The ruins of Empúries

At Empúries (L’Escala), you walk through one of the largest Greco-Roman sites in the Mediterranean. This is where the Greeks first landed on the Iberian Peninsula, around the 6th century BC, founding the trading post of Emporion — soon joined by a Roman town.

The site is explored almost with your feet in the water: streets, houses, forum, Roman mosaics and an archaeological museum (MAC) that gathers the finest pieces. Right next door, the medieval hamlet of Sant Martí d’Empúries and its beach extend the walk.

Good to know: ~40 min by car (37 km). Open all year (extended hours in summer); admission ~€7, ticket covers site + museum + audioguide. Allow half a day, and bring a hat and water in summer.