Every summer something very predictable happens on the Costa Brava.
License plates from France start appearing everywhere. Bakeries suddenly sell more croissants than usual, people greet each other with “bonjour” on the street, and beach parking lots fill up before 10 in the morning.
French visitors have been coming to the Costa Brava for decades. It’s close, it’s sunny, the food is fantastic, and the Mediterranean here has a color that almost looks edited.
Over the years, some activities have become absolute classics for French tourists. You see them every summer, year after year. And if you spend enough time in the area, you start collecting little stories about them.
Here are some of the most popular ones.
1. Renting a Boat for the Day
One of the first things many French visitors do when they arrive is rent a small boat and explore the coastline.
And honestly, it makes sense. The Costa Brava is full of hidden coves, cliffs, and tiny beaches that you can only really appreciate from the sea.
I once saw a group of friends who rented a boat for the afternoon and packed what looked like an entire supermarket on board: baguettes, cheese, olives, rosé wine, fruit… the works.
By the time they came back to the port, they had spent half the day swimming in little coves and the other half laughing about who was the worst navigator.
It looked like a pretty perfect Mediterranean day.
2. Exploring Hidden Coves (Calas)
If there’s something French travelers love, it’s discovering quiet beaches away from the crowds.
The Costa Brava is famous for its calas — small rocky coves with crystal-clear water surrounded by nature.
You’ll often see families walking down narrow paths with beach bags, towels, and coolers, heading toward places like Cala Montjoi or Cala Jóncols.
Sometimes the walk down is easy. Sometimes it feels like a mini hiking expedition.
But the moment you arrive and see the turquoise water, everyone forgets about the effort.
3. Long Seafood Lunches by the Sea
Another thing French visitors do extremely well is taking their time at restaurants.
Lunch on the Costa Brava isn’t just about eating. It’s an event.
You’ll see tables full of seafood, paella, grilled fish, and bottles of wine slowly disappearing over the course of two or three hours.
Places around Cadaqués or L’Escala are especially popular for this.
One summer afternoon I sat next to a French couple who ordered anchovies, grilled fish, dessert, coffee… and then decided they weren’t ready to leave yet, so they ordered another bottle of wine “just to enjoy the view.”
Honestly, they had the right idea.
4. Walking Through Coastal Villages
French tourists also love wandering through small Mediterranean towns.
Places like Tossa de Mar or Begur are perfect for this. Narrow streets, old stone houses, small boutiques, and sea views around every corner.
You often see couples slowly walking through the old town, stopping for photos, ice cream, or a quick coffee in the shade.
The pace is relaxed, and that’s exactly the point.
5. Jet Ski in Roses — The Adventure Many French Visitors End Up Loving
And then there’s the activity that usually starts with curiosity… and ends with a huge smile.
Riding a jet ski in Roses.
Roses is one of the best places on the Costa Brava for jet skiing because the bay is large, the scenery is incredible, and the water is perfect for riding.
Most people start the same way.
They arrive a bit curious, maybe slightly nervous, listen to the quick safety explanation, and slowly leave the harbor.
Then they reach open water.
That’s when everything changes.
The instructor signals that it’s time to accelerate, and suddenly the jet ski glides over the waves, bouncing lightly as it moves across the Mediterranean.
One time I saw a French dad who was clearly trying to look calm in front of his kids. Five minutes later he was laughing like a teenager while jumping small waves and shouting something that sounded like “c’est incroyable!”
That’s the thing about jet ski in Roses — it combines speed, sea, and scenery in a way that makes the whole experience unforgettable.
You’re not just riding fast.
You’re riding fast in one of the most beautiful coastal landscapes in Spain.
Why the Costa Brava Keeps Attracting French Visitors
The truth is, French travelers don’t come to the Costa Brava for just one thing.
They come for the combination of beaches, food, landscapes, and activities.
You can spend the morning exploring a hidden cove, the afternoon walking through a medieval village, and the evening enjoying a long dinner by the sea.
And if you feel like adding a bit of adrenaline to the day, riding a jet ski in Roses might just be the highlight of the entire trip.
Because sometimes the best memories of the Costa Brava are the ones that happen at full speed on the Mediterranean.
