Blanes, Spain - Gateway to Costa Brava

Our fully furnished holiday apartments are in the attractive, old-town centre of Blanes, Spain - yet less than 100 metres from the beach! These inexpensive, self-catered apartments can be rented year-round by the week at attractive rates.

While popular with Spanish and international holidaymakers, Blanes is more relaxing than its touristy neighbors to the north, Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar. The resort's 4 kilometers of wide, golden-sanded beaches are popular, yet not overcrowded. Going topless is permitted and on the smaller, more private beaches, some even go beyond that. There also is an official nude beach, though it is some distance from the town.

Blanes offers miles of easy-to-reach clean, sandy beaches as well as beautiful coves nestled among the magnificent rock formations characteristic of the Costa Brava.
[See this Guide to the Beaches of Blanes].

All of Blanes' beaches are top-rated, and Blanes consistently has a top-rating for the quality of its seawater. Swimmers, watersporters and deepsea divers rave about the clean water.

Though the beach front has over the past few decades been tranformed by high-rise buildings, the downtown area - found just a block from the beach - still reflects Blanes' origins as a fishing village and ship-building center. It features characteristic buildings, shops, restaurants and tapas cafes.

To-date, Blanes still derives much of its income from its fish auction. If it's fresh sea-food you like, you'll enjoy watching the local fishing fleet return to harbor, seeing the fish auctioned, and eating the catch of the day at one of the harbor-front restaurants.

Speaking about food, from early in the morning untill late at night you can dine at one of the many eateries and restaurants that line Blanes' beach-front promenade. Lined with palm trees and benches, this is a great place relax and gaze out over the ocean. At night you'll find the locals doing just that. Or you might find them dancing the traditional Sardana to the tunes of live music.

On Monday mornings, this boulevard is transformed into the district's largest outdoor general goods and clothes market - a great place to find souvenirs and bargains. Keep an eye out for specialty markets near the end of the promenade closests to the port. It features the work of local artisans, baked goods, meats, souvenirs and/or fashion items.

By the way, Blanes' vibrant shopping district - just steps outside our apartments - offers a wide variety of restaurants with both local and international dishes. And just around the corner from our holiday apartments you'll find not only a well-stocked supermarket, but also a daily Fresh Fruit and Vegetables market, along with several bakeries.

By the way, the town's nightclubs and discos are tucked away in the tourist district, where you also find traditional hotels.

Blanes' botanical gardens are considered to be among Europe's best. Besides its marvelous collection of plants, trees, flowers and cacti from around the world, the park - situated on San Juan Hill - provides you with gorgeous, unforgettable views of the Mediterranean sea as well as the fabulous coastline the Costa Brava ("Wild Coast") is known for.

• More about Blanes: things to see, things to do, where to eat, where to shop, and much more

Our fully furnished holiday apartments are located in the attractive, old-town centre of Blanes, Spain - yet less than 100 metres from the beach! These inexpensive, self-catered apartments can be rented year-round by the week. Take a look inside the apartments, and reserve yours as soon as possible.

A word from Marcel and Irene: Greetings! We live in Blanes ourselves, enjoying its relaxed atmosphere and the gentle, mild climate the Costa Brava is known for. Therefore we know that if you are looking for self catering holiday apartments in Spain, Blanes - the gateway to the Costa Brava - is the ideal place. These fully furnished vacation apartments in old-town Blanes are located less than 100 metres from the beach. By the way, all photos on this website were shot in and around Blanes.

Blanes-Spain.co.uk provides tourist information about Blanes, Spain - the Gateway to the Costa Brava. The look, 'feel', and original content of this site are © copyrighted by Marcel and Irene Smit. You are welcome to link to this site.

• See also: VisitBlanes.com