Costa Brava Weather

You might be forgiven for thinking all British citizens are obsessed about weather, but anyone wishing to vacation in Costa Brava Spain will tell you that it is one of the most important facts to find out, along with distance from the sea, the nearest golf course and a list of the best restaurants.

The Costa Brava is one of those places that we often say, "I've heard of it, but I don't know much about it. Where is it? Where is it in relation to the Costa Del Sol?"

The Costa Brava is on Spain's North East coast on the Mediterranean, running from the boarder with France and the Pyrenees Mountains down to just north of Barcelona.

As the Costa Brava is a little further north than the Costa del Sol, the weather tends to be a little less hot during most months of the year. It also suffers less humidity than other costas, due to its proximity to the Pyrenees mountains.

Today, as it is the last day of July, the weather is a fabulous, hot, blue-skied 32 degrees C! It's been like this for some weeks.

You are guaranteed great weather and it is perfect for that beach holiday you promised yourself. The beaches are sandy, although some of the very secluded coves have pebbles with crystal clear water to swim in.

The Costa Brava is also perfect for that quick getaway few days/weekend, as Ryanair flies into Girona Airport from many UK and European airports. Other low-cost airlines also fly into Girona, which is about 30 minutes away from the coast itself.

September and October are fantastic! The days are starting to shorten a little, but the best thing about this time of year is the lack of humidity. The warmth is still there, but that prickling dampness that slicks your skin has gone.

This time of year is perfect to visit both the seaside and the inland treasure-house that is the Costa Brava!

Stroll around Figueres and visit the Salvador Dali Theatre Museum with its surrealist exterior as much a part of the exhibition as the collection and exhibitions inside.

Play golf on one of the top 9 golf courses in the region. The views are stunning and the range of courses means there is something for everyone. Ever teed-off from a volcano? Well, try the Golf Costa Brava course - it's not for the faint-hearted!

May and June are my favourite months of the year, along with September and October in the Costa Brava - well, in Spain altogether!

Bright, warm, sunny days with none of the accompanying humidity which can blight the hotter months of July and August await the visitor in May and June.

Blossom and flowers bedeck the trees and flowerbeds. Jasmine scents the air. Everywhere looks clean and fresh from the spring rains. Peace and tranquillity abound.

It's the time before the madding crowds arrive and fill the beaches with their suntan oils and noisy ball games. Yet all the restaurants and cafes are open and keen to serve you. Certainly the best of both worlds!

Stroll around ancient towns like Besalu and imagine the Roman soldiers of old garrisoning the beautiful houses lining the River Fluvia, which flows down from the volcanic mountains of the Garrotxa region of the Costa Brava. A number of these houses, built on four or five levels are today fine restaurants with first-class service and menus.

Try Pont Vell with its wonderful narrow staircases and spectacular views, great food and lovely ambiance; La Curia Reial or El Fogons de Can Llaudes in the Square, all of whom subscribe to Volcanic cuisine using traditional methods of cooking local produce to entice all tastes.

Wend your way down to the coast and the lovely fishing villages of Tamariu, Aigua Blava and Llfranc. Sit in the warmth of the Spanish sun and soak up the relaxed, easygoing atmosphere in one of the small cafes or restaurants that line the small bays.

That's one of the beauties of the Costa Brava. Because of the naturally wild make-up of the coastline with plunging cliff-faces and treacherous seas crashing into the rocks, the area has been preserved from high rise hotels. More sympathetic building has taken place, which moulds itself to the surroundings - much of it traditional, lending an air of permanence and dependability.

Why not pack up a picnic and hike down to one of the myriad picturesque little coves tucked away off the beaten track. Swim in the warm, clear waters of the Mediterranean. Discover the old goat-herd and smuggler's pathway which hugs the coastline and find deserted inlets to eat your lunch.

Plan a day-trip to Barcelona and stroll the wide boulevards of this fascinating Catalonian city, with its Gaudi buildings and unfinished Sagrada Familia which will remain a work in progress until at least 2041, but is the region's most important landmark with its 18 soaring towers.

Costa Brava weather in May and June allows you freedom from coats and scarves. A time to cast off the winter woollies and fully embrace the warmth and light of summer!

Get out those summer clothes now and make a plan to visit and allow the Costa Brava weather in May and June to seduce your senses and restore your joie de vivre!