Last updated: September 2026
Santa Susanna is a small, peaceful beach resort tucked between Malgrat de Mar to the north and the inland spa town of Caldes de Malavella a short drive to the west. One of the quieter resorts on the southern Costa Brava, it offers a 2-kilometre stretch of golden sandy beach, a compact promenade of cafés and restaurants, and the relaxed, unhurried atmosphere that families looking for a straightforward beach holiday particularly appreciate.
The resort has grown from a small fishing settlement into a modest holiday destination without losing the low-key character that distinguishes it from its larger neighbours. There are no big hotels dominating the skyline, no particularly raucous nightlife and no huge water parks — just a good beach, calm sea, some decent restaurants and the kind of genuine peace that is increasingly hard to find on the Costa Brava in peak season. For families with young children or couples who simply want a quiet week by the sea, Santa Susanna delivers exactly what it promises.
| Resort type | Small, quiet family beach resort |
|---|---|
| Beach type | Golden sand, calm and sheltered |
| Nearest airport | Girona (GRO) — approx. 45 min |
| Barcelona access | 55 min by train |
| Best for | Young families, couples, quiet breaks |
| Nightlife | Very low — restaurants only |
| Average July high | 28 °C |
| Season | May – October |
Santa Susanna’s main beach — Platja de Santa Susanna — is a 2-kilometre arc of fine golden sand that runs the length of the resort. The beach is wide, gently shelving and sheltered, with calm, clear water that is ideal for young children and less confident swimmers. The shallow gradient means the water stays relatively warm and shallow for a considerable distance from the shore, and the absence of strong currents or exposed headlands makes it one of the safest swimming beaches on the southern Costa Brava.
The beach promenade is well-maintained, with sun lounger and parasol hire available throughout the season, showers, changing facilities and a string of beach bars and chiringuitos where families gather for afternoon drinks and early evening meals. The promenade continues north into Malgrat de Mar without interruption, giving Santa Susanna visitors easy access to the wider beach strip and the slightly more varied dining options that the larger resort provides.
The sea here is part of the Gulf of Lions, which is generally calm and clear on this section of the Costa Brava. Water temperature peaks at 24–25 °C in August and remains above 22 °C into early October. The beach is consistently clean and has met the criteria for Blue Flag certification in multiple recent years. Lifeguards patrol the main beach throughout July and August, and first aid facilities are available at the beach entrance.
Santa Susanna is a gentle, low-key resort where the beach is genuinely the main attraction. That said, the surrounding area has plenty to occupy guests who want to venture beyond the sun lounger. The easiest excursion is the short walk or cycle north along the beachfront promenade to Malgrat de Mar, where a slightly wider range of restaurants, a local market (Tuesdays) and the pedestrian bridge crossing into Blanes provide a full morning’s gentle exploration.
Water World in Lloret de Mar is approximately 15 kilometres north and is the go-to choice for families with older children wanting a full day of water park thrills. Local excursion desks in Santa Susanna and Malgrat sell combined transport and entry tickets. The Jardí Botànic Mar i Murtra in Blanes — a spectacular clifftop botanical garden with over 3,000 plant species — is around 5 kilometres north and makes an excellent morning excursion away from the beach.
The medieval city of Girona is approximately 45 minutes north by car or bus and is one of the finest day trips from the Costa Brava. Its cathedral, Jewish quarter, colourful riverside houses and Roman walls are all well worth a full day’s exploration. Barcelona is even more popular and is accessible in around 55 minutes by regional train from Malgrat de Mar station (a short taxi ride from Santa Susanna) — making it a very practical day trip even for families.
In resort, the evenings in Santa Susanna are pleasantly low-key. The promenade fills with families after dinner for the traditional Spanish paseo (evening stroll), and the small clusters of restaurants and cafés are relaxed and unhurried. This is not the Costa Brava for late-night bars or themed entertainment — it is the Costa Brava for early dinners, ice creams on the beach and genuinely restful evenings that leave you ready for another full day in the sun.
Santa Susanna has a warm Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. July and August are the peak season months, with average highs of 27–29 °C and sea temperatures of 24–25 °C. The beach fills up in these months, though Santa Susanna is noticeably less crowded than the larger resorts to the north. June and September are excellent alternatives for visitors who want good weather with quieter beaches and lower prices. The sea remains comfortably warm for swimming through the end of September and often into early October, making an autumn short break to Santa Susanna a very attractive proposition for couples in particular.
The nearest airport is Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO), approximately 45 kilometres north and around 45 minutes by transfer. Ryanair operates from multiple UK regional airports to Girona, and shared shuttle services to Santa Susanna and neighbouring resorts operate from the airport during the summer season.
Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) is around 65 kilometres south and 60–75 minutes by car or private transfer. It is a particularly convenient option since Santa Susanna is served by the Rodalies rail network at nearby Malgrat de Mar station. Visitors flying into Barcelona can take the train directly to Malgrat and then taxi or walk the short distance to Santa Susanna — a cost-effective alternative to private airport transfers.
Accommodation in Santa Susanna is modest in scale but well-suited to the resort’s character. Three-star hotels and apartment complexes along the beachfront promenade are the dominant accommodation type, and most are within easy walking distance of the beach. The resort attracts a loyal repeat-visitor clientele — many UK families return year after year for the same quiet combination of good beach and relaxed atmosphere that bigger resorts rarely provide.
Self-catering apartments are particularly popular in Santa Susanna and suit families well. The compact size of the resort means even inland apartments are only 5–10 minutes from the beach on foot. Camping is also popular in the area, with several well-equipped sites on the outskirts of the resort and in the surrounding countryside offering pitches, mobile homes and basic bungalow accommodation.
UK tour operators including TUI and Jet2holidays offer Santa Susanna packages from regional airports throughout the summer season. The resort benefits from being on the same transfer route as Malgrat and Blanes, keeping transfer costs reasonable. Early booking is recommended for July and August as the limited accommodation stock fills quickly among the resort’s loyal visitor base.
Santa Susanna has a small but well-functioning selection of restaurants and cafes along the promenade and in the town centre, catering primarily to the family visitors who make up the resort’s core clientele. Catalan cooking is well represented, with several restaurants serving fresh fish and seafood from nearby Blanes, Catalan rice dishes and the region’s excellent cured meats and cheeses alongside the standard international holiday menu. Portions are generous and prices are generally more affordable than in the larger Costa Brava resorts, which is appreciated by families travelling on a budget.
For shopping, Santa Susanna has the basics covered with supermarkets, souvenir shops and beach goods outlets close to the beach. The neighbouring resort of Malgrat de Mar — a 5-minute walk along the promenade — has a wider range of shops and a weekly Tuesday market. For the most comprehensive shopping experience in the area, the Saturday market in Blanes (accessible on foot along the coastal promenade in around 40 minutes, or quickly by taxi) is well worth a morning’s visit, offering local food, crafts, clothing and seaside souvenirs in a bustling, authentic Spanish market atmosphere.
Search4Sun compares Santa Susanna holiday deals from the UK’s leading tour operators, with departures from regional airports across the UK. Whether you are looking for a beachfront apartment for a quiet family week, a couple’s break on the southern Costa Brava, or a relaxed alternative to the busier neighbouring resorts, 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 Santa Susanna deals, check LastMinute.com for the latest availability and rates. See also our Malgrat de Mar holidays and Costa Brava holidays pages for more destinations nearby.
Santa Susanna is an excellent choice for families with very young children. The beach is wide, flat and gently shelving with shallow, calm water that is ideal for toddlers and young children to paddle in safely. The compact resort is easy to navigate with a pushchair, and the evenings are quiet enough to allow young children to sleep without disturbance. The nearby resort of Malgrat de Mar extends the beach and dining options while maintaining the same relaxed, family-oriented atmosphere.
Santa Susanna is one of the quietest resorts on the Costa Brava. It has no big nightclub district, no large entertainment complexes and significantly fewer hotels than Lloret de Mar or Blanes. The resort attracts mainly families and couples looking for a genuinely peaceful beach holiday. If you specifically want to avoid crowds and noise, Santa Susanna is among the best choices on the southern Costa Brava — while still offering easy access by road or promenade walk to the livelier options in Malgrat and Blanes.
Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO) is the most convenient airport, around 45 kilometres north and 45 minutes by transfer. Ryanair serves Girona from many UK regional airports. Barcelona El Prat (BCN) is around 65 kilometres south and suits visitors from airports with no Girona service — plus it offers the option of arriving by train (Rodalies R1 to Malgrat de Mar station, just a short taxi from Santa Susanna).
Yes — Santa Susanna has a small but adequate selection of restaurants, bars, supermarkets and souvenir shops along the promenade and in the town centre. For a wider range, the neighbouring resort of Malgrat de Mar is just a 5-minute walk along the promenade and has a good selection of cafés, tapas bars and shops. Blanes, with a genuine old town, fish market and Saturday street market, is around 5 kilometres south and easily reached on foot along the coastal promenade.
Yes — Barcelona is easily accessible from Santa Susanna. Take a short taxi or walk to Malgrat de Mar train station and board the Rodalies R1 service to Barcelona Sants or Passeig de Gràcia. The journey takes approximately 55 minutes. This is one of the great advantages of the southern Costa Brava resorts over the more northerly destinations — the Barcelona day trip is fast, affordable and straightforward, and adds enormous value to a week-long beach holiday in the area.
Santa Susanna is a genuinely lovely place for a quiet Costa Brava holiday — one of those resorts that rewards visitors who slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures of good food, warm sea and long sunny evenings on the promenade.
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