From off-duty locals to tourists in search of something a little less chaotic than Barceloneta Beach, Castelldefels is a sanctuary of sun, sand and surf. The pretty seaside town sits on the Costa del Garraf coast and is surrounded by beautiful Catalan countryside. Of course, the sparkling Mediterranean Sea is the town’s biggest drawcard, with visitors flocking to soak up rays on the town’s five-kilometre-long beach.

From visiting nearby villages like Garraf and exploring 12th century castle ruins in Sant Pere de Ribes to sampling wine at the vineyards of Penedés and exploring Sant Sadurní d'Anoia’s smorgasbord of bodegas, there’s plenty to do both in and around Castelldefels.

Castelldefels may be perched just 25 kilometres south of Barcelona, but it feels worlds away from the buzz of the Catalan capital. By car, it’s a 30-minute drive, while the train whisks passengers from Barcelona Sants to Castelldefels in just 25-minutes. Thanks to its southern location, Castelldefels is just 15-minutes from Barcelona El Prat Airport.

During the summer, Castelldefels is hugely popular with Spanish holidaymakers. Like most Catalan settlements, it offers plenty of history alongside its modern allure. The town was named after the ancient Castelldefels Castle, a 10th century frontier fortress which dominates the coastline. Its ruins still stand proud to this day, as well as later additions like the 16th century towers of Can Ballester and Barona Tower.