🇪🇸Spain · Places to discover

What to see in Tossa de Mar?

24 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.

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Map of places in Tossa de Mar, numbered like the cards below
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Tossa de Mar is one of the rare Costa Brava resorts to have preserved its medieval centre intact. The Vila Vella, a twelfth-century fortified village perched on the promontory, dominates a bay of clear waters with quiet authority. It's not a reconstructed set: people still live here, and you feel it in the atmosphere.

The best period runs from May to June, or in September, when the summer crowds disperse and the light becomes sharper. Two to three days suffice to explore the town and neighbouring coves, including Cala Pola, which is accessible on foot. From Barcelona, the bus works better than a car; parking is genuinely problematic in season. Don't confine yourself to the main beach: most of Tossa reveals itself on foot, across the heights.

Landmarks & heritage

6 places

  • 1

    Landmark

    Landmark

    Tossa de Mar Lighthouse

    Active lighthouse built in 1917 atop Cap de Tossa, reached via a path from the Vila Vella. Commanding views sweep across the entire coastline between Lloret and Sant Feliu de Guíxols.

  • 2

    Landmark

    Landmark

    Torre del Codolar

    Medieval watchtower perched on a rocky promontory north of Codolar Beach. Less visited than the main ramparts, it offers a unique vantage point over the Vila Vella.

  • 3

    Landmark

    Landmark

    Marc Chagall Statue

    Bronze sculpture depicting Chagall's Blue Venus, positioned on the Mar Gran promenade in tribute to the painter who called Tossa 'the blue paradise'. An unmissable meeting point for locals.

  • 4

    Landmark

    Landmark

    Villa Romana dels Ametllers

    Remains of a 4th-century Roman villa featuring remarkably well-preserved mosaics in situ. A discreet yet fascinating archaeological site, often overlooked by hurried visitors.

  • 5

    Landmark

    Landmark

    Torre de les Hores

    The main tower of the Vila Vella dating from the 12th century, the highest point of the fortifications. A 360° panoramic view over Tossa Bay and the surrounding coves.

  • 6

    Landmark

    Landmark

    Vila Vella of Tossa de Mar

    A fortified medieval town from the 12th century, the only inhabited medieval walled town still standing on the Costa Brava. The ramparts offer spectacular views over the sea and the white village below.

Museums

1 place

  • Tossa de Mar Municipal Museum7Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0

    Museum

    Tossa de Mar Municipal Museum

    Housed in the governor's palace of the Vila Vella, this museum holds an exceptional collection of Roman mosaics and works by Marc Chagall, who stayed in Tossa during the 1930s.

Religious sites

1 place

  • Church of Sant Vicenç de Tossa8Wikimedia Commons

    Religious site

    Church of Sant Vicenç de Tossa

    Neoclassical parish church dating from the 19th century at the heart of the village. Its bell tower dominates the lower town, whilst the austere interior conceals some intriguing Baroque altarpieces.

Nature

2 places

  • GR-92 Coastal Trail: Tossa – Lloret de Mar9Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Nature

    GR-92 Coastal Trail: Tossa – Lloret de Mar

    Spectacular stretch of the GR-92 hugging cliffsides between Tossa and Lloret (approximately 10 km). Vertiginous sea views, pine forest passages and discovery of otherwise inaccessible coves.

  • 10

    Nature

    Nature

    Torrent de Can Martí

    Wooded valley inland from Tossa, crossed by a lightly marked local path leading to natural pools. Locals come here to picnic in the shade of plane trees during summer.

Parks & gardens

1 place

Viewpoints

3 places

  • 12

    Viewpoint

    Viewpoint

    Mirador de la Roca Grossa

    Natural vantage point on a rocky outcrop above the northern coastal path, commanding views down to Cala Pola and tree-clad cliffs. Reached in 20 minutes from the village.

  • 13

    Viewpoint

    Viewpoint

    Ramparts Viewpoint

    Viewing platform along the rampart walk of Vila Vella, overlooking Mar Gran beach and Tossa bay. The vista is particularly striking at day's end when golden light strikes the fortifications.

  • 14

    Viewpoint

    Viewpoint

    Cap de Tossa – Lighthouse Viewpoint

    Rocky promontory at the end of the path hugging the ramparts, offering the finest panorama of the Catalan coastline stretching southward. Extraordinary sunsets from this natural vantage point.

Activities

4 places

  • 15

    Activity

    Activity

    Escola de Vela Tossa – Sailing Instruction

    Local sailing school offering catamaran and dinghy instruction on Tossa's sheltered bay. Ideal for families, with Catalan instructors who speak French.

  • 16

    Activity

    Activity

    Tossa de Mar Port – Water Taxi Departure

    Small fishing port where water taxis depart for Lloret, Sant Feliu and isolated coves. Early morning reveals fishermen still unloading their catch before the tourists arrive.

  • 17

    Activity

    Activity

    Sea Kayaking – Cove Tour of Tossa

    Kayak circuit hugging the cliffs between Tossa and Cala Pola, granting access to sea caves and coves unreachable on foot. Equipment rental available on Mar Gran beach.

  • 18

    Activity

    Activity

    Scuba Diving – Reserva Marina de les Illes Formigues

    Protected marine zone off Tossa, accessible by boat excursion from the port. Groupers, moray eels and pristine seagrass meadows in waters amongst the clearest on the Costa Brava.

Beaches

5 places

  • Cala Pola19Wikimedia Commons

    Beach

    Cala Pola

    Secluded small cove 3 km north of Tossa, accessible by road or the GR-92 coastal trail. Turquoise waters, sandy bottom and rocky outcrops make it ideal for snorkelling away from summer crowds.

  • 20

    Beach

    Beach

    Platja Mar Gran – Tossa de Mar

    Wide crescent of fine sand at the town's foot, sheltered by Tossa headland. Constant views of medieval ramparts illuminated at night create a unique atmosphere on the Costa Brava.

  • 21

    Beach

    Beach

    Cala Llevadó

    Protected cove framed by maritime pines, accessible solely on foot or by boat. Mixed sand and rock seabed with shallow waters ideal for families and free-diving enthusiasts.

  • 22

    Beach

    Beach

    Platja del Codolar

    Pebbled beach at the foot of the Vila Vella ramparts, less crowded than the main beach. The perfect spot to admire the fortifications from the water, especially at sunset.

  • 23

    Beach

    Beach

    Cala Giverola

    Sheltered bay hemmed between two wooded cliffs, among the finest coves along the Costa Brava. Crystal-clear waters and white sand bottom, reachable by boat from Tossa or via forest track.

More to discover

1 place

  • 24

    Place

    Place

    Carrer del Portal – Vila Baixa Quarter

    Cobbled lane in the old town beyond the ramparts, lined with fishermen's houses sporting blue shutters and geraniums at every window. The authentic soul of Tossa, removed from souvenir shops.

Hozy stays · within 25 km

Where to stay in Tossa de Mar

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