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Quaint Spanish seaside holiday town with hidden coves seeing surge of interest from holidaymakers this summer
Flights to a nearby airport cost as little as £18
A LESSER-KNOWN holiday destination in Spain has been dubbed one of Europe's "best-hidden gems" by a team of travel experts.
Every year, millions of Brits head to Spain for their holidays, but mostly stick to well-known resorts.
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But there's one lesser-known Spanish seaside town that's tipped to be big in 2024.
According to , Calella de Palafrugell has been named one of Europe’s most beautiful hidden gems to fly to in 2024.
They wrote: "This is one of your best-hidden gems in Europe. Calella de Palafrugell is a perfect destination for those who want to escape from the city and enjoy an afternoon of idleness in a sublime old fishing village also famous for the beauty of its coves and small beaches.
"With its intact architecture, Calella de Palafrugell is one of the most beautiful villages in the Costa Brava."
Located in the Costa Brava, Calella de Palafrugell is an enticing spot for holidaymakers thanks to its whitewashed houses, narrow streets, picturesque beaches and hidden coves.
One of the town's main draws is Cala de Sant Roc - a small beach with granulated sand and crystal-clear waters.
The beach has been praised by visitors on Google with a 4.6/5 star rating from more than 290 reviews.
One person wrote: "One of the best ones to have privacy even in August. It has one shower and enough space to get your paddle board ready."
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Another added: "Beautiful beach on the rocks with great view, water is very clear."
While a third commented: "Wow, this beach is absolutely breathtaking!"
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Another popular beach is Playas de Calella, a pebbled beach that's home to coves and a coastal path.
There are a range of restaurants along the beachfront too, including ice cream parlours.
Other nearby beaches include La Platgeta and Platja del Canadell.
In addition to the beaches, there are several hidden coves tucked away along the coastline, including El Golfet Beach.
Surrounded by rocks, the tiny cove is located a few kilometres south of Calella de Palafrugell.
The entrance to the beach can be found on a small road in a residential area of the town.
From the road, holidaymakers will need to head down around 100 steps to reach the beach.
The tiny cove has been hailed as a "gem" by visitors - although many recommended wearing water shoes, as the beach is very rocky.
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In addition to the town's beaches and the tiny coves, there are plenty of other tourist attractions worth visiting too, including the Cap Roig botanical gardens.
The botanic gardens first opened in the 1920s, and it's home to over 1000 different plant species as well as a tiny castle.
Calella de Palafrugell is a 90-minute drive from Barcelona, and it's a 50-minute drive from Girona.
Girona Airport is the closest airport to Calella de Palafrugell, with Ryanair and Jet2 both operating direct flights from the UK.
Flights start from as little as £18 for a one-way ticket.
Calella de Palafrugell isn't the only Spanish destination set to be big with tourists in 2024.
After a huge volcanic eruption caused chaos in La Palma two years ago, the Canary island is set to be popular with Brits once again.
According to Enrique Luis Larroque del Castillo-Olivares, a member of the family that owns The Hacienda de Abajo hotel on the island, more people are now going to La Palma than in the last few years
He told : “La Palma is the least known of the Canary Islands but also the most diverse in its geography and nature — it truly has more to offer.
"And because the volcano was worldwide news, La Palma finally has a greater recognition."
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Meanwhile, this is a list of the top 10 holiday destinations to visit this year.
This jet lag-free holiday destination has 30C winters, quiet beaches and direct UK flights.
Everything you need to know about visiting Spain
- Brits must have at least three months left on their passport from the day you plan to leave the country.
- Tourists do not need a visa if visiting for up to 90 days in an 180-day period.
- Make sure your passport is stamped on entry and exit.
- Travellers may be asked to show hotel booking confirmations and that they have enough money for their stay at the border.
- Spain is one hour ahead of the UK.
- The country uses the euro with with around €10 working out to £8.55.
- Flights to Spain from the UK take between 2-4 hours depending on the destination.
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