Areas
Costa Brava
The Wild Coast — rocky coves, medieval villages and a more upmarket, northern European profile. Girona province. Less 'British package' and more French, Belgian and Dutch second-home owners.
The Costa Brava is Catalonia's most dramatic coastline — a succession of rocky coves, pine-clad cliffs and medieval villages that descends from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean. Unlike the sandy beaches of the Costa Blanca, the Brava is defined by its geology: craggy headlands, hidden calas and crystal water.
For British relocation planners, the Costa Brava represents a different proposition. It is pricier, more chic and less 'expat infrastructure' than Alicante or Málaga provinces. The foreign resident mix is heavily French, Belgian and Dutch, with English spoken less widely in daily commerce. Catalan is strong here.
The coastal towns divide broadly: the larger resorts (Lloret de Mar, Platja d'Aro) with full services and active summer tourism; the historic gems (Tossa de Mar, Pals, Begur) with premium property and a quieter winter; and the working fishing ports (Roses, L'Escala) where local life persists alongside seasonal visitors.
British community
Small to moderate. Costa Brava does not have the mass British tourism of the Costa Blanca or Costa del Sol. The foreign buyer profile is more French, Belgian, Swiss and Dutch. Some British retirees and second-home owners in Lloret, Roses and Playa de Aro.
Towns on the Costa Brava
Lloret de Mar
The Costa Brava's largest and most famous resort town — high-density tourism, good Barcelona transport links, and a large foreign-resident population that swells dramatically in summer.
Tossa de Mar
A UNESCO-recognised medieval walled town perched above turquoise coves — quieter, more refined, and pricier than its neighbour Lloret de Mar.
Roses
The Costa Brava's northern gateway — a working fishing port, bay beaches and gateway to Cap de Creus, with more affordable property than the southern Brava.
L'Escala
A working fishing village with sandy beaches, Greek and Roman ruins at Empúries, and a quieter, more authentic Costa Brava character than the big resorts.
Begur
The "St Tropez of Catalonia" — a hill village with a medieval castle, exclusive coves, and a very premium, very international second-home market.
Pals
A spectacular medieval inland village surrounded by rice fields, near the beach and golf — one of the Costa Brava's most exclusive and expensive addresses.
Platja d'Aro
A modern, lively resort with a long sandy beach, strong shopping and leisure infrastructure, and a younger family demographic on the central Costa Brava.
Property and rental signal
Premium by Spanish coastal standards. Entry-level apartments in Lloret or Roses from ~€150,000. Sea-view villas and historic village houses in Begur, Pals or Aiguablava can exceed €1–2 million. The market is heavily second-home driven, with strong French and Belgian buyer activity.
Admin notes
Padrón at local Ajuntament. NIE/TIE via Comisaría in Girona city or Figueres. Healthcare through CatSalut (Catalan public system) after padrón registration. Private hospitals in Girona and Barcelona.
Important notes and caveats
- • Costa Bridge has deeper personal research in Terres de l'Ebre and Costa Dorada. Costa Brava guidance is based on desk research and official sources, not lived experience.
- • Population data from IDESCAT (2024–2025). Girona province has a smaller British population than Alicante or Málaga.
- • Property observations are general market signals. Premium segment dominates in Begur, Calella de Palafrugell and Aiguablava.
- • Tourist rental: HUT (Habitatge d'Ús Turístic) licence required under Catalan law.
- • Population and community figures are drawn from the latest available official sources. They change year to year and do not reflect unregistered residents or second-home owners.