How to visit the Costa Brava in a motorhome or converted van? Find out in this dedicated article!
Short of ideas for your touring vacation? Visit the Costa Brava by motorhome! Named after the Catalan coast on the Mediterranean Sea, the Costa Brava is one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations. The Costa Brava coastline stretches from Portbou to Blanes, along a jagged coastline dotted with countless coves.
You’ll wind your way along Catalan roads to admire exceptional landscapes, cliffs plunging into a turquoise sea. But also vast sandy beaches and towns with a rich historical and cultural heritage. Visiting the Costa Brava by motorhome is a great way to explore Catalonia’s unmissable treasures. This itinerant trip will give you plenty of freedom of movement, and with good reason: you’ll be able to go wherever you please (or almost wherever you please)!
Off to Spain soon? Here’s our mini-guide to visiting the Costa Brava by motorhome or converted van.
Costa Brava itinerary ideas by motorhome
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Ekaterina Polischuk
Whether you’re looking for a nature getaway, a sporting vacation or a road-trip to take your best photos, the Costa Brava is a must-see in Spain.
The Catalan coast is famous for its seaside resorts, lively nightlife, coastline and bathing beaches. The most emblematic towns are Cadaqués, Rosas, Empuriabrava, Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar. The Costa Brava stretches 250 kilometers from north to south. On a long stay, you’ll be able to visit many more of Catalonia’s must-see towns, sites and monuments.
Here are a few ideas for itineraries when visiting the Costa Brava by motorhome.
- The Costa Brava in one week: El Port de la Selva, Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery, Cadaqués, Cap de Creus lighthouse, Rosas, Mas Estela vineyards, Empuriabrava, L’Escala, L’Estartit, Montgrí Castle, Girona;
- Visit the Costa Brava in a motorhome over 15 days: same stages, plus Pals, the Begur massif and the beaches of Sa Riera in Tamariu, Palamós, Platja d’Aro, S’Agaró, Sant Feliu de Guíxols ;
- Visit the Costa Brava in 30 days: same itinerary, plus Sant Sebastià lighthouse, Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar, Blanes.
These stages are just an idea of what you can visit along the Catalan coast and the surrounding area. After all, you’ll need to adapt your itinerary according to what you want to do: a sporting vacation, a relaxing family break, seeing the beaches, partying, on a budget, etc.
Finally, with a motorhome, you’ll save money on your accommodation budget!
Rent a motorhome for the Costa Brava
Driving a motorhome on the Costa Brava: traffic rules you need to know
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Valery Bareta
If most of the rules of the French highway code are similar in Spain, beware when visiting the Costa Brava in a camper van or van. Drive at a steady pace on small, medium mountain roads.
Speed limits along the Costa Brava are 120 km/h on freeways, 100 km/h on dual carriageways. On dual carriageways, the speed limit is 80 km/h, sometimes 90 km/h. In built-up areas, the limits are 20 to 30 km/h (residential areas) and 50 km/h.
Finally, make sure you have all the papers authorizing you to drive (driving license, registration certificate, vehicle insurance card).
Freeway tolls on the Costa Brava: what price for your category of motorhome?
Photo credit: Shutterstock – funkyfrogstock
We’ve got good news for you: there are very few freeway tolls in Spain. As far as the Costa Brava is concerned, the region is crossed by the AP-7, A-2, C-35, C-31 and C-32 freeways. These have the advantage of all being free of charge.
The AP-7 concession was not renewed by the Spanish government. As a result, it has been free of charge since January 2020. Visiting the Costa Brava in a motorhome or van won’t cost you a penny in tolls.
How and where to rent a motorhome in France?
Today, it’s possible to travel by motorhome, even if you don’t own one. In fact, it’s now easy to rent these vehicles between private individuals. Numerous online platforms, such as Yescapa, enable this type of rental.
How does it work?
- First, you need to choose the motorhome in your city (e.g. Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Paris, Montpellier or Marseille).
- Make sure you choose unlimited mileage, check the number of berths available and whether international travel is possible.
- Make your rental request online and share your travel information (dates, rental options, mileage, etc.) with the owner.
- If your request is accepted and after payment, you will have access to the owner’s contact details to arrange a first meeting.
- On the day, present your driver’s license and pay the deposit.
- An inventory of fixtures is drawn up and a rental contract signed by both parties. Once you’re back from Spain, sign the return inventory and you’re ready to go!
How and where to rent a motorhome for the Costa Brava?
Photo credit: Shutterstock / kavalenkava
There are several ways to rent a motorhome on the Costa Brava. First of all, you can rent a motorhome on site. However, this is a risky option, given how busy the region is. Therefore, if you want to rent on site, booking online is a more prudent decision.
Another option is to depart from France with the rented vehicle. This avoids the language barrier, whether in conversation or on the contract. On the other hand, fuel costs will be higher.
Rent a motorhome for the Costa Brava
RV parks on the Costa Brava: where to park?
Photo credit: Caramaps
Parking on the Costa Brava
As in France, Spanish law allows motorhomes to be parked on any of the regular sites designated for this purpose. But the Catalan coast is a very touristy area, especially in summer. And you’ll find very few white-line spaces in the coastal resorts.
During the summer months, it’s very difficult to find a parking space in a city. It is therefore advisable to book a parking space online in advance when you arrive to visit a town. This is particularly the case for Blanes, Cadaqués, Platja d’Aro or Lloret de Mar, where parking can also be expensive.
Sleeping in a motorhome on the Costa Brava
The tourist-rich Costa Brava is home to numerous campsites and service areas for motorhomes. These will be your only alternative for campervans. Officially, it is strictly forbidden to spend the night in public spaces in Catalonia.
Normally, it’s possible to find spots far from settlements, safe from Guardia Civil patrols. On the Costa Brava, however, this will be complicated by the urbanization of the coastline. The Campercontact website, for example, lists 351 motorhome service areas in Catalonia. These are often chargeable, but they guarantee a quiet, legal night’s sleep.
Looking for a spot in the wilderness to sleep? That’s possible. However, you’d be much more discreet in a van. You can use the Park4night application to avoid spending long hours looking for a quiet spot. The tool lists parking lots, campsites and motorhome service areas where you can park.
If you want to bivouac free of charge or in the wild, you should also avoid protected natural areas. Make sure you always leave clean, as you found them.
When is the best time to travel in a motorhome on the Costa Brava?
Photo credit: Shutterstock – RFarrarons
The best time to visit the Costa Brava by motorhome is from late spring to early autumn.
The climate of the Costa Brava is Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. To the north of the Costa Brava, winters are quite cold due to the proximity of the Pyrenees. Spring and autumn are cool and wet.
In summer, rain is rare and temperatures fluctuate between 27°C and 30°C. In July and August, temperatures often exceed 30°C, although the sea moderates heatwaves. Sea temperatures peak at 25°C in August in Blanes, for example. The average temperature in July and September is 23°C.
Summer is a busy tourist season. So if you want to visit the Costa Brava by motorhome in peace and quiet, leave in June or September if you can!