Palamós is a useful base for day trips because the surrounding area changes quickly. Drive inland and you can spend the day in Girona or among medieval villages; head north and Begur gives you hilltop streets and coves; go south and Sant Feliu, S’Agaró and Tossa de Mar offer different versions of the coast. The mistake is trying to collect too many places in one day. We would choose one direction, give it enough time for lunch and a walk, then return to Palamós before the drive becomes the main memory of the outing.
Girona when you want a proper city day
Girona is our first choice when everyone wants a complete break from beach life. Walk the old city walls, spend time around the historic centre and Jewish Quarter, then stay for lunch instead of rushing through a checklist. The city is compact enough to enjoy on foot but different enough from Palamós to make the day feel substantial. We would leave the evening open and return to the coast before dinner. That way the day has a clear city section and a relaxed seaside finish rather than becoming a very long sequence of sights.
Pals and Peratallada for stone streets and a long lunch
The Baix Empordà villages work best when you resist the urge to see five of them in one afternoon. Pals is the obvious starting point, with elevated views and a historic centre, while Peratallada is ideal for wandering and staying for lunch. Choose one as the main destination and treat the other as an optional addition if everyone still has energy. The pleasure is in walking without a strict route, stopping for coffee and letting the pace slow down after several beach days. These villages are especially enjoyable outside the hottest hours.
Begur for a hilltop town plus a swim
Begur combines two things that work well together: a historic hilltop centre and access to attractive coves below. Explore the town in the morning, then choose one beach afterwards rather than trying to drive between several. Roads and parking can become busy in July and August, so an earlier start helps. We would make the town the first half of the day and the sea the reward after lunch. If you realise you would rather stay much closer to Palamós, our guide to the beaches around Palamós offers several outings that require hardly any driving.
Sant Feliu and S’Agaró for an easy half-day south
Not every day trip needs to consume the entire day. Sant Feliu de Guíxols is close enough for a market morning, harbour walk and lunch, while S’Agaró adds one of the most polished coastal paths in the area. Combine the two when you want a change of scene without leaving Palamós at dawn. The drive home stays short enough that the pool or an evening in the harbour still makes sense. This is the direction we would choose when the family wants to go somewhere but nobody wants a full sightseeing day.
Tossa de Mar when the journey should feel coastal
Farther south, Tossa de Mar gives you a stronger sense of a destination day. The old fortified town and dramatic coastline are worth more time, so we would not combine Tossa with several other stops. Leave early, explore before the streets become hottest, have lunch and use the coast as part of the return. For a quieter day, stay closer to home: our Camí de Ronda from Palamós guide proves that some of the best outings begin almost at the edge of town.
Explore widely, return somewhere familiar
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