A winter that looks like spring
Between November and March the Costa Brava is a different place: the coast is empty, the trails are yours, and in the villages it is the locals sitting outside the cafés again. Twelve to seventeen degrees during the day is normal, and there are many clear, sunny days.
The house suits couples staying for weeks or months, with or without a dog. Mas Santa Caterina sits at the foot of the Montgrí massif near Sobrestany, ten minutes from l'Escala. The barn is let all year round and heated when needed. Stay longer and you pay considerably less than in season.
What makes winter here
Quiet and mild days
Twelve to seventeen degrees by day, cooler at night. No queues, no crowded promenades, and restaurants and markets are still open.
Eight cycling routes from the door
From 18 to 90 kilometres: the loop to Empúries, the Volta al Montgrí, the Ruta del Ter. The Via Verde runs 40 kilometres car-free and almost flat across the plain. Bike and e-bike rental in Torroella (15 min) and l'Escala (10 min).
On the water, in winter too
l'Escala has a sailing club, and kayaking and paddleboarding are possible on calm days. The Illes Medes marine reserve is twenty minutes away.
Dalí, Girona, Empúries
The Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres is half an hour away, medieval Girona 35 minutes, the Greek and Roman ruins of Empúries ten. In winter, without the crowds.
Working from here
Most people staying for weeks or months work part of the time. The line runs at 500 Mbit with WiFi throughout the house, plus a large dining table and the quiet of a house with no neighbours.
With a dog
Dogs are welcome, up to three at no extra charge. The garden is fully fenced across 700 m², so your dog can go out without anyone having to come along.
In winter the beach restrictions for dogs that apply in high season no longer do. You are not limited to the official dog beach in l'Escala (10 min) and can walk the whole coastline.
The house in winter
The barn has two bedrooms, an open kitchen and WiFi, and sleeps up to four. The whole house is heated and there is a charging point for electric cars. Shopping is ten minutes away in l'Escala, fifteen in Torroella de Montgrí.
The pool is open from early April to the end of October and closed in winter.
A long winter in retirement
If your winter no longer has to fit around working hours, you can take all of it. When you are planning on a fixed income, what matters is less the nightly rate than what actually turns up on the final bill: from 30 nights it comes to €104 per night, €3,120 in total — and heating, electricity and water are included. There is no extra bill based on meter readings, not even after three months.
The house has two bedrooms and suits two to four people rather than a large family, and all of it is heated. Shops, cafés and restaurants are in L’Escala, ten minutes away, which also has the Centre Mèdic Riells for general medicine and emergency care. A German-speaking doctor’s practice is in Empuriabrava, around 30 minutes away. The weekly market in Torroella de Montgrí is a quarter of an hour away and Girona airport 40 minutes. The setting is rural; a car is part of it.
What a long winter costs
In winter the nightly rate starts at €130 for the whole house. From 14 nights it drops in steps: 8% from 14 nights, 12% from 21, 20% from 30 and 25% from 60 nights. Add the one-off cleaning fee of €80.
Two examples
30 nights: €3,900 less 20% = €3,120, which is €104 per night.
90 nights: €11,700 less 25% = €8,775, which is €98 per night.
Heating and utilities
Heating, electricity and water are included in the price, even if you stay for several months. There is no extra bill based on meter readings, so you know in advance what the winter will cost.
The minimum stay in winter is 3–5 nights depending on the period. For longer stays, write to us directly and we will work out the exact figure.
Common questions about wintering
Is the house heated in winter?
Yes, the whole house is heated. Heating, electricity and water are included in the price, even for stays of several months.
How warm is the Costa Brava in winter?
Daytime temperatures are usually between 12 and 17 degrees, with noticeably cooler nights. There are many clear, sunny days; rain falls mainly in late autumn.
Can you cycle in winter?
Yes, winter is the most pleasant season for it. Eight routes between 18 and 90 kilometres start from Sobrestany, including 40 car-free kilometres on a former railway line. Rental outlets with e-bikes are in Torroella and l'Escala.
Can my dog go on the beach in winter?
Yes. The beach restrictions for dogs apply in high season; in winter they do not. The official dog beach in l'Escala is ten minutes away all year round.
Can I use the pool in winter?
No. The pool is open from early April to the end of October and stays closed in winter.
How long can I stay?
As long as you like. Discounts start at 14 nights and reach 25% from 60 nights. Stays of several months are possible and common.
Can I work from here?
Yes, and comfortably so: the line runs at 500 Mbit and the WiFi reaches through the whole house. Add a large dining table and no neighbours. Winter is the quietest time here, and l'Escala with its cafés and shops is ten minutes away. Video calls are not a problem.
Is the house suitable for retirees spending the winter here?
Yes. The thing that matters most on a long stay: heating, electricity and water are included in the price and there is no extra bill based on meter readings — you know in advance what the winter will cost. The whole house is heated and it has two bedrooms, so it suits two to four people. L’Escala, ten minutes away, has shops, restaurants and the Centre Mèdic Riells for general medicine and emergency care; a German-speaking practice is in Empuriabrava, about 30 minutes away. Three things to plan for: the setting is rural, so you will not get far without a car, the pool is closed in winter, and the bedrooms are upstairs — there is no step-free way of living here.
Interested in a longer stay?
Write to us with the dates you have in mind. We will work out the stay including discount, with no obligation.