Barcelona to Blanes: Gateway to the Costa Brava
Quick answer: Blanes is about 65 km from Barcelona, roughly 40 miles, and sits right at the southern gateway to the Costa Brava. A direct train from Barcelona Plaça de Catalunya takes about 1 hour 22 minutes. The main draw is the Marimurtra Botanical Garden, a cliffside garden overlooking the sea, about a 35–40 minute walk from the train station via the beach.
Blanes marks the boundary where the Costa Brava officially begins, and while it does not have the resort profile of Lloret de Mar next door, it has one thing they do not: one of the best botanical gardens on this stretch of coast, built directly into a cliff above the Mediterranean.
Getting There and Getting to the Garden
| Leg | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona to Blanes (train) | ~1h22 | Direct from Plaça de Catalunya |
| Station to beach | ~35–40 min walk | Or a short taxi ride |
| Beach to Marimurtra Garden | ~20 min walk | Along the coast path |
The walk from the station is a genuinely long one for anyone short on time or traveling with young kids — the train gets you to Blanes efficiently, but the last mile to the garden itself takes real planning, or a short taxi hop to skip the walk entirely.
The Marimurtra Botanical Garden
Marimurtra sits on a clifftop overlooking the sea, with an oceanfront pavilion, a hidden cove, and a wide collection of Mediterranean and subtropical plant species across terraced paths. Entry runs around €12. It is a quieter, more contemplative stop than the beach towns further up the coast — worth building a slower half-day around rather than rushing through.
Blanes as a Base or a Stop
Because Blanes sits at the start of the Costa Brava with direct rail access to Barcelona, some visitors use it as a lower-key base for exploring the coast, while others treat it purely as a garden-focused half-day trip. Either way, the direct train connection is the town’s real advantage over neighbors like Tossa de Mar, which have no station of their own.
FAQ
About 65 km, roughly 1 hour 22 minutes by direct train from Plaça de Catalunya.
Yes — it is about a 35–40 minute walk to the beach, then another 20 minutes along the coast to the garden, or a short taxi ride to skip the walk.
Around €12 for entry.
Yes — Blanes has its own direct rail connection to Barcelona, which is why it is often used as the transport hub for this part of the Costa Brava.
