Travel guide – lloret de mar

Go back to travel guide home

Overview

History may have given way to high-rise hotels, and fishing to foam parties in this former Catalonian trading port, but the region’s fiery spirit is still evident, which is why Lloret de Mar is regarded as the liveliest holiday spot on the Costa Brava. As a resort the town caters for the 18-30s and families with children. There are seemingly hundreds of British bars, discos and clubs to choose from, and the days are packed with programmes of beach frolics and fun. The resort has five rough sandy beaches, a massive water park, aquatic zoo and a theme park. For a taste of the real Spain visitors can revel in the local cuisine or gather in the town’s Placa de la Vila on Saturday evenings to join in when locals dance the traditional Catalonian Sardana dance.

Shopping

There are a multitude of shops and markets to choose from in Lloret de Mar, and plenty of time to browse in. The main shopping enclaves, from malls to small kiosks, are centred in the streets behind the waterfront. Wares tend to be touristy items, from souvenirs to bathing suits, and prices are generally reasonable although quality may be lacking. Some of the smaller shops close in the early afternoon hours and on Sundays, but in general visitors can shop happily from around 9am until late at night any day of the week during the busy summer season. The traditional local market is held every Tuesday on the Carrer dels Mestres, and there is a municipal market every weekday in the Carrer Senia del Rabic and Carrer Verge de Loreto.

Restaurants

Diners in Lloret de Mar will find a wide variety of cuisine available in a plethora of restaurants and fast-food outlets, from the best of British to traditional tapas, at very reasonable prices and generally good quality. Favourites with holiday-makers are strawberries and cream, Sangria (fruited sparkling wine) and delicious dishes of paella (seafood risotto). Many of the local restaurants in the old town offer a "menu of the day" deal including two courses, dessert, bread and even wine for a few Euros. Recommended for top class Catalan specialities is Masia Gibert, local to the core, on the Sant Genius de Palafols. Those craving a juicy steak will enjoy the Tobago Steak House on the Jose de Tagores: follow the tempting aroma drifting from the outdoor patio. A hot favourite is the Panxos Mexican Cantina in the old town, and for a hearty English Sunday Roast you can't beat the Piccadilly on Passeig d'Agusti Font. On the same street the Orient Express offers a touch of class with an international menu. For fun take a 15-minute stroll to the Disaster Cafe in Fenals, where the food may not be wildly exciting but the themed setting with realistic thrills like earthquakes make up for the cuisine.

Nightlife

Nightlife in Lloret de Mar is exhilirating, its hundreds of bars and 30-odd nightclubs pulsating all night, particularly along the Avinguda Just marles I Vilarrodona strip of the old town. Night owls who stroll along here in the late evening are accosted by touts offering free tickets and drinks vouchers for the clubs, and partying here can be as cheap as it is lively. Among the more popular clubs and pubs are Bumpers, renowned for its Caribbean cocktails and glass dance floor; Moby's, where karaoke is the popular entertainment; and Tropics, the biggest and best night-spot in town where guest DJs rock the night with a mix of house, rock and trance music enhanced with laser lights and foam. Families opt for friendly "home-style" pubs like Yam Yams in the suburb of Fenals, where kids are entertained and the favourite English soap operas are screened.

Activities

Days are usually spent enjoying Lloret de Mar's seafront and the shingly beach that slopes sharply into the sea, making ideal conditions for a variety of water sports from lazily pedalling boats, skimming the surface on a windsurfer, or diving into the depths. Other diversions include a host of holiday fun like go-karts, bungee-jumping, a mini-train, bowling alley and horse-riding. For a change of scene visitors can head off to the Waterworld aquatic park, or play a round of golf at nearby Santa Cristina de Aro. Most visitors opt for one or more sightseeing excursions during their stay; local operators, hotels and package tour companies offer a wide variety of outings from exploring Old Girona to coastal cruises and wine-tasting in the Catalan countryside. Most popular are trips to the huge theme park at Salou and Marineland near Blanes, both a few hours drive away. Those who wish to get away from it all can opt for one of a series of mapped walks along the coast or to traditional villages inland.

Attractions in Lloret de Mar

Salvador Dali Museum House

The busy fishing village of Cadaques draws plenty of visitors, but they do not come for the local beach, which is narrow and stony. Rather the resort town’s attractions are its picturesque natural harbour, some excellent restaurants, numerous galleries, fashion and art and craft shops, and the former home-turned-museum of world renowned surrealist painter, Salvador Dali, sited in Portlligat Bay just to the north of the town. Dali’s somewhat bizarre home consists of a labyrinthine cluster of fishermen’s huts, added to the original building in various stages by the artist over a period of 40 years. Visitors are conducted through the house and garden in small groups, having pre-booked.

Banyoles

The historic lakeside town of Banyoles just north of Girona is well known for hosting international rowing events, but it is also a fun, attractive and interesting place to visit and perhaps work off some energy in a pedal-boat or on a bicycle. The bright blue lake itself is the only one in the world fed by two merging subterranean rivers, the clean water flowing in at 600 litres a second. There are numerous options available to those wanting to take to the water, from a swimming dock to cruises or hire boats, and a grassy bank for sunbathers or a network of shady footpaths for those who prefer the shore. The town of Banyoles dates from 812, having grown up around a Benedictine monastery, and its old section is full of fascinating ancient buildings. The natural history and archaeological museums are worth visiting, and all is centred on a lovely arcaded square where a traditional market has been held every Wednesday since medieval times.

Climate

Spain is extremely hot during mid-summer, in July and August. The rest of the year the climate is generally temperate in the north, but warm in the south. The best time to visit is during spring or autumn, except for the Atlantic coast, which has heavy rains in October and November. August is the busiest month, while May and October are the best times for both ideal weather and fewer crowds. Madrid and the high central area can get very cold during winter.

Health

There are no health risks associated with travel to Spain, and no vaccination certificates are required for entry. Spain has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, including the UK, providing free emergency health care at State run hospitals. UK travellers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Note that private clinics are not covered, and the scheme gives no entitlement to medical repatriation costs, nor does it cover ongoing illnesses of a non-urgent nature, so comprehensive travel insurance is advised.

top of page