The most beautiful towns near Barcelona you must visit
Spain is a country rich in landscapes, variety of lands and types of grounds. It has many different options for touristic destinations to choose from. Each of its regions has its own particularities and is special in its own way. But if you want to have it all in the same place, you should visit Catalonia.
Most of the people think automatically in the city Barcelona when the heard “Catalonia”, but Catalonia has so much more, especially in terms of nature such as mountain and coast, green forests and drylands. Catalonia is a magnificent destination both for weekend getaways and/or for longer trips.
In case you are visiting Barcelona and don’t want to miss any of the places Catalonia has to offer, we have gathered in this article some of the most charming places, the most beautiful towns near Barcelona that will amaze you. Check this list because a day or an afternoon escape to one of these towns would be the best way to complete your trip!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Best towns to visit near Barcelona city
- Sitges
- Besalú
- Sant Pol de Mar
- Figueres
- Cadaqués
- Ripollet
Sitges
Sitges is a gorgeous town located in the Mediterranean coast (38 km from Barcelona) that belongs to the region of “El Garraf”. It has three ports: Puerto de Ginesta (one of the largest marinas in Europe), Garraf and Aiguadolç. Beyond the touristic offer, the exquisite restaurants, and its beautiful beaches, Sitges has two things that make it so special. First, Sitges is world-wide famous for hosting every year the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, one of the biggest science fiction and horror film events in the world. On the other hand, Sitges is popular for being an LGBT destination with visitors from all over the world, where respect and tolerance are the driving force of development and make Sitges an open and cosmopolitan city with a freedom atmosphere.
Besalú
The municipality of Besalú is located in La Garrotxa region, very close to the districts of Pla de L’Estany and Alt Empordà (Girona). Being a mountain destination, it is the perfect option for hiking lovers, biking fans and of course for those passionate about nature. In addition, this city has great symbolism, because it maintains original elements of the time of the Roman Empire and the Medieval Age.
Since 1966, Besalú has been declared a National Historic Site for its architectural value, being one of the most important medieval towns in Catalonia. It takes between 1.5 and 2 hours to arrive from Barcelona. If you want to feel like you have traveled through time, we strongly recommend you visit this amazing town.
Sant Pol de Mar
Sant Pol de Mar is a town on the Mediterranean coast that belongs to the Maresme region, northern Catalonia. The main monument of this town is the Sant Pau hermitage, built in the 11th century. Likewise, the late Gothic Sant Jaume church, built in the 16th century on an existing chapel, is also very significant to the locals and the tourist that visit the town. From Sant Pol, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Maresme coast and the city of Barcelona. The city also has great architectonic value, and many of the buildings in the area retain modernist architectural elements on the facades. Among them, mention should be made of a series of buildings in the center of the city: Les Escoles, Cal Dr.
Roura, Can Planiol and Can Tió.
Figueres
Figueres, located in the north part of Girona, is the capital of the Alt Empordà region. The beauty of its coast is spectacular to photograph. This city has many points of interest to visit. One of the most important is the Dalí Theater-Museum, which is dedicated entirely to the painter Salvador Dalí, where a considerable part of his great surrealist work is exhibited.
Dalí was born in this Catalan town and it’s his most notorious and beloved inhabitant, something you can feel in almost every street of the town.
Cadaqués
Cadaqués is one of our favorite towns near Barcelona. If you go to Cadaqués, a fishing village in the Alt Empordà located at the northern end of the Costa Brava, you will understand what natural beauty really means. The panoramic views offered by this town are unbeatable, as it borders the Mediterranean Sea on the one hand and the Puig Pení and Puig del Bufadors heights on the other.
Two of their most notorious attractions are the beautiful Gothic church of Santa María and the Cap de Creus Natural Park, with 14,000 protected hectares. At its end, you’ll find the famous Cala Nans lighthouse where the Geology Museum currently operates. In Cadaqués there is also the Museum of Cadaqués where temporary exhibitions of the plastic artists of the area take place, especially the master Salvador Dalí, who chose this town as his preferred summer destination.
Ripollet
Ripollet is part of the metropolitan area of Barcelona, although it is in the Vallès Occidental region. It is noteworthy that the Ripoll River passes through this municipality, which originates in the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac Nature Park. Ripollet is a perfect place to make a weekend escapade or to make rural tourism since it is only 12 km away from Barcelona. Fun fact about Ripollet: according to Spotify, is the Spanish city that likes David Bowie’s music the most. Another great reason to visit it!
Barcelona Day Trip 2022: Cities and Places Near Barcelona
This article is reviewed regularly (on a monthly basis) by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.
So your Barcelona sojourn has been absolutely amazing so far; you’ve been enjoying your time getting lost in the alleys of the historic Barri Gòtic district, strolling along the emblematic avenue of La Rambla, and shopping at the Boqueria market on top of other eye-opening activities.
But now you’ve heard tales of other places of interest surrounding the Catalan capital and the urge of seeing what all the fuss is about is starting to get the better of you. Might as well, right? When else will you have the opportunity to do some exploring under the Iberian sun?
That said, here are some of the best day trips you can take from Barcelona.
Table of Contents
Barcelona – Andorra
Andorra is a beautiful lilliputian principality nestled in a beautiful Pyrenees valley between France and Spain. A day trip to Andorra is simply not to be missed if you’re visiting Barcelona for a number of good reasons.
Among others, Andorra is known as a shopping paradise as it has the lowest tax rate in Europe, meaning you simply cannot afford to miss the Andorran shopping experience when visiting Barcelona.
Perfume, fashion and electronics brands line up shoulder to shoulder in this duty-free shopping center high up in the Pyrenees mountains.
To others, Andorra is synonymous with skiing, hiking, and even balneotherapy (a method of treating illness with baths) usually practiced in spas and bathhouses. Indeed, Andorra is among Europe’s top destinations for winter activities and relaxation; a truly wonderful place to reconnect with nature through its picturesque valleys, meadows, and forests.
Getting to Andorra
- You can take the bus from Barcelona station to Andorra. The ride will take around three hours to complete with tickets starting from EUR 16
- A bus to Andorra is also departing from Barcelona El Prat Airport Terminal 2. It takes four hours to reach Andorra with tickets starting from EUR 37
- Driving to Andorra is also a popular option. Rideshares are also a common method
Barcelona – Girona – Costa Brava
Head northeast from Barcelona and you’ll arrive at the city of Girona, from where you can continue your day trip to Costa Brava.
Day trips to Girona and Costa Brava are some of the most popular and serviced routes for visitors to Barcelona.
Girona
A certain highborn by the name of Arya Stark once found herself roaming the streets of Girona begging for loose change. Well, at least that’s what you will inevitably hear since Girona was one of the locations used in the filming of the popular Game of Thrones series.
But even if you’re not a fan of the show, it’s easy to fall in love with Girona due to its medieval vibes, especially notable while strolling along the small streets of the old town.
Head further east from Girona, you’ll no doubt be enticed by the historic Castell de Tossa de Mar, a coastal walled enclosure constructed to repel pirates, marauders, and other unsavory individuals. Castell de Tossa de Mar dates from the 12th century and presents a series of towers from where one may take in the spectacular views of the sea.
Getting to Girona
- High-speed train line from Barcelona to Girona is available.
Tickets start at EUR 16 for the 40-minute journey - If you prefer to drive to Girona, it’ll take you approximately 80 minutes
Tickets start at EUR 16 for the 40-minute journey
Costa Brava
Some 32 kilometers east of Girona, the Costa Brava – the “Wild Coast” – stretches for 160 kilometers. Costa Brava acquired its namesake perhaps due to the presence of rocky cliffs, pine forests, and sandy cove. Yet beyond its rough facade, brochure-worthy beaches are also present with their turquoise waters painting an authentic Mediterranean landscape.
Getting to Costa Brava
- from Girona, drive or take the bus to Costa Brava. Tickets start from EUR 5
- the journey takes about 50 minutes
Barcelona – Montserrat – Sitges
Another popular Barcelona day trip you can take is the Montserrat and Sitges route. This day trip involves a visit to a solemn abbey in the mountains and beaches lined with palm trees.
Montserrat
While the Montserrat mountain range is nothing short of breathtaking, the main reason why people find visiting Montserrat exceedingly intriguing is undoubtedly the mystical Benedictine Abbey housing a statue of the Black Madonna (Black Virgin). The statue, to whom miracles have reportedly been attributed, is said to have been carved in Jerusalem by Saint Luke himself. This renders the abbey a place of religious importance with adherents regularly prioritizing a visit to Montserrat over Barcelona.
As mentioned, apart from the abbey visitors to Montserrat can also do some hiking and take the cable car to the highest point of Montserrat where breathtaking views await.
Getting to Montserrat
- You can reach Montserrat from Barcelona via train which takes about an hour. Tickets start from EUR 5
- Driving or taking a taxi is another option. A taxi ride to Montserrat usually takes 30 minutes and will cost you roughly EUR 85
Sitges
After your monastery visit, the resort town of Sitges would serve as the perfect end for your Barcelona day trip.
Originally a quaint fishing village, Sitges is now famed for being a holiday destination for groups of friends, couples and also families looking to have some fun through its fun summer carnival and lively nightlife.
For those looking for a slower pace, Sitges also has a charming old town, a mouthwatering gastronomic experience and, of course, wonderful beaches lined with palm trees.
If you’re visiting in October, you can attend the film festival featuring mostly fantasy and horror films.
Getting to Sitges
- from Montserrat station, you can take the train followed by bus. The journey takes about two hours to complete and will cost you somewhere around EUR 10
- we recommend driving or taking a cab ride if time is of the essence. Taking a cab costs approximately EUR 90 but will only take you about 45 minutes
Mataro — nearest cities and airports, exact time, on the map, Spain
Mataro — nearest cities and airports, exact time, on the map, Spain
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Mataro, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain – The exact location is marked with a black marker.
The nearest cities (with a population of 50,000 or more) and airports within a radius of 500 km are indicated on the map with blue markers and corresponding icons. Total found nearby – 76 cities and 43 airports. The distance to each is calculated and indicated in the tips on the map.
Nearest cities illanueva and la GeltruTarragonaReusPerpignanLeridaBeziersCalviàPalmToulouseMontpellierCastellón de la PlanaZaragozaVila-realVila-realMontaubanNimPoMarseilleSaguntAvignonLa Seyne-sur- MerAix-en-ProvenceValenciaToulonPaternaTorrentJerPamplonaGandíaIrunBenidormFrjoiAlcoiSan SebastianLogronoValenceCannesSant Vicent del RaspeigPessacBordeauxAntibesMerignacEldaVitoriaNiceElcheSaint-EtienneAlbaceteClermont-FerrandBilbaoTorreviejaPortugallet GetxoOrihuelaLimoges
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Pau – Pyrenees Airport
Ibiza Airport
Marsilla Rodez Airport 9 –0035
Ajan – La Garine Airport
Avignon Provence Airport
Valencia Airport
Toulon Airport – Hyères 9003 6 Airport 9003 6 Pamplona
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Tuesday 25 April 2023 Week 17
Sunrise ↑ – 06:58, Sunset ↓ – 20:37
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El Prat de Llobregat — nearest cities and airports, exact time, on the map, Spain
El Prat de Llobregat — nearest cities and airports, exact time, on the map, Spain
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El Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain – The exact location is marked with a black marker.