The most beautiful drive from Barcelona Airport to Begur and the Costa Brava (and back)
Landing at Barcelona (BCN) and heading to the Costa Brava? Skip the dull AP-7 and take the coast road: the walled Tossa de Mar above the beach, the famous winding corniche to Sant Feliu, the white fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell and the turquoise cove of Aiguablava, before you reach Begur on its hill.
Not the fastest route, the most beautiful one. All the stops are already in it.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Alberto-g-rovi (CC BY-SA 4.0), DagafeSQV (CC BY-SA 3.0), Miquel Àngel Patiño (CC BY-SA 4.0). Alle commercieel bruikbaar met naamsvermelding.
The coast road instead of the AP-7
The fastest way from Barcelona Airport to Begur is the AP-7 and the C-31: an hour and a half of motorway, partly tolled, with little of the coast to see. This route takes the beautiful side: the walled Tossa de Mar, then the famous corniche GI-682 with its hundreds of bends high above the sea to Sant Feliu de Guixols, the white fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell and the turquoise cove of Aiguablava, before you reach Begur.
It is a fly-drive route par excellence: you land at Barcelona, pick up your rental car and drive to your stay on the Costa Brava. We write out both directions separately. You open the whole route with every stop in Google Maps, or download the GPX, so you never have to look anything up along the way.
The route on the map
A schematic overview by Touren.app, not a navigation map. The exact route opens under “Drive this route” or in Google Maps. Map orientation: north is up.
Key facts for this route
| Distance (scenic route) | approx. 150 km coast route (fastest route AP-7: approx. 130 km) |
|---|---|
| Pure driving time | approx. 3 h along the coast (fastest route: approx. 1 h 30) |
| Day length with stops | 6 to 8 hours with the four stops and time for a beach |
| Motorway share | approx. 30%, around the airport and to Blanes; then coast road |
| Tolls and vignettes | the coast route (GI-682, C-253) is toll-free; the fast AP-7 is tolled, and Spain has no vignette |
| Fuel (estimate) | approx. 12 litres at 8 l/100 km; expect 18 to 24 euro (fuel prices vary) |
| Countries and border crossings | 1 country (Spain, Catalonia), no border crossing |
| Road type | coast road with the winding corniche GI-682 (Tossa to Sant Feliu) and narrow roads to the coves |
| Suitable for | rental car: yes · convertible: highly (corniche) · motorbike: highly · camper: possible, but the corniche and cove turn-offs are narrow; drive calmly |
The coast route (GI-682, C-253) is toll-free; the fast AP-7 is tolled, and Spain has no vignette. Distance, driving time and motorway share are indicative estimates along the chosen stops and are measured in the build (July 2026). Fuel is a calculation with stated assumptions; prices vary.
Always check road signs, current closures and local rules along the way.
Who is this route for
For anyone landing at Barcelona with a rental car bound for the Costa Brava, who wants to stretch the arrival day into a real coastal drive. For lovers of winding coast roads, white fishing villages and turquoise coves. The corniche between Tossa and Sant Feliu is a classic in a convertible or on a motorbike, and just as good in an ordinary rental car, but take your time on the bends.
From Barcelona Airport to Begur
Pick up your car at Barcelona Airport and drive up the coast via Blanes to Tossa de Mar, the only place on the Catalan coast with a complete medieval walled old town above the beach. Then take the corniche GI-682, a winding road high above the sea with dozens of viewpoints, to Sant Feliu de Guixols. On along the coast to Calella de Palafrugell, one of the loveliest white fishing villages, with its arched boat ramps, and to the turquoise cove of Aiguablava. Finish in Begur, with the castle ruin above the village and views over the coves.
An honest tip: this is a full day with plenty of stops. Take your time for the corniche and a swim in one of the coves. Begur and its surroundings have plenty of places to stay.
From Begur to Barcelona Airport
The other way, on the day of your flight, time matters. Leave Begur with a good margin and drive the coast in reverse: Aiguablava, Calella de Palafrugell, then the corniche to Tossa de Mar. If you want to be sure of your flight, take the fast road (C-31, AP-7) to Barcelona Airport from Sant Feliu or Palafrugell and save the corniche for another time.
Mind the rental car return time and your provider's fuel rule (usually return it full). Fill up just before the airport; there are petrol stations around El Prat and along the motorway.
The fastest route or the most beautiful route
The AP-7 and C-31 get you from Barcelona Airport to Begur in an hour and a half, partly tolled. Handy if you are in a hurry or land late, but you see little of the coast. This route deliberately chooses the coast road and the corniche: longer, but with walled towns, fishing villages and coves. To shorten it, take the fast road at Blanes or Palamos.
The 4 stops along the route
1. Tossa de Mar
Tossa de Mar is the only place on the Catalan coast with a complete medieval walled old town, the Vila Vella, rising with towers and walls above the beach. Walk through the narrow lanes to the lighthouse for the view over the bay. Below lie the broad beach and the old fishing heart.
Practical: paid parking at the edge, the Vila Vella and beach are within walking distance. Busy in high season; early is quieter.
2. Sant Feliu de Guixols
Sant Feliu de Guixols sits at the end of the spectacular corniche from Tossa, a winding coast road with dozens of views. The town itself has an old Benedictine monastery, a lively harbour and a fine promenade; nearby S-Agaro is known for its elegant seaside walk. A good place for lunch.
Practical: park by the harbour or beach. Drive the corniche from Tossa calmly and use the pull-outs to stop for the views.
3. Calella de Palafrugell
Calella de Palafrugell is one of the loveliest fishing villages on the Costa Brava: white houses around small coves, with the characteristic arched boat ramps of Port Bo where the fishing boats were once drawn up. Every summer the havaneres, the old sailors songs, are sung here. A village to wander through.
Practical: park at the edge, the village is partly car-free and the lanes are narrow. Combine with the Cap Roig botanical garden nearby.
4. Aiguablava
Aiguablava literally means blue water, and the name holds true: a small cove with a turquoise sea among pines and rocks, close to Begur. It is one of the finest coves on the Costa Brava, with a parador high on the cliff above. A last swim before you drive up the hill to Begur.
Practical: the road to the cove is narrow and the car park small; come early or outside high season. From here it is a few minutes up to Begur.
Practical: rental car, season and vehicle
Picking up your rental car at Barcelona: the rental desks are by both terminals of Barcelona Airport (BCN). Book online in advance, almost always cheaper. For this route you usually return the car to Barcelona (round trip), so no drop-off fee; to return it further along, check the one-way rules.
The corniche and the coves: the road from Tossa to Sant Feliu is winding and popular; drive calmly and use the pull-outs. The turn-offs to the coves (Aiguablava, and the coves near Begur) are narrow and the car parks small, especially in summer.
Best time to travel: May, June and September are ideal: the sea warm enough, the roads quieter. In July and August the coast is busy and the coves fill up early.
Vehicle: the corniche is a joy in a convertible or on a motorbike. Just as good in an ordinary rental car; with a camper it is possible, but the narrow cove turn-offs are awkward, so park higher and walk.
Fuel: fill up before you return the car (returning it full is the rule). There are petrol stations around Barcelona Airport and along the AP-7.
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Email this route to yourselfFrequently asked questions
What is the most beautiful drive from Barcelona Airport to the Costa Brava?
Not the AP-7, but the coast road to Begur: via the walled Tossa de Mar, the corniche to Sant Feliu de Guixols, the fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell and the cove of Aiguablava. About 150 kilometres. You open it above with every stop in Google Maps.
How long does the drive from Barcelona Airport to Begur take?
On the AP-7 and C-31 about an hour and a half, partly tolled. The scenic coast route with the four stops is about 3 hours of pure driving; with the stops and a beach it becomes a full day.
Can you drive from Barcelona Airport to the Costa Brava in a rental car?
Yes. The rental desks are at Barcelona Airport (BCN). Driving there and back from Barcelona means no drop-off fee; to return the car elsewhere, check the one-way rules in advance.
Is the coast road (corniche) difficult to drive?
The GI-682 from Tossa to Sant Feliu is winding and busy in summer, but well surfaced. Drive calmly, do not overtake and use the pull-outs to stop for the view. In a camper it is tight; you can take the faster inland road instead.
Is this route toll-free?
The coast route (GI-682, C-253) is toll-free, and Spain has no vignette. Only the fast AP-7, which you deliberately avoid, is tolled.
Is the route the other way, Begur to Barcelona Airport, the same?
We write out both directions separately. On the day of your flight time matters: you can take the fast road to the airport from Sant Feliu or Palafrugell if your margin gets tight.
Can you open the route in Google Maps?
Yes, free. Choose your direction above and the route opens in Google Maps with every stop already in it. There is also a GPX per direction for Garmin, Komoot or TomTom.
What we deliberately leave out
We leave out Barcelona itself: that is a city break in its own right. The northern Costa Brava with Cadaques and Cap de Creus is beautiful, but a good deal further; that is a separate route. And the interior with Girona we save for the inland route from Barcelona Airport.