Villatent at Camping Nautic Almata

The site has direct access to a 3.5-kilometre sandy beach (look lively and put down your towel early if you want to bag yourself a spot close to the park entrance). Further afield, the pleasure port of Empuriabrava (20 minutes) has many more coastal locales where you can chill, as well as watersport opportunities like boat and jetski rental. Whizzing around the Gulf of Roses is all very well for those seeking thrills, but when you find yourself after some nature you're best bet is to book onto a boat trip at Cadaqués harbour (40 minutes) – sperm whales, dolphins and other elusive marine mammals all dwell in the wild waters around this headland. Equally impressive (while being plonked firmly on dry land) are architectural landmarks like Montgrí Castle (35 minutes), Sant Ferran castle (30 minutes) and The Dalí Theatre and Museum (30 minutes). Girona (50 minutes), a sizeable medieval city with a cathedral, cinema museum and well-preserved Arab baths, is also worth a gander.