Resort Guides › Spain › Costa Brava
A genuinely beautiful medieval walled old town on the Costa Brava, with a much quieter pace.
Overview
Tossa de Mar is one of the Costa Brava’s prettiest resorts, built around a medieval walled old town (Vila Vella) perched on a headland above the beach — a rare case of real, well-preserved history right in the middle of a beach resort. It’s noticeably quieter and more scenic than Lloret de Mar, its neighbour up the coast.
Families & toddlers
The main beach is sandy and sheltered by the headland, and the old town walls are an easy, atmospheric (and free) place for children to explore, with sweeping sea views from the top.
Couples, teens & nightlife
A relaxed, restaurant-and-plaza evening scene rather than a nightlife strip — one of the more romantic bases on this whole list, well suited to couples.
Seniors & accessibility
The seafront and lower old town are manageable, though the walls and headland itself involve some climbing and uneven medieval paving — worth pacing for anyone with mobility concerns, while still enjoying the town at sea level.
Best time to visit
May to September for swimming; the old town is attractive and worth visiting in the quieter shoulder-season months too.