MALGRAT de MAR
Area: Costa Brava
Country: Spain


Location:
At the S end of the Costa Brava (or, more correctly here, the Costa Maresme), 8 miles SW of Lloret de Mar, 39 miles NE of Barcelona, 32 miles S of Gerona, 28 miles S of its airport.

Telephone code from UK:
34

Website:
http://www.ajmalgrat.es

Position:
On fertile flat land about a mile wide between the sea and a ridge of steep, wooded hills.

Description:
A small farming town with an old centre that features the church, a small square and the town hall, next to which is a daily vegetable market. One long tentacle of charmless resort buildings has spread SW along the beach, between the railway and the main road. The sea front extends » mile from the edge of the town itself and merges with the village of Santa Susanna.

Suitability:
A fairly lively resort, specialising in good-value holidays. The railway is a big drawback for families with young children, as it is protected only by a low balustrade.

Accommodation:
Mainly 2- and 3-star hotels and apartments, many of them old buildings that have been renovated.

Shopping:
Plenty of boutiques in the town especially for clothes, and the usual beach equipment and tourist souvenirs on the sea front. Some local handiwork and crafts too, in the town: part of a general drive to raise standards.

Beach:
Long stretch of coarse sand punctuated with small rocky outcrops, between which there are narrow, shelving bays. Pedestrian subways at long intervals allow access under the railway to the beach.

Entertainments:
Daytime: mainly limited to simple beach activities; tennis, quad-bike hire. Better choice at Calella (4» mls). Nightlife: plenty of bars and half a dozen discos spread along the sea front. Not a resort for intensive nightlife.

Eating:
Not much variety on the sea front: mostly fast food and low-cost international cuisine. A better chance in the town of finding good local restaurants serving fresh fish and simple Catalan cooking.

Public-transport:
Regular bus service runs the length of the sea front as well as a minitrain every 20 minutes. Barcelona and neighbouring resorts are easily accessible by using the railway, with trains running every 30 minutes. Popular boat service operates six times a day up to Tossa and down to Calella.

Local-excursions:
Historical tours around the old town and inland to the castle at Palafolls. See also Lloret de Mar.