The Catalonia region sits in the Northeast of Spain. It has it´s own unique traditions and language. The eastern side of Catalonia sits on the Mediterranean coast including the Costa Brava and Costa Dorado. It borders France in the north, Aragon to the east and has a small border with Valencia in the south.
The region has a population of 7.6 million with 1.6 million living in its capital, Barcelona.
The Costa Brava area runs from about 60 kilometres northeast of Barcelona to the French border. It is well known for its warm weather and scenic coastline.
Its main city is Girona which has a population of 100,000. It is well known as a historic and picturesque city.
Further south, Costa Dorada is known for its safe beaches and other family friendly attractions. Its main city is Tarragona. Tarragona has a population of 132,000 and contains many Roman ruins.
Inland to the north the Pyrenees sit on the border with France creating a very different climate from the warmer coastal areas.
The region has a rich history dating back to the Middle Paleolithic period. At various times the area has seen Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Muslims leaving their mark on the region.
The busiest airport in the region is of course Barcelona.
You can also find flights to Reus airport near Tarragona and Girona.
Flying time from London to Barcelona and Reus is 2 hours 10 minutes.
From London to Girona Costa-Brava is 2 hours 5 minutes
Flying time from New York to Barcelona is 7 hours 45 minutes.
Spain’s High-speed rail connects Barcelona to Madrid with a trip of just 2 hours 30 minutes.
Driving from Madrid will take you between 6 and 7 hours.
The drive from Zaragoza will take about 3 hours 40 minutes.
Driving from Valencia will take around 4 hours.