Lloret de Mar may be recognised as a party and beach destination by the 18 to 30 year old crowds from Europe that tend to frequently visit here, but there is more to the resort city than just sun and late nights in the bars. The beaches should be mentioned though as they're the main attraction for most people and even though they draw large crowds they still maintain blue flag standards of cleanliness.
Lloret's main beach is called just that, Lloret Beach and as with most of the beaches it's quite a walk from the downtown area so most people take the bus or drive. The beach has a good number of parking spaces however right next door to and it stretches for over 1.5 kilometres meaning that there's plenty of space for your towel. To the south of Lloret Beach is Fenals Beach which is the area's second largest at 700m and is in a sheltered bay which helps makes the waters a bit calmer. Other notable beaches include Cala Boadella which is worth a visit if you want a bit more seclusion. Or try Santa Cristina Beach for a relaxing swim as the water is always tranquil as it has great protection nestled between two hills.
It should be noted however that if hiring a car to drive to the beaches during a vacation then parking in the centre of the city is a nightmare. There are very limited spaces, numerous one way streets and in certain zones parking is forbidden but there are no signs and you're then likely to get you car towed. Some Lloret de Mar Hotels however are equipped with parking underground which then avoids any complications.
After a day in the sun the evenings are when the city comes alive and in the summer thousands of people are out in the endless number of bars, pubs and nightclubs. You can find Spanish cafes, modern bars and even the unavoidable drinking establishment that's found in almost every city, the Irish pub. Most places show the football but locals won't hear a bad word said about their beloved Barcelona. So now you know who to cheer for if they happen to be on the TV. Many of the nightclubs are open until very late or there are a mixture of dance halls that are more suitable for families and draw an older crowd for their more traditional forms of dance.
For children and parents there are a host of activities to keep everyone entertained. There are several playgrounds for children with the usual swings, slides and climbing frames or Water World is a great day out with its thrilling slides and games in the swimming pools. The park is among the largest in Europe and has dozens of slides as well as a wave machine, relaxing Jacuzzis and river rapids. Having bought a ticket for Water World visitors are also entitled to free entrance and the Aquadiver park in Platja d'Aro which is run by the same company. Gnomopark is another place that will have small children kept amused for hours with its colourful statues of gnomes and large areas that kids can climb around and play in.
A popular trip for people of any age is the Open Garden Tour which takes in the main landmarks around the Costa Brava and passengers can choose when to get on or off for a little further exploring if necessary. The tour combines three modes of transport including a mini train, large open topped bus and boat. Key destinations include Lloret's beautiful Santa Clotilde Gardens, Blanes' botanical gardens Pinya de Rosa as well as the Marimurtra gardens.
Lloret's main beach is called just that, Lloret Beach and as with most of the beaches it's quite a walk from the downtown area so most people take the bus or drive. The beach has a good number of parking spaces however right next door to and it stretches for over 1.5 kilometres meaning that there's plenty of space for your towel. To the south of Lloret Beach is Fenals Beach which is the area's second largest at 700m and is in a sheltered bay which helps makes the waters a bit calmer. Other notable beaches include Cala Boadella which is worth a visit if you want a bit more seclusion. Or try Santa Cristina Beach for a relaxing swim as the water is always tranquil as it has great protection nestled between two hills.
It should be noted however that if hiring a car to drive to the beaches during a vacation then parking in the centre of the city is a nightmare. There are very limited spaces, numerous one way streets and in certain zones parking is forbidden but there are no signs and you're then likely to get you car towed. Some Lloret de Mar Hotels however are equipped with parking underground which then avoids any complications.
After a day in the sun the evenings are when the city comes alive and in the summer thousands of people are out in the endless number of bars, pubs and nightclubs. You can find Spanish cafes, modern bars and even the unavoidable drinking establishment that's found in almost every city, the Irish pub. Most places show the football but locals won't hear a bad word said about their beloved Barcelona. So now you know who to cheer for if they happen to be on the TV. Many of the nightclubs are open until very late or there are a mixture of dance halls that are more suitable for families and draw an older crowd for their more traditional forms of dance.
For children and parents there are a host of activities to keep everyone entertained. There are several playgrounds for children with the usual swings, slides and climbing frames or Water World is a great day out with its thrilling slides and games in the swimming pools. The park is among the largest in Europe and has dozens of slides as well as a wave machine, relaxing Jacuzzis and river rapids. Having bought a ticket for Water World visitors are also entitled to free entrance and the Aquadiver park in Platja d'Aro which is run by the same company. Gnomopark is another place that will have small children kept amused for hours with its colourful statues of gnomes and large areas that kids can climb around and play in.
A popular trip for people of any age is the Open Garden Tour which takes in the main landmarks around the Costa Brava and passengers can choose when to get on or off for a little further exploring if necessary. The tour combines three modes of transport including a mini train, large open topped bus and boat. Key destinations include Lloret's beautiful Santa Clotilde Gardens, Blanes' botanical gardens Pinya de Rosa as well as the Marimurtra gardens.
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