Day Trips from Barcelona

The region of Catalonia, of which Barcelona is the capital, is a rich region with the Pyrenees in the north and the Costa Blanca coast to the south-east. Most of the region is reachable in a day trip from Barcelona.

Note that some of these day trips would require getting up very early and returning very late at night. Some of the trips recommended here are a little impractical if you want to return to Barcelona the same day, so consider making Girona your base for a couple of days and taking some trips from there.

Everything on this page is accessible by public transport, but you can save yourself some time by hiring a car. Hire a Car in Spain (compare prices)

These day trips make up part of our 100 Things to Do in Barcelona

See also:

• Spain Tours from Barcelona Longer tours of Spain, departing from Barcelona.

Top Ten Day Trips from Barcelona

1. Montserrat
   Crazy mountain with startling naturally formed shapes to give you the creeps.
   See also: Montserrat Morning Tour (book direct)
2. Figueres
   Dali, Dali and Dali. Visit the museum dedicated to the surrealist artist's work.
   See also: Girona, Figueras and Dali Museum from BCN (book direct)
3. Sitges
   The best beaches in the area, just a stone's throw from Barcelona.
   See also: Tarragona and Sitges Guided Day Trip (book direct)
4. Tarragona
   Nice city with well-preserved Roman ruins.
   See also: Tarragona and Sitges Guided Day Trip (book direct)
5. Girona
   A pretty medieval city which makes a nice base for trips to the Pyranees.
   See also: Girona, Figueras and Dali Museum from BCN (book direct)
6. Torres Winery (Bodega), Penedes
   The closest wine producer to Barcelona offers guided tours and wine tasting sessions for those interested in learning a bit more about Spanish wine.
   See also: Torres Bodega and Sitges Combined Tour (book direct)
7. Andorra and the Pyrenees
   One of Europe's smallest countries, Andorra is great for skiing. The other towns and villages in the Pyrenees are also of interest and the scenery is always breathtaking.
   See also: Guided Tour of the Pyrenees (book direct)
8. St Miquel del Fai Monastery
   A monastery on the side of a mountain, this area is great for hiking, with waterfalls and some excellent views.
   See also: St Miquel del Fai Hiking Tour (book direct)
9. Port Aventura
   Take the kids for a day of hair-raising white knuckle rides at Port Aventura Theme Park. If you're visiting Barcelona in the scorching summer, what better way to cool down than with the wind in your hair on the Hurakan Condor ride (one of the highest in Europe) or taking a splash at the Caribe Aquatic Park?
   See also: Port Aventura Tickets (buy direct)
10. Caldes de Montbui
    This spa town is set among some beautiful countryside.
    See also: Caldes de Montbui Cycling Tour (book direct)

More Day Trips from Barcelona

• Olot (+ Besalú & Banyoles)
  Volcanic mountains and some pleasant towns away from the coast.
• Montseny
  Hiking territory with ancient walls and wells to break the monotony of walking for miles.

  Skiing in North-East Spain.

  It would be a little impractical to go skiing as a day trip from Barcelona, but a weekend in the Pyrenees or La Rioja would certainly be doable.

  • Skiing in the Pyrenees
  • There are a number of ski resorts in the pyrenees, all along the border between France & Spain. Those in the Catalan Pyrenees will be the nearest to Barcelona.
  • Skiing in La Rioja
  • There is one ski resort in La Rioja.

    << Back to 'Spanish Day Trips'