You possibly can spend weeks in Barcelona and by no means run out of locations to see, issues to do, meals to try to bars to hop.
However for a style of Catalan life past the metropolis – or just for a change of tempo – you possibly can select between mountains, seashores and fairly little cities, all only a brief trip away. With its gentle winter temperatures, this lovely pocket of Spain is at all times a terrific choice to flee the colder months that ship a chill via the northern a part of Europe. Listed here are the perfect day journeys from Barcelona.
1. Get pleasure from divinely lovely views in Montserrat
The mountain of Montserrat is dwelling to Catalonia’s holiest website, the monastery of the identical identify. The views are spectacular – take strolling footwear – and season allowing, you would possibly be capable to catch a choir efficiency contained in the basilica. Afterward, trip the funiculars, or else take a stroll all the way down to the Santa Cova, the spot the place La Moreneta – a holy effigy of the virgin – was discovered, or as much as the Sant Jeroni peak for a splendid view of the valley beneath.
Learn how to get to Montserrat
The R5 line trains operated by FGC run half-hourly to hourly to/from Barcelona’s Plaça d’Espanya station (one hour). Then get the AERI cable car to the monastery from the Montserrat Aeri cease. Alternatively, take the R5 to the following cease (Monistrol de Montserrat), from the place cremallera trains run as much as the monastery (20 minutes) each 20 to 40 minutes. There are numerous practice/cremallera combo tickets out there.
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2. Escape the town clamor in Collserola
Barcelonins hunt down the huge Parc de Collserola, up within the hills, for an escape from metropolis life. There are strolling and biking trails all through the park, which is dotted with farmhouse-style eating places. Choose up a map of the assorted routes from the information heart at Carretera de l’Església 92, near the Baixador de Vallvidrera FGC practice station. From right here, these with a little bit of power can stroll throughout the hills to Sant Cugat and take the practice again to Barcelona from there.
Learn how to get to Collserola
Get the FGC suburban practice from Plaça de Catalunya, Carrer de Provença or Gràcia to Baixador de Vallvidrera.
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3. Stroll via a rainbow in Girona
Girona’s previous city is a decent huddle of historical arcaded homes, grand church buildings and sloped cobbled streets, with the grand cathedral looming over it. Till the digital expulsion of the Jews in 1492, Girona was dwelling to an enormous Jewish group and the Museu d’Història dels Jueus tells their story. For a special slice of historical past, the Twelfth-century Banys Àrabs (‘Arab Baths’), which was used as a filming location in HBO’s Recreation of Thrones, are additionally value a go to, as is the beautiful, Romanesque Monestir de Sant Pere de Galligants. Stroll alongside the River Onyar to take a look at the colorfully painted homes that flank it, or to succeed in the newer a part of city, the place you’ll discover some glorious tapas bars. In case your pockets are deep sufficient, Girona additionally has one of many world’s greatest eating places, El Celler de Can Roca.
Learn how to get to Girona
Take the practice from Barcelona (from €9, 40 minutes to 1¼ hours, not less than half-hourly).
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4. Get surreal in Figueres
Figueres has some good-looking Modernista structure, a sprawling 18th-century fort (Castell de Sant Ferran) and a pleasant little toy museum, the Museu del Joguet, however it’s best identified for the Teatre-Museu Dalí. A former theatre, it was transformed by Dalí himself right into a palace of surrealism, protected by tall purple partitions that bristle with big eggs, Oscar-like statues and plaster croissants. Inside you’ll discover work, a group of bijou designed by Dalí and a few entertaining trompe l’oeil installations. A Teatre-Museu Dalí ticket will get you free entry to the Museu de l’Empordà, a unbelievable artwork and archaeology museum that is thought of probably the greatest within the area.
Learn how to get to Figures
Figueres practice station, 800m southeast of the middle, has half-hourly trains to/from Barcelona (€12 to €16, 1¾ to 2½ hours).
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5. Sunbathe and occasion in Sitges
The gorgeous, whitewashed city of Sitges is ideal for seafront promenading and sun-worshipping, so in hotter climate, you’ll discover probably the most central seashores fairly crowded. Fortunately, there are fairly a number of to select from, so decide your spot for a morning of sunbathing (or skinny dipping off the nudist seaside) earlier than selecting a seafood restaurant close by. However it’s not all in regards to the sea right here; if you are interested in up to date artwork and within the Modernisme motion, the stylish previous heart’s array of chic buildings, many housing museums, is effectively value a few of your time. The city additionally has nice nightlife and a vibrant LGBTIQ+ scene. One among Spain’s greatest Carnaval celebrations is held right here (dates change yearly) and October brings the Sitges Worldwide Movie Competition to city.
Learn how to get to Sitges
From 5am to 10pm, common trains run from Barcelona Passeig de Gràcia and Sants (€4.10, 40 minutes). Monbus runs from Barcelona (€4.50 minutes, each 15 to 50 minutes).
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6. Loosen up in pleasant and welcoming Vilanova i la Geltrú
Simply down the coast past Sitges (there’s a pretty, hour-long stroll alongside the cliffs you are able to do to succeed in it), Vilanova i la Geltrú is a bigger, extra down-home model that has lengthy devoted its efforts extra to fishing and business than the leisure enterprise, and has a pleasantly unpretentious air. If you wish to spend the day on the seaside, this can be a good place to do it. There are some first rate, large seashores (head proper to the south for a stunning little cove) and an fascinating railway museum, the Museu del Ferrocarril.
Learn how to get to Vilanova i la Geltrú
From 5am to 10pm, common trains run from Barcelona (€5.60, 45 minutes).
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7. Enjoy Roman ruins in Tarragona
Of the same dimension and scale to Girona, Tarragona is understood for its Roman stays. Because the Museu d’Història de Tarragona – which contains the principle Roman websites – tends to be busiest from mid-morning onwards, it’s greatest to begin with its Amfiteatre Romà and the Fòrum Provincial first, or the superb Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona, which supplies a helpful overview of the town’s spectacular Roman previous. Then, head for the grand cathedral, adopted by lunch in one of many many eating places thereabouts or within the fishing neighborhood of El Serrallo, the place you’ll discover many high quality seafood eating places.
Learn how to get to Tarragona
The practice station is a 10-minute stroll south of the previous city close to the seaside, with providers to/from Barcelona (from €8.05, one to 1½ hours, each 10 to half-hour).
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8. Step again in time in medieval Montblanc
Montblanc is a good-sized medieval walled city with a good number of locations to eat and sleep. It’s value a go to by itself deserves, however ideally, nevertheless, it’s best to go together with a automotive, to completely discover what is called the ‘Cistercian Route’, a triad of gorgeous monasteries inside straightforward attain of each other, at Poblet, Vallbona de les Monges and Santes Creues. You’ll must set off early if you’re hoping to see all three.
Learn how to get to Montblanc
5 trains a day run from Barcelona Passeig de Gràcia and Sants; the primary is round 7am.
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9. Discover a buried treasure in Colònia Güell
Aside from La Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s final massive venture was the creation of a utopian textile employees’ complicated for his magnate patron Eusebi Güell outdoors Barcelona at Santa Coloma de Cervelló. Gaudí’s fundamental function was to erect the colony’s church, Colònia Güell, though he solely managed to complete the crypt, which is open to guests. Its principally brick-clad columns that help the ribbed vaults within the ceiling are inclined in any respect angles in a lot the identical approach that timber in a forest lean and are key to understanding the physics behind his magnum opus, the Sagrada Família.
Learn how to get to Colònia Güell
Take FGC traces S4, S8 or S33 to Colònia Güell.
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10. Store the native markets in Vic
Vic, with its engaging historic heart and a few high quality eating places, dominates the flatlands of La Plana de Vic to the south of the Pyrenees and is a straightforward practice trip from Barcelona. The vacationer workplace is simply off Plaça Main, the biggest of Catalunya’s central squares, which is lined with medieval, Baroque and Modernista mansions. It’s nonetheless the scene of normal markets, therefore its different identify, Plaça del Mercadal.
Learn how to get to Vic
Common rodalies trains (line R3) run to/from Barcelona (€6.30, one to 1½ hours); the practice station is 500m west of Plaça Main.
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