The gorgeous seaside city just 63 miles from Barcelona without too many tourists

Standing proudly on the north coast of Catalonia , the historic city of is a treasure. The town offers panoramic views across the Mediterranean Sea and is famous for its sandy beaches, lighthouse and, of course, historic fortified medieval village.

But Tossa de Mar is much more than just a medieval city. It's home to beautiful coves with endless snorkelling possibilities and hiking trails that wander through green pine forests. And it is only an hour's drive from or an hour and half by public transport. According to Google Maps, it's just 63 miles away from the bustling city home to Las Ramblas and Camp Nou.

This thriving city boasts three , a fortified medieval old town, endless hikes through pine groves and plenty of history to keep culture vultures happy. Also, as a cool fact, Tossa de Mar was the first place in the world to declare itself an Anti-Bullfighting City in 1989.

Being a coastal town/small city on the Costa Brava, Tossa de Mar is obviously much quiter than Barcelona but it still offers a vibrant atmosphere but without the tourist hoards than often blight Spain's second city.

With its narrow cobble-stoned streets and seven towers, it seems time has stopped in the Old Town of Tossa de Mar and it can feel like you've travelled back in time to middle ages in the old centre.

In the 12th century, Tossa de Mar was a medieval town walled off with a castle on the city's highest point. Years later, this castle was replaced by a windmill, which was later replaced by a lighthouse. The lighthouse is still operational, and has been declared a national historical monument. While the lighthouse itself is not open to the public, the surrounding area and the well-maintained path leading up to it offers beautiful panoramic views of the whole area.

Away from the town itself there are three gorgeous sandy beaches and plenty of activities on offer like paddleboarding to the many surrounding coves and diving.Tossa de Mar is a well-known spot by locals for diving as the waters are crystal-clear, and you can easily spot marine fauna, such as moray eels, lobsters, and colourful opisthobranchs.

Trying the local tapas is a must. Here are some of the favourite local dishes to the area:Seitons en vinagre:a kind of anchovies in vinegar sauce, Empedrat: a salad made with cold cod and white beans, Gaspatxo: a sort of tomato soup that you eat cold, Patates braves: fried potatoes served with a spicy sauce, Croquetes: chicken croquettes

As Tossa de Mar is not far from Barcelona it's ideal for a day trip or a weekend getaway if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Barcelona. In fact, if you're in Barcelona and want to escape to Costa Brava for one day only, Tossa de Mar is your best bet, as it is one of Costa Brava's best beaches closest to Barcelona.

However it is worthy of a weekend or week long holiday destination in its own right. The easiest way is by car. From Barcelona it takes between and hour and an hour and half to drive the 86km (53 miles) to be in Tossa de Mar. Once there, you can park at the large car park next to the main beach (Platja Gran).

However public transport runs from Barcelona to Tossa de Mar. There is a dirrect bus from Estacio del Nord (Barcelona) which takes an hour and 20 minutes.In summer, this bus departs more or less every hour and costs around 13 € one way. In winter, the frequency drops to 3-4 buses a day.

Another option is to go by train. The train doesn't reach Tossa de Mar, so you'll have to stop in Blanes and once there, you take a bus which takes approximately 40 minutes..

According to the local tourist office visittossa.com: "Tossa de Mar offers sea and mountain, a unique landscape with a history which inspires art and culture, traditions, gastronomy and Mediterranean hospitality." And they say that like Barcelona it is an all-year round destination. They add: "Every season is a new reason to enjoy Tossa's charm. Live the awakening of spring at the seaside; get passionate with Tossa's blue summer; enjoy the last sea-baths in the autumn calmness; be captivated by the magic of our mountains in winter."

And this being Spain, there are festivals and foodie events throughout the year whichever month you choose to visit.