Barcelona needs no introduction. Our city is one of the greatest in the world! It has it all: culture, architecture, nature, and an incredible vibe. We love it here.
Not only that, but you can go on fantastic day trips to nearby places. All you have to do is hop on a train and enjoy the ride.
The following are our 10 top day trips. You will enjoy cute little towns, seaside resorts, UNESCO listed sites, lovely hills, great food, and some of the best hosts in all of Spain.
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Colonia Güell
20 min train + 15 min walk
Colonia Güell is just 10 miles (17 km) from Barcelona. To get there, take the FGC train from Espanya Square to Moli Nou-Ciutat Cooperativa. From there, take a local bus or walk 15 minutes.
Barcelona’s most celebrated artist Antoni Gaudí designed the industrial complex. Construction begun in 1898 and stopped in 1914. You will see tall chimneys and housing for workers.
However, the best is Gaudi’s Crypt. The UNESCO Listed church is gorgeous. Unfortunately, only the crypt got completed. Rumor has it that it was the model for the Sagrada Familia Church.
Garraf
33 min train
Regional trains from Barcelona Sants connect Barcelona and Garraf in approximately half an hour. You can also take the train in Passeig de Gràcia. The journey is an attraction in itself so grab a window seat.
Garraf is a seaside resort under the Garraf Mountain Range. It’s an area full of quarries. Though the beach is small, it’s pretty cool. It’s packed during the summer.
There’s an interesting church in the little town next to the beach. However, the star is the Gaudi designed Güell Winery. Its private property so you can only see it from outside.
Sitges
40 min train
Sitges is one of our favorite places in all of Spain. We go there all the time. Regional trains take you there from Barcelona Sants in approximately 40 minutes.
You can also board in Passeig de Gràcia Station. Some trains depart and arrive at Estació de França in the Old Town. Sitges is famous for its lovely Old Town and its long sandy beaches.
It’s also a mecca for queers and free thinkers. Its nightlife is legendary. We strongly recommend spending at least one night in Sitges. Our favorite hotel is the Melia Sitges.
Montserrat
60 min train + 20 min cable car or 65 min train + 20 min rack railway
To get to Montserrat take a FGC train from Espanya Square to Aeri Montserrat and then the 20 minute cable car to the monastery. Another option is the train from Espanya to Monistrol de Montserrat. Then take the 20 minute rack railway to the monastery.
Montserrat combines superb architecture with stunning nature. Massive rock formations crown the 400 foot (1236 m) tall mountain. The views are epic.
You can trek through nature for hours. The monastery and the church are incredible. Though construction of the church begun in the 16th Century, most of what we can see today is from the 19th Century.
Girona
38 min fast train or 79 min intercity train
Girona is one of the nicest cities in Catalonia. Fast more expensive trains from Barcelona Sants take you there in 38 minutes. Regular InterCity trains take 79 minutes.
The city has a long and lustrous past. Fortunately, its Old Town is in great shape and you can walk along its curvy streets admiring the buildings for hours.
Independence square is its epicenter. You have to visit the old fortifications, Sant Feliu Basilica, and Sant Pere de Galligants Monastery. Our favorite place is the river, with its colored hanging houses.
Freixenet and Codorniu
54 min train
To visit the wine region of Barcelona take a 1 hour regional train from Barcelona Sants to Sant Sadurni d’Anoia. The little town is the center of the cava wine producing area.
You’ve probably heard Spanish wine producers Freixenet and Codorniu. You can visit both wineries. Freixenet is a 1 minute walk from the station. You can tour the 1927 building and taste wine.
Codorniu winery is an 8 minute bike ride or 30 minute walk from the station. The modernist building was built from 1895 to 1915. You can take guided tours and taste their wine.
Altafulla
62 min train
Regional trains from Barcelona Sants take you to Altafulla Tamarit in just over an hour. The train ride along the coast provides awesome views so sit by a window and enjoy.
Altafulla has a long sandy beach. The jaw-dropping Tamarit Castle towers above the beach. It dates back to the 11th Century. It’s private property, so you can only see it from outside.
La Mora cove is behind the castle. You can walk through a path along the rocks. There’s a pristine forest after La Mora. The UNESCO listed Vila Romana dels Munts is on a hill overlooking the beach.
Tarragona
59 – 75 min train
We strongly recommend spending a couple of days in Tarragona. There’s simply too much to see. However, you can take a train from Barcelona Sants and get there in approximately 1 hour.
Tarragona is famous for its archaeological remains. These are so cool, that UNESCO included them in its List of World Heritage Sites. You have to see its breathtaking coliseum and the forum.
The Archaeological Museum is fascinating. Walking about the Old Town’s cobbled streets is a must. Don’t forget to check the marina and fishing village. You can also spend time by the beach.
Figueres
55 min fast train or 130 min intercity train
Fast trains take one hour from Barcelona Sants to Figueres Vilafant station, a 20 minute walk to the center of Figueres. Regular InterCity trains from Barcelona Sants take 2 hours to Figueras station, a 12 minute walk to the center.
One of Spain’s biggest artists was born in Figueres. We are talking about the one and only Dalí. Thus, a visit to the mind boggling Dalí Theatre and Museum is mandatory.
You can also visit the house where he was born and Dali’s Jewel Museum. We love the 18th Century Castell de Sant Ferran. The best place to hang with the local crowd is Figueres’ Rambla.
Montblanc and Poblet
92 min train
To get to Montblanc take the 1.5 hour train from Barcelona Sants. Montblanc is behind the Prades Mountain Range so the ride there offers memorable views. Montblanc is famous for its treks.
You have to walk about its medieval old town. Our favorite spot is Sant Francesc Square. You can see the Sant Francesc Monastery and the massive medieval walls from there.
If you have time and energy, bike 30 minutes to Poblet Monastery. The UNESCO listed compound is huge. Built from the 12th to the 15th Centuries, it’s the burial site of Aragon Kings.
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