What to do in and around Estartit - Estartit Attractions Guide
Estartit itself offers a great variety of attractions to keep you entertained. The resort offers glass bottom boat trips from the harbour to the Medes Islands and the shallow coves. Along with this are a great selection of water sports available at the yacht marina and beaches include sailing, fishing, scuba diving, windsurfing, water skiing and jet skiing. The resort has a small fun fair for the younger children and during the summer a large fun fair comes to town. There are also live bands on the beach during the summer. Other things to do in Estartit include, bike hire, horse riding and walking with a number of excellent footpaths include a fantastic walk up on to Roca Maura mountain.
Estartit is also a great base from which to explore the Catalonia coast and countryside. On the coastline above and below Estartit can be found some very beautiful coves and bays. Llafranc to the South is one of the best. From there you can walk down the coast path to Calella past the most fantastic scenery. To the South of Estartit, Barcelona is a 2 hour drive away. Drive 2 hours to the North and you are into the Pyrenees Mountains with access to France and Andorra. Montserrat (2 hours) and Figueres, birthplace of Dali (1 hour), are 2 more places well worth a visit.
In mid-July there's the world-renowned international music festival in nearby Torroella de Montgri which attracts big name soloists, choirs, orchestras and musicians. The festival, which has been held every year since 1980, takes place in three historic settings - the medieval town's Gothic church of Saint Genis, the porticoed Gothic-Renaissance town square and in a former 17th century Augustin monastery.
If you fancy an evening's gambling there's the Casino Lloret de Mar on the road between Lloret and Blanes. And if you're visiting Barcelona, be sure to stay for the evening to watch the fantastic coloured fountain show.
The area is a paradise for cyclists, hikers and horse riders with its rich variety of scenery ranging from wooded cliffs and rocky coves to the citrus groves and lumber forests of the richly fertile lowland plains.
For golf enthusiasts, Catalonia boasts some of the finest courses in Europe including two within easy reach of Estartit. The Emporda course, designed by American expert Robert von Hagge, is one of Catalonia most spectacular. You'll find the club on the road between Torroella and Pals. The 27-hole course, of medium difficulty, includes dunes, bunkers and artificial lakes.
If you're more interested in the region's history and culture than its golf courses, pop along the road to the neighbouring town of Torroella de Montgri which was once on the coast but has been left high and dry five kilometres inland after hundreds of years of silting. The main landmark of this medieval town is the picture book 13th century hilltop castle, reached via a long path which begins at the end of Carrer Fatima. The walk will take you about an hour but it's worth it for the breathtaking panoramic views from the castle battlements. The town itself is worth exploring with its narrow, medieval streets, colonnaded square, baronial mansions and impressive Gothic church dating back to the 14th century.
The fortified town of Pals, 12 kilometres to the south west of Estartit, is a popular stopping off point on the tourist trail. This well preserved medieval village is a delightful place for a stroll with its ancient defence walls and narrow streets which meander up to the castle and the Torre de les Hores, the tower which dominates the town.
The archaeological site at Ullastret is a must for history buffs. This lush hillside was inhabited from the seventh century BC and is Spain's oldest known Iberian settlement. The area has been carefully excavated to reveal the remains of homes, water reservoirs and canals.
Les Salines, on the Passeig de Molinet quayside, is renowned for the quality of its seafood, taking fresh fish from its own nursery which is connected directly to the sea via underground channels. La Gaviota, on the Passeig Maritim seafront promenade, is another popular restaurant where the exotic seafood dishes turbot with truffles and anglerfish with sea urchin sauce.
A little way south of the resort, on the beachfront at the mouth of the River Ter, there's a famous local restaurant called Picasso, which specialises in baby fresh water eels.
And talking of famous Spanish painters, art lovers will appreciate a visit to the Salvador Dali museum at Figueres, 50 kilometres north west of Estartit.
The kids will love a day out at Water World, Europe's biggest water park near Lloret de Mar. Marine World, just south of Blanes 70 kilometres down the coast, is another good family day out with a range of attractions including dolphin and sea lion shows.
