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CADAQUÉS: A beautiful coastal town in the province of Girona in La Costa Brava, only 2 hours away from Barcelona! Dive into this wellness guide by Sara Rodés and get ready to prep your next summer getaway to Cadaqués, enjoy its pebbled beaches, windsurf and some of the most beautiful sunsets surrounded by a lively atmosphere.
WHAT TO DO: During the summer, Cadaqués provides a variety of activities for the sea and fun loving people. There are many active and wellness oriented plans, as well as fun parties, entertainment and more!
Cap de Creus: Drive or take a nice long walk around there (about 2 hour walk). Many of the curious rock formations found here inspired Dalí for his paintings. You must visit Pla de Tudela (one of the best routes in Cap de Creus) and two coves that you will find at the end: “Cala Culleró” and “Cala Culip”. Some evenings they have beautiful live music at their restaurant (at the top) which is next to a lighthouse, which makes it even nicer to enjoy the sunset with a drink and aperitivo. Take a sweater with you as there is usually “Tramuntana”, the wind that comes from the North, and enjoy the unique views!
Kayaking and windsurfing: You can rent it on your own or book a private or group lesson.
Walk to el Far de Cala Nans: My favourite place in the world! It’s a lighthouse with the most amazing view of Cadaqués. I like to sit there and listen to the sound of the sea and the waves crashing against the rocks; it is a meditative place for me. Before reaching the lighthouse, there is a small stone beach called Sa Cebolla or under the lighthouse there is a stone platform, which is nice to have a swim or enjoy a “pique-nique”.
Casa-Museu Dalí: It was the permanent residence of the artist from 1930 to 1982. It’s now a museum and a “must see” in Cadaqués. You must book the tickets in advance as there is a very high demand. You will also enjoy the area where the house is, “Port Lligat.”
Sound Healing at Moksha Cadaqués.
Yoga: You can always find yoga teachers or classes in town.
Tennis lessons
Nightlife: La Felipa is a Street full of small beautiful bars and terraces where people gather, forget everything and enjoy the moment. Everyone is very friendly and some dance until the sun comes out. Then, they go enjoy a nice swim in the sea before going to bed. Best bars there: La Frontera, El Tropical and Bebere.
Beaches: There are no white sand beaches. Instead, they are all stone and rocks, which is what makes Cadaqués beautiful and wild. The best are: Sa Conca (beach or find a spot in the rocks), Sa Sabolla (Far de Cala Nans), and Pere Fet. Don’t be surprised if you see starfish, octopi and many other amazing sea creatures the oceans have to offer! Enjoy their beauty, but please leave them free in the water.
Sailing: You have the option of renting a boat and to sail around.
WHERE TO STAY: The hotels in Cadaqués are known for being “chic & basic”. This is one of the things I like the most about the town because it’s their way of being luxurious. Everything gets booked very fast, so make sure you plan your trip and book in advance! My favourite quality/price hotels are:
Another option is to book an Airbnb
WHERE TO EAT: All restaurants in Cadaqués are unique in their decor as well as in their food. Although I follow a plant based diet, this list also includes some of the other restaurant “musts”, based on my experience previous to becoming vegan as well as what my dear ones love:
Bar Boia and El Melitón: Enjoy your breakfast with a freshly squeezed orange juice and coffee in front of the sea. You can also enjoy an amazing “aperitivo” and, Bar Boia, is also known as one of the best cocktail places in Spain! If I am not mistaken, they play live music on Thursday evenings.
Coco Cuina: If your kind of breakfast is a smoothie and an avocado toast like mine, then you must go there! This place is vegan and has the best smoothies in town. It’s very original and has a small terrace outside. My musts: the vegan makis and their creamy natural smoothies.
La Mallorquina: Who said having a treat once in a while isn’t healthy? “Taps de Cadaqués” are a typical sweet from Cadaqués which you can only find at this bakery. It’s also a nice gift to bring back to your loved ones. Make sure to order your box 24h in advance because the demand is very high.
Casa Anita: Authentic, with a family atmosphere and home made kitchen. My advice is to go by the owner’s recommendations!
Bar Mut: It’s cash only. A small but genuine terrace. My must: the “escalivada.”
El Xiringuito de la Mei: A very enjoyable summer beach restaurant to eat at while enjoying the sea. Enjoy all kinds of tasteful starters!
Es Baluard: A typical family owned restaurant, where they will make you feel at home. It doesn’t have a terrace, but they have some tables next to their big windows where you can enjoy the beautiful views. The catch of the day is a must!
Es Grec: Constantí will make you feel at home and will offer you a mix of Greek and Mediterranean dishes. The sea urchin rice is a must. They also have a plant based plankton rice which they added to the menu because of my, also vegan, stepmother.
Can Rafa: Another typical family owned seafood restaurant. Their terrace is always full and lively. They have very fresh fish and many times are fished by them! You will love the seafood appetizers and the grilled fish. They also make their own wine!
Can Tito: A family owned restaurant where they are always trying to reinvent themselves and they never stop surprising me. Their seabass is a must! Although they do not have plant based options on their menu (yet), they are so kind and friendly that they always find a way of making something delicious for me. I love their gazpacho.
Celeste: “You can never say basta to pasta!” This small and unique place, with the smallest but most authentic kitchen, offers Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Everything is amazing, but the pesto pasta is my favourite!
WHERE TO SHOP: Get lost in the breathtaking, narrow streets of Cadaqués, not only to contemplate their beauty but to also do some shopping in the many beautiful small shops. Walk around Riba Pitxot to find other stores selling all kinds of “tie dye” pieces - a must this summer!
Pepa: The owner, Isabel, has beautiful and unique pieces of clothing. You will find everything from casual but chic clothing to pieces for special occasions.
Mo: A beautiful lifestyle store for women and men, selling minimal jewellery, clothes, and home décor products.
S’espardenya de Cadaqués: Joan sells the most amazing and typical handmade shoes in town, called espardenyes. The classic ones are black and white with laces, but there’s a wide variety of colours and styles. It is my secret store, where everyone wants me to take them when they see my shoes!
Es Call 5: A hippie store where, amongst other things, you’ll find high quality linen shirts and pants (specially for men) and paintings from Cadaqués made by Pere, the owner. A few steps before, on the right hand side, you will find a small store owned by Martita with unique pieces for women as well as paintings by her in which she transmits her amazing and strong energy.
Moksha Cadaqués: The owner brings all kinds of beautiful treasures from India. Her energy is incredible and she has the most amazing secret room inside the store, where she practices sound-healing, massages, and meditations. You can join group sessions or have a private one.
WHY I LOVE IT: Cadaqués is the most Oriental point of the Iberian Peninsula, therefore being the first point of the Peninsula that sees the sun come out. Dalí, in his room, had a mirror facing the window as well as his bed. Through it, he could see when the sun was coming out and had it strategically placed to be the first Spaniard to see the sunrise.
Jose Plà, a very important writer from the last Century, always advised the travellers who visited Cadaqués for the first time, to imagine that it was an island. It’s a Peninsula but it has a very complicated connection with the earth, so it’s kind of an island. This explains why people there have a very special and unique personality, the Catalan dialect is special, their customs and habits are very different to the rest of the country and they have their own rich culture.
The landscape is at the end of the Pyrenees, breaking into the sea and this is another thing that makes Cadaqués very special; it has both, sea and mountains. “El Pení”, the mountain behind the village, with its over 600 meters of altitude, is the highest peak on the Spanish Mediterranean coast, and the natural border between Cadaqués and the rest of the continent.
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