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Cadaqués is the last village before Cap de Creus, the easternmost point of the peninsula. White houses, slate-paved streets and the church of Santa Maria overlooking the bay: its isolation has kept it almost untouched and attracted painters throughout the 20th century, led by Salvador Dalí.
For this guide, we’ve picked six places to stay that we hand-pick: hotels by the sea, two adults-only stays, a country estate with vineyards and a house for families.
How to choose an area
Almost everything in Cadaqués is a short walk away, but whether you stay down below or in the upper part of town makes a difference when it comes to hills and parking:
- Old town: the streets climbing up to Santa Maria, full of charm but with no parking.
- The bay: Platja Gran, Es Poal, Es Pianc and Port d'Alguer, with the promenade, restaurants and boats right on your doorstep.
- Es Llaner: the southern side of the bay, quieter and just a few minutes from the centre.
- Outskirts: hotels with gardens, pools and parking on the hillsides, a downhill walk from the sea.
- Portlligat: the neighbouring cove to the north, where Dalí lived, just over a kilometre away.
If you’re coming without a car or staying for two or three nights, stay by the bay. If you’re arriving by road, a hotel with parking will save you a lot of driving around. The Cadaqués page has all the places to stay in the village that we’ve selected.
Where to stay in Cadaqués
These are the six places we recommend, from the bay to the hillsides with pools.
Hotel Playa Sol
A four-star hotel ten metres from the small beach of Es Pianc, with an outdoor pool in an olive-tree garden and its own restaurant. Family rooms are available; ask for a sea-view balcony, as the basic double room overlooks an inner courtyard. Parking must be booked separately, and breakfast costs extra.
Casa Neus
A 150 m² house by the sea, a couple of minutes from Platja Gran, with three bedrooms for six people, a fully equipped kitchen, dishwasher and washing machine. The terrace and balcony overlook the bay. There’s no parking, and the upper floors are only accessible by stairs.
Hotel Misty
A simple, well-kept two-star hotel with a seasonal pool, garden and buffet breakfast, less than five hundred metres from Es Poal and Platja Gran. Private parking is free, but spaces can’t be reserved. Plan your journey carefully: check-in closes at 20:00.
Arrels Hotel Cadaques - Adults Only
An adults-only hotel with a garden, seasonal outdoor pool and rooms overlooking the sea and the village rooftops. Free parking with no reservation required is worth its weight in gold in Cadaqués. Wifi is available in the common areas, but not in the rooms.
Horta d'en Rahola - Adults Only
A peaceful hotel for guests over 16, with a garden, pool and rooms with balconies or terraces overlooking the garden or mountains. Port d'Alguer and Platja Gran are a short walk away. Extra beds aren’t available, and parking costs extra and must be booked.
Hotel Rec de Palau
A country estate with vineyards and fruit trees, a three-minute walk from the centre, with two shared pools, rooms and bungalows; the superior options have a kitchen and terrace. Es Llaner Petit is 300 metres away, and snorkelling, diving and hiking start almost at the door. Pets are accepted on request, and parking costs extra and must be booked.
What to see in Cadaqués and the surrounding area
Start in the old town and make your way to Santa Maria, with its Baroque altarpiece and the best view of the bay. From the village, a walk of about twenty minutes takes you to Portlligat, where Dalí turned a group of fishermen’s huts into his home and studio from 1930 onwards. Today it’s the Casa Salvador Dalí: visits are in small groups entering every ten minutes, and you must always book your date and time in advance.
The other big draw is Cap de Creus Natural Park, with rocky coves and a lighthouse at the end of the road. Bear this in mind if you’re driving: in summer and on many weekends and public holidays, the road to the lighthouse is closed to vehicles during the day, and a shuttle minibus runs from the free car park at Corral d'en Morell. You can also walk there along the old path. The Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres and the long beaches of Roses round out the trip.
When to visit Cadaqués
According to the town council, the village goes from around 2,800 residents in winter to nearly 30,000 people in summer. The sea is at its best in July and August, but there are queues on the road and parking is difficult: if you’re visiting then, book early and arrive first thing.
Every summer, from late June to August, the Cadaqués International Music Festival, now in its fiftieth-plus edition, brings concerts to the church of Santa Maria and other venues. June and September are the best-balanced months. In winter, the tramontane wind takes over and some businesses close.
Getting there and getting around
Cadaqués is in Alt Empordà, in the province of Girona. By car, take the GI-614 from Roses, a winding road across the mountain range and the only access route. By public transport, Moventis Sarfa runs a Barcelona–Cadaqués bus from Estació del Nord; another option is to take the train to Figueres and then catch a bus to the village.
Once you’re in town, leave the car behind: the streets in the centre are narrow and parking spaces are scarce. You can walk to Portlligat.
Cadaqués is one of the stops in our guide to where to stay in Catalonia. If you’re travelling along the Costa Brava, also see where to stay in Roses, where to stay in Tossa de Mar and where to stay in Lloret de Mar.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions people most often ask when planning a few days in Cadaqués.
What’s the best area to stay in Cadaqués?
For a first visit, stay by the bay, between Platja Gran, Es Poal and Es Pianc. The promenade, restaurants and old town are just a few steps away, and you won’t need a car. If you’re after peace and quiet, the Es Llaner side is calmer and still close to the centre. If you’re arriving by car or want a pool, hotels on the outskirts usually have gardens and their own parking, a downhill walk from the sea.
Is it easy to park in Cadaqués?
No, especially in summer. The village has narrow streets, limited space and just one access road, the GI-614 from Roses, which can get backed up in August. The most practical option is to choose a place to stay with its own parking and get around on foot once you’re there. Some hotels offer free parking without a reservation; others charge by the day and require you to book a space. If your accommodation doesn’t have parking, arrive first thing.
How do you get to Cadaqués without a car?
Moventis Sarfa runs a bus between Barcelona and Cadaqués from Estació del Nord. Another option is to take the train to Figueres, where the bus station is next to the train station, and continue by bus to the village. Once you’re there, you can get around on foot. In peak season, a shuttle minibus runs from the Corral d'en Morell car park to the Cap de Creus lighthouse.
Do you need to book to visit Dalí’s house in Portlligat?
Yes. Visits to Casa Salvador Dalí in Portlligat are in small groups entering every ten minutes, and you must always book your date and time in advance. It’s the house where the painter lived and worked from 1930, created from a group of fishermen’s huts beside the cove. It’s about a twenty-minute walk from the centre of Cadaqués. In summer, it’s best to book as soon as you’ve settled on your travel dates.
When is the best time to visit Cadaqués?
June and September are the best-balanced months: the sea is pleasant, and the roads and car parks are less busy than in high summer. July and August are peak season, with the Cadaqués International Music Festival and a packed village, so it’s best to book ahead. In winter, the tramontane wind takes over and some businesses close, but the village returns to its quieter pace.
