Panorama of Cadaqués

Cadaqués is a small town of 2,800 people (2018) on the coast of northern Catalonia. The town is a well-visited destination that also has on its outskirts at Port Lligat the summer home built by Salvador Dalí. Since his death it has become a tourist destination.

• 1 Cadaques Tourist office, C. d’es Cotxe 2-A, ☏ +34 972 258 315, turisme@cadaques.cat. (updated Sep 2023)

Understand

Cadaqués sea side view

Cadaqués blue house

Local roads provide access to Cap de Creus, the easternmost point of the Iberian peninsula, about 6 km away and the conservation area around it. The French border is about 20 km to the north. Prior to the explosive growth of beach tourism in Spain, Cadaqués was a sleepy fishing town, and some elements of this past exist to this day.

Get in

Cadaqués sunrise

There are many local buses that go from Figueres to Cadaqués and even organized tours. You can also reach Cadaqués by bus from Barcelona. For those traveling on their own, it is easy to drive there from Figueres as well taking the C-68 in the direction of Roses and then following the signs to Cadaqués.

By train

There's no direct train connection to Cadaqués, but you can make the first part of your ride by train. From Barcelona, one way to reach Cadaqués is by train from the Plaza Catalunya, at the center of the city on the west point of Las Ramblas. From here, hop on a train heading North to Figueres, a journey that should last about an hour and a half. From the Figueres train station, walk straight out into the city and you'll see the bus station on your left. From here, you can hop on a bus to Cadaqués (which leave frequently), where you'll take an hour long journey up through the Catalonia hills and at last down into the beautiful sleepy town of Cadaqués.

By bus

The company Sarfa operates a daily service direct from Barcelona to Cadaqués. The timetable changes depending on the season. The buses leave from the North Station which is close to "Arc de Triomf" (and metro station) and is also within walking distance from the centre of the city (about 35 minutes walk). Beware holidays! The timetable is reduced considerably and you might have to wait 7 hours between the busses, especially if you want to leave Cadaqués and catch a plane. In this case you can take a taxi to Rosas and hop there on one of the more frequent buses.

By boat

It is possible to catch a ferry from the nearby town of Roses. During much of the year these ferries travel several times a day.

By car

Arriving by car is quite easy; there are several free parkings in the city. One of them is left side from the downtown when you arrive by car, close to the beach (open 09:00-20:00).

Get around

The city structure of Cadaqués is short and sweet, where shiny tiles lead travellers all through the city, from the bars and cantinas at the city center beachfront, to the hotels and private homes on the surrounding sides of the Cap de Creus peninsula. You can pretty much walk everywhere you want, but renting a vespa is nice option to explore the surrounding countryside.

By foot

Because of the geography surrounding the town of Cadaqués, the traditional way for the town people to travel was walking, by boat (rowing or sailing) or by "Tartana". It is still possible (and enjoyable) to walk to Cadaqués either from Roses or Port de la Selva. From Roses there is a marked trail which follows the coast. The walk is approximately 15 km and passes several bays and beaches on the way. The walk is marked with small red and white painted marks which are located on rocks and signs.

See

• 1 Dali's House (Port Lligat Museum-House), ☏ +34 972 25 10 15. Dali spent many summers in Cadaques and had constructed a house which is now a museum. This house is located in Port LLigat, which is approximately 15–20 minutes walk from the centre of Cadaques. If you want to visit, you have to book your time slot in advance, as only about 10 people every 10 minutes are allowed to enter. (updated Apr 2019)
• 2 St. Jaume Castle (Castell de Sant Jaume), Carrer del pintor Joan Ponç. Ruins of a fortress dating back to the 17th century. It was destroyed by the English and rebuilt by the French during the Napoleonic Wars in the 19th century. During its early history it had no defensive role but was only used for observation and signalling, but in later years it adopted a more defensive role. (updated Apr 2019)
• 3 Church of Santa Maria (Santa Maria de Cadaqués), Carrer del Portal del Mont. (updated Apr 2019)

Do

• Beaches: there's a topless-friendly beach, left side from the downtown when you arrive by car.

Hiking

The GR 92 long distance walking route crosses the city.

Try de hiking routes marked on Cap de Creus Natural Park

Eat

Fish restaurants of Cadaqués are highly rated in the region.

Mid-range

• 1 La Gritta, Calle Passeig, 11, ☏ +34 972 15 94 71. One of the rare places where you can eat full meals between 16:00 and 20:30, when most cafes are closed. Gaspatzo and pizza are good; fish is not. 
• 2 Can Rafa, Plaza Passeig, 7, ☏ +34 972 15 94 01, info@restaurantcanrafa.com. Owned and run by the Martin Faixo family, it offers fresh sea-food and a recommended paella. 
• 3 Can Tito, Calle Vigilant, 8, ☏ +34 972 25 90 70. Serves local cuisine in a cute hidden street. It has not many places outside, hence reservation recommended. 
• 4 El Gato, Calle Curos, 10, ☏ +34 972 258 844, el-gato-azul@hotmail.com. The restaurant serves reasonably priced special food. Be patient for the service. 

Splurge

• 5 Casa Anita, Calle Miquel Roset, 16, ☏ +34 972 25-84-71. 08:30-22:30. The restaurant serves fresh sea-food of the day, no menu. Due to small space you will be seated with other guests at a large table in the small dining room. 
• 6 Compartir, Riera Sant Vicenç s/n, ☏ +34 972 25 84 82. Mateu Casañas and Eduard Xatruch opened the place in 2012. They used to work in the famous El Bulli restaurant. Compartir means sharing in Catalan. All plates are put in the middle on the table to share. The entrees including the oyster or the tuna on liquid salad are extremely good as the desserts. The service is extremely friendly and strikes for perfection. 

Drink

Casino l'Amistat bar

• 1 Bar Casino, Plaza Doctor Tremols, 1, ☏ +34 972 25 81 37. A traditional and popular meeting place in the town center. 
• 2 Casa Nun, Plaza Port Ditxos, 6, ☏ +34 972 25 88 56. Wonderful little restaurant on promenade that serves local dishes and has wonderful ambiance. 

Sleep

Mid-range

• 1 Pension El Ranchoo, Avinguda de Caritat Serinyana, 13 (In the city center), ☏ +34 972 25 80 05. Double room about €40, €5/person breakfast (as of April 2009). 
• 2 Arrels Hotel (Arrels Hotel Cadaqués), Urbanització Majorica, 17488 Cadaqués, Girona, Spain, ☏ +34972258860, cantito.cadaques@gmail.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. The Arrels Hotel is situated within a 35 000 square meter property above the entrance to the village of Cadaqués. An incomparable place with an emphasis to detail, tranquility, personal attention and spectacular views that help create a unique atmosphere as well as a romantic and exclusive setting. It is an ideal place for couples and exclusively for over 18 year olds.
  
  Hotel Arrels , during the sixties, was emblematic and also the meeting place for the “ Gauche Divine” (the much talked about in the media heterogeneous movement). A melting pot of culture and history where intellectual discussions thrived but also creativity and artistic thoughts abounded. It was also one of the first open air discotheques in the country, the favourite haunt of painters such as Dali, writers like Rosa Regas, architects such as Ricardo Bofill and Oscar Tusquets. (updated Nov 2022)

Splurge

• 3 Hotel Playa Sol, Platja Pianc, 3, ☏ +34 972 25 81 00. Directly on the sea-side. 

Go next

• Cap de Creus in the Cap de Creus Natural Park, 7 km from Cadaqués. It is possible to walk there following a marked track which follows the coast, or to walk or drive along the road. There is a bar and restaurant at the Cape which is open everyday until late (22:00ish).
• Blanes. Southernmost resort with two botanical gardens, beaches and modernist buildings