Making the most of Palamos
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Palamos is a pleasant town, and ships dock in an excellent position for a stroll along the promenade.
Palamós’s downtown area is approximately 500 meters, or a 5-10 minute walk, from the cruise terminal.
Bordered by a ribbon of sun-kissed sand, Palamos began as a tiny fishing village. Fishing remains part of its legacy, with the day’s catch auctioned to the highest bidder on the quayside every afternoon. Go down to the beach or leave town for a day of discovery.
In Palamos on the Costa Brava, you will find fantastic scenery, small idyllic beaches and huge cliffs, as well as the best shrimp you have ever tasted.
Castell de Sant Esteve de Mar: visit this ancient castle on a rocky hill overlooking the sea. It has panoramic views and is an excellent place for photographs.
Getting around
This small city is walkable, with excellent shopping and an attractive waterside promenade of cafés and bars.
For Girona, Barcelona and the Dali attractions, a prearranged tour with either the cruise line or an independent company is your best option.
Nearby places
Travel to nearby Figueres, home to the bizarre-looking Salvador Dali Museum. Outside, its red-studded walls are topped with huge luminous eggs; inside is an amazing collection of Dali’s surrealist paintings and sculptures.
Among the sights in Girona, one of Spain’s finest monumental cities, are the 12th-century Arab Baths and the Cathedral of Santa Maria.
Money
Currency: the euro.
The euro is divided into 100 cents. There are eight coin denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent, plus 1 and 2 Euro. There are seven banknote denominations: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euro.
Staying connected
Spanish is the official language throughout the national territory, although other languages coexist with it in certain Spanish regions: Catalan in Catalonia, Galician in Galicia, Euskera/Basque in the Basque Country, Valencian in the Valencia Region, and a particular variety of Catalan on the Balearic Islands.
Dial 112, Spain’s free nationwide emergency number. The service is provided in Spanish and, in some tourist areas, in English, French and German too.
Opening Hours and
The usual shop and business hours are Monday through Saturday, from 9.30 h to 13.30 h and from 16.30 to 20.00 h.
Large shopping centres and department stores open uninterruptedly from 10.00 h to 21.00 or 22.00 h. These large stores sometimes open on Sunday.
In high season, shops in coastal cities are usually open past 22.00 h.
Pharmacies are open from 9.30 to 13.30 h and from 16.30 to 20.00 h. All major cities have pharmacies open 24 hours. Pharmacies operate a rolling late-hour schedule, published in newspapers and posted at every pharmacy.