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There are some places in the world that just seem to have it all. Rich culture? Check. Mouthwatering food? Check. Impeccable landscapes? Check. Spain is one of those places. If you’re traveling to Barcelona, you may not realize it, but you’re literally about to step into some fairy Godmother’s magical world type of thing. I kid you not. Spain is full of breathtaking places. The Catalan region is like the best meal you’ve ever had that you never want to end.
I lived in Barcelona for three years and know it pretty well. The first thing I always tell people is that before visiting there are quite a few things that you need to know. You can read my full list of sassy bossy advice here, but one of the major ones is to explore outside of Barcelona—it’s more than worth it.
Catalonia and neighboring regions are stuffed with so much beauty and culture. Not experiencing it would be like stepping your big toe into Santa’s workshop in The North Pole and not taking time to play with the toys. But that’s where I come in. Just call me Santa’s blogging helper. If you’re up for some exciting Barcelona day trips and stepping into the fantasy-turned-reality that is Catalonia, here are six alluring and enchanting Barcelona day trips.
Also, if you want to make the most of your time in Barcelona, your magical blogging fairy has struck again. Check out this post here of 33 seriously fun things to do in the city. Alright, time to wipe the fairy dust out of your eyes and get into it.
Hey Lady! Looking for more info on everything travel Barcelona? Check out these posts:
- 6 Key Things to do When Traveling to Sagrada Família
- What to do in Barcelona? 33 Fun things to do in Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Tapas: A Guide to the Best Tapas Bars in Barcelona
Montserrat
If you love hiking and being outdoors, then let me just make your day real quick. You must visit Montserrat. There’s a reason I made it #1 on my list of Barcelona day trips. Montserrat is a multi-peaked mountain range and pilgrimage site about an hour from Barcelona. The word Monserrat means “saw mountain” in Catalan, and the name fits the bill as the mountain looks like a hand saw. Old hymns say that the mountains were created by tiny angels with golden saws. Cute right?
At the top of the mountain range is Santa Maria de Montserrat which is a Benedictine monastery. Inside the monastery, you will find the Patron Saint of Catalonia: The Black Madonna. It’s one of the few in Europe.
Getting to Montserrat
Getting to Montserrat is easy. You can take the train from Plaza Espanya straight to the foot of the Montserrat mountain, but just make sure to check the times BEFORE you leave just in case you miss the train and have to wait up to an hour for the next one. (Put the different trains here) Plaza Espanya is also a big station, so make sure to give yourself enough time to find the right train line and buy the ticket.
Pro tip: Please bear in mind that the train is not the metro. When you are at Plaza Espanya, look for the R5 line going toward Manresa. If you are in doubt, there are train employees right by the ticket station and they should be able to help you.
Once you have arrived to Montserrat, you have three options to explore the mountain. You can hike and walk up, take the cable car, or take the funicular to get to the monastery and the remarkable views of the Catalonia countryside.
The views at the top are so incredibly stunning that I am CONVINCED that all the magical fairies live there. You can take one of the long walks or hikes, visit the statue of the Black Virgin, or the Santa Cova Chapel. You’ll probably need a whole day to really explore Montserrat, so give yourself a day or stay overnight and make it a weekend trip. This would be a great chance to see those epic views at sunrise.
Sant Sadurní d’Anoia
Before you head off to Barcelona there’s a word that you’ll want to know so well that it’s sitting at the tip of your tongue. That word is cava. Now that you’ve rolled the word over a few times I can tell you what it is. Cava is to Catalonia what champagne is to France, only in my extremely bias and don’t-even-care opinion…it’s better. It’s a sparkling wine that is produced similarly to champagne. Almost all cava comes from the Penedès region and in order to even be called cava it has to adhere to some pretty strict rules.
Sant Sadurní d’Anoia is Catalonia wine country y’all and this is where all the cava goodness happens. It’s also one of the very best Barcelona day trips. You can visit the vineyards, go cava tasting, and see all the blood, sweat, and tears that goes into making this bubbly the best ever. And get this: It’s only about 45mins to an hour outside of Barcelona. You can organize an awesome tour and will do all the leg work for you like this one.
But if that’s not for you, I have the perfect place for you. I love nothing more than supporting Mom and Pop and family-run businesses. One of my favorite ones is a small winery called Solà Raventós. You can take the R4 train from Plaza Catalunya, get off at the Sant Sadurní d’Anoia stop and walk directly from the station. They hold a special place in my heart as this is where I came to celebrate my birthday a few years go.
The entire operation is family-run by Pere and his son Guifré. You can make a reservation for a tour online and they will show you how this 2-man micro-production is run and you can taste the fruit of their labor. It is such a wonderful experience and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking to explore cava country. if you go, tell them hello for me, will ya? And yes, they speak English.
Costa Brava
So y’know those glossy pictures of Spain you see in magazines? The ones where the water is bright blue and the sand seems warm and inviting? Well, I guarantee those photos were of Costa Brava. It’s the coast that stretches 60 km (37 miles) northeast of Barcelona up to the French border. It’s also where Barcelona natives and residents have summer homes or retreat during the hot summer months. Costa Brava is one of the very best day trips from Barcelona, especially in the summer.
To get to Costa Brava, I would suggest renting a car. Most of the beautiful coves and smaller villages aren’t accessible by public transport and by driving you can really see the gorgeous landscapes. I would highly suggest renting a house for the weekend or finding a nice hotel and going beach hopping because Costa Brava has some of the country’s best beaches.
But more than extravagant beaches and awe-inspiring landscapes, Costa Brava is also home to lots of beautiful and historic towns and cities. In fact, this area is the famous artist Salvador Dalí’s stomping ground you can learn all about his life and art in Costa Brava. Dalí was born in Figures, about an hour north of Barcelona. There you can visit the Dalí Theater Museum and witness some of his best work. You can also head to the town of Cadaqués to visit his wacky, yet super cool, home turned museum. For more information on tickets and tours click here.
Girona
There is so much to love about Girona, it’s hard to even know where to begin. Depending on the train, you could get to this medieval town within an hour. If you have a bit of time during your trip, I would absolutely recommend staying in Girona for a couple of days, although it’s perfectly suitable for a day trip. From the picturesque, colorful facades to the famous Girona Bridge this town is stunning. In fact, it’s so beautiful that a number of TV shows and movies have filmed there including Game of Thrones (for their sixth season). Yup, that’s right. The Game of Thrones.
The city is walkable and honestly, I think it’s the most preferred method of seeing the city. There is an enormous gothic cathedral, St. Flix that stands in all its glory in the middle of the city. You can take some great pictures on the staircase and then go for a stroll along the Passeig de la Muralla which is an old city wall built in the 14th century to proceed during the war. And don’t think I’d let you leave Girona without some seriously delicious food in your belly. If you want to treat yourself and have some extra coins, I’ve heard the Michelin Star restaurant El Cellar de Can Roca is outstanding.
Sitges
Just a little south of Barcelona, right on the Sea, sits the town of Sitges. Like Barcelona, Sitges has more than 300 sunny days a year and has all the makings of a perfect day drip. The easiest way to get there is to take the RENFE train from the Sants station. The train ride is easy and simple and only takes 30 minutes.
You’ll get swept away by the charming sandy beaches. There are something like 20 of them and they are all adjoined, so you can walk down the promenade and have your pick. There are also great bars and restaurants down the winding cobbled streets. And in addition, there are some cute, small shops to pick up any souvenirs for family and friends.
Once you’ve had your fill of fun in the sun, be sure to check out The Cau Ferrat Museum. It’s the former home of artist Santiago Rusiñol who was one of the leaders of the Catalan modernism movement. Furthermore, you could even plan a trip here during one of their awesome events like The Sitges Film Festival in October.
Valencia
Did you know that Valencia is the third-largest city in Spain and the home of paella? If you want to make the most out of visiting the coast of Spain, Valencia is one of the best options for Barcelona day trips. It’s truly an astonishing and often underrated city. Like Catalonia, Valencianos have their own culture, language, and traditions that are unique to them.
Valencia loves a good festival and there are tons of them to go around. This is where the famous La Tomatina festival is, the ones where you throw tomatoes at each other. And if you’re visiting in March, you’ve got to check out Las Fallas. It’s a yearly festival where the streets are morphed into an outdoor festival full of fireworks, costumes, and amazing paper-maché floats. There’s a parade in the evening and the floats and set on fire. It is so cool. The festival honors the patron Saint Joseph and is even on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
Which Barcelona day trip are you most excited for? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time!
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