Tossa de Mar still maintains the charm of a fishing village that made it famous in the 1950s thanks to the film Pandora, starring Ava Gardner. Its beautiful coves and cliffs, the quality of the water, its well-preserved walled town (declared a national historic-artistic monument in 1931) and the only access by road or sea, make it one of the most beautiful villages on the Costa Brava.
Located just 90 kilometres from Barcelona and 130 km from the French border, it is the perfect place to spend a day or visit during your holidays. If this is your case, we offer you a few plans so that you know what to visit in Tossa de Mar and what to do to make the most of this beautiful town in the Selva region.
What to visit in Tossa de Mar
As it is a small town, we suggest a series of activities that will help you to know what to do one day in Tossa de Mar.
A walk around the castle is a must. However, it should be pointed out that, although the walled enclosure is still in perfect condition, where there used to be a castle there is now a lighthouse dating from 1919. Reaching the highest point of the Vila Vella has its reward: spectacular views that you can enjoy while you have a drink in a bar next to the lighthouse.
A beautiful network of alleys and cobblestone floors make the climb up to the lighthouse a lovely walk. On this path you will find the old church of Sant Vicenç, where open-air concerts are held during the summer. Also the statue of Ava Gardner, very present in the Tossa culture, which pays homage to the film she shot in Tossa, through this monument, images in the shops and the "Ava's sweet kisses" (a typical sweet of the area).
The Villa Vella also offers two very well preserved 17th century cannons, which belonged to the defence of the wall and were recovered from the sea. The views from here are spectacular and allow you to observe the rugged landscape and the beautiful beaches and coves of Tossa de Mar. Undoubtedly another of the main attractions; the large beach, es Codolar or the Mar Menuda beach are the most accessible from the town centre. Surrounding Tossa and accessible by road or sea we find Cala Giverola, Futadera, Cala Pola or Cala Bona among others.
Where to eat in Tossa de Mar
Tossa's gastronomy stands out for the quality of its produce and its variety of restaurants overlooking the sea, next to the castle or in special spots. Its links with the sea make it an ideal place to eat a typical Mediterranean dish, such as Cim i Tomba. A fish stew prepared by fishermen in their own boats when they went out to fish and which you can enjoy in many of its Mediterranean restaurants.
Its beautiful corners make Tossa an ideal place to enjoy live music, or eat tapas in one of the restaurants with terraces located along its picturesque streets around the wall.
The gastronomic offer is extensive, so we recommend that you take a look at this list of restaurants in Tossa classified by type of food.
Activities in Tossa de Mar
Its strategic location makes it one of the best towns on the Costa Brava to enjoy water sports and routes along the Camí de Ronda. Sea lovers will be pleased to know that its clean waters and blue flag beaches make the diving experience in Tossa de Mar one of the best on the Costa Brava. It is also the best place for seahorse watching.
Excursions in the mountains offer a perfect way to spend the day. The Camí de Ronda is an attractive walk around the whole of the Costa Brava and its spectacular beaches. From Tossa this path starts at the Es Codolar viewpoint, next to the Vila Vella. Climbing a small path of stairs we can get spectacular views and enjoy an ideal place to watch the sunset.
It is also common to find a large number of cycling enthusiasts interested in exploring the beauty of the Costa Brava by bike. If you are interested in cycling routes in Tossa, you can hire guided tours and even rent road bikes.
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