Getting ashore
Roses is a tender port for larger ships. Ships usually anchor near Marina Roses, and the ship’s tenders take passengers ashore. Larger liners with a draft of at least 15 m use a separate anchorage less than 1 km from the tender pier, which also serves tour boats and yachts. The port entrance is about 70 m wide and 9 m deep, with about 700 moorings for vessels 6 to 45 m long. Marina Roses, on the northern side of the fishing harbour and run by the municipal company Port de Roses SA, has a minimum depth of 6 m, takes boats up to 45 m overall, and has about 485 boats, including 374 berths or fixed moorings. The schedule shows VidantaWorld Elegant on 25 October 2026, arriving at 08:00 and leaving at 19:00. How weather affects tenders is not known, so confirm the timings with the ship. Ask the cruise line about tender access for mobility needs, and check the ship’s return time before you leave the tender pier.
For beach lovers
Canyelles beach is free to visit, open at all hours, and suits bathing. Almadrava beach and Cala Montjoi cove are also listed. The bay is used for kitesurfing, parasailing, sea kayaking, diving, rowing and sailing, so there is plenty to do on the water. The beach runs all the way to Sant Martí d’Empúries. Canyelles and Puig Rom are both free, so a day here can cost little. Afterwards, the local speciality is suquet de peix de Roses, a fish stew cooked with potatoes.
For walkers and architecture fans
The Ciutadella de Roses is a seafront citadel with archaeological remains, an open-air museum and views over the bay. The parish church of Santa Maria, in the town centre, dates from the 18th century. The citadel and the church are both within the town itself, while the Castell de la Trinitat, which crowns the town, is 2.5 km away. The Visigothic settlement of Puig Rom is free to visit and is reached by a short uphill walk from the residential area.
For nature and outdoor fans
Cap de Creus is where the Pyrenees run down to the sea, and it is reached through Cadaqués, an artists’ village made famous by Dalí and Picasso. The megalithic complex lies within the Cap de Creus nature park. Figueres has the Dalí museum, 20 km from the train station, and Girona offers shopping and culture. Both can be done as day trips, but the ship’s return time should set how far you go. Girona is 65 km from Roses, so it is the longer of the two trips.
Getting around and money
Downtown is about 0.5 km from the anchorage, and the port is less than 500 m from the town centre. Roses is reached from Figueres by the C260. Figueres train station is 20 km away, about 20 minutes by car. Roses is about 30 km from the French border, 65 km from Girona and 160 km from Barcelona. Girona Airport is 50 minutes away, and Barcelona Airport is two hours. Bus, taxi and train fares from the port to town are not known, so ask at the tender pier. In summer, shops are open daily from 10am to 10pm. Typical Spanish shop hours are 9.30am to 1.30pm and 4.30pm to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, with big shopping centres open from 10am to 9 or 10pm. The currency is the euro (EUR), divided into 100 cents. Dial 112 for emergencies, free throughout Spain. Pharmacies open from 9.30am to 1.30pm and 4.30pm to 8pm, and each posts a rolling late-night rota. Public holidays, including 12 October and 6 December, may close shops.
Season and schedules
The Roses calendar runs from October 2026 to November 2028. The one sailing listed so far is VidantaWorld Elegant on 25 October 2026. The port had 9 scheduled ship calls or booked berthings in 2024. Visiting ships are mainly superyachts and smaller vessels from luxury lines, including Seabourn, SeaDream, Crystal, Windstar, Azamara, Ritz-Carlton, CroisiEurope and Mystic Cruises. Palamós and Roses ended the 2024 season with 58 calls combined, up 9% on 2023, and about 53,000 passengers. Check the live schedule for current calls.
Accessibility & mobility
The sources do not describe step-free tender boarding or the route from the anchorage to the centre. Ask the cruise line about tender access for mobility needs before booking a shore excursion.