Between the Costa Brava in the north and the Costa Daurada in the south of Catalonia is the coastal section of the province of Barcelona, today often referred to as the Costa Barcelona. Strictly speaking, it is made up of the Costa del Maresme, which begins in the north at Blanes, and the Costa del Garraf, which ends in the south at Vilanova i la Geltrú. Both meet in the capital. Excellent transport connections and good service in all marinas leave little to be desired and make the area interesting for owners.
But it is also worth a visit for charterers, as boats can be hired in all harbours. They are rarely marketed in Germany, as they are mostly small local businesses. The programme includes everything from pleasure craft to yachts. If you don't want to organise your own trip on site and want to plan in advance, Nautal ( www.nautal.de ), an internet portal for charter offers based in Barcelona, which also has German contacts.
The coast has something for every taste
The vibrant city life with lots of culture and art can be explored from the marinas in Barcelona. The city, which is steeped in history and was settled by the Romans over 2000 years ago, has a lively centre with countless shops, bars and restaurants in addition to many architectural gems from the Middle Ages to modern times along the Rambla. The south is quieter at the beginning. Those who want to escape the hustle and bustle will find what they are looking for in Port Ginesta near Castelldefels or Port Garraf. With little development, long sandy beaches alternate with rocky areas.
You soon come across the idyllic Sidges. Its history began with Stone Age settlements. Today, the town is very popular due to its beautiful beaches, numerous cultural events and picturesque old town. Vilanova i la Geltrú is the next larger town. Its heyday began at the end of the 18th century. Palaces, gardens and manor houses from this era can be admired as well as a pretty historic centre around the Plaça de la Vila with shops, cafés and restaurants. There is also a market hall for supplies. Thanks to the fishing fleet, there is a commercial fish market to explore.
The Costa Maresme to the north of Barcelona is almost completely built-up as far as Blanes, with only the place names changing. Nevertheless, there are many sandy beaches, numerous marinas, but also larger towns such as the little-known Mataró. Bars, restaurants and shops beckon in the narrow streets of the old town. Formerly a centre of the textile industry, the town is still somewhat dormant. Tourism is only slowly developing. Less hustle and bustle than in the big cities awaits visitors to Port Bali further north. The marina is located outside directly on a large sandy beach.
The last stop on our visit was the fishing centre of Arenys de Mar. Here, too, catches are declining and tourism is gaining in importance. Worth seeing in the modernist-style architecture are the remains of the old fortifications with their defence towers, the Santa María church with its baroque façade in the centre and a remarkable cemetery with elaborate funerary sculptures. Accommodation is available in hotels or a campsite. Numerous restaurants also cater for your culinary needs. The entire Costa Barcelona offers an extremely rich culinary spectrum with many highlights.
1. Vilanova i la Geltrú
- Pos N41°12,4' E001°43,6'
Cosy historic old town with restaurants, street cafés and a market hall. The harbour consists of several parts, including a fishing port. The Club Nàutic de Vilanova i la Geltrú ( www.cnvilanova.cat ) has 817 berths with full service and, like other providers, also offers charter boats. In the Vilanova Grand Marina ( www.vilanovagrandmarina.com ) there are 49 berths for superyachts between 20 and 120 metres including full service.
2. sitges
- Pos N41°13.9' E01°49.4'
The tourist magnet attracts numerous visitors due to its idyllic old town and several beautiful beaches. The narrow alleyways are home to a variety of restaurants. The Port d'Aiguadolç ( www.portdesitges.com ) in a very beautiful location is only a few minutes' walk from the centre, has 742 berths, slip and crane service. Several small providers also hire out motorboats and larger yachts.
3rd Port Garraf
- Pos N41°15,0' E01°54,0'
Port Garraf, located in the middle of the nature park on the sparsely built-up north of the Costa del Garraf cliffs, offers peace and tranquillity. Just a few alleyways, a good handful of bars and restaurants and a lack of parking spaces characterise the tiny village near the harbour. The Club Nàutic Garraf ( www.clubnauticgarraf.com ) has 530 berths for boats up to 20 metres in length. The idyll is just a 15-minute drive from Barcelona airport.
4. Castelldefels - Port Ginesta
- Pos N41°15,4' E01°55,20'
Port Ginesta is also located on the edge of Parc Garraf ( www.portginesta.com ) at the very end of the village of Castelldefels. Here, long sandy beaches attract many bathers and culinary temptations complete the offer. The marina can be reached from Barcelona Airport in just over ten minutes.
The harbour has 1442 berths for boats and yachts up to 20 m in length. There are service companies for every need. Slip and crane service is also available on site. Chartering is also possible.
5th Barcelona
- Pos N41°22.5' E02°11.0'
The marina Port Vell ( www.oneoceanportvell.com ) is located in the Port de Barcelona right in the centre of the city. The luxury harbour has 410 berths, although they are usually fully booked during the season. The luxury marina is surrounded by equally upmarket restaurants. In the neighbouring basin with the same ambience is the Reial Club Marítim de Barcelona ( www.maritimbarcelona.org ) with 240 berths up to 16 metres in length.
The Port Olímpic de Barcelona ( www.portolimpic.es ) was built in 1992 for the Olympic Games and is located in the immediate vicinity north-east of the Port de Barcelona. The marina has 740 berths and, of course, a slip and crane service as well as trailer parking. In addition to a large number of bars and restaurants, the immediate vicinity of the harbour offers lively nightlife and the former fishing district of Barcelonetta with its long sandy beach.
The marina Port Fòrum ( www.portforum.com ) is located on the north-eastern outskirts of Barcelona. There are 170 berths up to 25 metres and 31 berths for superyachts up to 80 metres. The port also has the largest year-round indoor storage area in Catalonia for boats up to ten metres. The aim is to ensure that stored boats are ready for use within 30 minutes at all times.
6 Mataró
- Pos N41°31.6' E02°26.5'
The capital of the province of Maresme has around 130,000 inhabitants. A villa from the Roman settlement period is still preserved. Spain's first railway line to Barcelona brought a boom. There are remains of the city wall and architecture ranging from baroque to art nouveau. In the Port de Mataró ( www.portmataro.org ) with 1080 berths for boats up to 30 metres in length, there is full service and an area for superyachts. Charter companies are also on site.
7th Port Balis
- Pos N41°33.3' E02°30.3'
The modern marina in a quiet neighbourhood of small villages and in the immediate vicinity of the Club de Golf Llavaneras-Barcelona offers full service. The Club Nàutic de Balis ( www.cnelbalis.com ) has 764 berths for permanent residents and guests. There are berths for boats up to 30 metres in length, a 50-tonne travel lift, a pool, an adjacent sandy beach and its own heliport. Charter boats are also available.
8th Arenys de Mar
- Pos N41°34.5' E02°33.3'
Traditional fishing town with roots dating back to the 14th century. In addition to old defence towers, there is a remarkable cemetery and the Rambla with its baroque facades and rich gastronomy. The Club Nàutic d'Arenys de Mar ( www.cnarenys.com ) is located in the Port d'Arenys. The facility was equipped with new jetties and refurbished in winter 2019. 428 berths for boats from 6 to 24 metres in length. Slip and crane.
Nautical info
General information In summer, moorings are rare and expensive. The early and late seasons are cheaper. Information from the ADAC ( www.skipper.adac.de/haefen/ ). There is a wide range of accommodation in all categories.
Charter On the Costa Barcelona, there are also local charter offers in almost every town with a marina. On the national website of Nautal ( www.nautal.de ) some can be booked directly.
Weather The latest information is provided by El Tiempo ( www.eltiempo.es ) or the free Eltiempo.es+ app.
Cruise literature
Mediterranean Spain - Strait of Gibraltar to the French Border, by Steve Pickard, English, 2017. ISBN 978-1846236501, 50,38 €, at www.amazon.de
Imray Chart IM13 + IM14, Dénia to Barcelona and Ibiza + Barcelona to Bouches du Rhône, scale 1 : 440 000, ISBN 978-1846237638 + ISBN 978-1846238840, 24,50 €, at www.hansenautic.de
