Empuriabrava suits boat owners and beach families who want a canal resort beside a wide stretch of fine sand. The trade-off is that it is a planned 1960s development rather than an old village, and the tramuntana wind can whip up the sea.
Empuriabrava was built on a swamp and planned from 1964 as a tourist community, laid out on a Venetian model around canals, 24 km of them navigable. It belongs to the municipality of Castelló d'Empúries, whose old town it now dwarfs. About 6,900 people live here, and the summer population reaches around 80,000. The beach runs for nearly 1.5 km and is about 100 metres wide, with fine golden sand, and windsurfing is the main sport on it. Most of our homes are small apartments and houses for two to four, sitting close together, and most do not have a private pool. A sports aerodrome with a wind tunnel is the base for skydiving. There is a market every Saturday morning on the promenade.
The original municipal town, now dwarfed by Empuriabrava, with an old town 9 km east of Figueres.
Natural park of marshland between the Fluvià and Muga rivers, with seven hides and a tower for watching its 327 bird species.
Fishing port and marina at the northern end of the Gulf of Roses, with a restored citadel that now houses a museum.
Old fishing village long isolated by its geography, where Dalí built a house at Portlligat.
Girona-Costa Brava airport, a Ryanair base, is about 56 km away and takes just under an hour by road. Barcelona-El Prat is about 160 km south, around two hours by car. The nearest Renfe railway station is at Figueres, 15 km away.
Summer is when Empuriabrava fills, with around 80,000 people against roughly 6,900 residents. The tramuntana, a strong, dry, cold wind from the north, is common on this coast and can blow hard enough to be disturbing, and the beach is listed with strong waves at times. The Saturday market runs from 9am to 2pm on the promenade.
Yes, for beach families. The beach is nearly 1.5 km of fine sand with a children's play area, showers and adapted toilets. The sea can be rough, as the beach is listed with strong waves when it is windy, so watch young swimmers closely.
Boating is the reason the place exists: it has 24 km of navigable canals laid out on a Venetian model. Check the listing for a private mooring and its size before you plan to bring a boat.
Often. The tramuntana, a strong, dry, cold north wind, blows along this part of Catalonia, and windsurfing is the main sport on the beach. Keep a day or two free of beach plans in case it blows.
Girona-Costa Brava is the nearest, about 56 km away and just under an hour by road. Barcelona-El Prat has more routes but is about 160 km south, around two hours by car.
Empuriabrava is the canal resort, with fine sand and mostly small apartments and houses. Roses is an older town at the northern end of the gulf, with a fishing port, a marina and a citadel. Choose Empuriabrava for boats, Roses for a working town.
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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