🌊 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 | Maritime Museum and Ruta Indiana | Day Trips | Nightclubs | 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. On the one hand, it is famous for nightlife, package vacations, and boisterous tourists from northern Europe. The main strip is filled with giant 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 was built in the Catalan Gothic style. Two modernist side chapels were added by the architect Bonaventura Conill i Montobbio in 1916.
L’Esguard by Rosa Serra is a striking sculpture on the beach’s south end, commemorating the International Gathering of FC Barcelona Supporters Clubs in Lloret de Mar. It is made from blue-colored bronze, apart from the ball, which is stainless steel.
Place de la Mairie overlooks the sea and provides an expanse of terrace seating for restaurants. Lloret is a popular destination for the French, and I would sometimes see them playing Boules here. At the square’s north end 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 completed in 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 tribute 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 will come true.
Just beyond the statue is Cala Banys, a rocky cove perfect for fishing and snorkeling. Above the cove is a cocktail bar, famous as the most beautiful in the whole Costa Brava, thanks to its romantic sunset views.
Castell d’en Plaja
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This castle is newer than you might imagine. It was built as a summer home for the Girona industrial magnate Narcís Plaja and designed by architect Isidor Bosch. Construction on the neo-Gothic-style castle was completed in the 1940s. It remained a private residence for many years, but in 2021 it opened its doors to the public.
The Castell d’en Plaja currently houses a museum that provides an immersive experience called ‘No Time Left’, which shows human activities polluting the planet and the effects of the climate emergency.
Playa de Fenals
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Playa de Fenals is the second largest beach in Lloret de Mar, over 700 meters long. Further from the town center, it is quieter and popular with families. It has beautiful 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 prevent smuggling. The Camí de Ronda is part of the GR 92, a trail that will eventually run the length of Spain’s Mediterranean coast. For a long hike of 3-4 hours you can follow the Sender Mediterrani trail all the way to Tossa de Mar.
Santa Clotilde Gardens
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The Santa Clotilde Gardens are situated on the southern outskirts of Lloret de Mar. The Marquis of Roviralta commissioned Catalan architect and landscaper Nicolau Rubió i Tuduri for the project in 1919. The cliff-top gardens overlooking the sea were finally completed in 1926.
The gardens cover over 26,000 square meters and were designed based on the Italian Renaissance model. Sculptures, fountains, and ponds make points of interest among superimposed terraces and paths. (See also: the Marimurtra Botanical Garden of nearby 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 made fortunes trading with the Americas had mausoleums designed and built by leading architects and sculptors, such as Josep Puig i Cadafalch. Puig i Cadafalch is famous for his iconic buildings in Barcelona, including Casa Amatller and Casa de les Punxes.
The cemetery has been declared a site of cultural interest and is part of the European Cemeteries Route.
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 and was fully operational until the end of the 17th century. The castle was used to defend Lloret against attacks from the sea.
During the Third Coalition War (1805 to 1806), the British bombed the castle, severely damaging the tower. It suffered further destruction from two violent storms and was saved from demolition thanks to being listed as a Building of Cultural Interest in 1949.
After 1960, it went through reconstruction, mainly of the tower. You can climb a spiral staircase to the top and enjoy a spectacular view of the region. Check the opening hours for Castell de Sant Joan here.
Ermita Santa Cristina
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Santa Cristina is the patron saint of Lloret de Mar. The original chapel dates back to the 14th century, and the present-day chapel was built at the end of the 18th century. The building has a neoclassical style and a splendid main altarpiece in Italian marble.
Santa Cristina Beach can be reached by following a short path from the Chapel. It is set between two large hills that shelter it from the wind, resulting in lovely calm water for swimmers.
Puig de Castellet
Three Iberian settlements remain in the Lloret de Mar area: Puig de Castellet, Montbarbat, and Turó Rodó.
The settlement of Puig de Castellet dates back to the 3rd century B.C. and is situated 2 kilometers 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. It’s easy to see the strategic advantage of the location, as it has sweeping views of the surrounding land and sea.
Note: Puig de Castellet is only open to the public on Saturdays from 5 to 7 PM in the months of June through August. From the vantage point of this historical site, you can see there is some great hiking to be done in the thickly wooded hills inland of Lloret.
Maritime Museum and Ruta Indiana
The Maritime Museum has an impressive collection of model ships and explores Lloret de Mar’s seafaring history. It is situated in Can Garriga, which was built in 1887 by Enric Garriga after he made a fortune in Cuba and returned home.
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. Can Font was built in 1877 and contains magnificent sgraffito work, frescoes, floor mosaics, wrought ironwork and stained-glass. The building was commissioned by Nicolau Font i Maig, another ‘Indiano’ who returned from Cuba a wealthy man. Tours take place on Saturdays and start off at the Maritime Museum.
Day Trips from Lloret de Mar
Tordera, a small town just inland of Blanes has a famous weekly market with fresh produce from local farms and other artisanal goods. Nearby Girona is a great diversion, with its medieval architecture, Old Quarter (Barri Vell) and Roman ruins.
The cruise boat to Tossa de Mar makes a perfect day-long excursion. You can take in the beautiful coastline during the cruise. On arriving, you can enjoy exploring the walled-in Old Town, beaches, and cliffs. The Catalan capital, Barcelona, is also close enough for a day trip; check out 101 Things to Do in Barcelona for ideas.
Nightclubs
Lloret de Mar is famous for its wild nightlife. Tropics, Revolution, Colossos and Londoner are some of the most popular clubs, all centered around Avinguda Just Marlés Vilarrodona.
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. Classic tapas dishes like Gambas al Ajillo and Patatas Bravas hit the spot, and the service was noticeably better than average. The terrace in front is perfect for relaxing and people-watching.
• 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. If you go during the week, the set menu is excellent value. The more centrally situated Can Tarradas is also a good bet for Catalan and Mediterranean food.
• 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
You can drive from Barcelona or take a Moventis Sarfa bus from Estació del Nord, near Arc de Triomf. Lloret de Mar has no train station, but you could take the train to Blanes and then a bus to Lloret.
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.
The two l’s are pronounced like a y in English, so it sounds like Yoret de Mar.
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.