Port d'Arenys

Founded in 1952, Port d'Arenys is a working fishing and sailing marina sitting 22 miles up the coast from Barcelona, right where the Maresme coastline starts giving way to the wilder scenery of the Costa Brava. It's a proper, active port with real character — fishing boats and yachts sharing the same water — rather than a polished resort marina. The town of Arenys de Mar itself is worth your time, known for its lace-making tradition and a market that's been running for centuries.