Plans for your Holiday in Figueres

The capital of the Alto Ampurdan or Emporda area has become a favourite for art lovers. It’s located very close to the Costa Brava, just a stone’s throw from France and it attracts hundreds of national and international travellers every day, who come to discover the breathtaking landscapes and treasures that inspired Salvador Dali.
 
Historical Town, Figueres
 
In this guide we want to introduce you to Figueres’ rich heritage and some of the best events that are celebrated here throughout the year. Figueres also has some lovely beaches that are definitely worth a visit.

Visit the Dali Theatre-Museum 

Let's start our tour around Figueres with a visit to one of the best spots in the city: The Dali Theatre-Museum, which is as unique, fantastical and surrealistic as the mind and imagination of Dali himself. 
 
Dali Theatre-Museum, Figueres
 
The first thing visitors will notice about the theatre-museum it's it shocking and unique exterior. The building has bright red walls dotted with gold embellishments and crowned by huge white eggs. The building is surrounded on all sides by tall cypress trees which give the peculiar building an enchanting quality.
 
The theatre-museum was built on the remains of what was the old theatre of Figueres. It was designed by Dali, who created it with the vision of giving an authentic visitor experience. With that in mind, the theatre-museum is actually considered to be one of Dali's greatest works of art. 
 
Dali Theatre-Museum, Figueres
 
The theatre-museum is home to some of Dali's greatest pieces, from his first creations to those from the latter stage of his life. In an adjacent building, there is a display of Dali's magical jewels which are equally as surreal and peculiar as his paintings. The theatre-museum is a must-see if you are in the area, but we advise that you buy tickets beforehand from the Dali Theatre-Museum website, so you can avoid the long ticket queues, especially during the summer.

Explore San Fernando Castle

Next stop is the Bahía de Roses or Bay of Roses, which is located just 800 metres from the Dali Theatre-Museum, where we will visit the immense Castell de Sant Ferran or San Fernando Castle. The castle is a military fortification which dates back to the 18th century and still stands in impeccable condition. The castle boasts colossal dimensions which make it the biggest structure in the whole region of Catalonia and one of the biggest military structures in the whole of Europe. It stands on 32 hectares and it's perimeter runs a length of 3km.
 
San Fernando Castle
 
We can explore the castle grounds by taking part in a guided tour which is perfect for getting to know the castle's sophisticated architectural engineering and history. To get some idea of the castles enormous size, bare in mind that the stables were big enough for 450 horses and it's underground water tanks could hold 10,000 litres of water.

Discover the heritage of Figueres historical centre

The historical centre of Figueres stands out for it's rich heritage and huge collection of historical moments. This small area is full of architectural treasures including medieval, neoclassical and modernist structures. During the middle ages, Figueres was a walled city but the only remaining part is the Torre Gorgot tower, which is now part of the Dali Theatre-Museum. Figueres' medieval past is also visible in other landmarks such as the Plaza del Ayuntamiento square, the Carrer Magre neighbourhood and the old Jewish quarter. One must-see landmark is the Sant Pere church which has a unique, gothic style nave and was built on the remains of an old roman temple. 

Dali Momument, Figueres
 
Through the centre of Figueres runs the Rambla - the city's main street. The street is full of shops, bars and restaurants housed in modernist buildings which date back to the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Some of the most striking buildings on the street include Casa Cusi, Casa Salleras and Casa Puig-Soler.

The Catalonia Toy Museum

This is one of the most unique and original museums in Spain, dedicated exclusively to the world of the toy. The Catalonia Toy Museum is located right in the middle of Figueres and is home to more than 4000 toys including aeroplanes, dolls, cars and trains. 
 
Some of these little treasures once belonged to famous Spanish personalities, like Salvador Dali, Joan Miro and Federico Garcia Lorca and so it's really worth paying a visiting to this museum before the end of your Costa Brava holiday.

The Emporda Wine Show

Apart from Dali, the other central figure of the Emporda region is the wine. The wine-making tradition of the region dates back to the Greek and Roman times and today produces some of the best wines in the world. Every September, Figueres hosts its annual wine show "La Muestra del Vino de Emporda" with wine tastings, gastronomy and all sorts of activities related with these delicacies.
 
Dali Theatre-Museum, Figueres
 
In April the Festival Vivid wine festival is held. Various events take place throughout the month along the whole Costa Brava, which celebrate the wine and gastronomy of the Emporda region. Since it's one of the best wine and gastronomy festivals in Spain, we've featured it in our list of the best gastronomy events in Spain article. Only the Mediterranean and the aromas from the Catalonian mountains can create wines so full of flavour, body and depth.

The Figueres Acoustic Festival

The summer months are the best time to visit Figueres. During the months of August and September, the Figueres Acoustic Festival takes place in the town centre and showcases of a variety of musical performances. As its name indicates, the genre of the music festival is acoustic and the atmosphere is very relaxed, making it the perfect way to wind down after a day of sightseeing.   
 
The festival has become a benchmark of Catalan music. It has grown increasingly popular over the years, starting with 3000 spectators in 2001 and growing to a huge 60,000 in recent years.

The International Gold Elephant Circus Festival

The International Gold Elephant Circus Festival has become one of the biggest circus festivals in the world and the second biggest in Europe, in just five years. The show boasts more than 80 artists from 13 different countries and attracts more than 20,000 spectators every year.
 
Festival Internacional de Circo: Elefant d`or

The festival showcases the world of acrobatics, magic and fun. Balances performed at dizzying heights plus impossible and breathtaking routines are performed by the best international artists. We can enjoy over 20 different circus shows and performances, all under the huge circus tent which is erected in the fairground area. A special jury will be in charge of awarding the Gold Elephant prizes to the best acts.

The Figueres Comedy Festival

We finish our tour with the Figueres Comedy Festival which is a great way to spend an evening, having a laugh with family and friends - that's if you can understand some Spanish! If not, there are still plenty of shows to enjoy and fun activities to take part in, like theatre and street theatre, competitions, laugh therapy workshops and laugh yoga.
 
Teatro-Museo de Salvador Dalí en Figueres
 
The festival usually takes place in April and some activities or shows are free, the best thing to do is check the complete programme on the official festival website to be sure.
 
Thanks to its perfect location in the heart of the Emporda region and close to the Costa Brava; a Figueres holiday is perfect for those who enjoy the mountains and countryside as much as the beach.