Lloret de Mar town and beach, Costa Brava

Lloret de Mar is a beautiful place to visit and relax on the Costa Brava. The water is crystal clear and magical, and the beach looks amazing with the castle (Castell de Lloret) above it, like a fairytale. It's nice to stay on the castle (north) end of the beach, which is quieter, with an ocean view. This area is without many nightclubs, and has cafes rich with fruit smoothies and fruit platters and a festive feeling- The Cove or La Cova Lloret, was our favorite cafe. These cafes are right on the water rather than on the road, better than the other cafes along the beach.

Past the cafes, toward the castle, there's a little cove called Sa Caleta Lloret that has shade from the cliffs in the morning. Families gather here to relax. Past the cove, you can walk a cami de ronda for a short while, past a tree that frames the path, through a tunnel, to the other side where water sparkles around rocks. You then have to climb very steep high stairs for even higher views. 
Along the beach there is a promenade above the sand, where hundreds of people from Poland take over, on warm weekends in fall to spring (Wed-Sat) to get a chance to have long strolls in pleasant weather that they can't have at home. This actually makes the town crowded and unpleasant, so it's better to come on Monday or Tuesday. Across the street from the promenade are plenty of cafes (with street noise), tacky souvenir shops, and markets where you can buy a yogurt or supplies. It's very convenient to be able to walk to everything. 
When you get to the city hall topped with bells, turn right and you will find a square with Sant Roma de Lloret de Mar Church. This amazing church topped with colorful mosaic tiles is in the Catalan Modernist style you find in Barcelona. The architect was a student of Gaudi. There are three sections of buildings, the old 16th century Gothic church in the center (which has a sewer smell inside, so is kind of unpleasant to sit in), the new modernist section on the right (if facing the church) with an amazing tiled dome and little chubby turrets, and a third section on the left of white washed buildings with pointed arches above the windows. It seems to house a social services building. You can have a tea and pastry or omelette at Casa Marles 1585, an upmarket cafe with outdoor seating looking out on the square and church. Bliss! It is best to come here early in the day because this part of the town can get swarms of people during fine weather.
If you follow the beach promenade to the end you can walk a cami de ronda for a long while! Little stairs that hug the cliff take you past one amazing view after another! Many people take this path so you are safe, even alone. There are views of the incredibly vibrant blue-green water, a statue of a hefty fisherman's wife called Dona Marinera, and forests of gorgeous cypress trees. The statue pays tribute to the wifes who kept the home fires burning while men made the 18th and 19th century voyages to the Americas. The Castell de Sant Joan isn't as pleasing in shape as the castle above the beach on the north end of Lloret de Mar. It is only open during restricted times. Once you pass it, take the adorable stairs with yellow walls at 24 Carrer Maria Fortuny (only if you have a friend with you, because there are some sketchy people sometimes hanging out on these stairs) down to the town of Fenals. Fenals has a wide beach with a headland. You can walk the promenade to a rocky outcropping on the south end. Right before you get to the rocky outcropping, you can follow signs to Jardins de Santa Clotilde, a truly stunning garden over the sea! After you visit the garden, the lady at the entrance booth can call a taxi to take you home!
The Costa Brava, and Lloret de Mar, can have a cold afternoon wind in springtime. It's not as windy in Lloret de Mar as it is in the north part of Costa Brava though, around Calella de Palafrugell.

Directions

It's not very easy to get to Lloret de Mar and the Costa Brava. I definitely DO NOT recommend taking the R1 commuter train or metro from Barcelona. It is a train plagued with problems because of the uneven terrain. It rocks you violently from side to side, like a theme park ride that you wish you never got on, for a whole hour long. It hurts your hips.
A better option is the Moventis bus. It's not super comfortable, but it's fine, and safe. It goes from Barcelona Nord Station to the train station in Lloret de Mar (which is a slightly sketchy area, so remain alert). It costs around 12 euros.

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