Cap Roig Botanical Gardens (Jardines de Cap Roig)

The basics

First laid out in 1927 by the Woevodskys, a Russian army officer and his English aristocrat wife, Jardí Botànic de Cap Roig delivers a sequenced journey of 22 different sections, including a palm garden, a cactus garden, a lovers’ garden, and the nuns’ terrace, with majestic cypresses. Species, sourced from Mediterranean-type climates worldwide, span the gamut from burgeoning bougainvillea to magnolia, monkey puzzle, ginkgo, and quince. With plenty of reading areas, statuary, and framed views but limited signage, this is a botanical garden to savor and contemplate, not one to study.

Things to know before you go

Jardí Botànic de Cap Roig is a must for photographers, flower lovers, and gardeners. The gardens are ticketed, but you don’t need to buy in advance at most times of the year. Most travelers take about 1.5 hours to explore the gardens. There are rolling-friendly routes through the gardens, plus wheelchair-accessible bathrooms.

How to get there

Jardí Botànic de Cap Roig sits above the little coastal town of Calella de Palafrugell, in Catalonia’s Costa Brava, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) up the coast from Barcelona, 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Girona, and 5 miles (8 kilometers) from Palamós. The gardens aren’t easy to reach by public transit, so most travelers self-drive: There’s free parking on site.

When to get there

The gardens are usually open from mid-morning until evening, with shorter hours in the year's cooler months. While you can visit anytime, spring and summer are the sweet spots for colorful floral displays. Unless you’re coming for the music, avoid the Cap Roig Festival period (mid-July to mid-August) when the gardens close early and some areas may be sealed off.

The Cap Roig Festival

Since 2002, Jardí Botànic de Cap Roig has hosted the Cap Roig Festival in July and August, featuring evening performances from Julio Iglesias, Rod Stewart, and Norah Jones, as well as classical orchestras, jazz, and world music. The gardens’ auditorium has a relatively small capacity, so you’ll need to book well in advance for most performances.