Discovering Tossa de Mar: A Gem Near Barcelona
Hey everyone, I'm excited to share my experience exploring a beautiful small town in Spain called Tossa de Mar. If you're planning a trip to Barcelona, definitely consider dedicating a day to explore this charming coastal town.
Beyond being a popular holiday spot, Tossa de Mar also served as a filming location for the Korean drama "Legend of the Blue Sea". So, if you're a fan of Korean dramas, here's another reason to visit!
If you're used to the hustle and bustle of Barcelona with its throngs of tourists, Tossa de Mar offers a more serene and chilled-out vibe. The air is fresh, and the pace of life is slower. The locals are incredibly kind and friendly, especially the older folks, who smiled and waited patiently while I was taking photos.
Getting There
From Barcelona's city center, head to the Estació del Nord bus station. Purchase a bus ticket to Tossa de Mar; the journey takes about 1.5 hours. Be aware that the bus can get a bit warm and stuffy, and the road to the island has quite a few curves, so those prone to motion sickness should prepare accordingly.
Dining: La Roca de Tossa
For lunch, we dined at La Roca de Tossa, a well-known local restaurant. We were lucky to snag a table as soon as we arrived since it gets quite busy. I highly recommend making a reservation beforehand.
The restaurant offers both lunch sets and a la carte options.
Here's what we ordered:
- Mussels in Sauce: A generous portion of incredibly fresh mussels. The flavorful sauce was rich and delicious. An excellent first impression!
- Cogollos con Atún (Tuna Salad): Crisp and sweet lettuce hearts. However, the dressing was a bit too sharp due to the excessive vinegar.
- Revoltillo de Huevos (Scrambled Eggs): A surprisingly delicious dish, seasoned perfectly and infused with the flavors of mushrooms, shrimp, and onions. Highly recommended!
- Paella Marinera (Seafood Paella): Similar in flavor to the paella I had at El Glop Gaudi in Barcelona. However, the rice at La Roca was moist and slightly undercooked, giving it a unique texture. The seafood topping was plentiful and tasty overall.
- Costillar de Cordo (Grilled Pork Ribs): The meat was tender, juicy, and not dry or tough—a huge plus! The seasoning was just right, and it didn't even need sauce.
- Bistec a la Placha (Grilled Steak): Well-prepared and cooked to a perfect medium. The steak was simply seasoned with salt and pepper.
Dessert Highlights
The desserts were the real stars of the meal.
- Homemade Cheesecake: The staff recommended this, and it was amazing. Rich and creamy with a subtle strawberry flavor, paired with a light cream. It literally melted in my mouth! If you visit, you absolutely have to try this cheesecake.
- Crema Catalana: A famous Catalan specialty. Before eating, you need to crack the brittle caramel crust with your spoon, revealing a soft, creamy pudding underneath. Perfect for those with a sweet tooth!
Price: €21.90 per pack (includes a drink or a glass of wine), which left us completely full.
The restaurant's ambiance is simple, but the staff are incredibly friendly and provide excellent service. Most importantly, the food is delicious and of high quality!
Things to Do in Tossa de Mar
After lunch, we took a walk to explore.
We headed uphill, using Google Maps to find the 📍Municipal Museum of Tossa de Mar. This is the exact location of the famous "Hang chó" (Dog Cave).
We then visited the 📍Vila Vella castle, offering stunning sea views. This is another filming location from "Legend of the Blue Sea". From the top, you can get a clear view of the sea and beach. The beach was crowded, but the color of the sea viewed from above was incredibly beautiful.
Later in the evening, we strolled down towards the beach for some ice cream. I discovered that the beach isn't sandy; it's covered with tiny pebbles. The locals were playing volleyball barefoot on the stones, which was amazing!
Since we didn't go swimming, about 6 hours in Tossa de Mar was perfect for us. If you plan to swim, consider arriving earlier or spending the whole day there!
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