Costa Barcelona

This tourism brand groups together six regions close to the city of Barcelona, namely the inland regions of Alt Penedès, Vallès Occidental and Vallès Oriental (the latter of which is home to the Montseny Massif, declared a Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve) and the coastal regions of Maresme, Baix Llobregat and Garraf. This area is strongly committed to the development of a responsible and accessible tourism model, geared towards ensuring the sustainability of the destination and the tourism companies operating here.

This commitment was recognised in the first joint ETIS (European Tourism Indicators System) and Accessible Tourism Awards hosted by the European Commission in April 2016, in which over 100 destinations took part. The province won the top award in the ETIS Accessible Destination category for its “Tourism for All” project. The goal of the ETIS is the uniform recognition and application of tourism indicators across the European Union in order to enable the comparison of tourism activity in different destinations and regions under the same sustainability and accessibility criteria.

The Costa Barcelona boasts a high concentration of leisure services and activities. With an accommodation capacity of over 100,000 guests, it welcomes more than three and a half million visitors every year, generating ten million overnight stays.

It’s a lively area with tourist attractions to suit everyone and more than 100 km of coastline, combining coastal and beach destinations with Catalan modernism, industrial landscapes and a network of natural parks, including the Natural Park of Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac and the Montseny Natural Park, certified by the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (ECST) since 2011. The charter is a Europe-wide initiative managed by the Europarc Federation. Meanwhile, three other natural parks (El Garraf, El Foix and Olèrdola) are currently undergoing the process of obtaining ECST certification and have plenty of interesting flora and fauna for nature lovers. One of the highlights of the Costa Barcelona is the Llobregat Delta, a protected area. The second largest delta in Catalonia is a paradise next to the sea with a diversity of flora and fauna that is difficult to find in other stretches of the Mediterranean coastline. Birdwatching trips are one of the star activities there.

There are also lots of charming towns and cities on the Costa Barcelona, along with plenty of sports facilities and activities. Enjoy a unique experience that combines wine tourism and rich gastronomy with festivals and traditions, welcoming locals and a mild climate all year around.