19 Best Day Trips From Barcelona in 2023

Barcelona is famously filled with wonderful locations to go to. Why drag your self away from the historic middle of the Catalan capital? You can tour the Gaudi works or take a night paella class – Barcelona turns into much more alive at evening. But whereas Barcelona’s metropolis middle could also be filled with unbelievable 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 automotive. You may 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 perfect day journeys from Barcelona. You may pencil in a soothing day journey to Arab baths or sort out a few of the finest mountaineering trails in the area – the depth of your day journey is as much as you. One factor is certain, although; Barcelona has many day journey choices. And the truth that Barcelona has many prepare strains and low-cost prepare tickets is great, particularly if you’re visiting Barcelona on a price range. Let’s try the perfect day journeys Barcelona has out there. You’ll love these prime 19 contenders.

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 middle to the French border, protecting a few of the prettiest coastal villages and locations. It is one in all 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 historical Greek villages. Or you possibly can take boat journeys to spots just like the Medes archipelago.

If you need an unbiased journey, Costa Brava is finest day-tripped by rental automotive on a street journey from Barcelona. You can drive to the sting of Costa Brava (the resort city of Blanes) in beneath 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’re all the time near a scrumptious dish or an attractive seashore.

We had so as to add it as a day journey due to how liberating street 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 numerous sights alongside the Costa Brava shoreline as day journeys in their very own proper. However, in case you battle to squeeze a day journey in, road-tripping Costa Brava is a unbelievable, extra basic 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 in all Barcelona’s most drop-dead attractive 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 possibly can stroll the village and take in its historic sights earlier than heading to Gran Beach – which has outdated 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 numerous scuba diving and paddle boarding alternatives in case you fancy one thing slightly 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 possibly can all the time e book a shuttle service or guided tour in case you don’t drive. It is among the most well-known Barcelona day journeys, so you need to have the ability to discover guided excursions simply.

Distance from Barcelona: 1-hour 15-minute drive from Barcelona

3. Wine Tasting

Going wine tasting is a vastly fulfilling 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 kinds of types in case you tour the area. You can merely e book a wine-tasting tour that features transport from Barcelona metropolis middle. There are many choices; some, like this one, even embrace conventional meals like tapas.

Wine-tasting excursions are sensible 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 severely picturesque wineries. The excursions are usually half a day lengthy, however they fluctuate 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 slim 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 some of the 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 sights, 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 possibly can splurge on a sizzling 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 via quite a few pure parks. It even passes via Vic (a medieval city that can function later in our information) because the midway level. If you’re debating driving to Castellfollit de la Roca, know that renting a automotive is unquestionably nicely price 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 recognized for its Benedictine monastery, Saint Maria de Montserrat. The monastery has a statue of the Virgin Mary and youngster rumored to have been carved by St.Luke, and this statue provides the city its nickname ‘Sacred Mountain.’ If you e book a Montserrat tour from Barcelona, you’ll positively have the monastery in your itinerary. But the entire city is gorgeous, and it seems as if the outdated 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 traditional 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 wonderful day journey from Barcelona. The mountain vary is gorgeous and filled with ski slopes in winter and mountaineering trails in summer season. For both a mountaineering 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 unlimited 270-mile stretch, with the 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 stated, the Pyrenees Mountains are unbelievable 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 mountaineering trails just like the Ayous Lakes Circuit or Carros de Foc are additionally unbelievable in spring and summer season. For out of doors fanatics, 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 fort stumbled throughout by the Dali couple. Salvador Dali purchased the Eleventh-century Pubol Castle in 1969, rescuing it from a whole state of despair.

The ceilings had fallen via, and there have been cracks in the partitions – primarily a wreck of what was beforehand medieval grandeur. Salvador constructed the rooms across the ‘new’ structure that the collapsed buildings created. Dali Castle was reworked right into a romantic, baroque-style architectural masterpiece. And, most romantically, Salvador devoted your entire mission to his spouse, Gala.

Now you possibly can go to this fort on a day tour from Barcelona. The fort is now a museum devoted to preserving the Dali historical past and story, in addition to showcasing the fort’s architectural magnificence. Admiring the furnishings and decor, you possibly can independently stroll via the fort 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 automotive

8. Girona

Girona is an unlimited medieval metropolis. Set apart the River Onyar, it’s overflowing with medieval structure and historical Roman fortifications. Girona’s community of manicured gardens and slim streets date again to the center ages, and its Jewish Quarter is stuffed with attribute arches. Even simply from photos of the town, it’s simple to see why it was chosen as a filming location for Game of Thrones.

It is among the prime day journeys from Barcelona relating to 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 sights apart from its beauty, together with Europe’s smallest sq., outdated volcanoes on its outskirts, and cultural venues like cinemas.

Girona is simply 40 minutes from Barcelona by prepare. It is unbelievable that you’ve a distinct metropolis expertise lower than one hour away. Girona is a unbelievable candidate for day journeys from Barcelona in case you don’t drive. Game of Thrones followers, particularly, contemplate including Girona to your Barca itinerary.

Distance from Barcelona: 40 minutes by prepare

9. Mallorca

Ready for some of the bold day journeys from Barcelona you can 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 possibly can take pleasure in an evening on the water, scrumptious delicacies, and entry leisure like movie screenings. While for a very good evening’s sleep, there are personal cabins to e book. On the return ferry, you possibly can 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 is going to be rewarded by a wholly completely different ambiance in Mallorca. Palma has an enormous round fort that dates again to the 14th century, an historical Arab bathhouse, and an actual huddle of aesthetic museums in completely different plazas. Alcudia has medieval partitions and interesting Roman ruins websites. Historically, Mallorca has masses to supply, and atmosphere-wise, it’s far 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 seeking to enterprise right into a little bit of sightseeing, go to Calella de Palafrugell. You can try the Cami de Ronda Calella-Golfet remark 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 good as a result of it has sights to entertain you in case you 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 advice.

Distance from Barcelona: 3 hours by public transport or 1.5 hours by automotive

11. Sitges

Sitges is a enjoyable seaside city and some of the LGBTQ+-friendly day journeys from Barcelona. The city is famend for its LGBTQ group and has an outgoing nightlife and occasion scene. And even higher, it’s simply accessible by prepare, simply 35 minutes from Barcelona’s metropolis middle. Since the final prepare is simply earlier than 11pm, you possibly can benefit from the seashore after which indulge in some nightlife earlier than returning to Barcelona – making Sitges a full-day journey to contemplate.

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 provides a distinct vibe. Small however mighty Sitges is a artistic hub of tradition and group price 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 historical Roman metropolis with ruins scattered all through its streets – making it one in all Barcelona’s most fascinating archeological day journeys. Once known as Tarraco, in case you love Roman historical past, this metropolis is taken into account top-of-the-line locations to be taught concerning 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 neglected when planning day journeys from Barcelona. Vic is a major metropolis set one hour inland from Barcelona by automotive. While it could not look ‘major’ in dimension, it’s the capital of the comarca of Osona and an actual cultural hotspot. We vote that you simply add it to your record instantly. It has a formidable neoclassical cathedral, a December medieval honest on cobbled streets, and area of interest sights 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 well reached by automotive in lower than an hour, however you can additionally take a bus in 1 hour and 20 minutes if driving isn’t an possibility. It is a reasonably scenic route, reducing via agricultural landscapes and countryside that drastically contrasts the scenes in busy Barcelona. It can also be only a brief quantity of journey time – excellent for maximizing your time in Vic or squeezing the day journey into half a day if crucial.

Distance from Barcelona: 1 hour by automotive

14. Cadaques

Cadaques is probably the most inaccessible place on the Costa Brava – or no less than that’s what individuals 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 thus far northeast. Cadaques is someplace we’d counsel renting a automotive to go to, however belief us, it is going to be price it. You’ll drive up in the direction of the French border, cross 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 – some of the 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 loosen up on a seashore day. It is a glimpse into a very completely different way of life in Catalonia.

For us, the out-of-the-way factor is what provides Cadaques its attract. And the truth that it combines so nicely with Girona is one other large bonus, which means that regardless of its ‘inaccessibility,’ it truly makes sensible sense. Cadaques is nicely price the additional effort in case you really feel assured with a barely longer drive.

Distance from Barcelona: 2 hours by automotive 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 in case you like atmospheric, movie-set-style locations. Tiny in comparison with the bigger Vic, Cardona is slightly village consisting primarily of a medieval walled fortress and medieval fort. The buildings in Cardona date again to the eighth century and embrace Romanesque and Gothic buildings. 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 may enterprise out to the close by salt mines to tour the underground stays of a once-thriving business.

Sustainability lovers notice 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 delight in its historical past and heritage. Cardona has been splendidly taken care of, and strolling via its slim streets and alongside its fortress partitions appears like stepping again in time as a consequence of these preservation efforts.

Distance from Barcelona: 1 hour quarter-hour by automotive and a couple of hours quarter-hour by public transport

16. Andorra

Fancy including one other nation to your record 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 unbelievable day journey. Andorra is all ski slopes and pure parks – plus, it has a considerably incongruous duty-free procuring scene. In ski season, we’d advocate it for hitting the slopes. At the identical time, in late spring and summer season, Andorra is a prime mountaineering vacation spot and nice for procuring.

You can attain Andorra from Barcelona in 3 hours and quarter-hour by direct bus. Alternatively, you possibly can lease a automotive and drive there in 2.5 hours. Driving to Andorra has its personal advantages, with the choice of driving through Vic and immediately via Parc Natural del Cadi-Moixero. By automotive, it isn’t even one of many longest day journeys from Barcelona.

Distance from Barcelona: 2.5 hours by automotive and three hours quarter-hour by bus

17. Castelldefels

Castelldefels is an attractive spot on the Mediterranean Sea – heavenly-looking and ideal 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 sights and hop across the metropolis middle in the morning, heading to the seashore after for a relaxed afternoon. You received’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 beauty as a seashore vacation spot. However, its proximity to Barcelona is one other large plus. Castelldefels is tremendous handy. You can rapidly leap on the prepare from Barcelona Sants Station in case you 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 because of its fort and archaeological mines.

Distance from Barcelona: 25 minutes by automotive 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 dimension makes it some of the enjoyable seashore day journeys from Barcelona. There are few sightseeing alternatives, however in case you crave high quality seashore time, you possibly can’t go fallacious with Premia de Mar’s sandy seashores. You can swim, sunbathe, after which seize meals from a neighborhood 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 loosen up and escape Barcelona’s crowds.

Another large bonus of visiting Premia de Mar is that it’s accessible by prepare and automotive. You can hop on a prepare straight from central Barcelona and be on the seashore in lower than an hour. Or you possibly can drive if you have already got a rental automotive. Not everybody appears 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 automotive

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 much 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 easy 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 unique thought was to create unique neighborhoods the place Barcelona locals may buy properties and reside in a modernist-designed group. Colonia Guell, in explicit, was for use by industrial employees.

Gaudi was commissioned by Eusebi Guell so as to add homes, a college, 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 sights. Any of those day journeys from Barcelona are price engaging your self away from the town middle for a single day. Barcelona day journeys are a should addition to any itinerary, and we’d counsel scheduling no less than a pair.

Note that if you’re 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 a superb option to maximize your Barcelona day journeys.

Looking for extra inspiration about visiting Barcelona? We counsel contemplating the place to remain in the town. Each neighborhood has a particular feel- modern El Born or the historic middle of the Gothic Quarter. Take your time selecting an space.