Day trips
Day trips from Barcelona
Some of Catalonia's best is within an hour of the city: a mountain monastery, cava cellars, medieval Girona and the beaches of the Costa Brava. Here is where to go, how to get there, and the honest call on when the train wins and when a guided day is worth it.
Most of these run on the regional train network from the city's main stations, so you rarely need a car. The question is usually tour versus do-it-yourself, and the answer depends on the destination. We flag it on each guide. If you are fitting a day trip into a longer stay, our how-many-days planner shows where it slots in.
Quick picks
First day trip: Montserrat, the iconic one and easy by train. Beach day: Sitges. Wine lovers: Penedes. Prettiest town: Girona. With kids: PortAventura. Pick one per day; only Montserrat is comfortably a half-day.
Day-trip basics
- Most by train
- Regional lines from Placa Espanya, Passeig de Gracia or Sants; no car needed.
- Budget a full day
- Only Montserrat is realistically a half-day; the rest fill a day.
- Tour vs DIY
- Tours win for Montserrat-plus-wine combos and far coves; the train wins for Sitges and Girona.
- Book ahead
- Popular tours and the Montserrat rack railway sell out on summer weekends.
Where to go
Montserrat
The mountain monastery and the Black Madonna, by train and rack railway or guided tour. Our full guide.
Food & winePenedes wine & cava
Cava country and small family bodegas, by the R4 train or a guided tour.
LGBTQ+Sitges
The beach town escape: seafront, old streets and the most gay-friendly resort in Spain.
Day tripGirona
Medieval walls, the colourful river houses and Game of Thrones lanes, 40 min by fast train.
Day tripFigueres & the Dali Museum
The surrealist's theatre-museum, an easy half-to-full day by fast train; pairs with Girona.
Day tripCosta Brava
Coves, Cadaques and the prettiest stretch of Catalan coastline; best by tour or car.
Tarragona
Roman amphitheatre by the sea and a relaxed seaside city.
Coming soonPortAventura
The big theme park, an easy train ride south; great with kids.
Coming soonDay tours from Barcelona
A guided day removes the logistics for combos like Montserrat plus a winery, or far-flung Costa Brava coves that are awkward without a car. For Sitges or Girona, the train is cheaper and just as easy.
We earn a commission on tour bookings; the price you pay is the same, and we tell you when the train is the better call.