Tossa de Mar OR Lloret de Mar?

Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar are only about 20 minutes apart by bus, but the two towns couldn’t be more different. If you’re thinking of spending time on the Costa Brava and wonder which of these two towns would make a better base for you, this post covers that.

What’s Tossa de Mar like?

I first visited Tossa de Mar over 40 years ago as a teenager. It honestly hasn’t really changed that much since then.

Tossa is a small beach town with a castle as its highlight. It’s a magnificent castle, perched on a rock with great views of the coastline in both directions. Many people come here just to walk up to the castle and the medieval town surrounding it (called Villa Vella, it is the last remaining fortified medieval town in the Catalan coast).

There are many beaches around town, the main one being right in front of the old town (and at the base of the castle). It’s a wide beautiful beach. There are other beaches, some in small coves and characterized by turquoise water.

The town of Tossa de Mar is made up of narrow streets, low-level (usually 1 or 2 storey) traditional housing. There are a lots of restaurants next to the castle and along the main beach road (as well as inland on some of the larger streets in the town center). You’ll also see tradition bars where you can drink and order tapas.

Overall, Tossa is small: you can walk a circle around the old town in about 20 minutes. It has a relaxed vibe. It is not a party town, it really caters to couples and families.

If you are a hiker,Tossa is a great base to explore the Cami de Ronda (the coastal path that follows the rugged coastline of the Costa Brava). Hiking north takes you to Cala Giverola (about 6km away). Along the way you’ll have gorgeous views at the mirador de Tossa de Mar. If you hike south, you can walk all the way to Lloret de Mar (about 12 km).

In short: Tossa de Mar is a small, traditional town geared towards couples and families who want a relaxing destination. Highlights include the castle and beaches and some great hiking.

What’s Lloret de Mar like?

Lloret de Mar is everything Tossa isn’t: it is a large beach town that’s also one of Spain’s best party destinations. You’ll see a lot of high-rise hotels, modern casinos, arcades…I’ve heard it described as resembling a Florida beach town which is pretty accurate. You could also describe it as the Benidorm of the Costa Brava. The town itself isn’t so attractive. But there are other considerations…

Lloret has long and wide beaches with golden sand. The main beach is 1.5 km long and there are lots of watersport options: banana boats, parasailing, sea kayaking, jet skis etc. The 2^nd major beach is Fenals Beach (which is the slightly more relaxed of the two beaches). So if you like beaches and watersports, then Lloret might be for you.

Coastal walks. Between the two main beaches is a rocky headland/cliff with wooden paths and steps that’s ideal for scenic walks. Lissette isn’t a hiker and didn’t want to do the hikes in Tossa…but she loved walking these wooden paths in Lloret. The views are great. Also great is the long promenade on Lloret Beach, lined with shops and restaurants and views of the sea.

Hiking: If hiking is your thing, you can do the Lloret to Tossa hike that I mentioned up top, a 12 km hike on the Cami de Ronda that follows the coast.

In short: Lloret de Mar is best suited for younger travellers, party goers and people who like adventure sports.

Practical Information

Getting around. Moventis is the main bus company here. You can get to both Lloret and Tossa from Barcelona. The bus takes about 1 hour to Lloret (which is the hub in the area) and then continues on for another 20 minutes to Tossa. But really, it’s a region where you’re better off renting a car.
What you should know about off-season travel. Off-season (ie. October to end of March) is pretty much dead in both towns, but especially Tossa. Few restaurants are open and the bus runs on a very limited schedule. Unless you have a car, the Costa Brava should be avoided during this time.