Costa Brava isn't a region we considered visiting before, but rather one we stumbled across because of how affordable the flights were! Once we started doing our research we were more and more drawn to the region and ended up with a mile long list of things we wanted to do and places we wanted to see. We didn't squeeze everything into this trip, but that just gives us more motivation to visit again in the future. If you're considering visiting this area of Spain for a short or long trip, here are my top five reasons why you should definitely head there immediately!
I'm always a fan of castles and the ones in Costa Brava don't disappoint; often perched on the edge of the sea they look straight out of a fairy tale. The above castle can be found in Lloret de Mar, easily viewed from the large boardwalk along the beach. There's a path you can take along the cliff-edge below the castle and beyond with amazing views out to sea and back to the seaside town. Quieter, is the castle in Tossa de Mar, similarly positioned along the edge of the water, but with few crowds and an equally stunning walk and look-out points. Also in the region there's Montgri Castle, Montjuic Castle, Requessens Castle, Peralada Castle--the list goes on. You could basically do a whole castle tour of this region and they'd all be spectacular.
Between hidden coves alongside 13th century fortress walls and scenic stretches with towering rocks, the beaches of Costa Brava with their turquoise waters aren't to be missed. There's loads to be found and some of the best ones will just be stumbled across when exploring elsewhere, like the one we spotted from some gardens in Lloret de Mar and wandered down to. The beaches are pristine and bright--although it's worth noting some of the ones we visited were made of tiny pebbles instead of sand, so waterproof shoes would be smart to pack if you have sensitive feet, along with your sunscreen!
We only visited one garden during our brief trip to Spain, the Santa Clotilde Gardens, but with Renaissance inspired design and amazing views of the water, it just made us want to explore more. The landscaping here is thoughtfully designed to create harmony between the garden, sea, and sky. My favorite part of the garden were the gorgeous sea nymph sculptures, each with their own unique personality and details. Even wandering in the Old Quarter of Girona we stumbled into a mix of ruins and gardens where someone was playing the violin and in Tossa de Mar there were fruit-laden orange trees growing in some of the squares--the abundance of greenery so early in the year and tropical foliage made it feel like we had stumbled into the Garden of Eden!
Foodies will also find a lot to enjoy in the Costa Brava region, from Michelin Star restaurants in Girona (El Cellar de Can Roca has the most hype) to the highly recommended Rocambolesc Gelateria to quiet patisseries selling traditional meringues, there's a little something for everyone. We really enjoyed quiet meals with views of the water and random baked goods enjoyed while wandering through the streets  on our holiday. I'm not the biggest foodie in the world so we don't usually research restaurants in advance, but everything we ate in Costa Brava was fresh and yummy! It's always smart to avoid the biggest tourist-y areas when choosing a restaurant and looking to see where the locals eat. 
While it's always wise to walk about with a guide book in hand so you know where you are wandering and seeing, don't let a guidebook dictate your journey through the Old Quarter of Girona. Instead let curiosity guide you down twisting alleyways, up fortress towers, into ancient cathedrals and along the old walls. Stumble across quaint little shops and bakeries begging to be explored. It's a gorgeous area to explore and Girona city is only a short bus ride from the airport, making this stop a perfectly place to kick off your adventures in Costa Brava. 

Our day trip to Lloret de Mar didn't go as smoothly as one could hope, we got turned around with the buses and lost a bit of time wandering aimlessly, but then we finally hit our stride and made it to the Santa Clotilde Gardens. An oasis of calm and beauty, our day turned completely around as we strolled through the green-lined paths admiring the statues and orange trees. The whole garden is landscaped on a cliff with the views of the sea considered throughout the layout and referenced in the graceful nereid statues. We spied a gorgeous beach from the gardens and after getting directions from the front desk, we set that as our next destination and tripped down to the shore. The majestic stone formations and crashing waves made for a picturesque setting, so we decided to take a few pictures at the secluded far end of the beach...only to learn as a naked man came out from behind the rocks that it was a nudist beach! He was laughing at us and our camera, so he didn't seem to mind being inadvertently papped! Still we quickly finished our little shoot and moved to the more populated end of the beach (where there were other fully dressed people) and sat watching the waves come in for a bit.

We were only in the Costa Brava region of Spain for a few days, so while I'm still sharing pictures from our sun-filled long weekend along the coast, I am well and truly back home in grey Northern Ireland. We packed so much into our time in Spain that the trip ended up feeling like much longer than one weekend--I half expected to come back to Ireland and find it warm and blooming! Spring had arrived in Costa Brava, already the wisteria was in full bloom and the temperatures were mild enough that tights and coats weren't a necessity. Living out of a suitcase always has its limitations, but I do love holiday outfits. Do you think your style changes when you travel? I think mine is pretty consistent, but vacations to warmer climes always call for the most relaxed version of your style. Prim ballet flats were traded for espadrilles, dresses took on a decidedly bohemian feel in warmer, summery tones, and a basket bag seemed more fitting to the scene than my more structured purses. As I said in my last post, as soon as I arrived in Tossa de Mar I felt at ease and completely charmed by the quiet alleyways and scenic beaches. Today's pictures were snapped in some of those cobblestone streets dotted with interesting doors, tropical plants, and terracotta roofs.