The attractions of Palamos on the Costa Brava

The Costa Brava’s Palamos – A traditional Spanish working fishing port

Part of the beauty of Palamos is that although you find tourists here in the summer, the amount is nowhere near the levels of other places on the Costa Brava. The Catalans get on with the daily lives in this bustling fishing port as if they were oblivious and totally unreliant on the tourists.

Palamos town is on the north side of a huge curved bay, which eventually leads to another town at the southern end, known as St Anton. A delightful promenade that is tastefully decorated with palm trees and attractive paving connects the bowed bay. Without any cars this huge pedestrian highway provides a superb coastal walk, run, bike ride or roller skate.

The walkway borders Palamos beach which consists of flawless white sand with several protective stone causeways jutting out into the sea. At the northern most point of the beach you will find scores of old fishing boats with their nets strewn across the promenade, whilst old men and women repair them in the bright sunshine to get them in order for a late evening of fishing.

At night, you can watch the lights of these tiny vessels, all sticking together in close formation, probably all sharing a little light hearted banter as they work deep into the night towards the dawn. In fact the night time is particularly stunning in Palamos, as the town’s neon glow is cast across the water, the bright lights providing a stark contrast to the clear starry night above.

The next day, the fishermen’s hard nocturnal work in their tiny fishing boats can be tasted and savoured in the many wonderful local restaurants and bars.

A simple favourite Palamos dish is battered whitebait with a slice of lemon accompanied by a glass of fine Spanish beer. This can be bought in most of the bars either on the sea front or in restaurant down a cobbled street in the town.

All in all there are many great and reasonably priced restaurants in Palamos, some offering super budget ‘menu del dias’, such as the Vostra-Lar restaurant situated in a small square behind the tall block of flats to the north side of Palamos bay. Although it’s the fish that is the real winner in this working Costa Brava town, as you can rest assure that it has been caught fresh from the sea that day or, at the very most, the night before.