Begur vs Pals: which suits British movers?
The facts British movers weigh up, next to each other. Every figure comes from our town guides, with its source and date.
- Costa and region
- Population
- Begur4,2864,286 residents (INE, 1 Jan 2025).Pals2,5562,556 residents (INE, 1 Jan 2024).
- British residents
- Begur109Small but present: the INE padrón (2022) counted 109 UK-born residents, close to the French-born (114) and Moroccan-born (125) groups. Second-home buyers are largely French, Belgian, Swiss and Dutch. Most foreign residents are seasonal.Pals49Small. The INE padrón (2022) counted 49 UK-born residents, similar to the German-born (48) and French-born (44) groups; Moroccan-born residents (85) are the largest foreign-born group. Wealthy Barcelona second-home owners are also present.
- Nearest airport
- BegurGirona–Costa Brava (~50 km); Barcelona El Prat (~130 km)PalsGirona–Costa Brava (~50 km); Barcelona El Prat (~130 km)
- Nearest hospital
- BegurHospital de Palamós (~20 km) or Hospital Josep Trueta in Girona (~50 km)PalsHospital de Palamós (~25 km) or Hospital Josep Trueta in Girona (~55 km)
- Train
- BegurNo train. Bus to Palafrugell or Girona. Car essential.PalsNo train. Bus connections limited. Car essential.
- Sunshine
- Begur~2,330 hrsCosta-wide figure · a year · AEMET Girona Aeropuerto, 1981–2010 monthly normalsPals~2,330 hrsCosta-wide figure · a year · AEMET Girona Aeropuerto, 1981–2010 monthly normals
- 2-bed rent
- Begur~€970/monthCosta-wide figure · ≈70 m² at €13.9/m² · idealista asking rents, Sep 2026, Girona provincePals~€970/monthCosta-wide figure · ≈70 m² at €13.9/m² · idealista asking rents, Sep 2026, Girona province
- Renting and buying
- Begur—Pals—
- Who it suits
- BegurAffluent second-home ownersRetirees seeking luxuryCulture and food loversRemote workersNature lovers
- Families: Limited
- Retirees: Moderate
- Remote workers: Limited
- Second-home owners: Excellent
- Holiday-rental investors: Moderate
- Lifestyle buyers: Excellent
PalsAffluent second-home ownersRetirees seeking luxuryGolfersCulture and history loversFood lovers- Families: Limited
- Retirees: Moderate
- Remote workers: Limited
- Second-home owners: Excellent
- Golf enthusiasts: Excellent
- Holiday-rental investors: Limited
- What works
- Begur—Pals—
- What to weigh up
- Begur—Pals—
- Town guide and topic pages
- English-speaking businesses
| BegurThe "St Tropez of Catalonia" — a hill village with a medieval castle, exclusive coves, and a very premium, very international second-home market. | PalsA spectacular medieval inland village surrounded by rice fields, near the beach and golf — one of the Costa Brava's most exclusive and expensive addresses. | |
|---|---|---|
| Costa and region | Costa BravaGirona · Catalonia | Costa BravaGirona · Catalonia |
| Population | 4,2864,286 residents (INE, 1 Jan 2025). | 2,5562,556 residents (INE, 1 Jan 2024). |
| British residents | 109Small but present: the INE padrón (2022) counted 109 UK-born residents, close to the French-born (114) and Moroccan-born (125) groups. Second-home buyers are largely French, Belgian, Swiss and Dutch. Most foreign residents are seasonal. | 49Small. The INE padrón (2022) counted 49 UK-born residents, similar to the German-born (48) and French-born (44) groups; Moroccan-born residents (85) are the largest foreign-born group. Wealthy Barcelona second-home owners are also present. |
| Nearest airport | Girona–Costa Brava (~50 km); Barcelona El Prat (~130 km) | Girona–Costa Brava (~50 km); Barcelona El Prat (~130 km) |
| Nearest hospital | Hospital de Palamós (~20 km) or Hospital Josep Trueta in Girona (~50 km) | Hospital de Palamós (~25 km) or Hospital Josep Trueta in Girona (~55 km) |
| Train | No train. Bus to Palafrugell or Girona. Car essential. | No train. Bus connections limited. Car essential. |
| Sunshine | ~2,330 hrsCosta-wide figure · a year · AEMET Girona Aeropuerto, 1981–2010 monthly normals | ~2,330 hrsCosta-wide figure · a year · AEMET Girona Aeropuerto, 1981–2010 monthly normals |
| 2-bed rent | ~€970/monthCosta-wide figure · ≈70 m² at €13.9/m² · idealista asking rents, Sep 2026, Girona province | ~€970/monthCosta-wide figure · ≈70 m² at €13.9/m² · idealista asking rents, Sep 2026, Girona province |
| Renting and buying | — | — |
| Who it suits | Affluent second-home ownersRetirees seeking luxuryCulture and food loversRemote workersNature lovers
| Affluent second-home ownersRetirees seeking luxuryGolfersCulture and history loversFood lovers
|
| What works | — | — |
| What to weigh up | — | — |
| Town guide and topic pages | Begur guide →HealthcareAdminHousingCost of LivingCommunityIntegratingDaily LifeThings to DoSchools | Pals guide →HealthcareAdminHousingCost of LivingCommunityIntegratingDaily LifeThings to DoSchools |
| English-speaking businesses | 22 listed in Begur → | 22 listed in Pals → |
Figures come from each town guide and are checked against official sources (INE padrón, AEMET, idealista). Costa-wide rows apply to the whole costa, not the town alone. A dash means we don't hold a checked figure yet.
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