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| The view from our room at Hotel Llané Petit, Cadaqués |
There are quite a few options if you are looking for a relaxing weekend
trip away from Barcelona. However, there is no discussion that the village of
Cadaqués is one of the top attractions for a weekend getaway. If you happen to
be fond of Salvador Dalí you will probably already know of Cadaqués where he
lived for many years. It will take you about 2 hours to drive to Cadaqués from
Barcelona. On the way to Cadaqués you could get the impression that you have
made a mistake as the country starts becoming rocky and unwelcoming. However,
as you start your descend to Cadaqués via a twisting road your breath will be
taken away. The village is situated around a small bay, with small fishing
boats and beautiful old houses. Cadaqués is a major tourist destination in
particular for the French but it manages to retain all its charm despite the
many visitors. Figuring out where to stay before going there was a major
challenge for us. After a lot of research we booked a room at Hotel Llané Petit
which turned out to be the perfect choice. The hotel is situated at the water’s
edge on the quieter right side of the bay with access to a beach and some
wonderful rooms with an ocean view (at a reasonable price). The hotel is quiet,
clean, friendly and functional. The breakfast is pretty much the standard hotel
business which was just fine for us. Hotel Llané Petit is only a short walk
away from the village centre via a charming route along the water’s edge. On
the way you will encounter many nice bars, cafes and shops. In fact there are
countless places in Cadaqués to have a drink, coffee, lunch, dinner etc. from
the inexpensive to the more exclusive stuff.
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| Portllligat |
We went to quite a few places and
were not disappointed which we found surprising for such a touristy place.
However, we would like to mention two places that we particularly enjoyed. When
going from Hotel Llané Petit at the right side of the bay towards the village
centre you will pass a cosy little square (Plaça Doctor Pont). You will find a café called Bar Mut here that make a great mojito and the view of the bay is fantastic. The
service is super friendly and the food is fine (but nothing exceptional). A
great spot to do nothing but enjoy the view, drinks and the sun. Later when we
visited to the Salvador Dali Museum in Figueres we discovered a painting by Dali
of this particular little square so it would seem that Dalí shares our love for
this place. Moving closer to the centre of the village you will get to the
Village Casino (Plaça Dr. Trèmols 1). This is not the classic use of the name Casino and well worth
visiting in the evening. The Casino is essentially a big bar that serves as the
community meeting place. We watched a Barça game here with the locals over a
couple of beers and some snacks. The atmosphere is fantastic and the place is
inexpensive.
In addition, to cruising around Cadaqués checking out the shops, bars,
beach etc. you have to make the trip to a small natural port called Portlligat that is situated a short walk
from Cadaqués. Salvador Dalí
and his wife Gala lived at Port Portlligat for many years and you can visit the Dalí house that is open to the public. The Dalí House Museum is highly
recommend and will take you on a tour into the surreal mind of the Dalí's which is expressed
throughout the house. The Dalí House Museum exceeded all our expectations. We were really fascinated by the house which is work of art and the fantastic story of
Dalí's life. |
| Cap de Creus National Park |
Cadaqués is
surrounded by Cap de Creus national park with many walks ranging from trails for
the experienced hikers to easy walks suitable for families with kids. The views
are stunning at this the most Eastern point of the Iberian Peninsula and as a
minimum you should take the drive to the lighthouse and enjoy a coffee while
taking in the dramatic scenery. There are countless other activities you can
embark on in the area of Cadaqués and we have only mentioned the very tip of
the iceberg. Cadaqués and the surrounding area is a must see and we are sure that you will want to
return to this lovely spot again and again. The Cadaqués tourist website is a good starting point when planning your trip to this region. DC!
