Why move to Platja d'Aro
A confidently international urbanised beach town, Platja d’Aro has plenty of individual family homes and activities to offer.
This Costa Brava heartland with a neolithic history was mostly developed in the mid 19th century after tourism boomed. Adjoined to S’Agaro, a garden-city designed by Architect Rafael Masó Valentí and the medieval city of Castell d’Aro, the Platja d’Aro resort has been nicknamed Miami Playa by international visitors.
The beach is a broad, sandy sweep lined with interesting shops, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. The area swells with tourists over the summer months as the average temperature in the daytime is 30ºc. There are plenty of water sports hire shops, a dive centre and to the west, a nautical club and marina. Set higher up in the foothills of the Cadiretes Mountains is Golf d’Aro Mas Nou, a 9-hole pitch with spectacular views down to the coast. Families will enjoy the Aquadiver Water Park which has wave pools, indoor and outdoor water slides and a range of rides suitable for everyone from babies to adults.
Platja d’Aro is a short distance from the Catalan cities of Barcelona and Girona, both of which host some impressive architecture, historical sites and cultural events. El Celler de Can Roca in Girona was recently voted the world’s best restaurant. There’s also the Regional Park of the Catalan Pyrenees, a massive nature reserve in the mountains full of hot springs and lakes. The closest ski resort is just over 2 hours drive away in Masella, to the north of the Girona Province.
Community
The year-round community of 20,000 residents explodes to 90,000 in the summer with the influx of tourists. However, Platja d’Aro is considered an upmarket resort that stays open all year, so it’s particularly popular with British, French and northern European expats looking for good value private villas.
Property
Of the properties listed for sale here, a considerable number are private villas. You’ll also find large family-friendly apartments with at least 2 or 3 bedrooms as the norm.
Amenities
There are a wide range of shops in all three of the major centres in the Castell-Platja d’Aro municipality. There are gyms, banks, hairdressers and a Correos (post office) all within walking distance from the beach
Transport
Platja d’Aro is just 30 minutes drive from the Girona-Costa Brava airport, and 1 hour 20 minutes from Barcelona’s El Prat. You can get a bus via Estación de Autobuses de Girona from the airport, but it will take three times as long as a taxi. SARFA run a bus service connecting the towns along the Costa Blanca, but travelling this way can be a little disjointed.
Employment
Like in the rest of Spain, the services and especially the hospitality industry, dominates in this tourist-centric location. However, Girona and Barcelona are both within a commutable distance and large scale employers Haribo have a presence in the area.
Health
The CAP Centre Salut Platja d’Aro on the Avenida de Castell d’Aro, managed by the Catalan Health Institute (ICS), is open from 8am to 8pm. The Hospital de Palamos in Palamos is open 24 hours and has emergency services.
Schools
There are state-run schools in the region, but you may need to cast your net over the whole of the Castell-Platja d’Aro municipality to find the right level of schooling for your children. The Saint George School in Girona and Olga Ribas in Palamos both offer a British curriculum.
Cost of Living
Although this isn’t the cheapest place to move when you consider Spain as a whole, it is still more affordable than many northern European countries. Groceries, transport and services are very good value. Rent and property prices are higher than some coastal retreats but certainly lower cost than living in Barcelona.