Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Costa Brava in October

Jim, In late October it's going to be quiet on the Costa Brava; will be closing up for the season. Tossa del Mar will probably be your liveliest place. May want to base yourselves there or in the Llafranc/Begur area (don't stay in Cadaques). Just did this very trip, once again. "Must sees/dos" in the area include: 1) spectacularly scenic drive from Tossa del Mar to S'Agaro-the best drive on the Costa Brava 2) a serpentine drive (over 300 non-stop curves) to isolated, whitewashed, bohemian Cadaques for photo ops, church of Santa Maria with amazing late Baroque altarpiece, little art museum, drinks at one of the artsy cafes on the seafront, drive by Dali's house at Port Lligat (to take guided tour of inside, must pre-book). 3) if you want to see Dali at his most outrageous, visit his over-the-top Teatre-Museu Dali and mausoleum in Figueres (his most important works are elsewhere) Then finish up the Dali triangle by visiting Gala's home, the Castell Gala-Dai in Pubol. An insight into this eccentric couple's bizarre life together 4) Greek-Roman ruins of Empurias, one of country's most important archeological sites 5) medieval villages of Monells, Pals and Peratallada (Pals is filled with the Catalan elite's heavily restored mansions behind gates-very "prettified"; Pertallada is more authentic and IMO more enjoyable, plus nice ceramics store, "Les Voltes" on the square-nice dining at Cal Bonay or el Pati) 6) from Begur, drive down to the tiny, beautiful, secluded pine covered coves of Aiguafreda (scuba diving center-nice food at Hostal Sa Rascassa), Aiguablava (to have drinks on terrace of Parador-stunning views), Sa Riera (spectacular mansions suround you), Sa Tuna (for great, sophisticated seafood lunch/dinner at the Hostal de Sa Tuna-don't miss!). 7) Visit the 3 fishing villages-in-a-row of Calella de Palafruguell, Llafranc (my favorite), Tamariu. Lodging (don't know your budget): in Llafranc: "Far de Sant Sebastia" (small, lux, fantastic seaviews at the lighthouse) www.masdetorrent.com "Hotel Llevant" or "Hotel Llafranc" (both great, inexp, family owned) [email protected] www.hllafranc.com in Tossa: "Diana" (cozy & cute, Modernist mansion, impeccable, right in middle of town on seafront) www.estancias.com "Gran Hotel Reymar" (across the cove from the Vila Vela, Old Quarter on the hill) www.bestwestern.com in Aiguablava: Parador (modern, non-descript but oh, what views!) www.parador.es "Hotel Aigualava" (family run resort, comfy, deluxe American style rooms, looks across the water from Parador, tranquil, we stayed here) www.aiguablava.com inland: "Arc s de Monells" (housed in 14th c former hospital, designer chic, huge rooms in original building) www.hotelarcsmonells "Castell d'Emporda" (newly restored Gothic castle with Baroque tower in the middle of the Baix Emporda plain, impressive) www.rusticae.com Hope this gets you started.