6 best day trips from Barcelona

Day trips compared

The day trips

60 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by train

1.Montserrat

The jagged mountain ridge holds a Benedictine monastery and the basilica of the Black Madonna (La Moreneta), where the boys' choir, the Escolania, sings regularly. Funiculars climb to hiking trails with views across Catalonia.

Getting there

FGC R5 from Plaça d'Espanya, then the rack railway or cable car

Best for

Culture, First-timers, Families

40 km · About 40 minutes by train

2.Sitges

A whitewashed seaside town with a string of sandy beaches, a church on a headland, a lively old town and a long LGBTQ+-friendly tradition. It is known for its carnival and for an international fantasy and horror film festival, usually in October.

Getting there

Rodalies R2 Sud from Sants or Passeig de Gràcia

Best for

Beach, Couples, Nightlife

100 km · About 40 minutes by high-speed train

3.Girona

Girona's old town climbs from colourful houses along the Onyar river to a Gothic cathedral reached by a grand stairway, with a well-preserved medieval Jewish quarter and walkable city walls. Parts of the town were used as a filming location for Game of Thrones.

Getting there

High-speed train from Sants to Girona

Best for

Couples, Culture, Food lovers

140 km · About 55 minutes by high-speed train

4.Figueres and the Dalí Theatre-Museum

Salvador Dalí designed his own Theatre-Museum in his home town: a red building topped with giant eggs, holding the Mae West Room, the Rainy Taxi and his crypt. It pairs well with Girona on the same rail line.

Getting there

High-speed train from Sants to Figueres Vilafant, then a walk or taxi

Best for

Culture, Couples

100 km · About 1 hour by train

5.Tarragona

Ancient Tarraco was a capital of Roman Hispania, and its seaside amphitheatre, circus vaults and city walls form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town above has a fine cathedral and the Rambla Nova promenade.

Getting there

Regional or Rodalies train from Sants or Passeig de Gràcia

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays

100 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by coach

6.Tossa de Mar

A Costa Brava village with a medieval walled town (Vila Vella) on a headland above a golden bay, plus quieter coves along the coastal path. It makes a good beach day trip outside August weekends.

Getting there

Coach from Barcelona Nord bus station

Best for

Beach, Couples, Families

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• TMB buses fill gaps the Metro misses, such as Park Güell and the upper slopes of Montjuïc, and the Nitbus network runs overnight.
• FGC trains from Plaça de Catalunya and Plaça d'Espanya serve upper Barcelona, Tibidabo and Montserrat, and Rodalies trains run to Sitges and the airport.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask