Salvador Dalí once called the lovely seaside town of Cadaques "The most beautiful town in the world." Since then, scores of artistic types - including Pau Casals, Marcel Duchamp, Gabriel García Márquez, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and even Walt Disney - have taken the time to test the waters themselves.
Today, its quiet cobbled streets, wending through a maze of modernist homes, charming hotels, and restaurants renowned for their tasty local cuisine, are among the Costa Brava's top attractions. Visitors come from all over the world, and many stay on for a lifetime.
Cadaques can get packed during the summer high season, when the city's population can swell to five times normal size. Never fear! If tr anquility is what you seek, explore the rugged coastline that has inspired so many artists, or visit nearby natural reserves such as Aiguamolls de l'Empordà, with its wealth of bird life, or Cap de Creus, with fantastic views.
Most people fly into Barcelona's busy El Prat Airport (BCN), with direct flights from all over Europe. There's no direct train service between Barcelona and Cadaques, but you can take the metro from Barcelona as far as the city of Figueres. From there, regular buses head out to the wildest part of the Costa Brava, and quaint city of Cadaques. There are also direct buses between Barcelona and Cadaques.
Once you arrive, the town is compact enough that most visitors will be able to stroll between the major sites. Taxis and buses can take you to most destinations outside town.
