and discover arches, gateways, stone buildings, remains of the walls and architectural features of Romanesque and Gothic origin.
It's also worth heading to the Josep Pla Viewpoint, which overlooks the Empordà plain, with the Montgrí massif and the Medes Islands in the distance.
Ideal for: lovers of architecture, history and medieval towns.
If Pals offers a glimpse into the Empordà's medieval past, Peratallada is another stop well worth adding to your route.
The town's history is closely linked to the Middle Ages, and its historic centre preserves numerous traces of this past, including defensive structures, stone streets and medieval buildings.
The village has retained much of its rural character and original architectural and urban structure. Its stone streets and squares invite you to explore at a leisurely pace, discovering old defensive features and medieval buildings along the way.
Today, visitors can also explore the Torre de les Hores, one of the best-preserved elements of Peratallada's former medieval defensive system.
Ideal for: a half-day excursion and anyone who enjoys exploring small historic villages on foot.
To finish, here's something a little different: Palafrugell.
While Calella, Llafranc and Tamariu showcase the municipality's maritime side, visiting the centre of Palafrugell offers a different perspective on the area and provides a contrast to days spent by the coast.
Here, the attraction isn't another cove or medieval village, but rather strolling through the centre, visiting the market and discovering the town's local life and cultural offering.
Palafrugell also provides an opportunity to learn more about elements closely connected to the identity of the area, such as its cork-making tradition, which has played an important role in its economic and social history.
Ideal for: discovering a more everyday and cultural side of the Empordà.
Not all these places offer the same experience, and that's precisely part of what makes this area so appealing.
If you'd like to stay close to the Mediterranean, Calella de Palafrugell and Tamariu are two particularly convenient options for continuing to explore the coast's seafaring character.
For a complete change of scenery, Pals and Peratallada will introduce you to the medieval Empordà, while Begur combines medieval heritage with its distinctive Indiano legacy.
And if you'd like to discover a more local and cultural side of the region, set aside a few hours to explore Palafrugell.
One of the distinctive features of El Far Hotel Restaurant is its location.
It stands in the surroundings of Sant Sebastià de la Guarda, on Cap de Sant Sebastià, one of Llafranc's most emblematic locations. The same site is home to the lighthouse, a watchtower, the Sant Sebastià hermitage and an Iberian settlement, as well as some of the most impressive views along the Palafrugell coastline.
The hotel occupies a former 18th-century inn and has just nine rooms, allowing you to combine excursions through the Empordà with a stay closely connected to the landscape and history of this remarkable place.
And after a day spent exploring villages, the experience can continue around the table: El Far's restaurant is rooted in seafaring cuisine, with rice dishes, fish and seafood among its highlights.
A stay at El Far Hotel Restaurant therefore makes it possible to combine some of the area's greatest attractions in a single trip: the Mediterranean, heritage, the villages of the Empordà and gastronomy.
Calella de Palafrugell, Tamariu, Begur, Pals and Peratallada are some of the most interesting places to combine with a stay in Llafranc. Palafrugell also offers an opportunity to discover a more local and cultural side of the area.
Pals and Peratallada are two of the best places to discover the medieval heritage of the Empordà. Begur also preserves important historic landmarks, including its castle.
Calella de Palafrugell and Tamariu are two of the small coastal villages belonging to the municipality of Palafrugell and offer different landscapes and atmospheres beside the Mediterranean.
Yes. One option is to combine inland villages such as Pals and Peratallada in a single excursion. For an outing closer to Llafranc, Calella de Palafrugell and Palafrugell can also be combined for a varied day of coast, culture and gastronomy.
As well as towns such as Pals, Peratallada and Begur, the surrounding area offers historic and archaeological heritage. Cap de Sant Sebastià itself is home to the Sant Sebastià Lighthouse, a watchtower, a hermitage and an Iberian settlement.
A stay in Llafranc can offer much more than its beaches.
A short distance away, the landscape shifts between former fishing villages, medieval towns, Indiano houses and places where you can discover the culture and everyday life of the Empordà.
From El Far Hotel Restaurant, you can combine these excursions with the Mediterranean and return to Sant Sebastià at the end of the day to enjoy the views and El Far's cuisine.
Each day can therefore reveal a different side of one of the Costa Brava's most distinctive regions.
Discover El Far's experiences and getaways to enjoy the Costa Brava.