Costa Brava · Girona

Cadaqués

The only village on the Costa Brava you reach by a road that dead-ends at the sea: white houses over the bay, slate-paved streets and the light that captivated Dalí for decades. Here's our plan to make the most of it without rushing.

What you'll find here

25 guides written by us, with every fact checked one by one. Day-by-day itineraries for however long you're staying. And, if you're staying over, our houses in the area.

The place
Cadaqués — The bay from above
The bay from above
Cadaqués — Cap de Creus
Cap de Creus
Cadaqués — White houses over the water
White houses over the water
Cadaqués — Dusk over the bay
Dusk over the bay
Cadaqués — Santa Maria
Santa Maria
Right now

What's worth knowing right now

The encyclopedia

Everything we've learned about Cadaqués

01

Havaneres and Rom Cremat: Cuban Songs Sung by Catalan Fishermen

The tradition of havaneres and rom cremat in Cadaqués and the Costa Brava: their Cuban origin, how they arrived with the indianos, and what goes into rom cremat.

02

The Casa Blaua: The House an Indiano Built with Money from Cuba

The story of the Casa Blaua (Casa Serinyana), the Modernista house an indiano built in Cadaqués with the money he made in Cuba.

03

The Cadaqués Altarpiece: 23 Metres of Gilded Wood and Sixty Years of Work

The main altarpiece of Santa Maria de Cadaqués, the work of Joan Torras and Pau Costa between 1723 and 1729: 23 metres tall, the War of the Spanish Succession, and gilding that wasn't finished until 1788.

04

The Rastell: Why Cadaqués's Streets Are Paved on Their Edge

The streets of Cadaqués: the rastell, slate laid on its edge in a herringbone pattern (opus spicatum) to prevent slipping and drain rainwater, and why the houses are white.

05

The Cementless Walls of Cap de Creus: Thousands of Hours of Hand Labour

The pedra seca of Cadaqués and Cap de Creus: the cultivation terraces, the phylloxera, and the 1956 frosts that wiped out vines and olives, and why this technique is a UNESCO heritage.

06

Lídia de Cadaqués: The Fishmonger Who Carried a Book in Her Fish Basket

Lídia Noguer (1866-1946), Lídia de Cadaqués: fishmonger and innkeeper, friend of Dalí and Lorca, and the woman who believed for thirty years she was Eugeni d'Ors's Ben Plantada.

07

The Cadaqués Gallery That Brought Duchamp and Hockney from a Former Anchovy Factory

In 1973 an Italian-Swiss architect cleared out an abandoned anchovy factory in Cadaqués to make room for art. Half a century later, Galeria Cadaqués – Huc Malla is still the village's most important gallery.

08

Pastisseria Quer: 147 Years Baking in the Same Cadaqués Oven

On Avinguda Caritat Serinyana, the Quer family has run the same bakery since 1879: five generations, a Civil War along the way, and a brioche brought back from France.

09

Open Workshops and Shops with a Name in Cadaqués

Jeweller Gemma Ridameya, the Taller de Tabakov, artist studios open to the public, and the shops of always: the Cadaqués you buy unhurried.

10

Tables with a Surname: Eating in the Cadaqués of Always

Casa Anita, Es Baluard, El Marítim, Boia Nit, Es Grec: the historic restaurants and bars of Cadaqués, their families, and the stories behind them.

11

The Cadaqués Fish Market: The Village That Wakes Before You Do

The daily fish auction each morning at the Cadaqués harbour, the artisan anchovies of Quimeta and Eva, and where that fish ends up at lunchtime.

12

Compartir: Three El Bulli Chefs Put Down Roots in Cadaqués

The story of Compartir, the restaurant opened in Cadaqués in 2012 by Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch, and Mateu Casañas, head chefs at El Bulli.

13

The Anchovy Factory Where Duchamp Exhibited: Galeria Cadaqués

How Lanfranco Bombelli turned a Cadaqués anchovy factory into the gallery that first brought Duchamp, Beuys, Hockney, and Jasper Johns to Spain.

14

Pastisseria Quer: Five Generations Behind the Same Counter

The story of Pastisseria Quer in Cadaqués: founded in 1879, five generations of the same family, and a bakery that survived even the Civil War.

15

Two Days in Cadaqués: What to See

A 2-day guide to Cadaqués and Cap de Creus: the old town and Santa Maria, Dalí's house in Portlligat, coves, fresh fish, and the shuttle bus to the lighthouse.

16

The Best Coves of Cap de Creus

A verified 2026 guide to the coves of Cap de Creus: Jugadora, Fredosa, Guillola, s'Alqueria and Sa Conca, with the lighthouse shuttle and swimming tips.

17

Cadaqués Off-Season

Autumn and winter are Cadaqués at its best: the painters' light, the tramontana wind, and a village that's lived in again instead of just photographed.

18

Dalí in Cadaqués: Portlligat and the Genius's Route

A guide to Dalí in Cadaqués and Portlligat: the House-Museum with compulsory booking, the avant-garde circle that visited him, and the Cap de Creus rocks that inspired his work.

19

How to Get to Cadaqués from Barcelona and Girona

How to get to Cadaqués from Barcelona and Girona in 2026: by car via the AP-7 and the winding GI-614, Moventis Sarfa bus, train via Figueres, and where to park.

20

Where to Park in Cadaqués and Get Around Without a Car

How to park in Cadaqués in summer 2026: the Saba car park at the entrance, the free riera except Mondays, the car-free centre, and the shuttle to Cap de Creus.

21

Cadaqués with Kids: A Family Plan

Cadaqués with kids: easy-access coves, Dalí's house in Portlligat, gentle kayaking in the bay, and where to eat with little ones, at an unhurried pace.

22

Cadaqués in a Day: The Express Route

Cadaqués in 24 hours: the old town and Santa Maria, Dalí's house in Portlligat, a swim, sunset at Cap de Creus, and a seafood dinner. Express 2026 route.

23

The Best Day Trips from Cadaqués

A 2026 guide to the best day trips from Cadaqués: Portlligat on foot, Cap de Creus, Sant Pere de Rodes, the Roses citadel, and Dalí's Figueres.

24

The Northern Costa Brava: Postcard Villages and Coves

From Roses to Portbou: a guide to the northern Costa Brava, with the coves of Cap de Creus, Cadaqués, Port de la Selva, and Llançà. Day routes and real advice.

25

How to Reach the Cap de Creus Lighthouse When the Road Is Closed

Car access to the Cap de Creus lighthouse is restricted in season. How the shuttle from Cadaqués works, what it costs, and how to walk up instead.

Whatever time you have

How many days are you coming for?

2days · see the itinerary → 3days · see the itinerary → 4days · see the itinerary →
Before you come

Frequently asked questions about Cadaqués

How do you get to Cadaqués?

By road only: a winding route over the Pení mountains that ends right in the village. There's no train and no direct motorway access.

Can you drive up to the Cap de Creus lighthouse in summer?

Not between roughly 20 June and 31 August: you have to park at Corral d'en Morell and take the shuttle bus up (about €7 return).

Do you need to book the Salvador Dalí House-Museum in advance?

Yes, it's mandatory: capacity is limited and visitors enter in small groups on timed slots.

When is the Festa Major in Cadaqués?

In early September, with fire runs, sardana dancing and giant figures.

When you arrive

Where to stay in Cadaqués

Book direct, no commission, and we're on hand for anything you need.

Cadaqués · Girona · Costa Brava

Rincón tranquilo junto al Mediterráneo en Cadaqués

Cadaqués · Girona · Costa Brava

Stunning & Stylish Apartment in Cadaqués

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