Those who stay several days in Barcelona will have the opportunity to dedicate a small part of their holidays to excursions out of town.
In the surroundings of Barcelona there are lots of escape possibilities and above all there is for everyone: sea, mountains, museums, amusement parks, etc.
In this article you will find what to do in Barcelona and of course all the information on prices, organized excursions and much more.
Let's go for a day trip to a city near Barcelona!
Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is the part of the coast that extends north of Barcelona from the city of Blanes to France.
In summer it becomes a unmissable destination For lovers of the sea, hidden coves and nature walks, if you have a day to dedicate, don't miss the opportunity to spend some time on one of its beaches.
There would be so many places to mention, so for more information on the subject, we invite you to read the article that we have dedicated to the Costa Brava in general.
Below is a description of some of the most visited places on the Costa Brava and our tips for getting there.
If you prefer take a guided tourTake a look at the offer of our partner TicketBar that offers tours of the Costa Brava from Barcelona at day.
Lloret de Mar
Welcome to the fun mecca of the Costa Brava!
The town of Lloret de Mar, in one hour in BarcelonaIn fact, it is ravaged every summer by young people from all over Europe in search of nightlife, cheap hotels and beautiful beaches.
But don't worry: even if your 20s are just a distant memory and you don't feel like going to a disco, Lloret is still an option that won't disappoint you: get out of the urban chaos a bit, you'll find quiet coves like Fenals Beach et Santa Cristina Beach.
The historic center is also a pleasant place to walk.
Excursion to Lloret de Mar: how to get there
Access to Lloret is easy by all means of transport.
En car, along the coastal road C-32, in bus from Estaciò del Nord (but also from Prat and Girona airport).
En train (Renfe direction Massanet-Massanes, from Sants, Plaça Catalunya, Arc de Triomf and El Clot-Aragò), to Blanes and then with the bus Pujol in Lloret de Mar.
Tossa de Mar
Tossa is perhaps the most characteristic town on the Costa Brava, with its beautiful old town guarded by the medieval castle, the fishing boats to give a romantic touch and the beautiful coves.
The most is that it is onlyà 1h30 from Barcelona… In short, it is the ideal destination for a trip out of the city at any time of the year!
The city is dominated by the beach, big beach, from where you can start your visit and then enter the maze of medieval alleys of Vila Vella until you reach the castle and then the lighthouse.
Going down the other side you will find yourself facing the Crique de es Codolar, from where you can take the Camí de Ronda, the magnificent path that crosses the entire Costa Brava.
Some must-see beaches in the surroundings: Cala Bona, Cala Pola, Cala Giverola and Cala Sa Futadera, they are all magnificent!
Day trip to Tossa de Mar: how to get there
La car naturally it will give you more freedom of movement (even to reach the most secluded beaches), but if you don't want to rent one, you can also get there by bus (around 1h20 from Estació del Nord, cost per journey € 12,35).
Full day guided visit to Lloret and Tossa de Mar
If you don't want to lose a visit to these two towns on the Costa Brava and avoid the stress of car rental, parking, ... take a look at this guided tour proposal:
Girona
With its perfectly preserved medieval centerPicturesque Girona almost seems to have emerged from a fantastic universe.
If this sounds familiar, you may have seen it in an episode of Game of Thrones- This beautiful city was chosen as one of the locations for season 6 of the popular HBO series, which made it even more popular with tourists.
Besides visiting the beautiful Cathedral of Santa María and the high pared of the city, perfect for a panoramic walk, do not miss the Arab baths and bridges over the river Onyar, from where you can admire one of the most famous "postcards" of the city: the houses of the Onyar.
Girona day trip: how to get there
To get to Girona from Barcelona, you can take the train medium distance (Renfe's "Rodalies" line R11), which lasts approximately 1h30 and departs from the Sants, Passeig de Gracia and Clot stations. The ticket costs € 11,25.
There are also some faster trains (like the AVANT, which costs € 17,40 each way) that depart from Sants and arrive in Girona in about 40 minutes.
Dali Museum
If you are fascinated by the character of Salvador Dalí (He was so crazy that he can't leave you indifferent!), Knowing that about 140 km from Barcelona, in the town of Figueres, is the most important museum in the world dedicated to the genius of surrealism.
Surrounded by a building that is already a work of art in itself, you can admire paintings (among the most famous: Portrait of my father and The persistence of memory), sculptures, mechanical devices, furniture and jewelry.
Admission costs € 15 and the opening hours are generally from 9:30 am / 10:30 am to 18:00 pm and from 9:00 am to 20:00 pm from April to September.
Dalí Museum day trip: how to get there
You can easily get to the museum train Direction Portbou (Figueres stop) from Sants station, which takes about 2 / 3h depending on the type of train. Prices for a one-way ticket range from € 12 to € 16.
There is also a bus It leaves from Estaciò del Nord and arrives in Figueres in 3 hours (cost of a single ticket: € 20). If you have rented a car, estimate approximately 1h30 of travel on the P7 motorway.
Organized visit to Girona and the Dalí Museum
If you prefer to enjoy the tranquility of a organized tour, we recommend the one offered by the Barcelona Tourist Office, which includes a tour of the city of Girona and the Dalí Museum in Figueres.
Calella
In the heart of Maresme, the coastal region that extends north of Barcelona, Calella retains the personality of a fishing village.
It has become in recent years one of the favorite beach destinations for locals and foreigners, thanks to its proximity to Barcelona (about 50 km), its beautiful wide sandy beaches y lively nightlife.
Don't miss a visit to Lighthouse to admire the view, a walk by the sea, a bike ride through the Montnegre-Corredor natural park and of course the beaches.
La big beach, located in the center, is the largest and richest in services, Beach of the Rocks it's calmer, with your little one streams surrounded by pine trees and bathed by transparent and welcoming waters and Garbi Beach it is the best for families thanks to its floating park.
Calella day trip: how to get there
Le train it is probably the most convenient form of transportation; you can take the line R1 du «Ferrocarril» depuis Arco de Triunfo, Estación de Francia, Passeig de Gracia, Santos Egg Plaza Cataluña te atteindre Calella in about 1h15 of outfit. The coûte ticket € 5,50.
If you prefer to use the carJust take the C32, which runs along the Maresme coast and the journey takes about 45 minutes.
Port Aventura and Ferrari Land
The Port Aventura theme park is one of the best in Europe, so if you are a fan of impressive roller coasters and all kinds of adrenaline-filled attractions, this excursion is for you.
The gigantic complex is located near Salou, about 100 km south of Barcelona, and is currently made up of 3 different parks: in addition to the main park, the Port Aventura park, there is also the Caribe water park and the Ferrari Land, opened in 2017 and fully dedicated to the legendary sports car brand.
Day trip to Port Aventura: how to get there
Le train in this case it is very practical: line R16 from local rail stops ("Rodalies") directly to the parkYou can take it from Estació de França, Passeig de Gracia or Sants and it takes around 1h20.
En car travel times are more or less the same. From El Prat airport there is a Plana bus that costs € 16,90 each way.
Organized visit to PortAventura
You can also easily get to PortAventura by buying the bus + entrance ticket at the amusement park.
Sitges
Located in the Golden Coast, single 30 minutes from BarcelonaSitges is undoubtedly one of our favorite towns in all of Catalonia.
When you visit it, you will easily find out why: mediterranean style old town It is charming, full of shops, restaurants, palaces and churches to visit.
The promenade with its palm trees and beach bars is ideal for strolling and the town beach invites you to swim.
Go to thechurch of St. Bartholomew to enjoy the magnificent view and if you have time to explore some of the nearby beaches, many of which are gay and nudist. And if you can, try visiting Sitges during its spectacular Carnival!
Sitges day trip: how to get there
The most comfortable way to visit Sitges is the train: those who are in the line R2 The “Rodalies” depart every 20/30 minutes from Estació de França, Passeig de Gracia and Sants Estació stations. The journey takes about 4,60 minutes and costs about € XNUMX.
If you travel by car, remember that parking in the center, especially in summer, is not always easy.
Salou
In addition to the theme park of Port Aventura, which we mentioned earlier, there are many other good reasons to visit Salou: beautiful beaches, mild weather all year round and nightlife for all tastes.
This town on the Costa Dorada, not far from Tarragona, is one of the most famous destinations on the Catalan coast, and if you have a free day, you can dedicate it to visiting its most beautiful beaches (those of the Cap de Salou), eat a paella on the Paseo Marítimo and maybe go shopping downtown.
Salou day trip: how to get there
Approximately 100 km south of Barcelona, Salou is very easy to access by train (from Sants station, 1h10 / 1h30 trip, ticket 8-20 €) or by bus (Empresa Plana), departure from Passeig de Gràcia 36, journey time approximately 2 hours).
If you prefer to arrive by carIt will take approximately 1h30 on the road.
Montserrat
The Montserrat massif is one of the most special places in all of Catalonia. his rounded rocks with the strangest shapes, after millions of years of water erosion, and its summits (not very high) offer a magnificent view that extends to the Pyrenees and the Balearic Islands.
Among these rocks is the sanctuary of the patron saint of the region: the Virgin of Montserrat, also known as “la moreneta”, for her black skin.
Montserrat is a splendid destination for dream walks, but also to enjoy the panorama while arriving comfortably the monastery with the characteristic "rack" train.
Montserrat day trip: how to get there
You can take the train «Railroad» Renfe, line R5, from Place d'Espanya to Monistrol de Monserrat (1h05 for € 5,75) and from there take the rack railway to the mountain (the trip takes 15 minutes and the return ticket costs € 11,50).
You can also rent a car, have freedom of movement and possibly make some additional stops.
If you prefer to use the Common transportThere is also a combined ticket, the Trans Montserrat, which includes: Barcelona metro + train + rack railway + funicular + audiovisual space (€ 33,45, valid for the round trip).
Organized visit to Montserrat
The Barcelona Tourist Office organizes guided tours of Montserrat and Colonia Güell, where you can admire Gaudí's famous crypt.
DEApril to November there are visits everyday and low season Only the on Monday et Friday. The guides speak English and Spanish.
La Garrotxa
of the Volcanoes in Catalonia? It may sound strange to you, but there is an area where there are over 40! This is the Parc de la Garrotxa, but do not worry because they are all extinct and you can enter their craters and walk through the magnificent forests that surround them.
La Garrotxa is a region of valleys, hills, picturesque medieval villages and excellent cuisine, which spans the entire town of olot, in the province of Girona.
Among the attractions not to be missed: the Santa Margarita volcano, which houses a small church in the center of the cone, the beautiful medieval town of Santa Pau et Castellfollit de la roca, built of volcanic stone overhanging a high stone wall.
For the rest, you can walk, taste the typical gastronomic specialties of the region and relax in the middle of the The beauty of the nature!
Excursion to La Garrotxa: how to get there
In this case, the best option is rent a car ; the journey from Barcelona to Olot takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
Tarragona
The main reason to visit Tarragona is its incredible historical wealth, as shown above allRoman amphitheater overlooking the sea, one of the most impressive in the world for its capacity and position.
Declared Unesco world heritage, the city has a charming medieval old town to explore, but if you prefer the culture of coastal life, Tarragona also offers beautiful beaches just a short walk into town.
Tarragona day trip: how to get there
of the Trains to Tarragona usually leave from Barcelona, the cheapest are those from Rodalies local line (lines R14, R15, R16). The trip takes around an hour and costs around € 7.
En car, it will take approximately the same time to cross the coast (C-32 and AP-7).
Get more tips in the comments
If you are still not convinced with any of these cities for your day trip to Barcelona, let me know in the comments below: I am here to answer all your questions about your vacation!
Also, don't be afraid to join the discussion on my new Facebook group called "For City Lovers." Here you can ask questions, voice your complaints, chat with other travelers and more - anything goes!
