Cadaqués

Cadaqués sits on the far North-East of Spain, in Catalonia. It is right on the edge of the Cap de Creus Peninsula, where the Pyrenees mountains meet the sea, just south of the French border.

Cadaqués on the wind-swept Cap de Creus Peninsula is one of those postcard towns with whitewashed houses and colorful fishing boats. It has long been the enclave of painters, writers and other assorted creative folk. In its hey-day it was the playground of creative legends like Dalí and his wife Gala, Luis Buñuel, Pablo Picasso, Andre Breton, Man Ray and Paul Eluard, but the years of tourism have slightly tainted the authenticity of its charm. The surrounding landscape, marked by unusual rock formations and sheer cliffs shaped over millenniums by the relentless Tramuntana wind, is bound to impress hiking enthusiasts and nature lovers.

But even at times like these, there is nothing more exhilarating than standing at The Cap de Creus and watching, like Dalí once did, monster waves crashing against the cliffs, while gannets, gulls and shear-waters dive and soar on the fierce winds. Cadaqués remains a favorite spot for artists and is popular with week-enders from Barcelona and visitors from farther afield.

The town has been developed carefully over the years and retains its charm. Most who discover it return for seconds. Around the corner from Cadaqués is Port Lligat, Dalí’s home, and these days, a fascinating homage to the man and Gala: his lifelong love. Make sure you wander around the bay from Cadaqués to Port Lligat during your stay. If there is one thing that will blow away the cobwebs, it´s this.

Salvador Dalí once said in 1920: “I have spent a delightful summer, as always, in the perfect and dreamy town of Cadaqués. There, alongside the Latin sea, I have been quenched by light and colour”.

http://www.visitcadaques.org/

How to get there

The best way to visit the towns along the Costa Brava is by bus. Sarfa buses depart from Estació de Nord or Ronda Sant Pere 21 and connect Barcelona with many destinations along the coast. You can purchase tickets online or at the Sarfa offices. http://www.sarfa.com/

By bus:

2’00h trip. M-F: 11:30am, 8:30pm; Sat and Sun: 9:45am, 8:30pm.

By train

Take the train to Figueres and then take a bus to Cadaqués (a 1’00h trip). To Figueres, Regional or Catalunya Express from Sants Estació. Trains run every 30 minutes.

http://www.renfe.es/

http://www.sarfa.com/

By car

Exit highway AP-7 at junction 4 (Figueres- Roses) or at junction 3 (from France), take the C-260 and head for Roses Before you get to Roses, follow directions to Cadaqués and take the GI-614 road to Cadaqués. It will take approximately 45 minutes.