The beaches
Calafell is blessed with five kilometres of Blue Flag Award beaches (Playa de Calafell, Playa de Segur y Playa del Lago-Mas Mel).
A five times higher concentration in iodine than standard seawater makes these waters healthier than any other beaches. The beaches are famous for its fine sand. Coastal regeneration in 19943 and 1994 with sand coming from the old Segur port has allowed the recovery of original quality and appearance of this area.
Quality of the water and fineness of the sand, coupled with calm seas and gentle slope getting in the water make Calafell beaches the ideal place for family holidays. A wide array of services available allow for fully enjoyable holidays both in terms of leisure, sports, water sports and local festivities or concerts.
Calafell beaches are equipped with:
- Lifeguard and first aid services
- Body and feet showers
- Toilets
- Deck chairs and sunshades rental
Easy access, both on foot and by car, through its long Promenade (Paseo Marítimo) alongside the beach which also provides parking spaces. In addition, both Calafell and Segur de Calafell may be reached by train or bus and stops are only a few yards away from the seaside.
Lifeguard assistance, toilets, showers, deck chairs and sunshades, playground, water sports facilities, buoy marked bathing area, signalled waterways for boats in and out the port, etc…
A tourist train makes shops, hotels, bars, restaurant and beach bars in the area only a ride away.
Gastronomy
Traditionally, the municipality of Calafell economy is based on dry farming, fishing and a very diverse gastronomy offer featuring typical Mediterranean products.
A large number of shops, bars and restaurants are to be found in Port Segur-Calafell and surrounding area proposing the typical Calafell dishes such as “arrossejat”, “xató” and “cossetans”.
“Arrossejat” consists of potatoes and monkfish cooked with browned sauté noodles. This was a very humble dish in times of famine when farmers exchanged potatoes for monkfish with fishermen (monkfish was not so pricey those days). And yet…. now this has become a select dish to be found in most restaurants in Calafell.
“Xató” consists of a salad containing scarole lettuce, anchovies, marinated anchovies (boquerones), cod, tuna fish and Arbequino type olives. The whole dish comes with a delicious homemade salad dressing and it is normally served with a wide variety of meals but always in the company of the white and red DO Penedés wines.
“Cossetans” is a typical dessert which bears the name of an Iberian tribe once inhabiting Calafell.
Typically, this coastal area celebrates different gastronomy routes, like xató route in spring, communal grilled sardines meal, or arrossejat days in the summer. All of these festivities, and xató route in particular, take place at Plaza del Port, a square by the port where the people from the village and visitors gather to taste this Catalan dish prepared by the restaurants in the neighbourhood, thus becoming a gastronomy and tourism meeting place encompassing dishes from Alt Penedés, Baix Penedés and Garraf areas.
This area is equally famous for fish and seafood and a wide array of delicious dishes such as paella, fideuá, or seafood “suquet”, or simply great quality grilled seafood.
In the neighbouring area by the Port, you will find wide diversity of restaurants within walking distance where you will be able to try all of these exquisite dishes.
Leisure and Recreation
An important heritage, several centuries old, offers a wide range of activities for tourists, available throughout the year.
Just 2 minutes from Port Segur-Calafell, you can visit the Iberian Citadel, Casa Barral Museum, the Rescue “Bot”, Sant Miquel Church or Santa Creu Castle.
Throughout Calafell 5 km of coastline you can practice all sorts of water sports such as windsurfing, paddle surfing, kite surfing, etc., as well as activities that can be done all year round: Nordic walking routes, hiking mountain biking, golf courses (5 min.), slides at Calafell Slide, swimming pools, multi cinemas, rides on tourist train, Karting, etc.
The theme park Port Aventura is only half an hour away.