Barcelona is famously filled with superb locations to go to. Why drag your self away from the historic heart of the Catalan capital? You can tour the Gaudi works or take a night paella class – Barcelona turns into much more alive at night time. But whereas Barcelona’s metropolis heart could also be filled with unimaginable cultural actions, whether or not it’s your first journey or fiftieth, you need to nonetheless make investments in one of many many day journeys from Barcelona. Catalan tradition is fascinating, and the encompassing panorama is gorgeous to discover by public transport or rental automobile. You might go to Montserrat, gothic church buildings in medieval villages, or go wine tasting in rolling vineyards.
Top Barcelona Day Trips
In this information, we’ll cowl the very best day journeys from Barcelona. You might pencil in a soothing day journey to Arab baths or deal with a number of the finest mountain climbing trails in the area – the depth of your day journey is as much as you. One factor is bound, although; Barcelona has many day journey choices. And the truth that Barcelona has many prepare traces and low-cost prepare tickets is great, particularly in case you are visiting Barcelona on a funds. Let’s try the very best day journeys Barcelona has accessible. You’ll love these prime 19 contenders.
Planning Your Trip To Barcelona Right Now?
Below are a number of the prime day journey excursions from Barcelona. Don’t overlook to plan forward when visiting Spain!
Top Day Trips and Tours from Barcelona:
1. Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is a large area in Catalonia. It calls for excess of a day to see in its entirety. Costa Brava stretches from simply northeast of Barcelona metropolis heart to the French border, protecting a number of the prettiest coastal villages and locations. It is one among Barcelona’s hottest day journeys – both as a self-guided expertise or a guided tour like this full-day one. You can enterprise out to villages with Roman and historic Greek villages. Or you’ll be able to take boat journeys to spots just like the Medes archipelago.
If you need an unbiased journey, Costa Brava is finest day-tripped by rental automobile on a highway journey from Barcelona. You can drive to the sting of Costa Brava (the resort city of Blanes) in underneath an hour, then proceed alongside the shoreline, hopping from village to city. Road-tripping the Costa Brava as a day journey from Barcelona is vastly rewarding, and you might be at all times near a scrumptious dish or a stupendous seashore.
We had so as to add it as a day journey due to how liberating highway journeys are and the way well-suited the Costa Brava is to day trippers, with city after city of coastal locations to take pleasure in. We’ll cowl a number of points of interest alongside the Costa Brava shoreline as day journeys in their very own proper. However, if you happen to wrestle to squeeze a day journey in, road-tripping Costa Brava is a improbable, extra normal day journey possibility.
Distance from Barcelona: 50-minute drive to Blanes, Barcelona’s closest level of the Costa Brava.
2. Tossa de Mar
Tossa de Mar is one among Barcelona’s most drop-dead beautiful day tour choices. The little cliffside village has an Old Town declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument, and its ruins are proper into the Mediterranean Sea. On today journey, you’ll be able to stroll the village and take in its historic sights earlier than heading to Gran Beach – which has previous wall ruins spilling onto the sands.
It is unquestionably a day journey of two halves. You’ll spend the morning with tradition and historical past and the afternoon in the water or on the seashore. Tossa de Mar has a number of scuba diving and paddle boarding alternatives if you happen to fancy one thing a little bit extra adventurous than a day of sunbathing or swimming.
Tossa de Mar is an hour and 15-minute drive from Barcelona. Unfortunately, it isn’t accessible by public transport simply. Still, you’ll be able to at all times e book a shuttle service or guided tour if you happen to don’t drive. It is among the most well-known Barcelona day journeys, so you need to be capable to discover guided excursions simply.
Distance from Barcelona: 1-hour 15-minute drive from Barcelona
3. Wine Tasting
Going wine tasting is a vastly gratifying day journey. Barcelona is surrounded by the outskirts with rolling vineyards and greater than only a boutique vineyard. Priorat, Montsant, and Penedès are all significantly well-known areas for Catalonian wine. And from Barcelona, we’d extremely advocate a small group tour to Penedès wine nation. Penedès is hailed for its Cava – a glowing white wine – however you’ll discover all types of sorts if you happen to tour the area. You can merely e book a wine-tasting tour that features transport from Barcelona metropolis heart. There are many choices; some, like this one, even embrace conventional meals like tapas.
Wine-tasting excursions are good if you’d like minimal touring however love tasting new wines. It combines a little bit of countryside sightseeing, too, as you’ll be venturing to some critically picturesque wineries. The excursions are usually half a day lengthy, however they range relying in your tour.
Distance from Barcelona: 45-minute drive to Penedès from Barcelona
4. Castellfollit de la Roca
Castellfollit de la Roca is gorgeous. The tiny village teeters on the slender ridge of a basalt clifftop overlooking the confluence of two rivers beneath – surrounded by forest and wildlife. Only round 1,000 residents reside in Castellfollit de la Roca. However, it’s simply probably the most photographed locations in Catalonia and one of many prime day journeys from Barcelona if you’d like a wow issue.
Visitors can stroll the Old Town and take a look at some actually area of interest little points of interest, together with a 150-year-old charcuterie enterprise that’s now a museum preserving Catalonia’s charcuterie historical past. While, for a extra distinctive vantage level over Castellfollit de la Roca’s gorgeous structure, you’ll be able to splurge on a scorching air balloon journey.
Castellfollit de la Roca is a 1.5-hour drive from Barcelona and is in any other case not accessible by public transport. It is, nevertheless, an extremely scenic drive and bypasses or cuts by quite a few pure parks. It even passes by Vic (a medieval city that can function later in our information) because the midway level. If you might be debating driving to Castellfollit de la Roca, know that renting a automobile is unquestionably effectively value it.
Distance from Barcelona: 1.5 hour drive from Barcelona
5. Montserrat
If you go to Barcelona, you must go to Montserrat. Montserrat is a striking-looking mountain city most identified for its Benedictine monastery, Saint Maria de Montserrat. The monastery has a statue of the Virgin Mary and baby rumored to have been carved by St.Luke, and this statue offers the city its nickname ‘Sacred Mountain.’ If you e book a Montserrat tour from Barcelona, you’ll undoubtedly have the monastery in your itinerary. But the entire city is gorgeous, and it seems to be as if the previous stone buildings have erupted up from the rocks of the mountains themselves. Montserrat is like one thing out of a movie set.
You can e book a Montserrat tour with lodge pick-up – making it one of many best day journeys from Barcelona. However, to go eco-friendly, simply catch the prepare from Barcelona-Sants Station. It takes simply over an hour by prepare, and there’s no have to e book prepare tickets in advance. Montserrat is among the most basic day journey experiences; don’t miss this one if you’d like dramatic surroundings and a pilgrim expertise.
Distance from Barcelona: Less than 1.5 hours from Barcelona by public transport
6. Pyrenees Mountains
The Pyrenees Mountains make a superb day journey from Barcelona. The mountain vary is gorgeous and filled with ski slopes in winter and mountain climbing trails in summer time. For both a mountain climbing day journey or a ski day journey, the Pyrenees Mountains are your finest shout from these day journeys from Barcelona.
A phrase of warning; the Pyrenees Mountains are the tallest mountain vary in Europe – so anticipate steep slopes and difficult hikes. The mountains cowl an enormous 270-mile stretch, with the very best of all of the peaks being the three,404-meter-tall Pico de Aneto. The Pyrenees Mountains are an absolute beast of an space to discover.
As we mentioned, the Pyrenees Mountains are improbable for skiers and hikers. You can simply take a day journey to ski resorts like Arinsal Ski Resort and Grandvalira, benefit from the snow, after which head again for a night in Barcelona. While mountain climbing trails just like the Ayous Lakes Circuit or Carros de Foc are additionally unimaginable in spring and summer time. For out of doors fans, we simply had so as to add it to this information.
Distance from Barcelona: The Pyrenees Mountains are roughly a 3 hour 40-minute drive from Barcelona relying on the place you go to.
7. Gala Dalí Castle Museum-House
Gala Dalí Castle Museum-House is a rags-to-riches story. The now-turned-Dali Museum was as soon as a forgotten citadel stumbled throughout by the Dali couple. Salvador Dali purchased the Eleventh-century Pubol Castle in 1969, rescuing it from an entire state of despair.
The ceilings had fallen by, and there have been cracks in the partitions – basically a break of what was beforehand medieval grandeur. Salvador constructed the rooms across the ‘new’ structure that the collapsed constructions created. Dali Castle was remodeled right into a romantic, baroque-style architectural masterpiece. And, most romantically, Salvador devoted the complete undertaking to his spouse, Gala.
Now you’ll be able to go to this citadel on a day tour from Barcelona. The citadel is now a museum devoted to preserving the Dali historical past and story, in addition to showcasing the citadel’s architectural magnificence. Admiring the furnishings and decor, you’ll be able to independently stroll by the citadel at leisure. Alternatively, e book one guided tour and discover with an skilled information.
Distance from Barcelona: 2 hours by public transport and 1.5 hours by automobile
8. Girona
Girona is an enormous medieval metropolis. Set apart the River Onyar, it’s overflowing with medieval structure and historic Roman fortifications. Girona’s community of manicured gardens and slender streets date again to the center ages, and its Jewish Quarter is stuffed with attribute arches. Even simply from taking a look at photos of the town, it’s straightforward to see why it was chosen as a filming location for Game of Thrones.
It is among the prime day journeys from Barcelona in the case of structure and chasing day journeys that go away ‘big impressions.’ You can take a guided strolling tour of the town or go to independently. Girona has many points of interest in addition to its attractiveness, together with Europe’s smallest sq., previous volcanoes on its outskirts, and cultural venues like cinemas.
Girona is simply 40 minutes from Barcelona by prepare. It is unimaginable that you’ve a special metropolis expertise lower than one hour away. Girona is a improbable candidate for day journeys from Barcelona if you happen to don’t drive. Game of Thrones followers, particularly, take into account including Girona to your Barca itinerary.
Distance from Barcelona: 40 minutes by prepare
9. Mallorca
Ready for probably the most formidable day journeys from Barcelona you could possibly ever take? One possibility is to get the ferry to Mallorca in a single day, take pleasure in a morning on the Balearic Islands, after which catch a ferry again for the night in Barcelona. This is right for these wanting to maximise their time in Spain. And it requires minimal effort in phrases of transportation – you’ll be able to take pleasure in an evening on the water, scrumptious delicacies, and entry leisure like movie screenings. While for an excellent night time’s sleep, there are personal cabins to e book. On the return ferry, you’ll be able to maintain your eyes out for dolphins, whales, and seabirds. And you’ll catch the sundown at sea no less than as soon as on this journey.
Ferries from Barcelona go away in the night and arrive early in the morning in Mallorca – typically round 5:30 am. You port in Palma or Alcudia, providing you with time to discover these little port cities earlier than catching the ferry again. This day journey is finest for early birds. But these daring sufficient to strive it will likely be rewarded by a wholly totally different ambiance in Mallorca. Palma has an enormous round citadel that dates again to the 14th century, an historic Arab bathhouse, and an actual huddle of aesthetic museums in totally different plazas. Alcudia has medieval partitions and engaging Roman ruins websites. Historically, Mallorca has hundreds to supply, and atmosphere-wise, it’s rather more laidback than hectic Barcelona. It is an expedition-style journey from Barcelona and is ideal for anybody wanting an journey.
Distance from Barcelona: 6-7 hours by ferry
10. Calella de Palafrugell
Calella de Palafrugell is a candy coastal city in the municipality of Palafrugell. The city is fairly, with whitewashed, conventional buildings and loads of sandy seashores. It is a seashore day journey with the oomph to make wandering across the city worthwhile when visiting. For seashore lovers trying to enterprise right into a little bit of sightseeing, go to Calella de Palafrugell. You can try the Cami de Ronda Calella-Golfet commentary deck, Torre de Calella, and hike the Cami de Ronda de Calella a Llafranc. Or simply decide a restaurant and take a look at some native delicacies earlier than kicking it on the seashore.
Calella de Palafrugell is sweet as a result of it has points of interest to entertain you if you happen to get bored sunbathing and the potential for a soothing seashore day. It is right for these planning day journeys from Barcelona with a bunch of various touring types. Versatile and fairly, Calella de Palafrugell is a prime suggestion.
Distance from Barcelona: 3 hours by public transport or 1.5 hours by automobile
11. Sitges
Sitges is a enjoyable seaside city and probably the most LGBTQ+-friendly day journeys from Barcelona. The city is famend for its LGBTQ group and has an outgoing nightlife and celebration scene. And even higher, it’s simply accessible by prepare, simply 35 minutes from Barcelona’s metropolis heart. Since the final prepare is simply earlier than 11pm, you’ll be able to benefit from the seashore after which indulge in some nightlife earlier than returning to Barcelona – making Sitges a full-day journey to think about.
Sitges is excess of simply the seashore and partying, although. You can take pleasure in modernist artwork on the Museu Cau Ferrat, admire white and blue fishermen’s homes in the Old Town, and go to deserted villages in the close by Garraf Natural Park. It is lower than one hour from Barcelona but presents a special vibe. Small however mighty Sitges is a inventive hub of tradition and group value visiting. And the frequent trains simply make this much more tempting.
Distance from Barcelona: 35 minutes by prepare
12. Tarragona
It could also be a daring assertion, however that is the highest day journey for historical past lovers. Tarragona is an historic Roman metropolis with ruins scattered all through its streets – making it one among Barcelona’s most fascinating archeological day journeys. Once referred to as Tarraco, if you happen to love Roman historical past, this metropolis is taken into account top-of-the-line locations to be taught in regards to the Romans in Spain. Its most well-known (and arguably spectacular) ruins are the big stays of the traditional Roman amphitheater. But there’s the Roman Circus, discussion board, and Praetorium Tower too.
The port metropolis is only one hour from Barcelona by a scenic prepare journey. You head southwest, hugging the shoreline with stunning advert hoc views of the Mediterranean Sea and its prettiest coastal cities. For us, Roman historical past instantly caught our eye. Still, from a sensible degree, it is among the finest Barcelona day journey choices.
Distance from Barcelona: 1 hour by prepare
13. Vic
Heading inland shouldn’t be ignored when planning day journeys from Barcelona. Vic is a big metropolis set one hour inland from Barcelona by automobile. While it could not look ‘major’ in measurement, it’s the capital of the comarca of Osona and an actual cultural hotspot. We vote that you just add it to your checklist instantly. It has a powerful neoclassical cathedral, a December medieval truthful on cobbled streets, and area of interest points of interest just like the Episcopal Museum of Vic.
Of all these day journeys from Barcelona, a Vic day journey is a culture-satisfying assure. Its structure alone is fascinating; the Queralt Bridge, an Eleventh-century Romanesque bridge (reconstructed many occasions), and 2nd century Roman Temple of Vic are metropolis highlights.
Vic is definitely reached by automobile in lower than an hour, however you could possibly additionally take a bus in 1 hour and 20 minutes if driving isn’t an possibility. It is a reasonably scenic route, slicing by agricultural landscapes and countryside that drastically contrasts the scenes in busy Barcelona. It can be only a quick quantity of journey time – excellent for maximizing your time in Vic or squeezing the day journey into half a day if needed.
Distance from Barcelona: 1 hour by automobile
14. Cadaques
Cadaques is essentially the most inaccessible place on the Costa Brava – or no less than that’s what folks say. Tucked up by the border, it is among the final coastal cities earlier than Catalonia flows into France, and solely the actually enthusiastic vacationers push themselves to enterprise to date northeast. Cadaques is someplace we’d recommend renting a automobile to go to, however belief us, it will likely be value it. You’ll drive up in direction of the French border, move Girona (an excellent midway relaxation level), and end on the shoreline.
It is right for combining a go to to Girona with a go to to a quieter, less-visited coastal city – probably the most distinctive day journeys from Barcelona. The fishermen’s city sits on a rocky shoreline with gorgeous seashores, enveloped by the Cap de Creus Natural Park. You can try the handful of museums; in any other case, simply chill out on a seashore day. It is a glimpse into a completely totally different life-style in Catalonia.
For us, the out-of-the-way component is what offers Cadaques its attract. And the truth that it combines so effectively with Girona is one other big bonus, that means that regardless of its ‘inaccessibility,’ it really makes sensible sense. Cadaques is effectively value the additional effort if you happen to really feel assured with a barely longer drive.
Distance from Barcelona: 2 hours by automobile and three.5 by public transport
15. Cardona
Cardona is among the most stunning medieval villages in Catalonia. This day journey would be the most memorable if you happen to like atmospheric, movie-set-style locations. Tiny in comparison with the bigger Vic, Cardona is a little bit village consisting primarily of a medieval walled fortress and medieval citadel. The buildings in Cardona date again to the eighth century and embrace Romanesque and Gothic constructions. While Cardona itself is about historically on a hill subsequent to the Cardoner River – a conventional tactical location.
In Cardona, enable time to go to the Museu de la Sal de Cardona, its church, and (after all) the Castell de Cardona, which is especially stunning and dawn and sundown. You can even enterprise out to the close by salt mines to tour the underground stays of a once-thriving business.
Sustainability lovers be aware that Cardona was formally acknowledged for its sustainability efforts as a part of the European Commission’s EDEN program, the European Destinations of Excellence. It is a outstanding village that takes pleasure in its historical past and heritage. Cardona has been splendidly taken care of, and strolling by its slender streets and alongside its fortress partitions seems like stepping again in time attributable to these preservation efforts.
Distance from Barcelona: 1 hour quarter-hour by automobile and a couple of hours quarter-hour by public transport
16. Andorra
Fancy including one other nation to your checklist whereas visiting Barcelona? Andorra is among the prime day journeys from Barcelona. Despite being situated smack bang between France and Spain, Andorra is a tiny unbiased nation surrounded by the Pyrenees mountains. It is a improbable day journey. Andorra is all ski slopes and pure parks – plus, it has a considerably incongruous duty-free buying scene. In ski season, we’d advocate it for hitting the slopes. At the identical time, in late spring and summer time, Andorra is a prime mountain climbing vacation spot and nice for buying.
You can attain Andorra from Barcelona in 3 hours and quarter-hour by direct bus. Alternatively, you’ll be able to hire a automobile and drive there in 2.5 hours. Driving to Andorra has its personal advantages, with the choice of driving through Vic and straight by Parc Natural del Cadi-Moixero. By automobile, it isn’t even one of many longest day journeys from Barcelona.
Distance from Barcelona: 2.5 hours by automobile and three hours quarter-hour by bus
17. Castelldefels
Castelldefels is a stupendous spot on the Mediterranean Sea – heavenly-looking and excellent for a fast day journey from Barcelona. The city has a surprising shoreline with an extended sandy seashore. But it isn’t only a seashore getaway; Castelldefels has historical past and tradition with its Castell de Fels and Gava Mines. Pick a few its prime points of interest and hop across the metropolis heart in the morning, heading to the seashore after for a relaxed afternoon. You gained’t have any points squeezing a full-day tour of Castelldefels in, as it’s only a 25-minute prepare journey away.
Castelldefels caught our eye for its attractiveness as a seashore vacation spot. However, its proximity to Barcelona is one other big plus. Castelldefels is tremendous handy. You can shortly leap on the prepare from Barcelona Sants Station if you happen to fancy a fast seashore journey. While if you’d like one thing extra substantial, Castelldefels is an equally good possibility, with loads of historical past due to its citadel and archaeological mines.
Distance from Barcelona: 25 minutes by automobile or prepare
18. Premia de Mar
Premia de Mar is so small that calling it a seaside city is probably going an overstatement. However, its small measurement makes it probably the most stress-free seashore day journeys from Barcelona. There are few sightseeing alternatives, however if you happen to crave high quality seashore time, you’ll be able to’t go flawed with Premia de Mar’s sandy seashores. You can swim, sunbathe, after which seize meals from an area cafe or restaurant. Premia de Mar is the place to go to maintain issues easy and have a healthful day on the sands. It isn’t intense like a full-day tour of historic monuments or UNESCO websites. It is simply someplace to chill out and escape Barcelona’s crowds.
Another big bonus of visiting Premia de Mar is that it’s accessible by prepare and automobile. You can hop on a prepare straight from central Barcelona and be on the seashore in lower than an hour. Or you’ll be able to drive if you have already got a rental automobile. Not everybody seems like venturing as much as Costa Brava in search of quiet sandy seashores, and Premia de Mar is a a lot nearer compromise.
Distance from Barcelona: 40 minutes by prepare and 20 minutes by automobile
19. Colonia Guell
Forget heaving Park Guell; Colonia Guell is a Gaudi-built neighborhood with nearly equivalent tales, minus all of the crowds. It is among the lesser-chosen day journeys from Barcelona as a result of it’s so just like the a lot nearer Park Guell. But for these wanting a quieter expertise, it’s a no-brainer. Add it to your itinerary and journey the straightforward 45 minutes by public transport or seize a 20-minute Uber.
Gaudi constructed Colonia Guell in the city of Santa Coloma de Cervello. As many individuals know, Gaudi’s authentic concept was to create unique neighborhoods the place Barcelona locals might buy properties and reside in a modernist-designed group. Colonia Guell, in specific, was for use by industrial staff.
Gaudi was commissioned by Eusebi Guell so as to add homes, a faculty, outlets, and even a church to the neighborhood. Gaudi’s church crypt has even been awarded UNESCO World Heritage standing. It is a surprising place to wander round. And it’s broadly whispered about as Gaudi’s best-kept secret, so we had so as to add it as one of many off-the-beaten-track day journeys from Barcelona.
Distance from Barcelona: 45 minutes by public transport or 20-minute drive
To Conclude
Barcelona’s ‘day trip radius’ has cultural and pure points of interest. Any of those day journeys from Barcelona are value engaging your self away from the town heart for a single day. Barcelona day journeys are a should addition to any itinerary, and we’d recommend scheduling no less than a pair.
Note that in case you are flying into the (extra budget-friendly) Girona International Airport, you need to mix this with a go to to the Game of Thrones filming location and medieval metropolis, Girona. Adding Girona as a day journey from the airport is an excellent technique to maximize your Barcelona day journeys.
Looking for extra inspiration about visiting Barcelona? We recommend contemplating the place to remain in the town. Each neighborhood has a particular feel- modern El Born or the historic heart of the Gothic Quarter. Take your time selecting an space.