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Forget the postcards. Forget about magazine ads. Living on the Costa Brava is much more than just sunbathing on the beach. It's a complete lifestyle that combines nature, community, cuisine and a quality of life that few regions in the world can match. We take you by the hand for a real day in different life profiles
Marta, 42, freelance consultant in Begur
The alarm is not necessary. The light that comes through the window of your renovated farmhouse is sufficient. Do yoga on the terrace while the sun rises from behind the hills of Baix Empordà. At 8:00 he is in his office (the studio with garden views) answering emails to clients in Barcelona and Madrid. At 10:00 a.m., coffee break in the village. He meets Jordi, the baker, who keeps his favorite almond croissants for him.
“When I lived in Barcelona, it took 90 minutes to get to the office. Now it takes me 30 seconds to get to my desk and another 5 minutes to be on the beach if I want to disconnect,” he explains how he caresses his dog on the terrace of Café de la Plaça.
The Hansen, Danish family with two children in Palafrugell
Thomas and Sophie take their children, ages 6 and 9, to the town's public school. Both children are bilingual in Catalan and Spanish, and are learning English. “Education here is great and free,” Sophie says. “In Denmark it was good but more expensive. Here, children also grow up outdoors, ride bikes everywhere and have a freedom that no longer exists in big cities.”
After leaving the children, Thomas, who works remotely for an engineering firm in Copenhagen, goes home to connect. Sophie, a yoga teacher, goes to her studio in downtown Palafrugell where she teaches in the morning.
The International Factor: More and more European families choose the Costa Brava because of the combination of safety, climate, quality education and reasonable cost of living.
Miquel, 67 years old, Catalan retiree in Pals
Every Thursday there is a market in Pals. Miquel arrives early to get the best vegetables from Mrs. Montserrat, who grows her own tomatoes, eggplants and zucchini in the nearby fields. Buy artisanal cheese from the Empordà, local olives, and free-range chicken for Sunday lunch.
“I have lived in Barcelona for 40 years. I retired and came here. It was the best decision of my life,” she says as she fills her wicker basketball. “Here people greet each other, get to know each other, help you. I live better with less money and with better health.”
After the market, coffee with your friends in the square. They talk about everything: about politics, about Barça, about the new roundabout they are going to build. Social life here doesn't go through whatsapps, it goes through real encounters.
On the Costa Brava, food isn't just about eating. It's a ritual, an institution, a moment of connection.
Cal Campaner Restaurant, Begur - Any lunch
The tables are full of premises. Tourists too, but most of them are from here. The menu of the day: gazpacho, grilled sea bream with potatoes, dessert and coffee for 18€. The quality is exceptional. The fish was brought this morning by the fisherman from Sa Riera.
“In cities, people eat in 20 minutes in front of the computer,” says Anna, a waitress at the place for 15 years. “Here we still spend an hour and a half eating. It's mental and physical health.”
Luca, 35, Italian graphic designer at L'Escala
After eating, Luca does not immediately return to work. Go down to Les Barques, a small cove a 3-minute walk from your apartment, and take a swim. The water is 24 degrees in September.
“In Milan I had more money but less life,” he reflects as he dries in the sun. “I earn a little less here but my mental health has increased tenfold. I wouldn't trade this for anything.”
At 4:00 he is back home, working on the branding project for a client from London. Open windows, sea breeze, background music. Maximum productivity.
Club Nàutic de Roses - Wednesday afternoon
Marc, 52, a retired businessman, is preparing his sailboat to go sailing. Three times a week he goes out for at least two hours. Sometimes alone, sometimes with friends. “The best stress reliever in the world,” he says as he unties.
From the water, the view of the Costa Brava is even more spectacular. Coves inaccessible by land, crystal clear waters, dolphins if you're lucky. This is the Costa Brava that beach tourists never see.
While Marc is sailing, on the Camí de Ronda cliffs between Calella and Llafranc, there are groups hiking, runners training with sea views, and cyclists climbing the inland slopes.
Active Life: Here, sport is not an obligation in the gym. It's kayaking, paddle surfing, diving, hiking, biking, sailing. It's impossible not to be in shape.
Plaça Nova, Palafrugell
The square is full. It's vermouth time. Venues of all ages are located on the terraces. Vermouth with olives, anchovies, homemade potato chips. Flowing conversations, laughter, organic social life.
“This doesn't exist in big cities,” says Pere, an architect who left Madrid 5 years ago. “Or at least not in this authentic way. You don't stop here on WhatsApp, you just know that on Friday at 7 o'clock everyone will be in the square”.
Restaurant Bo.Tic, Corçà (1 Michelin star) - Friday night
The Costa Brava boasts one of the highest concentrations of Michelin-starred restaurants in Spain. Albert and Marta celebrate their anniversary at the Bo.Tic. Tasting menu of local products with modern techniques. 14 dishes, 110€ per person. In Barcelona, the same experience would cost twice as much.
“Living here doesn't mean giving up anything,” Albert says. “We have haute cuisine, culture, cinema, theater, live music. And if we want more, Barcelona is an hour away.”
For those who prefer something more casual, in Palafrugell the El Refugi bar is up to the top. Generous tapas, local craft beer, live music. Relaxed atmosphere, mix of locals and vacationers. Everyone is welcome.
Platja d'Aro - Summer Weekend
Contrary to what many people think, the Costa Brava doesn't fall asleep early. In Platja d'Aro, Lloret de Mar or the Port de Roses, the night is young. Bars with live music, clubs, terraces facing the sea.
But most residents prefer another type of night: long dinners at friends' houses, conversations under the stars on the terrace, nighttime walks along the promenade when the tourists have already left.
Spring (March-May): The best kept secret. Almond trees in bloom, temperatures of 18-22 degrees, empty beaches, low prices. The locals are taking back their territory.
Summer (June-September): The Social Station. Major festivities in each town, sardanas in the squares, concerts, outdoor theater. Yes, there are tourists, but there is also life, energy, encounters.
Fall (October-November): The Jewel in the Crown. The sea is still warm (20-22 degrees), the sun is still shining, the colors are spectacular. The hiking trails are at their best.
Winter (December-February): The contemplative season. Fewer people, more authentic, more local. On sunny days of 15 degrees where you can eat on the terrace. The storms of Tramontana that clear the sky. Endless sunsets.
The cons that do exist:
La Tramontana: This North Wind Can Go Crazy. There are days when it's better not to leave home. Locals learn to live with it, even to appreciate it.
July and August: If you hate crowds, these two months can be tough in tourist areas. But you have the whole year to compensate.
Social life requires initial effort: Don't expect the community to automatically hug you. Especially in small towns, you need time, learn basic Catalan, integrate. But when you succeed, the reward is immense.
Specialized Services: For complex procedures, very specific medical specialists or certain services, sometimes you have to go to Girona or Barcelona. It's the price of living outside big cities.
The pros that are real:
Absolute security: You can leave your bike without a lock, children play in the street, the doors stay open. Criminality is practically non-existent.
Connecting with nature: It's not a weekend getaway. It's your day to day. Every day.
Reasonable living costs: With the exception of the purchase price of properties (which has risen), everyday life is cheaper than in large cities. Eat better, spend less.
Mental and physical health: Stress decreases, quality of sleep improves, you exercise more without realizing it. Doctors call it “the Mediterranean effect”.
Jane, British, 58 years old, in Cadaqués since 2018:"I sold my flat in London and bought a house here. With the difference, I retired 5 years earlier. The best financial and vital decision of my life.”
Carlos, Mexican, 40 years old, in Roses since 2020:"I work for Silicon Valley companies from here. I have the tech salary and the Mediterranean lifestyle. It's possible, you just need WiFi and discipline.”
Elisabet, a 33-year-old Catalan, returned to Palafrugell from Barcelona in 2019:"I left a well-paying corporate job. I now have a small web design company. I earn less money but live longer. My son grows up free, I sleep well. There's no price for that.”
Living on the Costa Brava isn't for everyone. If you need urban adrenaline 24/7, if constant networking is your life, if you can't imagine living without a subway every 5 minutes, this may not be your place.
But if you value quality over quantity, if the sea beckons you, if you want to raise your children in freedom, if you are looking for a real community, if teleworking has opened your eyes to new possibilities... then the Costa Brava could be your home.
It's not a utopia. It has its challenges. But thousands of people around the world have discovered that here you can live better, healthier, happier and more authentic.
The best way to know if the Costa Brava is for you is to experience it. Not a week in August in a hotel. Rent a month in fall or spring. Have breakfast at the bar in the town. Do the shopping at the market. Walk along the Camí de Ronda. Talk to the locals.
And when you feel like you've found your place, we'll be here to help you turn that dream into your mailing address.
The life you imagine exists. And it's closer than you think.
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