Calella, Spain: A Perfect Break Between the Pyrenees and the Sea

Stayed in Calella, Barcelona Province | August

My Stay at Sant Jordi Boutique Hotel

Image courtesy of Sant Jordi Boutique Hotel.

After spending so much time travelling through the Pyrenees, arriving back on the Catalan coast felt like a completely different part of the trip. My stop in Calella gave me the chance to slow things down a little, and I stayed at the Sant Jordi Boutique Hotel, a stylish property close to the beach that puts a strong focus on contemporary design, wellness and personalised service.

The hotel has a much more intimate feel than the larger resort-style properties you find along the coast, which suited me perfectly for a short stay. The design is modern and comfortable, while the overall atmosphere feels calm and relaxed, making it a good place to switch off after several days of driving and exploring. The hotel also has its Silence Thalasso Spa, giving guests the option to spend some time relaxing without having to leave the property.

Images courtesy of Sant Jordi Boutique Hotel.

I particularly liked the location because it made it easy to enjoy both sides of Calella. I could walk down towards the beach and explore the town during the day, then come back to the hotel and have some downtime before dinner. After travelling through the mountains, being able to swap hiking routes and winding roads for the Mediterranean coast was a welcome change.

For a one-night stop, I thought Sant Jordi Boutique Hotel worked really well. It felt more personal than a typical coastal resort, while still giving me the facilities and location I wanted for a relaxing break by the sea.

Dinner at Restaurante El Drac

Image courtesy of Restaurante El Drac.

One of the advantages of staying at Sant Jordi Boutique Hotel is that I didn't need to head back out into town to find somewhere interesting for dinner. Restaurante El Drac, the hotel's own gastronomic restaurant, offers a more refined dining experience while still making use of local ingredients and Catalan influences.

The restaurant combines traditional cuisine with more contemporary cooking, with both tasting menus and à la carte choices available. It feels considerably more polished than a standard hotel restaurant, making it a good option if you want to turn dinner into part of the experience rather than simply finding somewhere convenient to eat.

I liked the idea of being able to finish a day exploring Calella, return to the hotel and have dinner without needing to get back in the car. The restaurant has also developed a strong reputation, with a current rating of 4.8 from more than 200 reviews, so it is certainly worth considering even if you're looking for somewhere a little more special during your stay.

For me, it fitted the hotel perfectly. The atmosphere was refined without feeling overly formal, and the combination of Catalan ingredients and modern cooking makes El Drac a good choice for a relaxed but memorable dinner.

Best for: A refined dinner featuring Catalan ingredients and contemporary cooking.

A Little About Calella

Calella sits on the Costa del Maresme, north of Barcelona, and has long had a strong connection with the Mediterranean. The town's history has been shaped by fishing, agriculture and, more recently, tourism, with its coastal location helping it develop into one of the better-known seaside destinations in this part of Catalonia.

What I enjoyed about Calella was the contrast between the modern coastal areas and the older parts of town. Once you move away from the main beach streets, you start to see more traditional Catalan architecture, smaller squares, independent shops and historic buildings, giving you a different impression of the town from the one you get simply walking along the seafront.

Its location is another major advantage. Calella is close enough to Barcelona to make the city accessible, but it has a much slower and more relaxed atmosphere. You still have beaches, restaurants, cafés and plenty of opportunities to walk, but you don't have the same feeling of constantly being surrounded by crowds and major attractions.

For a traveller like me who was coming off a long road trip through the mountains, that slower pace was exactly what I was looking for.

Walk Along the Coast Towards Roca Grossa

One of the simplest and most enjoyable things to do around Calella is to explore the coastline on foot. As you move away from the busier beach areas towards Roca Grossa, the scenery becomes more rugged, with rocky sections, Mediterranean vegetation and views stretching across the sea.

I found this was one of the best ways to appreciate Calella because there was no need to follow a complicated sightseeing route. I could simply walk, stop whenever I found a good viewpoint and take in the scenery. After spending so much time travelling through the Pyrenees, it was interesting to see the landscape change so dramatically, from mountain scenery to the open Mediterranean.

It's also a good option if you want to get away from the busiest parts of the resort. The combination of the coastline, greenery and blue water makes this a particularly pleasant walk, especially when you aren't trying to rush through it.

Allow: 1–2 hours.

Best for: Coastal scenery, photography and a relaxed Mediterranean walk.

Explore Calella's Historic Centre

Although the beach is obviously one of Calella's main attractions, I think it's worth spending some time away from the waterfront as well. The historic centre gives you a better feel for the town's Catalan character, with quieter streets, traditional buildings, small shops, cafés and restaurants.

The Església de Santa Maria i Sant Nicolau is one of the most recognisable historic buildings in the centre, and the surrounding streets are enjoyable to explore without necessarily having a set itinerary. I preferred simply wandering around and seeing how the older parts of Calella fit together with the modern seaside town.

This is also where I would take my time rather than trying to see everything quickly. Calella doesn't need to be treated like a city sightseeing destination where you spend the day ticking off attractions. Part of its appeal is simply walking through the streets, stopping for a coffee or drink and then making your way back towards the coast.

Allow: 1–2 hours.

Best for: Local history, architecture and seeing a quieter side of Calella.

Why Calella Was Worth the Stop

Calella gave me a completely different experience from the Pyrenean towns I'd been travelling through. Instead of mountain roads and high-altitude scenery, I had the Mediterranean, coastal walks and the chance to slow down for a while.

I also liked that Calella doesn't require a packed itinerary. With one day, you can comfortably explore the historic centre, walk along the coast, spend some time by the sea and enjoy a good meal without feeling like you're constantly rushing from one attraction to another.

Staying at Sant Jordi Boutique Hotel made that even easier. The combination of its location, wellness facilities and Restaurante El Drac meant I could explore during the day and then come back to somewhere comfortable for the evening.

For anyone travelling through Catalonia who wants to break up a longer road trip with some time beside the Mediterranean, Calella makes a lot of sense. It's close enough to Barcelona if you want to visit the city, but far enough away to offer a much more relaxed seaside atmosphere.

For me, it was exactly the kind of stop I needed at this point in the journey. After so much time on the road, a little less driving, some sea air and a slower pace felt pretty good.