Within a short distance from Barcelona, you’ll find plenty of great small towns, culture, wine and nature experiences. So take a break from your city break and go on an excursion in the Catalan region.
1 Cadaques
Located close to the French border, this beautiful white fishing village is so charming that it’s worth spending an hour and a half on the train – or a couple of hours by car – to get there. Cadaques is a day trip from Barcelona that you won’t regret.
The whitewashed houses surround a small bay of the Mediterranean, where the beach beckons right in the city center. Nearby, fishing boats bob in the water. The city is a great place to slow down, stroll around, take long breaks and enjoy life.
Explore the steep, winding streets and enjoy a drink and a duck on the city beach.
Salvador Dalí’s city
Cadaques is popular and known as the place where Spanish artist Salvador Dalí stayed with his bohemian friends. Today, the city attracts many artists and art lovers who, like Dalí, loved the light.
Just outside the city, in the fishing village of Portllegat, you’ll find Dalí’s former home and now house museum, Casa Museu Salvador Dalí. Close by is the nature reserve, Cap de Creus, where Dalí found plenty of inspiration for his works. I recommend that you share the Dalí route in the area.
Eat in Cadaques
When you’re hungry, Cadaques has a good selection of restaurants where you can enjoy everything from tapas to gourmet dinners. You’ll find many of them along the beaches.
If you’re looking for a complete gourmet experience, I recommend Compartir.
The chefs behind Compartir (which means share – and here you get sharing dishes) have worked together at the defunct El Bulli, and they also run the Michelin-starred restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona.
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2 Sitges
The seaside resort of Sitges is just half an hour by regional train from Barcelona-Sants train station. The city’s famous beaches, open-minded and artistic soul attract many.
Sitges has a total of 26 beaches, three of which are nudist beaches. The most popular beach strip, with seven beaches, runs from Passeig de la Ribera (under the church) to Hotel Terramar. La Ribera beach is closest to Sitges’ main street. Laze on the sand, jump in the Mediterranean and also take a walk along the promenade and enjoy the crowds. Enjoy lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants along the promenade.
At the end of the promenade, the Iglesia de San Bartolomé y Santa Tecla sits on a hill in the most picturesque spot in the city. The church dates back to the 17th century and is well worth a visit.
Outside you can walk down the steps towards the sea to La Punta (the point), where Sitges’ answer to the Little Mermaid, the bronze figure of La Sirena, stands. If you shake her hand, it should bring you good luck.
Modernist art and architecture
In Sitges you can also get an exciting dose of culture at the Can Ferrat Museum.
The house was home to the painter Santiago Rusiñol (1861-1931), a leading figure in Catalan modernista art. In addition to his art, the museum houses his furniture and large art collection. You can see works by Pablo Picasso, Ramon Casas and Arcadi Mas, among others, and there are also a few older works by El Greco.
Of course, you should also stroll around the charming city center. Here I recommend that you include Sitges’ “American Route”. Following the Free Trade Act of 1778, some of Sitges’ citizens emigrated to the American colonies in search of wealth. Many of them also returned wealthy and adorned the city with mansions in Catalan modernista architecture, mixed with the colonial style of Cuba and Costa Rica.
Most of the beautiful houses can only be seen from the outside, but they are worth a walk through the city. You can download a map of the route on the tourist office website or get a map at the tourist office at the station.
3 Montserrat
Northwest of Barcelona lies the spectacular, jagged mountain range of Montserrat, whose highest peak is 1236 meters above sea level. Here you’ll find Catalonia’s most important religious center, consisting of a Benedictine monastery complex, a museum and a church. The area also has some great hiking routes where you’ll get fantastic views of the monastery and countryside.
The ride itself is spectacular. You can take the train from Barcelona and hop on the cable car for the last stretch. From Montserrat, you can also take a cable car up to 1000 meters, where there are several hiking trails.
The Black Madonna
The main reason why the religious site is so important to Catalans is the figure of the Black Madonna (Virgin of Montserrat), which can be visited in the church.
According to myth, the Madonna was found in a cave close to the monastery in the 12th century and today she is the patron saint of Catalonia. She is located above the altar in the church. You can get close to her and touch (or kiss) her if you get in line. You can also visit the cave where the Madonna was found.
Don’t miss the beautiful singing of the boys’ choir, La Escolania, in the church. The boys’ choir sings daily at 13:00 – but at 12:00 on Sundays.
The Montserrat Museum, designed by modernista architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, houses a collection of over 1300 works, including works by Chagall, Braque, Le Corbusier, Rouault, Miró, Dalí and Tàpies, among others. There are also a number of works of the Black Madonna, a couple of which were created by Pablo Picasso. In addition, you can see archaeological finds and gold work.
The monastery complex also has a cafeteria where you can satisfy your hunger and thirst and a shop selling religious souvenirs.
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4 Calella de Palafrugell
Calella de Palafrugell is an old fishing village located on the Costa Brava, an hour and a half by train from Barcelona and a couple of hours by car. Despite being extremely charming with its white-washed houses, the town is not overrun with tourists. It’s the perfect getaway from Barcelona if you want to relax by the beach, stroll the narrow cobbled streets, eat local food and enjoy local life.
The whitewashed houses are in small clumps right down to the sandy beach, where beachgoers relax on the center’s three connected beaches. On the outskirts of the city you’ll find other beautiful beaches in several bays. Visit the secluded La Platgeta, located in a small cove a few kilometers south of the city. Alternatively, follow the coastal path to El Golfet beach, also south of the city. It is 75 meters long and surrounded by rocks and vegetation and has very few visitors.
Small but charming, Calella de Palafrugell’s old town is filled with clothing and artisan shops and is a must to stroll through. Also stop by the city’s botanical garden, Cap Roig, which has over 8,000 different plant species from all regions of the world with a Mediterranean climate. There’s also a castle built into a cliff.
Enjoy the sunset over the city, the beach, a small bay and the sea from the viewpoint, Mirador de Manuel Juanola in Reixach.
Eat in Calella de Palafrugell
When hunger strikes, Calella de Palafrugells has plenty of restaurants and tapas bars to choose from. And of course, there’s a great selection of freshly caught seafood on the menus. My favorite is the seafood restaurant La Blava, idyllically located in an old fisherman’s house by the beach. The white fisherman’s house is decorated with authentic wooden furniture and contrasting blue colors on doors and windows, and you’ll have no doubt that the sea is the theme of the place.
Choose from a good selection of Catalan-themed seafood dishes that are simple and creative with a focus on the ingredients. You can enjoy your meal inside or out on the terrace overlooking the sunset.
5 Girona
If you love culture, you’ll love a day trip to Barcelona’s little sister, Girona, which is just a 40-minute train ride from Barcelona.
Pastel-colored houses, with fluttering laundry on the balconies, lie like pearls on a string, reflected in the Onyar River. Several bridges connect Girona’s old town with the new, including the Pont de les Peixateries Velles, designed by Gustave Eiffel.
You may know Girona’s Old Town from the Games of Thrones series. It has provided the buildings and streets for several scenes in the series. This includes the cathedral, which sits high on a hill in the city and has the widest Gothic nave in the world and a baroque facade. Its huge staircase appears in several scenes in Games of Thrones.
The Arab Baths and the Jewish Quarter, the best preserved in Europe, can also be seen in the famous series. Explore it all, take a break in one of the many cafés, get lost in the narrow alleys and streets, and also climb Girona’s old city walls for great views of the city and its surroundings.
Girona is famous among cyclists and you can rent a bike in several locations in the city and explore the surrounding area.
Eat in Girona
Girona offers fantastic gastronomy, including the renowned Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant El Cellar de Can Roca, but there are also many other affordable options. Don’t deny yourself an ice cream at Rocambolesc, run by dessert king Jordi Roca. Find inspiration in our guide to where to eat and drink in Girona.
6 Alta Allea organic winery
Surrounded by stunning wine regions, Barcelona is known for its production of excellent cava, white and red wines.
Just a half-hour train ride from Barcelona, Allea is the closest wine region to Barcelona. In the beautiful Serralada de Marina Natural Park lies the Alta Allea organic winery, whose wines are served in some of the world’s best restaurants. Here you can tour the lush vineyards, learn about the production of organic and natural wines, discover the history of wine making and taste the wines.
Local-born owners Josep Maria and Cristina Guillén bought the family-run winery in 1991 and together they have created an organic winery that produces avant-garde wines. The family mainly uses the Alella grape Pansa Blanca, but they also use international grape varieties to a lesser extent
Alta Allea’s 12.5 hectare vineyards are set high in an amphitheater-like area by the sea. Here you can enjoy views across the beautiful, lush surroundings to Barcelona and its greatest landmark, La Sagrada Familia on the horizon.
Alta Allea currently produces 300,000 bottles of avant-garde wine a year, both red and white and especially Gran Reserva cava. You can taste some of the delights in the beautiful natural surroundings.
Book a guided tour on Alta Allea’s website.
Alternatively, you can book a boat trip from Barcelona with a visit to Alta Allea (advertising link)
Alta Allea, Camí Baix de Tiana 5, Allela
7 Vall de Boi
In the northern part of the Lleida province, west of Barcelona, you’ll find the Boí Valley, nestled on the edge of the Catalan Pyrenees.
Vall de Boi is made up of nine small villages with only 1124 inhabitants, but during the skiing and hiking seasons many come here for vacation. The valley is known for its nine fine examples of Romanesque churches, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the village of Taüll, with fine stone houses surrounded by Pyrenean nature, lies the largest church, Sant Climent, considered the jewel of Catalan Romanesque art.
I visited Taüll in early spring when the horses were grazing with their foals in front of the small church, whose narrow, tall bell tower rises above the peaks of the Pyrenees and the Aigüestortes National Park. Each season adds its charm to the town.
Church with valuable frescoes
The church of Sant Climent was consecrated in 1125. The Lombard decorated stone church has a basilica plan, three naves, three apses, covered with half domes and a six-story bell tower. Inside, the three naves are separated by columns and without windows.
Sant Climent once housed some valuable frescoes. The most famous is an image of Christ entitled ‘Pantocrator de Taüll’ from 1123, which is considered a masterpiece of European Romanesque art. It is currently kept in the MNAC art museum in Barcelona. The painting was created by the renowned Catalan painter, the Master of Taüll, and is considered his masterpiece.
Although the original work hangs in Barcelona, thanks to modern video mapping you can admire it in the church, where it is projected onto the wall accompanied by music.
Fragments of recently rediscovered paintings also hang in the rest of the church, and together they give a good sense of why the church is so valuable.
Enjoy the surrounding nature
If you have time and want more nature, visit the Aigüestortes National Park and the idyllic Sant Maurici Lake. There are several short and long hiking routes. You can find maps of the routes on the tourist office website.
You can either take the high-speed train from Barcelona to Lledia and then continue by bus, or hop on a direct bus from Barcelona to Vall de Boi.
