Costa BridgeSpain Relocation Preparation

Platja d'Aro

A modern, lively resort with a long sandy beach, strong shopping and leisure infrastructure, and a younger family demographic on the central Costa Brava.

Suited to: Families · Young professionals · Second-home owners · Shopping and leisure · Budget buyers

Costa
Costa Brava
Province
Girona
Population
~1,000
Airport
Girona–Costa Brava (~35 km)
Train
No direct train. Bus to Girona and Barcelona. Car recommended.

About this place

Platja d'Aro is the Costa Brava's most commercially developed resort — a purpose-built holiday town that has grown into a municipality of nearly 13,000 year-round residents alongside its medieval parent village, Castell d'Aro, and the upscale coastal enclave of S'Agaró. The main beach is a long, wide sandy strip backed by a lively promenade of shops, restaurants and hotels.
For British relocation planners, Platja d'Aro offers convenience. It has the largest concentration of retail and leisure facilities on the Costa Brava outside Girona city — including outlet shopping, a cinema, bowling and a wide range of restaurants. The beach is genuinely good for families: sandy, gradual slope, and lifeguarded in summer. The town is active from March to November and quieter but not dead in winter.
The foreign buyer profile is younger than Begur or Pals — more families with children, more active holiday-home owners. French, Dutch and Belgian buyers dominate. British buyers are present but in small numbers. Catalan is the default language in shops and administration; English is spoken in tourist areas.

Explore Platja d'Aro

Healthcare

Health centres, hospitals, pharmacies, how to register, English-speaking doctors

Coming soon

Admin & Documents

Town hall, NIE office, empadronamiento, police station, gestoría recommendations

Coming soon

Housing

Rental market, buying, neighbourhoods, estate agents, typical prices

Coming soon

Cost of Living

Monthly budget, rent, utilities, groceries, eating out, IBI

Coming soon

British Community

Expat groups, social clubs, Facebook groups, where to meet other Brits

Coming soon

Integrating Locally

Spanish classes, markets, fiestas, sports clubs, how locals socialise

Coming soon

Daily Life

Supermarkets, transport, parking, broadband, banks, post office

Coming soon

Things to Do

Beaches, restaurants, hiking, day trips, seasonal events

Coming soon

Schools & Families

State schools, international schools, nurseries, extracurricular

Coming soon

Related guides

Nearby towns you may also like

  • Sant Feliu de Guíxols

    ~10 km north · Larger working town, monastery, more year-round life.

  • Palamós

    ~12 km south · Working fishing port, larger services, hospital.

  • Girona

    ~40 km inland · Provincial capital, AVE station, airport, full services.

Last updated: 05/07/2026

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