Last updated: September 2026
Malgrat de Mar sits at the very southern tip of the Costa Brava, where the region’s rocky coves and pine-clad headlands give way to a long, straight arc of golden sand that runs uninterrupted for 3 kilometres. A compact, unpretentious resort that has long been popular with Spanish and French families, Malgrat offers a straightforward and excellent-value beach holiday on a fine stretch of coast that is notably less crowded than the resorts further north.
The town itself lies just across the River Tordera from Blanes and is connected to its neighbour by a pedestrian bridge. The two resorts effectively merge along the beach promenade, giving Malgrat visitors easy access to Blanes’s wider range of restaurants, shops and cultural attractions while enjoying the slightly quieter and more residential character of Malgrat itself. The resort is ideal for families who want a genuine beach holiday with easy access to the region’s main attractions.
| Resort type | Family beach resort |
|---|---|
| Beach type | Golden sand, 3km long |
| Nearest airport | Girona (GRO) — approx. 50 min |
| Barcelona access | 1 hr by train from Malgrat station |
| Best for | Families, couples, quiet breaks |
| Nightlife | Low to moderate |
| Average July high | 28 °C |
| Season | May – October |
Malgrat de Mar’s principal attraction is its long, straight beach — Platja de Malgrat — a 3-kilometre stretch of fine golden sand that runs the full length of the resort. The beach is gently shelving with calm, clear water well-suited to families with young children. Sun loungers, parasols and pedalos are available for hire throughout the summer, and the beach is regularly certified Blue Flag for water quality and facilities. The promenade behind the beach is lined with restaurants, ice cream shops and beach bars, and becomes a lively evening stroll for families after the heat of the day subsides.
The beach continues seamlessly south into neighbouring Santa Susanna and north into Blanes, linked by promenade walkways that make it easy to explore the wider coastal strip on foot or by bicycle. In high season the central section of Malgrat beach is busiest, while the northern end near the River Tordera tends to be quieter and more popular with local families. The shallow, sheltered water here is particularly safe for young swimmers.
Approximately 5 kilometres north along the promenade lies the larger resort of Blanes, with its more varied beach options including the sheltered Cala Sant Francesc cove and the botanical gardens on the cliffs above. The walk or cycle between Malgrat and Blanes along the beachfront promenade is one of the pleasures of staying in this southern section of the Costa Brava — flat, scenic and car-free for most of the way.
The major non-beach attraction near Malgrat de Mar is Water World in Lloret de Mar, a large water park approximately 12 kilometres north and accessible by local bus or taxi. With over 30 attractions including high-speed slides, wave pools and a dedicated children’s area, it is the most popular family excursion from the southern Costa Brava resorts. Combined day-trip tickets with transport are available from excursion desks in Malgrat throughout the summer season.
The Jardí Botànic Mar i Murtra in nearby Blanes is an easy excursion — a spectacular clifftop botanical garden with over 3,000 plant species and panoramic views over the start of the Costa Brava coastline. The pedestrian bridge over the Tordera and a short walk along the Blanes promenade puts the garden within about 30 minutes of the Malgrat hotel zone. The garden is particularly beautiful in spring and early summer.
Malgrat de Mar’s own old quarter has a modest but pleasant historic character, with a 16th-century church of Sant Nicolau, a small local market and a handful of traditional Catalan restaurants serving rice dishes, fresh fish and the excellent local cuisine of the Maresme coast. The town’s weekly market is held on Tuesdays and offers local produce, clothing and everyday goods. For a livelier shopping experience, the coastal road north to Blanes has several supermarkets and a small commercial centre with mid-range retail outlets.
Day trips from Malgrat are straightforward and well-served by public transport. Barcelona is around 1 hour by regional train from Malgrat de Mar station — the Rodalies R1 line connects directly with Barcelona Sants, making the city a very easy day out. Girona is an easy excursion by bus or car (around 55 minutes north), and the castle and beaches of Tossa de Mar are within 30 minutes by car or organised excursion coach.
Malgrat de Mar has a warm Mediterranean climate similar to the rest of the southern Costa Brava. Summers are hot and sunny, with July and August seeing average highs of 27–29 °C and sea temperatures of 24–26 °C — ideal for a beach holiday. The resort benefits from the same reliable sunshine record as Blanes and Lloret, with around 2,600 hours of sun per year. The season is long, running from May to October, with June and September offering the best combination of warm weather, quiet beaches and lower accommodation prices.
For families travelling in school holidays, July and August remain the most popular periods, and the beach retains comfortable swimming conditions throughout. The long, flat beach at Malgrat is one of the safest for young children anywhere on the Costa Brava, with its gently shelving sandy bottom and generally calm water. October visitors will find the beach quieter and the town more peaceful, with the sea still warm enough for a dip and the restaurants serving the freshest autumn produce from the local markets.
The nearest airport to Malgrat de Mar is Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO), around 50 kilometres north and approximately 50 minutes by taxi or private transfer. Ryanair operates the main UK schedule into Girona, with year-round and seasonal routes from London Stansted, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh and other regional airports. Shared shuttle buses to Malgrat and neighbouring resorts operate from the airport during the main summer season.
Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) is approximately 65 kilometres south and around 60–75 minutes by private transfer or shuttle. Barcelona has significantly more UK flight options, making it the preferred gateway for visitors from airports not served by Girona routes. The Rodalies R1 train also runs from Barcelona Sants and Passeig de Gràcia to Malgrat de Mar station, making it possible to arrive by train if you are already in the city.
Accommodation in Malgrat de Mar is primarily made up of mid-range three-star hotels and apartment complexes, many of which front directly onto the beach promenade or are within a short walk of the sea. The resort is more compact than Lloret or Blanes, which makes it easy to navigate on foot and gives even inland accommodation a relatively short beach walk. Most hotels have their own swimming pools, which are particularly welcome for guests who want to swim outside of peak beach hours.
Self-catering apartments are popular in Malgrat, particularly for families who appreciate the flexibility of their own cooking facilities and the ability to eat earlier or later than restaurant service times suit. Several apartment complexes along the beachfront road offer sea-facing balconies and direct beach access. UK operators including TUI and Jet2holidays offer packaged holidays to Malgrat from regional airports throughout the May to October season.
Malgrat de Mar has a good selection of restaurants along the beachfront promenade and in the town centre that serve a mix of international holiday food and genuinely good Catalan cooking. The proximity to the sea means fresh fish and seafood are consistently well-prepared in the better restaurants — look for suquet de peix (Catalan fish stew), grilled llobarro (sea bass) and the classic Catalan mixed grill of fish from the local fishing fleet. The stretch of restaurants along the northern end of the promenade, where the resort merges with Blanes, tends to have the highest concentration of reliable eating options.
Shopping in Malgrat is modestly sized but covers the essentials — supermarkets, souvenir shops and beach goods outlets are all on or near the main promenade. The weekly Tuesday market sells fresh produce, clothing and local crafts and is popular with both residents and visitors. The slightly larger commercial offer in neighbouring Blanes is easily accessible on foot along the promenade, and the Saturday market there is one of the better weekly markets on the southern Costa Brava.
Search4Sun compares Malgrat de Mar holiday deals from the UK’s leading tour operators, with departures from regional airports across the UK. Whether you are looking for a beachfront hotel for a family week, a self-catering apartment for a group, or a last-minute deal on the southern Costa Brava, we can help you compare packages and find the right option at the right price.
Always check your booking is protected by ABTA, holds ATOL certification or carries ABTOT cover — these schemes protect your money if an operator ceases trading before or during your holiday. For a plain-English guide to what each scheme covers, read our holiday protection guide.
For last-minute Malgrat de Mar deals, check LastMinute.com for the latest availability and rates. See also our Blanes holidays and Costa Brava holidays pages for more destinations nearby.
Malgrat de Mar is an excellent choice for families with young children. The 3-kilometre sandy beach is wide, gently shelving and calm — one of the safest swimming beaches on the Costa Brava. The resort is compact and easy to navigate on foot. There are no steep hills or confusing road layouts. Shops, restaurants and ice cream stalls are all close to the beach, and the evening promenade along the seafront is a safe and pleasant space for children to burn off energy after dinner.
Malgrat de Mar is approximately 60 kilometres northeast of Barcelona — around 1 hour by regional train on the Rodalies R1 line from Malgrat station to Barcelona Sants. This is one of the most convenient train connections of any Costa Brava resort to the Catalan capital, making Barcelona an easy and affordable day excursion. The train runs roughly every 30–60 minutes and is significantly cheaper than a private transfer or taxi.
Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO) is around 50 kilometres north and the most convenient gateway, approximately 50 minutes by taxi or shared shuttle. Barcelona El Prat (BCN) is around 65 kilometres south and 60–75 minutes by transfer, with many more UK flight options. For visitors from airports not served by Ryanair’s Girona routes, Barcelona is the preferred gateway with services from British Airways, Jet2, easyJet and other carriers.
Yes — Malgrat de Mar has a noticeably quieter atmosphere than Lloret de Mar, which is the Costa Brava’s largest and liveliest resort. Malgrat has fewer hotels, smaller crowds on the beach in peak season and a more residential character. The evening entertainment is low-key compared to Lloret. This makes Malgrat a better choice for families seeking a genuinely relaxed holiday, while still being close enough to Lloret and Blanes for day trips if a livelier atmosphere is occasionally wanted.
Yes — the two resorts are connected by a pedestrian promenade along the beachfront. Malgrat de Mar and Blanes effectively form a continuous beach strip divided only by the mouth of the River Tordera, crossed by a pedestrian bridge. The walk from the centre of Malgrat to the centre of Blanes takes around 30–40 minutes at a leisurely pace along the flat seafront path. Cycling is also popular on this route, with bike hire available from several shops in both resorts.
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