Empuriabrava (Ampuriabrava in Spanish) is a tourist town approximately 120 km northeast of Barcelona on the coast of Girona in Catalonia. The town is home to one of the world's largest man-made marinas with channels cutting through the whole northern part of the urban area.
Understand
The town consists mostly of tourist accommodations creating great seasonal changes with an estimated population of 80,000 in the summer dropping to just a few thousands in winter.
Get in
By car
From Europe: Crossing the French border by motorway AP-7 or state road N-II. The exit of the motorway is the nº 3. State road C-260, direction Figueres. The road to Empuriabrava is the C-260, taking the Figueres-Roses exit, direction Roses.
From Barcelona or Girona: By motorway AP-7 or state road N-II. The exit of the motorway is the nº 4. State road C-260, direction France. The road to Empuriabrava is the C-260, taking the Figueres-Roses exit, direction Roses.
From the Pyrenees: State road N-260, direction Figueres. After Navata, turn right, the road C-26 direction Castelló d'Empúries. Then, the state road N-II direction France. The road to Empuriabrava is the C-260, taking the Figueres-Roses exit, direction Roses.
By bus
Buses from Barcelona, and Girona.
By train
The nearest train station (RENFE) is in Figueres, 15 km from Empuriabrava. From there, bus towards Castelló d'Empúries and Empuriabrava.
AVE and TGV trains arrive at the Figueres-Vilafant railway station. From there, there are buses back to the bus station in Figueres, and from the Bus Station, there are buses to Castelló d'Empúries and Empuriabrava.
By plane
- Girona Airport: The nearest airport is Girona-Costa Brava, an important base for Ryanair. During the summer season, a bus to the town is available.
- The major international airport at Barcelona-El Prat is 160 km to the south, around two hours by car. There is a bus from Barcelona Airport to Figueres, and then take a second bus to Empuriabrava.
Get around
See
Do
Since Empuriabrava is a town mainly consisting of tourism, it is not hard finding something interesting to do. Sailing around the marina in a rented boat is one of the most popular things to do. Also the beach is a great place to spend your day. The sandy beach is about 90 m wide, and the water is at great temperatures during the summer. However, it is recommended that you use the beach primarily in the morning before noon as the sun reaches very powerful levels around noon and the heat builds up until late afternoon.
Buy
Eat
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
- 1 La llar, C-260 road, km40,5, ☏ 34 972 25 53 68. 1 Michelin star.
Drink
There is a great number of cafés and restaurants located all over the city, especially concentrated around the main shopping boulevard Carrer Port Salins and Carrer Salins 1 Linea at the beachside.