🌊 Contents: Town Center | Dona Marinera and Cala Banys | Castell d’en Plaja | Playa de Fenals | Camí de Ronda | Santa Clotilde Gardens | Modernist Cemetery | Castell de Sant Joan | Ermita Santa Cristina | Puig de Castellet | Gallery | FAQ
Lloret de Mar is situated on the Costa Brava, between Blanes to the south and Tossa de Mar to the north. I spent a month in Lloret. My flat was just a short walk from the main beach, nestled in the warren of bars, cafes and retro discos that make up the town center. Lloret is a town of contradictions, in a positive way. On the one hand it is famous for nightlife, package vacations and boisterous tourists from northern Europe. The main strip is filled with garish nightclubs, fast food restaurants and casinos. An unpretentious good time.
The other side of Lloret begins with its calm Blue Flag beaches—as clean and beautiful as any I have seen further north on the Costa Brava. Ornate clifftop gardens, two castles, a modernist cemetery, and breathtaking coastal walks are among the other treasures of the town.
Town Center
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In the heart of town you’ll find the Església de Sant Romà de Lloret de Mar. The church dates back to the beginning of the 16th century and has a Gothic style very close to the Renaissance transition period. A modernist resoration project took place at the beginning of the 20th century.
L’Esguard by Rosa Serra is a striking sculpture on the south end of the beach which commemorates the International Gathering of FC Barcelona Supporters Clubs in Lloret de Mar. It is made from blue-coloured bronze, apart from the ball, which is stainless steel.
Place de la Mairie overlooks the sea and provides terrace seating for restaurants. Lloret is a popular destination for the French, and I would sometimes see them playing Boules here. At the north end of the square is the Maritime Museum, housed in Can Garriga, which dates from 1887. At the other end of Place de la Mairie is the neoclassical town hall building (1872).
Dona Marinera and Cala Banys
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Dona Marinera (The Fisherman´s wife) is a bronze statue by the sculptor Ernest Maragall, erected in 1966 as a trubute to the wives of sailors who would spend months away at sea, with no communication available.
Local legend says that if you look out to sea and touch the sculpture’s right foot with your hand, any wish you make at that moment will come true.
Just beyond the statue is Cala Banys, a rocky cove perfect for fishing and snorkelling. Looking over the cove there is a cocktail bar, famous as the most beautiful in the whole Costa Brava thanks to its amazing views.
Castell d’en Plaja
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This castle is actually newer than you might imagine. It was built as a summer home for the Girona industry magnate Narcís Plaja and designed by architect Isidor Bosch. Construction on the neo-Gothic-style castle was completed in the 1940s. For many years it remained a private residence, but in 2021 it opened its doors to the public.
Playa de Fenals
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Playa de Fenals is the second largest beach in Lloret de Mar. Being further from the center of town it is quieter. It has a beatiful rock formations and the southern part is lined with pine trees.
Camí de Ronda
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Lloret de Mar offers some spectacular stretches of coastal path, called the Camí de Ronda, with stunning views out to the sea. The paths were originally built to control the coast and stop smuggling. The Camí de Ronda is part of the GR 92, a trail that will eventually run the length of the Mediterranean coast.
Santa Clotilde Gardens
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The Santa Clotilde Gardens are on the outskirts of Lloret de Mar. The Marquis of Roviralta (1891-1979) commissioned Catalan architect and landscaper Nicolau Rubió i Tuduri (1891-1981) for the project in 1919. The cliff-top gardens were finally completed in 1926. See also: the Marimurtra Botanical Garden of Blanes.
Modernist Cemetery
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The Lloret de Mar cemetery was built in 1892 by the architect Joaquín Artau and later renovated by the wealthy families of Lloret, between 1896 and 1901. These ‘Indianos’ who had made fortunes trading with the Americas had mausoleums designed and built by leading architects and sculptors, such as Josep Puig i Cadafalch.
Castell de Sant Joan
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The Castell de Sant Joan is perched at the top of a hill between Playa de LLoret and Playa de Fenals. It dates back to the beginning of the 11th century. During the Third Coalition War (1805 to 1806), the castle was bombed by the British. After 1960, it went through reconstruction, mostly of the tower. You can climb stairs to the top of the castle and take in a spectacular view of the region.
Ermita Santa Cristina
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Santa Cristina is the patron saint of Lloret de Mar. The original chapel dates back to 14th century and the present hermitage was built at the end of the 18th century.
Puig de Castellet
The Iberian settlement of Puig de Castellet dates back to the 3rd century B.C. and is situated 2 kilometres inland from the center of Lloret de Mar. The Avinguda del Puig de Castellet leads you up into the hills towards the settlement perched high above.
Note: Puig de Castellet is only open to the public on Saturdays from 5 to 7PM in the months of June through August. Looking at the surrounding area you can see there is some great hiking to be done in the thickly wooded hills inland of Lloret.
Gallery
My favorite places and things to do in Lloret de Mar:
👉 To eat and drink, I loved Casa Marlés 1585, situated in the heart of town on Plaça de l’Església. Everything is good quality and the people working there are really friendly and polite. The terrace in front is a perfect spot for relaxing and people watching and the second floor also has a great view of the plaça. For an authentic local place, check out Restaurant Can Sabata. It’s a masia (farmhouse) style restaurant, great for large groups, with delicious paellas and seafood. Can Tarradas is also a good bet for Catalan and Mediterranean food.
👉 The Ruta Indiana and tour of Can Font was excellent. I didn’t imagine that Lloret has such a perfectly preserved modernist mansion tucked away in the heart of town. Tours take place on Saturdays.
👉 Among hotels, I would recommend Hotel Rosamar Maxim (affiliate). It is situated close to the Castell d’en Plaja, has unobstructed sea views and is literally steps from the gorgeous little beach within the cove called Cala Sa Caleta.
FAQ
From Barcelona, you can drive or take a Moventis Sarfa bus from Estació del Nord, which is near Arc de Triomf. There is no train station in Lloret de Mar.
Girona Airport is the closest. Barcelona Airport is also relatively close.
The name Lloret is derived from the Latin Lauretum, which means a place where laurel trees grow. Mar of course means sea.
Dan got the Barcelona bug more than 10 years ago and loves to write about the city’s history, culture, food and events. Other interests include travel, photography and hiking.