Meet Calafell
Benvingut a Calafell! This gorgeous, picturesque city is one of the most popular destinations in Spain, combining all the appeal of a beach vacation town with an ancient, historical city.
Calafell has been around for about 2500 years—it was first established as an outpost of the Roman Empire, and some structures from Roman times still survive there. Nowadays, it’s known as a popular Catalonian tourist destination, renowned for its history, culture, and beautiful beaches.
Where to live in Calafell
Calafell is a relatively small city—the year-round population is only about 28,000 people. However, during the summer months, many tourists and seasonal visitors descend upon Calafell, increasing its population to anywhere from 80,000 to 150,000 people. There is not a very large variety of neighborhoods to choose from in Calafell, but the city more than makes up for this limited range with history and beautiful landscapes.
Best Neighborhoods in Calafell
There are three major sections of Calafell: Calafell, Calafell Beach, and Segur de Calafell. Calafell is by far the oldest part of the city, but is also home to most of the city’s historic landmarks. Calafell Beach and Segur de Calafell are newer, but are also much more heavily populated by the seasonal tourist crowd.
Quick Facts About Calafell
Calafell is one of the most beloved destinations among people from all across Spain. Before you visit there, here are a few important things you should know:It’s a family-friendly city
Calafell is also one of Catalonia’s certified Family Holiday Destinations, which means that it’s a great place to visit or live for anyone raising young kids. Most restaurants in Calafell have changing tables, high chairs, bibs, and kids’ menus available upon request. Also, there are tons of activities available to keep kids entertained during the day, including workshops, shows, and dance and music classes.Food is super fresh and seasonal
One of the best things about Spain is the availability of fresh seasonal produce, especially at local food markets, which often offer groceries with better quality and lower prices than supermarkets. However, the downside is that if you’re looking for an ingredient that is not currently “in season,” it’ll probably be quite expensive and difficult to find.Many apartments/houses don’t have central heating
Because the weather in Calafell is relatively warm year-round, many apartments and houses don’t have central heating systems installed. During the spring and summer, this isn’t a problem, but it can get a little chilly in the winter and fall.Know the difference between Spanish and Catalan
Calafell is part of Spain, which means that one of its official languages is Spanish. However, Calafell is part of the province of Tarragona, where Catalan is the co-official language. Catalan is related to Spanish, but it is a distinct language, and Catalan is the language that many locals in Calafell use to communicate with each other.Active tourism is huge here
Calafell’s tourism industry places a huge emphasis on “active tourism,” which means that there are a ton of opportunities for you to enjoy the beautiful weather and squeeze some exercise into your schedule. Sailing, paddleboarding, rowing, Nordic walking, hiking, mountain biking, golfing, tennis, soccer, and basketball are all popular activities in Calafell.The Spanish lifestyle is very laid-back and relaxed
If you’re used to a very ambitious, efficient, go-getter lifestyle, the vibe of Calafell might take some getting used to. The Calafell lifestyle is fairly analogous with most of Spain, which is very relaxed and easygoing. Service is slower, deadlines are not particularly pressing, and shops tend to close early.There are a ton of tourists in July
July is definitely the peak of tourist season in Calafell—in 2019, the total population of Calafell spiked to 150,000 people due to tourists and seasonal visitors alone.The weather is beautiful
Calafell’s beautiful weather is a big part of its appeal. In the winter, the temperature averages out at around 50°F, and in the summer, the average temperature is about 80°F. Plus, the weather is sunny nearly 300 days out of the year, making it a great place for people who hate the rain or snow.Work in Calafell
The major industry in Calafell is tourism, which makes sense given that nearly 100,000 tourists visit Calafell on vacation every year. While looking for a job in Calafell, keep in mind that Spain is still recovering from the economic crisis of 2008, which means that its unemployment rate is still higher than “normal.” Also, it’s pretty much necessary that you speak fluent Spanish and Catalan in order to secure most jobs in Tarragona. If this isn’t the case for you, remote work or freelancing is probably a better option.
How good is Calafell for Digital Nomads or Remote Work
Remote work is changing how the global workspace operates. In a trend that is showing no signs of slowing down, remote work is rapidly on the increase all around the world—especially in a place like Calafell. And about 25% of remote workers describe themselves as digital nomads—those who like to travel or stay in cities around the world while they work. So, how good is Calafell for both of these growing movements?
Average Internet Speed
The Internet speeds in Calafell are pretty decent, averaging out at around 13.6 Mbps throughout the city. Many restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, bars, and hotels in Calafell offer free WiFi, giving you ample opportunities to find places to work outside of home!Work-friendly Coffee Shops
Some coffee shops can be difficult and distracting to work in, but Calafell has some great spots that will help you focus, all while sipping on some fantastic coffee. Here are some of the best work-friendly coffee shops in Palma: Oroma Coffee in Calafell Beach: Oroma Coffee is a picturesque coffee shop located just off of Calafell Beach that serves coffee, smoothies, snacks, breakfast, brunch, and drinks. Their service is great and their prices are quite reasonable! Cafeteria Com a Casa in Calafell: Cafeteria Com a Casa is a bar and cafe, serving espresso beverages, drinks, and a delicious variety of sandwiches.Coworking Spaces
You’ll find several coworking spaces in Calafell! Here are some amazing spots that you may want to consider checking out: Vilarenc Zenit: Vilarenc Zenit offers flexible coworking subscription plans that give you access to high-speed Internet, meeting and presentation rooms, mentoring and training services, mail services, plus printing, scanning, photocopying, and even laptop and projector rentals.Suitable Level for Digital Nomads
For the most part, digital nomads love Calafell! It’s one of the most picturesque vacation spots in Spain, combining a relaxing beach environment with thousands of years of Spanish and Catalonian history, giving you a lot to enjoy during your time off!Visa Requirements
If you’re a citizen of the European Union or Switzerland, you don’t need a work permit in Spain. However, if you are not from the EU or Switzerland, you will need to apply for a work permit in advance of beginning to work in Spain. If you are just planning on visiting Spain for less than 3 months, you do not need a tourist visa if you are from one of the following countries: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Yugoslavia.Food and Drink in Calafell
Calafell has a number of iconic regional dishes featuring freshly-caught fish from the Mediterranean Sea, including fideua with aioli, which is a garlicky prawn stew, xató, which is an endive salad with tuna, anchovy, and salted cod, and arrosejat, which is a monkfish dish with potatoes and noodles. There are a number of renowned Spanish and Mediterranean restaurants in Calafell worth visiting. During your time there, be sure to check out La Porketa, Conrad’s, Casinet, Masia de la Platja, Taberna los Serrano, and La Barca de Ca l’Ardet.
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