Cooler temperatures and plenty of inexpensive flights make the off-season a great time to explore regions close to Ibiza. We asked Lina ter Hennepe, the founder of Costa Brava Hotspots, to write us an exclusive guide to the Catalan coast; home to&nbsp;picturesque villages, wild bays, vineyards and museums. From&nbsp; Cadaqu&eacute;s to Barcelona, Lina shows us where to eat stay, eat, drink, swim and walk.

Where to stay in the Costa Brava
Fascinated by the Mediterranean? Unpack your bags at this superb hotel. Alta House Begur is much more than a hotel. It is an oasis of peace and is located in the picturesque town Begur. This hotel is beautiful and you will get decoration inspiration if you like the Mediterranean interior style. Discover <a href="https://www.altahousehotel.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alta House Begur</a>, where even the smallest detail has been taken care of. It is a true oasis with a garden and swimming pool and has a gorgeous terrace where you can enjoy sunsets and views over the Medes Islands and the Bay of Pals. This hotel has everything a holiday heart desires. They've aimed to create a home-from-home and they've really nailed it. It is the place to disconnect while enjoying a unique experience. Once you have put down your suitcases in Alta House Begur, get ready to hit the road because it is the place to start your journey.
If you&rsquo;re more a fan of slow traveling, we suggest the beautiful holiday homes of <a href="https://lovelyhousesdiana.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lovely Houses Diana</a>. Located between the countryside and the sea, this place offers you the opportunity to discover Costa Brava and return to a peaceful atmosphere, nature and serenity.&nbsp;

Explore the coastal towns of Baix Empord&agrave;
I recommend you to explore the coastal towns of Baix Empord&agrave; such as Llafranc, Calella de Palafrugell and Begur. One of the best things about Begur is their walking path along the coast, called Cam&iacute; de Ronda. The coastal path is about 20 km long, but it is divided into 4 interrupted parts. My favorite part is the route from El Golfet to Calella de Palafrugell and Llafranc. Take your swimming gear with you and enjoy the crystal blue water from El Golfet. We suggest going early to avoid the heat and crowds and enjoy a peaceful moment. End up in the coastal town Calella de Palafrugell as it is truly a magical place with its picturesque houses. I always love visiting El Far de Sant Sebasti&agrave;&nbsp;because the views are just incredible. Enjoy a delicious lunch at the famous <a href="https://gruponomo.com/en/restaurante/far-nomo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">restaurant</a><a href="https://gruponomo.com/en/restaurante/far-nomo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Far Nomo</a>. A place where fine dining and beautiful interior design come together. Try to have lunch or dinner on the terrace side, it feels like you're in a fairytale surrounded by trees, flowers and evening lights.&nbsp;

Wander around in Begur
I suggest you have an evening walk in the town Begur. This town is known for its South American influences and has lots of buildings that remind you of Cuba. While you&rsquo;re here, you don&rsquo;t want to miss out on restaurant <a href="https://www.instagram.com/clarabegur/">Clara</a>. It is situated in the centre of Begur and is a place where you arrive as strangers and leave as friends. The variety of the food is great for those who want to taste lots of different dishes, from traditional tapas like croquettes and tortilla de bacalao to fancy tapas like the oysters in ponzu sauce. It's all a delight.

Clara Restaurant

Get lost in the medieval towns of Baix Empord&agrave;
One thing I love about Costa Brava is that it has magical coastal towns, but if you drive a bit inland, you&rsquo;ll get to experience beautiful medieval towns. The best way to visit is by driving around the area at your own pace and stopping anywhere that attracts your attention. I suggest two of the prettiest towns and villages of the Costa Brava, although the list could be much longer. Monells is definitely a must-see town where cars are not allowed. It&rsquo;s a small and quiet cobbled village surrounded by stone farmhouses and you can enjoy a drink on the square. Afterwards, I suggest driving to <a href="https://www.hotelelpati.net" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Peratallada</a>. The locals love to eat out, which is apparent from the considerable number of restaurants where you can take a seat in this town. My recommendation is restaurant El Pati since it has a beautiful patio that you have to see!&nbsp;
After your visit to Peratallada, it&rsquo;s lovely to step by the beautiful hidden olive grove from Can Solivera. It&rsquo;s an estate with olive groves around a thousand-year old farm, where quality olive oil is made. This family-run business welcomes you and loves to explain all the history about their property, the production and the usage of their olive oil during a guided tour. It's fun and very informative since you&rsquo;ll learn about the process and enjoy a little tasting.&nbsp;

Explore the highlights of Alt Empord&agrave;
Now that you've explored the beautiful Baix Empord&agrave; region, we suggest you discover the Alt Empord&agrave;&rsquo; I personally love walking around L&rsquo;Escala and stopping by every small beach this coastal town has. But this place is mostly known for its beautiful restaurant <a href="https://ultramarclub.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ultramar</a>. This bar and restaurant has won a place in the heart of many visitors to L&rsquo;Escala, many of whom return again for another round of the best cocktails accompanied by great music. Functioning as a cocktail bar, restaurant, and jazz club, Ultramar is the best place to enjoy your evening in L&rsquo;Escala. They also have a chiringuito located in Pals. It's a beach bar with fresh products, cocktails, natural juices, an area with sunbeds, chill-out and DJ sessions. Almost nothing beats enjoying delicious food on the beach as you watch the waves and enjoy the sunshine.&nbsp;&nbsp;

L’Escala  Ultramar

Discover the Catalan culture through wine
For all my fellow wine lovers, the best way to learn about Catalan wine making is through a guided tour and wine tasting afterwards. Our favorite wine estate is Terra Remota. Nestled in the heart of Empord&agrave; in the wild North of Costa Brava, <a href="https://www.terraremota.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Terra Remota</a> translates the concept of Agriturismo to the world of wines. And while you&rsquo;re here, definitely include the picnic. They fill a picnic basket with a bottle of wine and different local products (ham, cheese, fuet sausage, pat&eacute;, bread, tomato, oil, fruit and coffee) and you enjoy them in the middle of the vineyards.

Discover the rich artistic heritage in Cadaqu&eacute;s
One of the most impressive towns of the Costa Brava is definitely Cadaqu&eacute;s. Even though it&rsquo;s crowded in summer, you&rsquo;ll notice how peaceful it is. With every breathtaking corner and the beautiful shimmering on the Mediterranean sea, you&rsquo;ll understand what pulled artists such as Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp and the infamous Dal&iacute; to it! This place has everything you wish for to enjoy a perfect summer. Great beaches, coastal hikes and of course Dal&iacute;'s house close to it. Located in Portlligat, you can visit the museum-house of painter Salvador Dal&iacute;. The painter lived and worked here from 1930 to 1982. As you enter the first part of the house, you arrive in the cottage that Salvador bought first and made into a simple studio and home. Several different areas are to be found in the house: the part in which the private lives of the couple took place, the ground floor, the study, some rooms with lots of objects connected with his artists&rsquo; activity; and the outdoor areas. Visit this place to learn a bit more about his personal life.

Last but not least, drive to Cap de Creus. It is a cape near Cadaqu&eacute;s that is best known as the source of inspiration for Dal&iacute;. Our favorite restaurant is on top of the nature reserve which is called <a href="https://restaurantcapdecreus.com/?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Restaurant Cap de Creus</a>. Here you have a fantastic view and you can enjoy delicious food. It is a long drive through the mountains, but the view makes up for it.&nbsp;
Want to know more about the best hotspots in Costa Brava? Check Lina's <a href="http://www.costabravahotspots.nl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a> and <a href="http://www.instagram.com/costabravahotspots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">socials</a> for more inspiration.

L'OFFICIEL IBIZA'S off-season travel guides: Explore the Costa Brava like a local

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