The Costa Brava is known as Spain's sunny 'wild coast'. It is lined with rugged cliffs, sandy inlets and bustling holiday resorts. Here you will find long crescents of sand and shingle and the long beaches of the main resorts where all manners of water sports can be found. Estartit is great for scuba diving. There is a crammed marina here, filled with luxury yachts and one of the best sandy beaches on this part of the coast. Every resort along this stretch of coast has its own character and Tossa de Mar is no exception. Here are British-style pubs, late night clubs and lively bars. The town of Tossa de Mar also has narrow, twisting streets dating back to the 12th century.

Away from the coast you will find a very different Spain. Here you are within Catalonia an area with its own ancient language, traditions and ambience. A distant backdrop of snow-capped mountains lies behind almond groves and orchards and green, rolling hillsides. Visit the vibrant city of Barcelona.

The climate here is a little milder than that of southern Spain which makes it an ideal resort for families with children.

Pineda de Mar is located in Costa del Maresme and has maintained more of its original character than other nearby resorts. The pace here is very relaxing and revolves around three main squares. The coarse, sandy beach is reached by means of several subways that run under the railway line. There may not be such a wide variety of bars here but it is made up for by the wide range of restaurants that offer both Spanish and International cuisine.

Malgrat is also technically on the Costa del Maresme and it is a typical Catalan town that boasts a good weekly market. Located 3km from Pineda. Ceramics and leather are in abundance in the shopping centre, all at good prices. The beach is long and shelves steeply into the sea. It has a long promenade.

Calella, 5km south of Lloret de Mar has a beach nearly 3km long with a water sports centre and a sports centre. The resort has a vibrant nightlife and a wide selection of bars and restaurants. Close by is the resort of Blanes, the most southerly of the resorts on the Costa Brava. Here you will find a holiday with a more Spanish flavour and the nightclubs are as popular with the residents as the holiday makers.

Lloret de Mar lies at the heart of the Costa Brava and is one of Spain's trendiest resorts. The beach here consists of coarse, golden sand and shingle and shelves quite steeply into the sea. The beach offers windsurfing and sailing in the summer months. The beautiful seafront promenade is lined with tall palms.

What to do on the Costa Brava

Hot summers and mild winters make the Costa Brava an all-year-round resort and a sport fanatic's paradise. With its wide selection of long, sandy beaches, secluded coves and tiny bays, water sports are top of the agenda. When it comes to boating, most of the larger beaches have something and most hotels that front the beach have access to boats of some kind. Pedalos, two seater, foot-driven vessels are the norm and are quite cheap to hire by the hour. Banana boats are also quite common, seating 10 or 12 people at a time. Water-skiing, although quite common, is becoming expensive and less popular. The clear waters of this coastline offer excellent opportunities for snorkelling especially the tiny coves that are almost impossible to get to. By far the coast's most popular pastime is swimming. In high season the best beaches are crowded but between towns you will find less used beaches that are just as attractive. Most of the beaches are not manned by lifeguards so watch the small children. There are however, many first-aid stations.

Hunting, shooting and horse-riding are also popular within Catalunia as is fishing.

When it comes to golf, Girona Province offers three main golf courses: Club de Golf de Pals has 18 holes near Begur. Club de Golf Costa Brava near Santa Cristina d'Aro has 18 holes. Reial Club de Golf de la Cerdanya is near the French border, another good 18 hole course.

A holiday on the Costa Brava is an ideal opportunity to see a bullfight.