Free walking tours in Pals and what to see

Must-sees

Pals is a medieval village in the Baix Empordà built on a small hill. Its old quarter, known as the Pedró, keeps cobbled streets, stone arches and carefully restored houses. At the top stands the Torre de les Hores, Romanesque in origin, and next to it the church of Sant Pere. Wandering this core without hurry is the best thing to do here.

From the Pedró viewpoint you can see the Empordà plain, the rice fields and, on clear days, the Medes Islands. Pals is known for its rice, grown in the fields around the village. A few kilometres away is Platja de Pals, a long sandy beach beside a pine wood. Peratallada, Begur and the coves of Palafrugell are also close by.

Free tours and guided visits

In a village this size free tours are rare. The usual options are guided walks around the old town, sometimes run by the tourist office, and excursions combining Pals with other medieval villages of the Empordà such as Peratallada and Monells. Another interesting option is a boat trip from L’Estartit to the Medes Islands, with glass-bottom sections or snorkelling. For walking, the Camí de Ronda between Begur and Palafrugell makes a good half-day activity.

How long to spend

Two or three hours are enough to see the old town and climb to the viewpoint. If you want to add the beach and a nearby village, give it a full day: morning in Pals, lunch with local rice and afternoon in Peratallada or on the coast. With two or three days you can use Pals as a base and explore the Baix Empordà at leisure, alternating villages, coves and stretches of the Camí de Ronda.

Where to stay

The old town has few places to stay, but sleeping there lets you enjoy the village once the day visitors leave. Around it there are renovated farmhouses and rural houses among the fields, a good option if you are travelling by car. If you prefer the beach, the Platja de Pals area has apartments and hotels near the sea. Begur, a few minutes away, is another practical base for combining villages and coves.