Every year, millions of tourists flock to Italy’s Venice to catch a glimpse of its iconic canals and take a ride on one of its gondolas. 

In 2023, Venice saw about 5.7 million tourists, both domestic and international, which was an increase of about 119.1 percent from the previous year and surpassed the 5.5 million that visited in 2019, before the pandemic, according to Road Genius.  

As a result, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is buckling under the pressure of overtourism, with city authorities working to address the issue with policies including a five euro day-tripper entry free and maximum group sizes of 25 people. 

With such high visitor figures, tourists are unlikely to be able to take a photo of the beautiful canals, or even experience the beauty of the city, without being affected by the crowds. 

So, why not give Italy a miss and head for Europe’s “second Venice”, the beautiful town of Empuriabrava in Costa Brava in the northeast of Spain. 

Ninety miles north of Barcelona, nestled under the foothills of the Pyrenees, near a wealth of beautiful sandy beaches, hides Empuriabrava, in Costa Brava.

Originally built on a swamp, the town was transformed into a tourist community, initially planned in 1964 and completed in 1975. Since then, it has remained a firm favourite amongst the Spanish but has remained a well-kept secret from British tourists. 

With 15 miles of canals and 5,000 private jetties, it is one of the largest man-made inhabited marinas in the world.

However, this is not your average “steeped in history, cobbled street, traditional Spanish village”. In fact, there is very little authentically Catalan about Empuriabrava at all. 

Instead, this is where you come to gawp at how the rich spend their money on posh yachts and even posher villas with plunge pools on the canal front. It is like the perfect blend of Monaco and Venice, rolled into one, but without the high prices for your everyday visitor. 

Small electric tourist boats for hire journey up and down the main canal channel all day – a perfect way to spend an afternoon eying up how the other half live and planning your life post-lottery win.

There are three beautiful sandy beaches, which, even in the height of summer are nothing like Spain’s other sardine-like resorts. Plus, there are enough bars and restaurants to cater to every tourist’s taste.

A three-night trip for two people can cost as little as £120, while the average price of a double room is £73, but can range from £45–£85 per night depending on the season, location and facilities. Flights to Empuriabrava can cost as little as £24, according to Tripadvisor.

For those who enjoy stepping outside urban areas and exploring some nature, Empuriabrava is surrounded by the beautiful national park, the Empordà wetlands. 327 species of bird can be observed there, including strokes, kingfishers and coots, as well as otters, thanks to a recent reintroduction project in the area. 

Its aerodrome (ICAO-code LEAP), immediately to the north of the town, offers a variety of air sports with services for all levels of skydiving for any thrill-seekers.

The town’s population is usually around 15,000 but can increase to 100,000 in the summer. Still, this is nothing compared to the millions that travel to Venice, which overwhelm the roughly 50,000 residents with a ratio of about 38 tourists per resident. 

The nearest airport is Girona-Costa Brava, an important base for Ryanair. During the summer season, a bus to the town is available. Additionally, the major international airport at Barcelona-El Prat is located just under 100 miles to the south, around two hours by car.

The nearest train station (RENFE) is in Figueres, nine miles from the municipality. From there, there is a bus towards Castelló d’Empúries and Empuriabrava.