landmark
Cadaques
A whitewashed fishing village on the Cap de Creus peninsula that captivated Salvador Dali and remains hauntingly beautiful.
18 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeSpainCatalonia
Portbou
Catalonia, Spain · Europe
About Portbou
Portbou is worth a stop: 15 minutes from Banyuls de la Marenda, 18km from Cap de Creus.
Portbou is in Catalonia, Spain, with about 1,100 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Banyuls de la Marenda, about 7 km away.
Portbou (Catalan pronunciation: [ˌpɔɾˈβɔw]) is a town in the Alt Empordà county, in the Province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. As of 2024, it has a population of 1131 people.
Portbou is located near the French border in the Costa Brava region, and frequently serves as a dropping off point for SNCF trains coming fromRead more
Cerbère in France.
Portbou was a small but important point for the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War, as it was one of the few places from where they could get supplies from abroad.
Portbou is where German Jewish philosopher Walter Benjamin died by suicide, and was buried in 1940. There is a monument in his honor, by Dani Karavan.
Where to Stay in Portbou
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Portbou?
Within an hour or so of Portbou: Cadaques (18 km), Cap de Creus (18 km), Dalí Theatre-Museum (24 km), Besalu (46 km).
Are there any good drives near Portbou?
The nearest famous roads are Costa Brava, Port d'Envalira and Coll d'Ordino.
Where is Portbou?
Portbou is in Catalonia, Spain, about 7 km from Banyuls de la Marenda.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,077
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Spain
- Region
- Catalonia
- Timezone
- Europe/Madrid
- Coordinates
- 42.4265, 3.1580
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Spain
Guardia Civil (traffic police): 062. Two warning triangles required in vehicles.
Full driving guide for SpainTags
Worth the detour from Portbou
7 notable places within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
Cap de Creus
The easternmost point of mainland Spain, a wind-battered cape of twisted rock and lonely lighthouse that inspired Dalí.
18 km · about 20 min drive
museum
Dalí Theatre-Museum
A surreal red castle topped with giant eggs in Figueres, the artist's own museum and final resting place.
24 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Besalu
A remarkably intact medieval Catalan town entered via a magnificent fortified Romanesque bridge over the River Fluvia.
46 km · about 55 min drive
photogenic
Castellfollit de la Roca
Village strung along the knife-edge of a 50-metre basalt cliff formed by overlapping lava flows, its houses ending flush with the drop above the Fluvià river. Best photographed from the viewpoint across the river on the N-260.
55 km · about 65 min drive
film location
Girona Old Town (Braavos)
Girona's cathedral steps and Jewish quarter were Braavos and parts of King's Landing in season six.
56 km · about 65 min drive
landmark
Girona Old Town
A captivating medieval city with colorful houses lining the Onyar River, a Jewish quarter, and a monumental Baroque cathedral facade.
57 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Portbou
3 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 18 kmCap de CreusThe easternmost point of mainland Spain, a wind-battered cape of twisted rock and lonely lighthouse that inspired Dalí.
- 62 kmCosta BravaCatalonia's rugged wild coast of hidden coves, turquoise waters, and pine-clad cliffs stretching from Blanes to the French border.
Driving in Spain
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.55/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€4.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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