Saint Andrew's Feast (Sant Andreu)
The town's winter festival featuring cultural exhibitions, a craft market, and religious ceremonies in November.
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A hearty Catalan fish and potato stew that originated with local fishermen. You can find excellent versions in the seafood restaurants along the main promenade.
World-famous anchovies from the neighboring town. Order them as a tapas dish with 'pa amb tomàquet' (bread with tomato) in the old town bars.
The region produces excellent DO Empordà wines. Ask for a local Garnatxa (Grenache) to pair with your dinner in any traditional restaurant.
Held every Sunday morning near the Citadel. It's a huge open-air market great for finding clothing, leather goods, and local crafts. Get there early to avoid the midday heat.
Look for small gourmet shops in the pedestrian streets behind the beachfront to buy extra virgin olive oil from the Empordà region.
A secluded, pebbly cove located further down the Cap de Creus natural park. Accessible by a scenic hike or boat, offering pristine waters away from the main resort crowds.
Walk up to this 16th-century fortification above the lighthouse. The grounds offer a peaceful vantage point to look out over the bay.
Water temperature…
The town's winter festival featuring cultural exhibitions, a craft market, and religious ceremonies in November.
A gastronomic event where local restaurants offer special tapas paired with Empordà wine at a fixed price.
A laid-back music festival in September combining live performances with the famous sunset in the Bay of Roses.
The summer festival in August features concerts, traditional habaneras music, and water-based competitions in the bay.
The shortest night of the year is celebrated with bonfires on the beach, fireworks, and the traditional coca pastry.
A five-day festival in February featuring large floats, elaborate costumes, and street parties that attract thousands of visitors.
Situated at the northern edge of the Costa Brava and curving along a bay officially recognized as one of the most beautiful in the world, Roses is a coastal town rich in dramatic history. Its focal point is the monumental Ciutadella de Roses, a massive pentagonal military fortress that protects remarkable archaeological layers, including ancient Greek and Roman settlements alongside medieval ruins. Today, Roses is a thriving resort town, best known for its extensive, wide golden sandy beaches. Thanks to its specific orientation and exposure to the fierce Tramuntana winds, the bay has become an international hotspot for windsurfing and kitesurfing, dotting the waters with colorful sails. Just north of the town limits lies the entrance to the Cap de Creus Natural Park, a spectacularly stark, rocky peninsula that provides world-class coastal hiking trails and completely isolated swimming coves. Because Roses uniquely faces west across the bay, visitors walking along its sweeping maritime promenade are treated to dramatic sunsets dropping directly into the Mediterranean Sea, a rare sight on Spain's eastern coastline.
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Jul, Sep.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 9 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 12 | 9 |
| Rain mm | 53 | 41 | 55 | 65 | 54 | 30 | 26 | 29 | 48 | 81 | 61 | 42 |
See what it looks like near Roses right now.
Roses: La Perola beach - Costa Brava · 0.8 km · Open webcam on Windy · Webcams provided by Windy.com
Notable places around
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Our tour begins in the massive Citadel, where millennia of history collide. Afterwards, we visit the Santa Maria church in the heart of the old town. At noon, we stroll along the Passeig Marítim, enjoying the sea breeze and finding a cozy restaurant for fresh seafood. The afternoon is dedicated to relaxation at Platja de la Punta. The shallow water is ideal for a refreshing swim. For the grand finale, we walk slightly uphill to Trinitat Castle, where you can enjoy the spectacular view over the entire Gulf of Roses.
The morning starts at the Citadel, where the indoor museum provides shelter from the rain. At noon, Santa Maria church offers a peaceful refuge. In the afternoon, enjoy a fresh walk along Passeig Marítim's covered cafe terraces. The evening concludes at Trinitat Castle, where the walls offer a mystical view of the bay despite the wet weather.
On a clear winter morning, the Citadel is wonderfully quiet and rich in history. At noon, the low winter sun warms the walls of Santa Maria. In the afternoon, enjoy the fresh breeze on Passeig Marítim without the summer heat. The day ends at Trinitat Castle with a spectacular, early sunset over the snowy Pyrenees peaks in the distance.
On two wheels, we explore the Bay of Roses. We start at the Citadel and then pedal along the coast towards Trinitat Castle. At noon, we pass the lighthouse on our way back to the promenade. The bike path offers a relaxed ride with constant sea views. In the afternoon, we enjoy the freedom on Passeig Marítim and find a shaded spot for some refreshments. The day ends with a well-deserved break at Platja de la Punta before returning the bikes.
A wet bike ride starts at the Citadel, where we park the bikes briefly. At noon, the climbs to Trinitat Castle on rain-slicked roads test your skills. In the afternoon, we cycle carefully to the lighthouse accompanied by the salt spray. The day ends with bikes pushed along the promenade as the rain slowly subsides.
A crisp winter morning starts with a ride to the Citadel under clear skies. At noon, we pedal up to Trinitat Castle, the exertion keeping us warm. In the afternoon, we head to the lighthouse as the winter sun turns the sea to silver. The day ends with a quick ride back along the windy promenade before the night chill sets in.
By car, we explore the prehistoric treasures and the surroundings of Roses. We start at the impressive dolmen in the hills. At noon, we visit the Citadel and Trinitat Castle, with the car handling the steep sections for us. In the afternoon, we take a trip to nearby Empuriabrava to admire its famous canals. The day ends relaxingly at Roses beach, from where we can flexibly drive to one of the region's best seafood restaurants.
We start dry with a drive to the prehistoric dolmens. At noon, the Citadel and its museum offer an ideal indoor activity during the rain. In the afternoon, we drive up to Trinitat Castle, where the view can be comfortably enjoyed from the car. The day ends with a scenic drive along the canals of Empuriabrava as raindrops drum on the roof.
On a sunny winter morning, we first drive to the dolmens in the hills. At noon, we explore the historic Citadel before heading to Trinitat Castle. In the afternoon, the drive along the canals of Empuriabrava is especially atmospheric in the golden light. We end the day right by the beach, enjoying the sunset from the warm car interior.
May-June and September are ideal: calm, warm and the Cap de Creus and Aiguamolls nature parks at their best. July-August are hot and busy. Spring highlights the El Bulli culinary legacy and new gastro routes.
Roses is safe and family-friendly. Watch for pickpockets along the promenade on summer evenings. Mountain roads into Cap de Creus are narrow and twisty, drive in daylight and fuel up beforehand.
Catalan dominates in Roses but everyone understands Spanish. French tourists are so common that signs and menus are often trilingual. The first words you'll pick up are 'Bon dia' and 'Adéu' (goodbye).
