Book Tickets For the Best Day Trips from Barcelona

Book Day Trips from Barcelona

Morning Tour of Montserrat with Cog-Wheel Train Ride & Priority Access to the Black Madonna
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Mobile Ticket
5 hr.
Guided Tour
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Early-Morning Montserrat Mountain Tour with Round-Trip Transport from Barcelona
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Mobile Ticket
5 hr.
Guided Tour
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Day Trips from Barcelona

A treasure trove of history and a pioneer in modern art and architecture, Catalonia’s capital city, Barcelona, is a pastiche of images steeped in stories. A trip to Barcelona is always enriching and when combined with day trips to nearby regions, it is all the more fulfilling. Here is an in-depth guide to the best day trips from Barcelona to complete your Spanish itinerary!

Why Take a Day Trip from Barcelona?

best day trips from barcelona
  • Go beyond Barcelona and explore smaller towns and cities for a deep-dive into Catalan culture.
  • Get a chance to explore temperate beaches, gorgeous mountain ranges and more in towns like Costa Brava and Sitges.
  • Encounter delicious food and rare attractions in smaller towns.
  • Get away from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona which can often be a little overwhelming.
  • Explore offbeat paths and find hidden gems in Barcelona on your daytrips from Paris.

Best Day Trips from Barcelona

1
Barcelona to Girona
best day trips from barcelona
Historic

Why Visit: At a distance of 100km from Barcelona is Girona, a medieval town on the banks of River Onyar. The city even served as one of the locations of the popular series Game of Thrones and is an exciting town to visit.

Best Time to Visit

April - July

Travel Time
101 Km:1 hour 11 min
Plan Your Trip

Getting There:

Bus: A range of private bus companies like FLixBus ply to and from Girona.
Train:
The high speed AVE trains will take you from Barcelona to Girona in a matter of 40 minutes

Things to do: Visit the Girona Cathedral, Museu d'Història dels Jueus and River Onyar

Places to eat: El Cellar de Can Roca, Restaurant El Cul del Món, Restaurant Occi

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2
Barcelona to Montjuic
best day trips from barcelona
Nature

Why Visit: The birthplace of Barcelona, and now one of the highest points overlooking the harbor, Montjuic is a hill in Barcelona that is a popular tourist destination on the outskirts of the city.

Best Time to Visit

August - October

Travel Time
6 Km:20 min
Plan Your Trip

Getting There:

Montjuic Funicular: This funicular railway connects Montjuic with the Metro Transportation system at Paral·lel Station, Lines 2 and 3. If you're taking the metro, this is the easiest and fastest way to get to Montjuic.

Metro: Take any train in line L2 and L3, and deboard at Paral·lel station. From the station, you'll need to take the Montjuïc funicular.

Bus: Get onboard buses 55 or 150 and get off at the Telefèric de Montjuïc stop.

Things to do: Take a ride on the Montjuic Cable Car, Admire gorgeous views of the city from the hilltop, visit Caixa Forum.

Places to Eat: Petit Montjuic, Terraza Martínez

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3
Barcelona to Costa Brava
best day trips from barcelona
Historic

Why Visit: The Coastal city of Costa Brava is adorned with cobbled towns, calming mountain tops and beautiful beaches. Just North of Barcelona, Costa Brava is a hidden gem of the Catalonia Region.

Best Time to Visit

April - July

Travel Time
146 km:1 hour 37 min
Plan Your Trip

Getting There:

Bus: The bus leaves from Estacio del Nord and takes about an hour and twenty minutes. The bus will leave you in Tossa de Mar in just €2 - €15.

Taxi: You can hire a direct taxi that will take you from Barcelona to your drop location in Costa Brava. A taxi can cost you around €100 - €150.

Things to do: Visit gorgeous beaches, the Dali Musuem, La Garrotxa

Best Places to Eat: Vicus Restaurant, Massana Restaurant

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4
Barcelona to Monsterrat
best day trips from Barcelona
Nature

Why Visit: Nestled in the mountains and visited by the sea, Montserrat is an island that is perfect for a day trip from Barcelona. You have to take a drive up the mountain and then you will arrive at the main grounds of the city.

Best Time to Visit

June - August

Travel Time
377 Km:3 hours 40 min
Plan Your Trip

Getting There:

By Cable Car:Montserrat’s cable car (Aeri) covers the 1320-meter journey in 5 minutes, making it the quickest way to reach the sanctuary.

By Train: Get on board Montserrat’s Cremallera. The journey from the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat railway station in Monistrol de Montserrat to the monastery takes 15 minutes

Things to do: The Benedictine Abbey, The Montserrat Museum

Best Places to Eat:

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5
Barcelona to Sitges
day trips from barcelona
Landmark
Beach

Why Visit: Sitges is a popular coastal town in Catalonia, Spain bordered by the Garraf mountains and boasting a spectacular coastline.

Best Time to Visit

April, May, and September

Travel Time
35 Km:30 - 45 mins
Plan Your Trip

Getting There:

Bus Stations: Plaça España and Ronda Universitat (MonBus)

Train Stations: Barcelona Sants, Estacio de França, Passeig de Gracia,

Things to do: Visit Passeig Maritim, Museu Cau Ferrat, Experience Local Seafood

Places to Eat: Incognito Cafe Bar, Sitges Bon Ester

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6
Barcelona to Vic

Why Visit: Vic is a fascinating inland town, to the south of the Pyrenees mountains. It’s the capital of Osona and one of the most important towns in central Catalonia given its position

Best Time to Visit

March, April, May

Travel Time
70 Km:1.5 hours
Plan Your Trip

Getting There

Bus Operators: Transports Elèctrics Interurbans S.A., Sagales

Things to do: Visit Placa Major, Takea balloon ride, visit Mercado Medieval

Best Places to Eat: Restaurant El Caliu, Restaurant D.O. Vic

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Tips and Hacks for Day Trips from Barcelona

  • Summer is a great time to visit Barcelona and all the small towns surrounding it.
  • If you’re taking a day trip from Barcelona to popular tourist destinations like Montserrat or Montjuic remember to book your tickets online in advance to avoid missing out.
  • Plan your day trips from Barcelona based on how much time you have to spare. Visit closer destinations to save time and ensure you see as much as you can.
  • A guided tour will cut down on your transportation costs and offer you the expertise of a guide to enhance your experience.
  • If you’re planning a day trip from Barcelona in the autumn months of September - December you’ll find much fewer crowds and inexpensive accommodation.

Best Tour Options for Day Trips from Barcelona

Frequently Asked Questions About Day Trips from Barcelona

What are the best day trips from Barcelona?

Sitges, Montjuic Hill, Girona are some of the best day trips from Barcelona.

What are the shortest day trips from Barcelona?

Montjuic Hill, Sitges, Girona are some of the shortest day trips from Barcelona.

What are the best day trips from Barcelona for nature lovers?

Sitges, Montjuic Hill are some of the best day trips from Barcelona for nature lovers.

What are the best day trips from Barcelona for art and history buffs?

Monsterrat, Girona are great destinations for day trips from Barcelona for art and history buffs.

What is the best time to take day trips from Paris?

Summer is the best time to take day trips from Barcelona because the weather is the most pleasant.

Where can I book tickets for the best day trips from Barcelona?

Book tickets to the best day trips from Barcelona online to get great deals and discounts.