Blanes marks the southern gateway to the Costa Brava, where the rocky coastline and pine-backed coves begin in earnest. It is a working fishing town first and a resort second, which gives it a rougher, more authentic feel than the manicured spots further north.
The old town climbs a hill above the harbour, where fishing boats still land each afternoon and the day's catch goes straight to the restaurants along the front. The Marimurtra Botanical Garden, perched on a cliff above the sea, is one of the finest on the Mediterranean coast — 4,000 plant species, clifftop paths, and views straight out to sea. Above the garden, the ruins of Sant Joan Castle occupy the highest point, with panoramas both north and south along the coast.
In late July the town hosts an international fireworks competition that draws crowds from across Catalonia. Blanes is also the southern terminus of the GR-92 coastal path, which runs north through the Costa Brava all the way to the French border.