Lloret de Mar or Tossa de Mar: Which Should You Choose for Your Holiday
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If you're torn between Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar for your Costa Brava holiday, this guide will save you hours of trawling through conflicting opinions. The two towns are just 11 kilometres apart and share the same landscape, but the atmosphere is very different. Here we compare both with honesty: beaches, vibe, prices, food and which type of traveller suits each one best.
In this guide
Quick summary: which one fits you
Lloret de Mar is the best-connected tourist town on the Costa Brava: three large beaches, nightlife, restaurants to suit every taste and countless daily boat or bus excursions. It's the perfect base for anyone wanting to explore the region without hiring a car. Tossa de Mar, on the other hand, is more intimate, with a bay enclosed by a medieval wall and an unspoilt old town. Ideal for couples, families with young children and travellers who prioritise charm over entertainment. If you're still undecided, keep reading: in each section you'll see which one comes out on top.
The beaches: sand, coves and amenities
Lloret's main beach stretches 1.6 km with golden sand, a wide promenade, sun loungers, toilets and lifeguards. A short walk away you'll find Fenals (quieter and more family-friendly) and Sa Boadella cove, semi-nudist and surrounded by pine trees. Lloret's big advantage is choice: sunbeds, water sports, paddleboarding, kayaking and boat trips to Cap de Sant Sebastià.
Tossa's main beach is smaller (380 m) and framed by the silhouette of the Vila Vella, the only surviving medieval walled town on the Catalan coast. That view, with the walls standing out against the sea, is arguably the most photographed on the coastline. Right next to the main beach is Mar Menuda, perfect for snorkelling and diving thanks to its rocky seabed. If you're after hidden coves, both towns have access to the Camí de Ronda, the historic coastal path that links one cove to the next.
Vibe: lively versus laid-back
Lloret has a reputation as a party destination, and that's partly true: in July and August, the area around Avinguda Just Marlès is packed with clubs and bars open until dawn. But that image only tells part of the story. The residential neighbourhoods of Fenals, Santa Cristina and the upper part of Turó are quiet, frequented by Catalan families who have been summering there for decades. If you choose the right area, Lloret can be just as peaceful as any other Costa Brava town.
Tossa, by contrast, has hardly any intense nightlife: it shuts down early, comes alive with evening strollers and thrives on quality tourism. Boutique hotels and charming apartments dominate the centre, and almost nobody goes to Tossa looking for a party. It's a matter of character: do you want to choose from 200 restaurants and excursions every night, or would you rather dine on a terrace with views of the illuminated walls?
Old town and heritage
Here Tossa wins hands down. The Vila Vella of Tossa de Mar is a Cultural Asset of National Interest and preserves its 12th-century walls, towers and houses. Climbing the steps to the lighthouse at sunset, with golden light bathing the stonework, is one of those moments that makes the trip worthwhile. Inside you'll find a small Municipal Museum housing an original Roman mosaic and works donated by Marc Chagall, who summered here in the 1930s and called it "the blue paradise".
Lloret is no slouch either, but its heritage is more spread out: the Church of Sant Romà (16th century with Modernist domes added in 1916), the Santa Clotilde Gardens (a Noucentista garden perched above the sea) and the Castle of Sant Joan atop the headland. If you enjoy walking, Lloret has more kilometres of coastal trails than Tossa.
Food: seafood, suquet and vermouth
You'll eat well in both towns if you know where to look. Avoid the beachfront kiosks with menus translated into eight languages and "fish and chips" signs — they're rarely genuine Catalan cooking. In Tossa, seek out restaurants in the old town streets (Sant Telm, Portal, Roqueta) where they serve cim i tomba, a typical local fisherman's stew with monkfish, grouper and potato. In Lloret, the best tables are in the Sa Caleta neighbourhood and around the church: arròs a la cassola, suquet de peix, black fideuà. Always order the dish of the day and leave the tourist menu aside.
One Catalan tradition not to miss: midday vermouth. At 1 pm, before lunch, locals gather in neighbourhood bars for a vermouth with olives and anchovies. In Lloret, try Can Bolet or bars in the old town; in Tossa, the vermouth sessions along the Passeig de la Mar are already a fixture.
Accommodation and dining prices
Lloret has far more accommodation options (over 200 hotels and thousands of apartments), so prices are on average 15–25% lower than in Tossa, especially outside peak season. In July and August the gap narrows, but an equivalent apartment in Tossa will always cost a bit more due to lower supply. Restaurants in Tossa's old town are noticeably pricier (a set lunch menu averages €22–28) compared to Lloret (€15–22).
If you're travelling on a tighter budget, Lloret gives you more for your money. If you prioritise atmosphere and are willing to pay a premium for it, Tossa is worth it. Pro tip: staying in Lloret and taking a day trip to Tossa (direct Sarbus bus in 25 minutes) is the winning combination for many travellers.
Getting around and day trips
Lloret de Mar is the transport hub of the southern Costa Brava: a central bus station with direct connections to Barcelona (1 h 15 min, €11), Girona airport (40 min, €2.90), Tossa (25 min, €2.90), Blanes (15 min, €2.30), Girona city (1 h, €8), Figueres and Cadaqués. There are also regular ferries that in summer link Lloret with Tossa and Sant Feliu de Guíxols — a spectacular way to see the coast.
Tossa is less well connected: only direct buses to Lloret and Barcelona, everything else requires a change. If you're planning daily trips around the region (Girona, Empuriabrava, Cadaqués, Pals), staying in Lloret will save you time. If you plan to stay put and just head to the beach, Tossa will shield you from the hustle and bustle.
Verdict: when to choose each
Choose Lloret de Mar if: you're travelling with family or a group, you want more restaurant and entertainment options, you plan to take day trips around the Costa Brava, you're looking for better value for money, you like having a choice of large beaches, or you're with kids who want water parks (Water World, Marineland).
Choose Tossa de Mar if: you're a couple looking for a romantic atmosphere, you prefer the charm of a medieval village, you want smaller, more intimate beaches, you love snorkelling and photography, you enjoy late dinners on quiet terraces, or you don't need to do many excursions.
And if you're still in two minds, there's a third option that hardly anyone mentions: stay in Lloret and take a one- or two-day trip to Tossa. It's what many regular visitors to the area do. You get the best of both worlds: Lloret's connectivity and prices, and Tossa's medieval postcard whenever you fancy it.
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Your perfect base on the Costa Brava
All these plans are within 30 minutes of the Remo apartment in Lloret de Mar. Enjoy the Costa Brava by day and return to a quiet, well-equipped apartment just a 5-minute walk from the beach.
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