# Pals

A Gothic stone old town on a hill, with the Torre de les Hores and a viewpoint over the Montgrí and the Medes. Below, the rice fields that give Pals rice its name and a beach of almost three kilometres.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/pals · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## How do I get there and where do I park?

Pals is about 50 minutes from Girona along the C-66 and a little over an hour and a half from Barcelona via the AP-7 and C-31; from Tarragona, about 2 h 40, and from Lleida, over 3 hours. The Gothic old town occupies the hill and is explored on foot: park below, in the car parks at the entrance to the village. The coach car park is on Carrer de l'Abeurador, where the rice train leaves from. The beach is about 5 km from the old town, with its own car park.

Sarfa buses run from Barcelona (Estació del Nord) and from Girona. To get around between the old town, the rice fields and the beach, use a car or a bike.

## How much time do I need?

The old town takes an hour and a half. With the rice route and the beach, a full day. In July and August, the old town first thing or at dusk and the beach in between.

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Empordà
- Cerca: Peratallada (a 4.8 km), Peralada (a 39.1 km), Besalú (a 44.8 km), Rupit (a 56.7 km)

## Qué hacer
- **The Gothic old town and the Torre de les Hores** (1 h 30 · All ages, better without a pushchair · Self-guided · free): What it is
The old town of Pals is a walled medieval enclosure on top of a hill, above the plain of the Baix Empordà. You can see it from far away: the wall closing in the village, the church peeping over it and the Torre de les Hores at the highest point. Inside, cobbled streets, the main square, stone vaults, horseshoe arches and Romanesque and Gothic doorways and windows. You explore it on foot and freely in an unhurried hour and a half, and it is free.
What to see, step by step

The wall: it keeps four square towers from the 14th century. Enter at the lower end and follow the perimeter to see how the village closes in on itself.
The Torre de les Hores: the Romanesque tower of the old castle, built between the 11th and 13th centuries, and the symbol of Pals. The castle is documented in 889 under the name Mont-Aspre; it is all that remained of it after the Catalan civil war against John II, in the 15th century.
The church of Sant Pere: already documented in 904. After that war it was rebuilt, like the wall, with stones from the castle.
The main square, with the Gothic arch through which you leave the walled enclosure.
The Pedró quarter, the oldest core, with the narrowest streets.
The anthropomorphic tombs: graves carved into the rock in the early Middle Ages.
The Josep Pla viewpoint, at the top: the Empordà plain, the Montgrí and the Medes islands. It is the best end to the walk.

The village also has the Museum of Underwater Archaeology and Desideri Ferrer Pharmacy and the Ca la Pruna cultural centre; ask for their opening hours at the tourist office, because they change with the season.
Guided visits
Visit Pals publishes several guided visits of the village, such as the Josep Pla route and one on Pals and Christopher Columbus; ask about dates and prices at the tourist office, at calle de la Creu, 7.
El Xiulet de Pals, the little-train company, runs the Ruta Pals Gòtic: five minutes by train to the enclosure, a climb up steps to the church square and half an hour of guided walk through the streets, about 40 minutes in all. It costs €7 for adults and €4 for children, in Catalan, Spanish, English or French, but it is designed for groups of 20 people or more; if there are only a few of you, ask whether you can join a group.
Getting there and parking
The old town is pedestrian. Leave the car in the car parks at the foot of the old town, at the entrance to the village, and walk up. Without a car, the Sarfa bus links Pals with Barcelona and Girona.
When to go
Early in the morning or in the late afternoon, when the stone takes on colour and the groups leave. In July and August, at midday, the streets fill up and it is hot. In winter the village is quiet and, with the tramontana, the clear sky lets you see the Medes from the viewpoint. Combine it from November to February with the flooded rice fields, which you can see from above.
With children, pushchairs and accessibility
The streets are cobbled, sloping and have steps: with a pushchair it is hard going, so a baby carrier is better. In a wheelchair, access to the upper enclosure is difficult. For children, the wall and the tower work like a castle; the little train saves them the climb.
Where to eat
In the old town itself, El Pedró serves Pals rice in a casserole and home cooking from the Empordà since 1973. Next to the entrance to the village, La Vila has its kitchen open all day.
- **Josep Pla viewpoint** (10 min · Self-guided · free): What it is
The Josep Pla viewpoint is an open balcony at the top of the old town of Pals. It is named after the writer from Palafrugell, who wrote a great deal about this Empordà landscape, and Visit Pals runs a guided route of the village under his name. From here you see the whole Baix Empordà plain at your feet, with the rice fields and the farmland, the Montgrí massif to the north and, in the distance, the Medes islands off L'Estartit. It is free and always open. Ten minutes gets you the view; with more time, you stay and watch the light change.
Getting there
The viewpoint is inside the old town, which is pedestrian. Leave the car in the car parks at the foot of the old town and walk up the cobbled streets of the Gothic old town, heading for the highest part. The climb is short, but it is uphill with steps. If you do not want to walk up, the El Xiulet de Pals little train runs a guided route round the Gothic enclosure that leaves from the coach car park.
Without a car, the Sarfa bus comes from Barcelona and Girona.
What you see

Ahead, the plain: the mosaic of fields and rice paddies that runs down to the sea. From November to February, with the flooded rice fields, the water glints between the fields.
To the north, the Montgrí: the limestone massif with the castle on top, above Torroella de Montgrí.
In the distance, the Medes islands, off the coast.
Beneath your feet, the village rooftops and the wall.

When to go
In the late afternoon the light is warmer and brings out the colour of the fields and the Montgrí. On tramontana days, the north wind clears the air and the Medes are sharp; on summer haze days, they are barely visible. In July and August, at midday, the viewpoint fills up and there is no shade.
Facilities and safety
There are no facilities at the viewpoint itself: the bars and restaurants are in the streets of the old town. The edge drops away; keep an eye on small children.
With children, pushchairs and dogs
With children it is a short stop that they enjoy for the height and the view from the top. With a pushchair, the climb over the cobbles and steps is awkward: a baby carrier is better. With a dog, on a lead.
Complete the visit
Go back down afterwards to eat in the old town. El Pedró serves Pals rice in a casserole, and in the afternoon you can head to Platja de Pals, a few minutes by car.
- **Platja de Pals, the Platja Gran and the Grau** (Families; the Grau, with shallow water · Free): What it is
The coast at Pals is a long, open stretch of sand, inside the Montgrí, les Medes i el Baix Ter Natural Park. It has two beaches side by side: the Platja Gran, 1,681 m long and 62 m wide, and to the north the Platja del Grau, 1,027 m long and 97 m wide. Behind the sand there is a protected dune system, fenced off so that it is not trampled. For decades the Platja Gran was home to the aerials of the radio station Radio Liberty. It is the beach of the village and of the campsites in the area, free, with facilities in summer.
The two beaches

Platja Gran: natural coarse-grained sand. It is semi-urban and fills up quite a lot in summer. Its front part has a naturist tradition. To the south it continues as the Platja del Racó, already in Begur.
Platja del Grau: medium-grained sand. It has sailing schools and sunbed hire. To the north it is closed off by the Rec del Molí, which separates it from the Fonollera beach, in Torroella de Montgrí, and feeds the lagoons of les Basses d'en Coll. Càmping Platja Brava describes it as having fine sand and shallow water: it is the most comfortable with small children.

Facilities
On both: lifeguards from 15 June to 30 September, a buoyed swimming area and a channel for boats, showers, bins, adapted toilets, daily sand cleaning from 1 June to 30 September, access walkways and an amphibious chair (two at the Grau). The Platja Gran also has beach bars and a tourist information point. The Catalan Water Agency rates the water quality as excellent.
Getting there and parking
The beach is a few minutes by car from the old town of Pals, following the signs for Platja de Pals. There is a car park by the Platja Gran, unattended; the Grau has its own too. In July and August they fill up by mid-morning. The walkways let you reach the sand with a wheelchair or pushchair.
When to go
June and September are the months with the best balance: water already warm, lifeguards and fewer people than in August. On tramontana days the north wind blows hard and kicks up sand. Out of season it is a huge, almost empty beach for walking.
Water safety
Swim within the buoyed area and respect the lifeguards' flags. The Platja Gran is open to the sea and can have swell; the buoyed channel is for boats, not for swimming. Outside lifeguard hours and the season there is no supervision.
With children and dogs
With small children, the Grau is better, because of the shallow water. For teenagers, the Platja Gran and the sailing schools at the Grau. Visit Pals does not say whether dogs are allowed: check the municipal rules before you go, because in the bathing season Catalan beaches often restrict them.
Where to sleep and eat
Near the sand you have Interpals Eco Resort, 450 m from the beach, and Càmping Platja Brava, with direct access to the Grau. To eat, go up to the village: La Vila has its kitchen open all day.
- **Rice route by little train to the Molí de Pals** (1 h 45 · All ages · Desde 7 € per person): It is the easiest way to understand why Pals gives its name to a rice: from mill to plate, with the fields all around.
What it is and why it is worth it
Pals is known for its medieval old town, but at its feet, on the Baix Ter plain, there have been rice fields since the 15th century. The El Xiulet de Pals route boards a little tourist train in the old town, runs down between farmhouses and rice fields to the Molí de Pals and, after the visit to the mill, brings you back on foot to the village along the tracks through the rice fields. In an hour and three quarters you understand the landscape you see from the wall.
The story has its twists. There was already a mill in 1452, and it still belongs to one of the families that sell rice in the village. In the 18th century the locals blamed the stagnant water of the fields for fevers and epidemics, and in 1838 a royal order banned cultivation in the area. In the early 20th century, Pere Coll i Rigau, back from Cuba, bought land and revived it with irrigation using constantly moving water. Since 1908 rice has been back in Pals, and today five producers sell it under the Arròs de Pals brand.
Who it is for
For all ages, and above all for families: children like the little train and the return is along a flat track. The company adapts the activity to specific needs if you ask when booking. If you already know about rice growing or you want a long walk, it may feel a little short.
Getting there
The little train leaves from the stop in the old town of Pals, in the coach car park on calle Abeurador. Pals is on the road between Palafrugell and Torroella de Montgrí, a few kilometres from Pals beach. The tourist office, on calle de la Creu, has information on bus access.
When to go
Departures are published in the calendar on the El Xiulet de Pals website, with date, language and places. The morning departure is at 10:00. The landscape changes with the seasons of the crop, so every time of year has its own colour. The rice fields lie within the Montgrí, Illes Medes and Baix Ter Natural Park, and on the way it is easy to see birds.
How much it costs
€13 for adults and €7 for children. If you want to take some rice home, it is sold in packets at the mill.
If it rains
The route is outdoors, so in heavy rain it is not the best plan: ask the company whether it still runs. As an alternative, El Xiulet de Pals also has the medieval route and the Gothic Pals route, through the old town.
- **The flooded rice fields and the Marxa dels Arrossars** (All ages · Self-guided · free): What it is
Between the old quarter of Pals and the sea lies the plain of rice fields, where rice is grown. From November to February, once the harvest is in, the fields are flooded on purpose so that migratory birds, insects and wetland plants can settle there. The result is a landscape of sheets of water reflecting the sky and the outline of the village on the hill, with birds among the fields. You explore it freely, on foot or by bike, along the farm tracks, and it costs nothing.
Pals rice is famous for its texture: the area is cooler than other rice-growing areas, the grain spends longer in contact with the soil and comes out firmer.
Where to go
The country tracks that run down from the old quarter towards the Molí de Pals and the coast cross the fields. You can set off on foot from the foot of the village, where the car parks are, and walk flat between the plots for as long as you like. Keep to the paths and do not enter the fields or the edges of the irrigation channels: they are private land and in winter the mud is deep.
If you prefer to go with an explanation, the rice route by little train takes you from the old quarter to the Molí de Pals, where you see how the grain is whitened, and returns on foot through the rice fields.
When to go

November to February: flooded fields and birds. This is the season for this landscape.
Spring: sowing and freshly sprouted green fields.
Late summer: golden ears before the harvest.

At dawn and at dusk the water reflects the light and there is more bird activity. With the tramontana, the clean air lets you see the Montgrí and the Medes islands, but the wind blows hard across the plain.
The Marxa dels Arrossars
Every autumn Pals holds a popular walk through the rice fields, the Marxa dels Arrossars. The 32nd edition is on Sunday 22 November 2026. It is organised by the Jovent del Bruel association; in previous editions the start was at 9:00 from the municipal sports hall and it finished with a butifarra sausage lunch and local products, with more than 500 participants. Registration and the 2026 rules are on the association's ticketing website and on Visit Pals.
Getting there and parking
Pals is in the Baix Empordà, about 40 minutes from Girona. Park at the foot of the old quarter and walk down to the plain. Without a car, the Sarfa bus comes from Barcelona and Girona. The tourist office, on carrer de la Creu, will point you to the paths.
With children and with a dog
With children it is a flat walk with no traffic; take binoculars for the birds. With a pushchair, the dirt tracks can be muddy in winter. With a dog, keep it on a lead: it must not disturb the birds or go into the fields.
What to bring
Footwear that can take mud, a warm layer in winter and binoculars. In summer, water and a hat: there is no shade on the plain.
After the walk
Go up to the Gothic old quarter and the Josep Pla viewpoint, from where you look down on the plain you have just walked. To eat Pals rice in a casserole there is El Pedró, in the old quarter, and La Vila, by the entrance to the village.
- **Vineyard walk and wine tasting at Mas Geli** (1 h 30 · Adults · Desde 25 € per person): What it involves
Mas Geli is an organic winery in the municipality of Pals, in the Vernagar farmhouse district. The winemakers take you for a stroll through the vineyard, explain how they work the land and their project, and you finish on the farmhouse terrace with a tasting of their wines. It is a small, friendly visit, not an industrial winery. The winery has received a Solete from the Repsol Guide, and three of its wines were awarded at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards.
The weekend guided visit with tasting takes place on Saturdays from 12:00 to 13:30: a walk through the vineyards and a tasting of three organic wines on the terrace.
The experiences and their prices
The winery offers several ways to visit, all with compulsory advance booking:

Tast de vi, tasting only: €21.
Visita i tast, vineyard walk and tasting: €25.
Visita i tast amb la posta de sol, at sunset: €28.
Tast de vins amb la posta de sol, sunset tasting only: €24.
Visit with tasting of wines and local products: €42 in the morning and €46 at sunset.
Visit and premium picnic among the vines: €65.
Yoga & Wine: between €35 and €45 depending on the date.

In summer it also organises the Mas Geli Fest, with music, dinner and a sunset among the vines, and opens a wine bar on the terrace with à la carte dinner. The dates of each experience are in the calendar on its website.
Languages
Visits are held in Catalan and Spanish, in English and in French. Choose the language when booking.
Who it is for
It is an adult activity: the winery website requires visitors to be over 18. If you are going with minors, ask whether they can join you on the vineyard walk without taking part in the tasting.
When to go
Dates are published in the winery calendar. The sunset version makes most sense from spring to early autumn, with the low light over the vines. In the rain, the tasting goes ahead, but the walk may be shortened.
Getting there
The winery is in the scattered farmhouse district of Vernagar, in Pals, a few minutes by car from the old town and the beach. Ask for the exact location when booking. If you are going to drink, arrange who is driving or call a taxi.
How to book
On the Mas Geli website, on the experiences page, or by phone and email. Booking is compulsory for all visits; without it, it does not open. Visit Pals lists the visit among the municipality's guided routes and refers you to the winery for the price and booking.
What to bring
Comfortable shoes for walking on earth between the vines and, in summer, a hat and water.
Complete the day
In the morning stroll round the Gothic old town and after the tasting eat Pals rice at El Pedró. If you prefer something more refined, Mas Roig is a Catalan restaurant in a fortified 16th-century farmhouse, also on the outskirts.
- **Beachside golf taster at Golf de Pals** (50 min · Groups of up to 6, teenagers and adults · Desde 65 € per group): What it involves
It is an introductory lesson for anyone who has never picked up a golf club, at Golf de Pals, next to Platja de Pals. The club calls it Bateig & Clinic de Golf, a golf christening. In the lesson they explain what golf is, what a course looks like and what equipment is used, and then you work on the basics: the grip, the stance and the swing, with an introduction to putting, the short stroke on the green. After the lesson you can stay and practise as much as you like on the driving range, with no time limit.
The club opened in 1966 among a seaside pine wood and is the oldest course on the Costa Brava; it was designed by the Briton Fred Hawtree and in 1972 hosted the Spanish Open. Today it has 18 holes, par 73. For the lesson you do not need to know any of that: you do not go out on the course, you work in the practice area.
Price and duration

50 minutes: €65 per group.
110 minutes: €110 per group.
Maximum group: 6 people.
Includes: clubs and practice balls and access to the driving range after the lesson.

The price is per group, not per person. With family or friends, the 50-minute lesson works out at about €11 a head if there are six of you.
Who it is for
For adults and teenagers who want to try golf without committing to a course. The club does not publish a minimum age for the lesson: if you are going with children, ask when you book. With the 110-minute version there is time to repeat the swing enough to notice progress.
When to go
In summer, book the lesson first thing in the morning or last thing in the afternoon, when it is more pleasant in the sun; in spring and autumn any time will do. On days of strong tramontana the wind makes the flight of the ball harder, though for learning the movement it matters little.
How to book
The lesson is requested through the contact form on the golf taster page, by phone or by email. Say how many of you there are, each person's age and which duration you prefer. Green fees for playing on the course are booked separately on the website, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Getting there
Golf de Pals is at calle del Golf, 162, in the Platja de Pals area, a few minutes by car from the old quarter. If you are staying at Interpals Eco Resort or Càmping Platja Brava, it is very close.
What to bring
Comfortable clothes that let you turn your torso and flat sports shoes. A cap and sun cream in summer, and water. If you are serious about doing it again, gloves prevent blisters.
If you want more
The club also has golf courses for continued learning and green-fee packs for those who already play. Ask about them at the end of the lesson.
Complete the day
The lesson in the morning; in the afternoon, Platja de Pals, right next door. At sunset, go up to the Josep Pla viewpoint, at the top of the village.

## Dónde comer
- **El Pedró** (Restaurant, Pals, €€). Qué pedir: Pals rice, the house speciality, with home cooking from the Empordà.
- **Restaurant La Vila** (Restaurant, Pals, €€). Qué pedir: one of its rice dishes, with local Empordà cooking.
- **Mas Roig Restaurant Gastronòmic** (Restaurant, Pals, €€€). Qué pedir: contemporary cooking with produce from the Empordà, from sea and mountain.
- **Rostisseria Can Padrés** (Takeaway, Pals, €). Qué pedir: takeaway food for the beach.

## By car: Village, rice fields and beach in a day
The car links the three faces of Pals: the old town on the hill, the rice fields on the plain and the beach, about 5 km away.
Presupuesto orientativo: 80–160 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Hotel Mas Salvi** (Small hotel): A 17th-century farmhouse in the Carmany
Mas Salvi is a four-star hotel in a 17th-century farmhouse, in the protected green area of the Carmany de Pals, among oak trees, with seven hectares of its own woodland and garden. It is a kilometre's walk from the area with restaurants and the public transport stop and about 3 km from the beach. It has a 24-hour reception, a restaurant with three spaces and an outdoor pool and an indoor one, and organises weddings and celebrations. It opens its season in early April.
The rooms
There are about thirty, spread over three floors, in four categories: deluxe, junior suite inside the farmhouse, suite (the largest) and the Suite Torreón, in a stone tower with views of the Empordà landscape, Mediterranean design with curved lines and beds of over two metres. All have air conditioning, heating, free wifi, a flat-screen television, a safe, a desk and a minibar; in the tower, also a shower and bath, bathrobe and breakfast in the room.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
The restaurant is run by chef Jerónimo Vera, with Mediterranean cooking using Empordà produce. Breakfast is served from 8:00 to 10:30. At midday, from 13:00 to 15:30, The Grill operates by the pool, with tapas, fresh starters and grilled meat and fish. Dinner, from 20:00 to 22:30, is served in the dining room with large windows onto the garden or, in summer, on the terrace. Book online or on 972 63 64 78.
Spa, parking and getting there
There is a massage room and a jacuzzi, and bicycle hire with Gran Fondo. The hotel has private parking and a garage. You arrive by car along carrer de Carmany; Girona airport is about 44 km away. Nearby you have the Gothic old town of Pals, the Josep Pla viewpoint, Platja de Pals, the flooded rice fields and the golf taster at Golf de Pals.
- **Mas Roig Hotel Restaurant Gastronòmic** (Small hotel): A fortified 16th-century farmhouse
Mas Roig is one of the fortified farmhouses of the 16th and 17th centuries in the Empordà, on the outskirts of Pals, on the road to Torroella de Montgrí. It used to be called Es Portal. It has some 10,000 m² of garden. The house recalls the farmhouse cypress tradition: one announced water to the traveller; two, water and food; and three, a bed for a few days as well. It is now run by Rosa Maria Jubany and Diego Guzmán, from a family of restaurateurs since 1946, with Diego in charge of the kitchen. It is an adults-only hotel, from age 14.
The rooms
There are nine, completely renovated, with stone walls, wooden beams and parquet floors. The doubles are around 23 m² and the superiors 27 m². The El Balcaret suite, at 40 m², is the largest and has a hydromassage bath.
Pool, breakfast and restaurant
The pool is saltwater, for guests only, surrounded by garden and with views over the Empordà. The house restaurant serves Catalan market cuisine with local produce and an Empordà wine list; it serves lunch from 12:30 to 15:30 and dinner from 19:30 to 21:30, and is closed on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday, so on those days you will have to dine in Pals. It also serves breakfast. The hotel opens its season on 27 March.
Getting there and what to do nearby
You get there by car. The farmhouse has outdoor parking with two Tesla chargers. Pets are admitted in the rooms, for a supplement, and in the common areas except the pool. All around are the flooded rice fields and the rice route by little train; a little over a kilometre away, the Gothic old town and the Torre de les Hores and the Josep Pla Viewpoint, and on the coast, the Platja de Pals.
- **Interpals Eco Resort** (Campsite): A campsite among pines 450 metres from the sand
Interpals Eco Resort is a campsite with pitches, bungalows and glamping on avinguda Mediterrània in Platja de Pals, about 450 metres from the beach, in a pine-wood area with stepped terraces. It presents itself as an eco resort: it has environmental certifications such as EMAS and Biosphere and the Tourist Quality Commitment, and an electric car charging point.
Pitches and accommodation
The pitches are in the shade of the pines, on terraces with small walls and some slope depending on the area, all with 10-amp electricity. There are several sizes, from the Standard Plus of 75 to 85 m², some with sea views, to the Pocket of 30 to 40 m² for two people with a dome tent; the tent pitches do not take vans, caravans or motorhomes, and it is best to send the measurements of your vehicle when booking.
The bungalows all have two bedrooms, a covered terrace and air conditioning. The Aiguablava and the new Begur, for five, have a full bathroom in each bedroom; the Sa Tuna, Sa Riera, Garbí or Llevant are for four or five, and the Es Racó, with one bedroom and a sofa bed, for two adults and a child. There is also glamping and an apartment.
Facilities
The family pool has a beach-style entry, water games, a hydromassage bench and three slides, in a fenced area with lawn and sunloungers, next to the kids' club. There is a bar-restaurant, El Blau, by the pool, a multi-sport court, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, petanque and padel, playgrounds and entertainment: at weekends in low and middle season and daily at Easter, in July and in August. Two of the three toilet blocks have adapted facilities and the pool has access for reduced mobility. Free wifi for two devices.
Getting there and what to do nearby
You arrive by car along the Platja de Pals road. 450 metres away you have Platja de Pals, and nearby, Golf de Pals; by car, the Gothic old town of Pals and the rice route by little train.
- **Càmping Platja Brava** (Campsite): A family campsite on the Grau seafront
Càmping Platja Brava is on avinguda del Grau, right on the front, with direct access to Platja del Grau, the quietest stretch of the Pals beach: fine sand and shallow water, good for small children. It occupies a protected natural area between the lagoons of les Basses d'en Coll and the dunes, inside the Montgrí, Illes Medes and Baix Ter Natural Park, with views of the Medes islands. The beach has lifeguards in summer.
Pitches and accommodation
The pitches are large and flat, separated by hedges and largely in the shade of the Mediterranean woodland. There are four types: Master XL, of about 120 m² for caravans and large motorhomes, Master Plus, Master and Confort. All have a 10-amp hook-up, and the large ones have water and drainage (bring a Gardena-type connector). In the beach area, nearly half of the Master and Master XL pitches have shade.
There are bungalows for four or six people, one of them, the Costa Brava 4 PMR, adapted for reduced mobility; the newer Costa Brava ones are in a pedestrian area with lawn next to the pool. The safari tents are 25 or 35 m² with a 15 m² terrace, for two plus a child, four or five people.
Facilities
An adult pool, a children's pool and a Splash Park for the little ones, open all season from 10:00 to 20:00 with a lifeguard. There is a bar-restaurant and ice-cream parlour with a children's menu and dishes for coeliacs, a pizzeria with a terrace, a supermarket and a bakery. For play, tennis, padel, 18-hole minigolf, seven-a-side football, 3x3 basketball and table tennis; bike hire and children's and evening entertainment. Washing machines, adapted toilets in two blocks and baby baths.
Getting there and what to do nearby
You arrive by car on avinguda del Grau, in Platja de Pals. A few metres away is Golf de Pals, with discounts for guests. By car, the Gothic old town of Pals, the flooded rice fields and the tasting at Mas Geli.
### Servicios
- **Car parks at the foot of the old town**: Village entrance · the coach one, on carrer de l'Abeurador, is where the little train departs
- **Platja Gran car park**: By the beach

## Camping: Camping by the beach
Pals has five beach campsites within its municipality. Two, with direct access or a few metres from the sand, serve as a base for combining sea, rice fields and Gothic old town.
Presupuesto orientativo: 40–120 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're camping
- **Interpals Eco Resort** (Campsite): A campsite among pines 450 metres from the sand
Interpals Eco Resort is a campsite with pitches, bungalows and glamping on avinguda Mediterrània in Platja de Pals, about 450 metres from the beach, in a pine-wood area with stepped terraces. It presents itself as an eco resort: it has environmental certifications such as EMAS and Biosphere and the Tourist Quality Commitment, and an electric car charging point.
Pitches and accommodation
The pitches are in the shade of the pines, on terraces with small walls and some slope depending on the area, all with 10-amp electricity. There are several sizes, from the Standard Plus of 75 to 85 m², some with sea views, to the Pocket of 30 to 40 m² for two people with a dome tent; the tent pitches do not take vans, caravans or motorhomes, and it is best to send the measurements of your vehicle when booking.
The bungalows all have two bedrooms, a covered terrace and air conditioning. The Aiguablava and the new Begur, for five, have a full bathroom in each bedroom; the Sa Tuna, Sa Riera, Garbí or Llevant are for four or five, and the Es Racó, with one bedroom and a sofa bed, for two adults and a child. There is also glamping and an apartment.
Facilities
The family pool has a beach-style entry, water games, a hydromassage bench and three slides, in a fenced area with lawn and sunloungers, next to the kids' club. There is a bar-restaurant, El Blau, by the pool, a multi-sport court, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, petanque and padel, playgrounds and entertainment: at weekends in low and middle season and daily at Easter, in July and in August. Two of the three toilet blocks have adapted facilities and the pool has access for reduced mobility. Free wifi for two devices.
Getting there and what to do nearby
You arrive by car along the Platja de Pals road. 450 metres away you have Platja de Pals, and nearby, Golf de Pals; by car, the Gothic old town of Pals and the rice route by little train.
- **Càmping Platja Brava** (Campsite): A family campsite on the Grau seafront
Càmping Platja Brava is on avinguda del Grau, right on the front, with direct access to Platja del Grau, the quietest stretch of the Pals beach: fine sand and shallow water, good for small children. It occupies a protected natural area between the lagoons of les Basses d'en Coll and the dunes, inside the Montgrí, Illes Medes and Baix Ter Natural Park, with views of the Medes islands. The beach has lifeguards in summer.
Pitches and accommodation
The pitches are large and flat, separated by hedges and largely in the shade of the Mediterranean woodland. There are four types: Master XL, of about 120 m² for caravans and large motorhomes, Master Plus, Master and Confort. All have a 10-amp hook-up, and the large ones have water and drainage (bring a Gardena-type connector). In the beach area, nearly half of the Master and Master XL pitches have shade.
There are bungalows for four or six people, one of them, the Costa Brava 4 PMR, adapted for reduced mobility; the newer Costa Brava ones are in a pedestrian area with lawn next to the pool. The safari tents are 25 or 35 m² with a 15 m² terrace, for two plus a child, four or five people.
Facilities
An adult pool, a children's pool and a Splash Park for the little ones, open all season from 10:00 to 20:00 with a lifeguard. There is a bar-restaurant and ice-cream parlour with a children's menu and dishes for coeliacs, a pizzeria with a terrace, a supermarket and a bakery. For play, tennis, padel, 18-hole minigolf, seven-a-side football, 3x3 basketball and table tennis; bike hire and children's and evening entertainment. Washing machines, adapted toilets in two blocks and baby baths.
Getting there and what to do nearby
You arrive by car on avinguda del Grau, in Platja de Pals. A few metres away is Golf de Pals, with discounts for guests. By car, the Gothic old town of Pals, the flooded rice fields and the tasting at Mas Geli.
### Servicios
- **Platja Gran car park**: By the beach

## With young children: Shallow water and a little train

With small children, Pals is beach in the morning and little train in the afternoon.

### What works best
Platja del Grau, with shallow water

The rice route by little train, €7 for children

The Josep Pla viewpoint, no effort

### Sleeping
Beach campsites with bungalows

### Eating
Takeaway food on avinguda Mediterrani

A restaurant with its kitchen open all day

### Bear in mind
The old town is stone and slopes: a baby carrier is better than a pushchair

There is no shade in the rice fields in summer

### Qué hacer with young children
- The Gothic old town and the Torre de les Hores
- Josep Pla viewpoint
- Platja de Pals, the Platja Gran and the Grau
- Rice route by little train to the Molí de Pals

## As a family: Three plans within five kilometres

With children of different ages, Pals changes plan without taking to the road: old town, rice fields and beach are close.

### What works best
The rice route, with a mill and a walk back

The beach, with lifeguards from 15 June to 30 September

The flooded rice fields from November to February

### Sleeping
Campsites with bungalows and safari tents for five

### Eating
Pals rice in the old town

Takeaway food for the beach

### Bear in mind
In August the coast fills up: beach early, old town at sunset

Some restaurants close on weekdays out of season

### Qué hacer as a family
- The Gothic old town and the Torre de les Hores
- Josep Pla viewpoint
- Platja de Pals, the Platja Gran and the Grau
- Rice route by little train to the Molí de Pals
- The flooded rice fields and the Marxa dels Arrossars
- Beachside golf taster at Golf de Pals

## With teenagers: Beach, golf and a little history

For a teenager, Pals wins them over with the beach and with trying something new, such as golf.

### What works best
The golf taster, in a group of up to six

The Platja Gran, deeper and good for water sports

The Josep Pla viewpoint at sunset

### Sleeping
Beach campsites: a little independence

### Eating
Rice dishes in the village

### Bear in mind
The old town is seen quickly: combine it with the beach

The farmhouse hotels are adults only or very quiet

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- Josep Pla viewpoint
- Platja de Pals, the Platja Gran and the Grau
- Rice route by little train to the Molí de Pals
- Beachside golf taster at Golf de Pals

## With a dog: Gothic old town and rice fields, with the dog on a lead

In Pals the dog comes with you through the Gothic old town, up to the viewpoint and along the rice-field paths, always on a lead. For the beach, ask first: the tourist office does not publish whether dogs are allowed, and in the bathing season Catalan beaches usually restrict them.

### Walks
The Gothic old town and the Torre de les Hores, along stone streets

Mirador Josep Pla, with views of the plain and the Medes

The flooded rice fields: on a lead, without disturbing the birds or entering the fields

### Where to sleep
Interpals Eco Resort: up to two dogs per pitch or accommodation, with a vaccination card; it has an agility circuit

Mas Roig: in the room, with a supplement, and in the common areas except the pool

### Worth knowing
Platja de Pals: check the municipal rules before you go

Càmping Platja Brava does not accept pets

Mas Roig is an adults-only hotel

### Qué hacer with a dog
- The Gothic old town and the Torre de les Hores
- Josep Pla viewpoint
- The flooded rice fields and the Marxa dels Arrossars

### Dónde dormir with a dog
- Mas Roig Hotel Restaurant Gastronòmic: In the room, for a supplement, and in the common areas except the pool
- Interpals Eco Resort: Up to two dogs per pitch or accommodation, with a vaccination record and on a lead; in a bungalow, only the Xaloc model

## Consejos

### Climb to the Josep Pla viewpoint
From there you can see the Empordà plain, the Montgrí and the Medes Islands.

### Try Pals rice
Ask them which variety it is: Bomba, Carnaroli or the traditional round-grain ones.

### Come in winter to watch birds
From November to February the flooded fields attract migratory birds.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long does it take to see Pals?
The old town, in an hour and a half. With the rice fields and beach, a day.

### When can I see the rice fields?
The fields are flooded from November to February. The rest of the year you can walk them along paths and on the little train route, with dates on the El Xiulet de Pals website.

### What varieties of rice are grown?
Bahia, Tebre, JSendra, Loto or Nembo, Bomba, Carnaroli and a little organic Akita Komachi. Five producers sell under the Arròs de Pals brand.

### What is the beach like?
The Platja Gran is 1,681 m long and 62 wide, with lifeguards from 15 June to 30 September, showers and toilets. To the north is the Platja del Grau, with shallow water.

### Is there a bus?
Yes, Sarfa links Pals with Barcelona and Girona. Check the timetables on its website.

### Where is the tourist office?
At Carrer de la Creu 7; telephone 972 63 73 80.