What are the best beaches and coves in Roses?

If you like the sea and you’re after something special, Roses will give it to you. With Boats Mediterrani you don’t just rent a boat or a jet ski, you get a day on the water with it. This article walks through the best beaches and coves in Roses.

The coast here runs on contrasts. Wide beaches with fine sand and shallow water, ideal for families, and hidden coves between cliffs and pine trees for anyone after quiet and nature. For each one you’ll find how to get there, what facilities you’ll have, what there is to do and a few things only locals tend to know.

Want to know where the water is clearest, which beach bar does a proper lunch, or which corners are worth snorkelling? Read on. By the end of this article you’ll know exactly where to put your towel down.

1. Canyelles Petites beach

Canyelles Petites is barely 4 km from the centre of Roses and it’s the first place to lay your towel down. Clear water, fine sand and the kind of atmosphere that makes you forget the city quickly. It’s very much a family beach: the water stays shallow and calm a long way out.

What makes Canyelles Petites special is where it sits. Ringed by green hills, you get a wide view over the bay from the sand. You can spend a whole day here without needing anything else.

Getting there

By car, follow the seafront, pass the harbour and you’re there in about ten minutes. There is parking, though it fills up in summer. On public transport there’s a bus every hour that drops you a few steps from the sand. And if you like walking, take the Camí de Ronda: a coastal path with excellent views that gets you there in under an hour.

Facilities

You won’t go short of anything. The «La Gua Gua» beach bar serves something cold and does good food; try the tapas with the sea in front of you. There are showers, and parasols and sun loungers for hire, so you barely need more than your swimming things. The clean water and quiet setting also make it a good spot for snorkelling: there’s plenty of life along the edges of the bay.

One warning: this beach fills up fast in summer. If you want a good spot, come early. And don’t forget sun cream, the sun here is strong.

2. l’Almadrava beach

l’Almadrava beach, also known as Canyelles Grosses, is the next one you shouldn’t skip. It sits about 5 km from the centre of Roses and is bigger and quieter than Canyelles Petites. Ideal if you want the sea without the bustle of the town beaches.

Nature and quiet

l’Almadrava is known for how good it looks. Around 450 metres of fine sand along clear water, surrounded by green hills. This is the one for switching off.

Getting there

By car, follow the coast road out of the centre of Roses, past the Puig Rom development. Allow ten to fifteen minutes. There’s also a bus that drops you near the beach. The drive itself is worth it: you have the coast in view the whole way.

Facilities

l’Almadrava has everything you need for a full day. Several restaurants and beach bars serving local cooking, fresh fish and paella. Showers, toilets, and parasols and loungers for hire. The beach is also sheltered from the tramuntana, which makes it excellent for kayaking and paddleboarding.

Activities

If you like watersports, this is your beach. The calm, clear water is good for snorkelling and diving, and there are operators renting equipment and running guided trips.

For children there are play areas and safe stretches to swim. And if you’d rather keep it slow, read under a parasol or walk along the shoreline while the sun drops.

Local tip

l’Almadrava is popular with locals and visitors alike, so it can get busy through the summer months. Come early. And try the paella at one of the beach bars: it has a name as one of the better ones on the Costa Brava.

3. Cala Murtra

Third on the list, a hidden one: Cala Murtra. Perfect if you want to get away from the crowds and find something more natural. The cove is about 10 km from the centre of Roses, undeveloped, with clear water and untouched surroundings.

A naturist spot

Cala Murtra is one of the few naturist coves in the area. The atmosphere is calm and respectful, and that’s exactly what people come for.

Getting there

The journey is part of it. From Roses, take the road towards Montjoi. On the way you pass vineyards, abandoned buildings and cliffs looking out over the whole bay. You leave the car in a marked parking area and then walk about fifteen minutes down a path. That walk is worth the trip on its own.

Facilities

Cala Murtra is undeveloped: no beach bar, no toilets, no parasols for hire. That’s the point. Bring what you need — water, food, shade — and you get the nature in return.

Activities

Snorkelling and diving are the main draw. The water is transparent and there’s a lot going on below the surface, so bring your mask.

Local tip

Because getting here takes effort, it’s rarely packed even in mid-summer. Ideal if you’re after quiet. Treat the place with respect and take your rubbish back with you, so the cove stays as you found it.

4. Cala Montjoi

Cala Montjoi is one of the best known coves in Roses, and not only for the scenery. Around 12 km from the centre, this is where El Bulli stood, Ferran Adrià’s restaurant, which turns the trip into something of a pilgrimage for a lot of visitors.

History and setting

Montjoi is a wide, handsome cove, ringed by mountains and vegetation that give it the feel of a natural shelter. The sand is coarse, the water clear and calm, good for swimming and diving. You look out at Cap Norfeu, the rocky headland that gives the landscape its hard edge.

Getting there

Follow the same road as for Cala Murtra, but keep going to the end. The drive runs through striking country, and there’s parking when you arrive. If you’d rather walk, Montjoi is also reachable on the Camí de Ronda along the coast.

Facilities

Montjoi is well set up: showers, toilets, and parasols and loungers for hire. There’s a beach bar for drinks and light meals. Adrià’s culinary legacy still shows in what the area puts on a plate.

Activities

For snorkellers and divers this is a paradise: clear water and a seabed full of life. You can hire kayaks and paddleboards too. The standout is the wreck of the Phedon, lying a few metres off the shore, a well-known dive.

Local tip

If food history interests you, go and see the old El Bulli site, now a centre for culinary innovation. And stay until the end of the day: the sun going down behind Cap Norfeu is the best moment here.

5. Cala La Pelosa

Cala La Pelosa is one of those places that feels like your own discovery. About 15 km from Roses, known for turquoise water and an easy, unhurried feel.

Small and sheltered

La Pelosa is a fairly small cove, enclosed by rocks that shelter it from the wind and give it a sense of being tucked away. The mix of sand and fine pebbles suits anyone who prefers things natural and not too crowded. The water is glass-clear and the seabed is full of life — excellent for snorkelling.

Getting there

The drive is a small adventure. From Roses, follow the road towards Cap Norfeu. The cove is about 2 km before the cape and the last stretch is unpaved. There’s parking nearby, but it fills quickly in summer: come early.

Facilities

One of La Pelosa’s great strengths is its beach bar, known for one of the best paellas around. They also serve boats anchored in the cove, which works out well if you hire a boat with Boats Mediterrani. There are showers, toilets, and parasols and loungers for hire.

Activities

Snorkelling comes first here, thanks to the clear water and the marine life. Swimming and a lazy day by the water work just as well. If you have diving gear, bring it: the seabed genuinely rewards it.

Local tip

La Pelosa is lovely during the day, but it’s at its best at sunset. The sun dropping into the sea while you eat at the beach bar is the sort of evening you come back for. And because the cove is sheltered, it’s a good place to anchor and stay the night.

6. Cala Canadell

Cala Canadell is probably one of the least known and best hidden coves in Roses, which is exactly why it works as a refuge for anyone after quiet and nature. It sits near La Pelosa, sheltered by Cap Norfeu, well away from the tourist traffic.

Remote and unspoilt

Canadell is a small cove of around 70 metres, ringed by rocks and vegetation that give it a wild feel. Nothing has been built around it. The beach is a mix of sand and pebbles, and the water is so clear you can see the bottom without trying.

Getting there

Access isn’t the easiest, and that’s what keeps the cove as it is. From Roses, follow the road to Cap Norfeu and then take the dirt track. From the parking area there’s still a walk, but it pays off. For the more adventurous, you can also arrive on foot or by boat.

Facilities

Because of how remote it is, there are no beach bars, showers or parasols. Bring everything you need: water, food, sun protection and shade if you want it. What you lose in facilities you get back in quiet.

Activities

Canadell is excellent for snorkelling and diving. The transparent water and rocky bottom hold a lot of species, and the rock formations around the cove are worth exploring. Swimming here is a peaceful business.

Local tip

Come prepared. Enough water and food for the day, and a bag for your rubbish. It’s an ideal spot for a picnic surrounded by nature. Because it’s so quiet, naturism is also common here, as it is along this stretch of coast.

7. Cala Jóncols

Cala Jóncols is the last on this list, but by no means the least. It’s known for its setting and for its liveliness: a mix of calm and activity you don’t find everywhere. The cove is about 18 km from the centre of Roses.

Rugged and lively

Jóncols is a wide cove, ringed by mountains and thick vegetation. The clear water and rocky bottom make it excellent for snorkelling and diving. The beach is scattered with pebbles and small stones, which gives it a rough, natural character.

Getting there

Follow the road to Cala Montjoi and keep going to the end. The last part is partly tarmac, partly dirt track. There’s parking, though it fills up quickly in summer. You can also arrive by boat, which shows you the coast at its best.

Facilities

Jóncols is well equipped for a full day. There’s a popular beach bar doing food and drinks, known for its fish and paella. Showers, toilets, and parasols and loungers for hire. Nearby there’s a small hotel and a campsite, which makes the cove work for a weekend away.

Activities

A paradise for divers and snorkellers. You can hire kayaks and paddleboards to explore the coast. In summer things keep going after sunset too: open-air concerts at the beach bar and events that draw people from across the region. There are also dive trips out to a nearby wreck.

Local tip

If you come in summer, stay for sunset. The sun over the sea plus live music at the beach bar makes for an evening that sticks. And because the cove is so isolated, it’s dark enough for stargazing: bring a blanket.

Making the most of your visit to Roses

A few practical things that make the difference between a good day and a very good one on the coast of Roses.

Get to the beach early

Popular beaches like Canyelles Petites and l’Almadrava fill up fast in high season. Come early for the space — and for those first hours, when it’s still quiet.

Bring the right things

Sun cream, parasol, towels, sunglasses and a book. And your snorkelling kit, if you plan to look underwater.

Explore the coast by boat or jet ski

Hiring a boat or a jet ski with Boats Mediterrani is one of the best ways to see the coast of Roses. You reach coves you can’t get to by land. Take enough water and something to eat, plus a waterproof bag for your things.

Wear proper footwear

Some coves, like Cala Canadell and Cala Jóncols, involve rocky paths and uneven ground. A decent pair of walking sandals makes the difference.

Walk the Camí de Ronda

The Camí de Ronda runs along some of the finest stretches of the Costa Brava. It’s the best way to find hidden coves and keep the sea in view as you go.

Several of these coves — Montjoi, Jóncols or La Pelosa — are best enjoyed from the water: road access is awkward and in summer the parking fills early. If you’d rather see them by sea, take a look at our boat rental in Roses or the jet skis in Roses.