Begur Beaches: A Costa Brava Beach Guide for UK Travellers

Why Begur's coves are worth the trip

Begur sits on its own massif above a stretch of coast that holds eight coves and small beaches within the municipality. That density is the appeal: you can swim in a different bay each morning without moving your base, and the old town with its castle sits a short climb above them all.

Match the beach to the group rather than chasing the most photographed one. Families with small children and anyone carrying kit should head for the sandy, road-accessible bays; strong walkers and quiet-seekers get more from the smaller coves, which are reached on foot and stay calmer.

Sa Riera: the largest sandy beach in the area

Sa Riera is the biggest beach in the Begur area at around 300 metres, a golden-sand cove backed by pine forest and popular for swimming and sunbathing. Its scale makes it the most forgiving choice for a family day, with room to spread out even when the bay fills.

A walking route climbs the cliffs behind the beach, which gives non-swimmers a reason to stay while the rest of the group is in the water. Treat the climb as a proper walk rather than a stroll: take water and avoid the middle of the day in high summer.

Sa Tuna: the whitewashed hamlet and its gravelly beach

Sa Tuna is the photogenic one: whitewashed houses run down to a small beach of roughly 80 metres, so the setting does most of the work. The trade-off is texture, because the beach here is gravel rather than sand, which makes it better for a swim-and-lunch stop than for sandcastles.

If you are touring several coves in a day, Sa Tuna works well as the late-afternoon stop, when the hamlet's bars and restaurants are the draw and a quick dip is enough. Bring footwear you can walk into the water in, since gravel shifts underfoot at the shoreline.

Tamariu: the horseshoe beach and promenade cafés

Tamariu grew as a small fishing village and keeps its white houses and pedestrian promenade right behind a horseshoe-shaped beach framed by pines. Cafés and restaurants line the promenade, so it is the easiest of the Begur-area beaches to combine with a long lunch.

The shelter of the bay and the short walk from village to sand make Tamariu a sensible base for mixed groups, where some want to swim and others prefer to sit with a coffee. It is also the natural alternative when Begur's own coves are at their busiest.

Aiguablava: sandy swimming and paddleboarding

Aiguablava is grouped with Sa Tuna, Sa Riera and Tamariu among the area's best-known beaches, known for clear blue water and lush surroundings. Paddleboarding is one of the activities on offer here, which tells you the bay is calm enough for board hire and beginner sessions.

Because it shares the famous four with Sa Tuna and Sa Riera, expect it to fill in high summer, and plan to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon. That timing advice applies to all of Begur's headline beaches, not just this one.

Platja del Racó: northern sands and the Medes Islands

Platja del Racó is the furthest north of the Begur beaches, a sandy stretch near Pals with a panoramic view across to the Medes Islands. The openness of the sand is the point here: more room to settle, and a long view to keep you occupied between swims.

This is the beach to pick if you want to add activity to the day, since kayak tours run from the area and diving trips head out to the Medes Islands. Both need booking, so sort them before you travel rather than turning up and hoping.

Quieter coves: Cala Estreta, Cala d'Aigua Xèlida and Platja Fonda

For a crowd-free day, the hidden and less accessible coves to know are Cala Estreta, Cala d'Aigua Xèlida and Platja Fonda. These are wild spots whose appeal comes precisely from the harder approach, so read access before committing a whole day to one.

Treat them as half-day outings: carry in everything you need, including water and shade, and leave the sand as you found it. If you are travelling with young children or a lot of equipment, the sandy bays above are the more sensible choice.

Getting around: driving, the Camí de Ronda and boat trips

The Camí de Ronda coastal path links Begur's beaches and fishing villages, and the full route from Sant Feliu de Guíxols to Begur runs 43 km with sections to suit most fitness levels. Walking between two coves is often the most rewarding way to see the coast, and it saves you hunting for a space in the small bays.

A boat trip gives you the coastline from the water, including secluded coves that are otherwise out of reach, such as Cala Marquesa and the caves of Cova d'en Gispert and El Bisbe. Book with a local operator before your beach day and check departure points in Begur or Tamariu.

If you are touring the wider coast by car, pair Begur with the beaches further south; the Costa Brava beaches collection maps out the main stops.

The sand and the water

Begur's beaches split cleanly by surface: Sa Riera and Platja del Racó are sandy, while Sa Tuna is gravel, which changes what you pack and how you walk into the sea. Sand suits families building castles and anyone lying out; gravel suits a shorter stop and swimmers who do not mind pebbles underfoot.

For snorkelling, head to rocky edges and the wilder coves rather than the broad sand, and go in the morning when the water is at its clearest. Aiguablava's clear water and paddleboard activity make it the obvious choice if you want to be on the water rather than just in it.

Facilities and restaurants

Facilities follow the villages: Tamariu has a promenade of cafés and restaurants directly behind the beach, and Sa Tuna's hamlet setting means eating options within a short walk of the gravel. Sa Riera's size and popularity make it the natural base for a full day with lunch.

For a special lunch with a sea view, Cap Sa Sal Restaurant near Aiguablava serves local seafood, steak and its signature rice dish, with Casa Juanita and Restaurant Turandot as other options around Begur. Book ahead in summer, as these fill quickly.

Best time to go

Begur's famous beaches and coves tend to be crowded in summer, and the advice from the area is to visit earlier in the morning or late in the afternoon. Build your day around that rhythm: swim early, eat at midday, and use the afternoon for a second, quieter cove.

Water temperature, sunbed hire and any seasonal lifeguard cover change through the season, so confirm the current position with the Begur tourist office before you rely on a service for a family day. Outside July and August the coast is markedly quieter, though the water takes longer to warm.

Nearby beaches to combine

Tamariu, Aiguablava, Sa Tuna and Sa Riera are close enough to link in a single day if you walk or drive between them, which is why Begur works as a base rather than a single-beach stop. Plan two coves maximum: one sandy and one gravel, with lunch in between.

If you want to extend the trip south, Lloret de Mar beaches offer a very different, larger-resort beach day within reach of the same coast. For a gentler village setting, Calella de Palafrugell makes a good pairing with Tamariu. If you keep heading south past Lloret, the beaches in Sitges make a similarly easy resort-style contrast further down the Catalan coast.

Plan Your Beach Day

Choose Sa Riera or Platja del Racó for sand and space, Sa Tuna for the whitewashed-hamlet experience with gravel underfoot, and Tamariu or Aiguablava for village cafés and easy swimming. Keep one wild cove in reserve for a quiet afternoon, and check access with the tourist office before setting out.

Start early, eat late, and walk a section of the Camí de Ronda between two coves to see the coast properly. For the rest of the region, the Costa Brava guide is the place to plan the next stop.