Top Catalonia Day Trips - page 2

Venture East from Barcelona to Spain’s Costa Brava, and spend the day discovering one of Europe’s prettiest shorelines. Journey along the coast to this famous seaside stretch, known for its rugged cliffs and pine groves, and stop near the lively resort of Blanes. Sunbathe or swim in a tucked-away sandy cove, or choose to stroll through the cliff-edge Marimurtra Botanical Gardens. After a tasty 3-course lunch at a traditional restaurant, enjoy free time to explore, shop, or relax in the charming town of Tossa de Mar.

Explore the life and creativity of Salvador Dalí on this full-day tour to the Spanish artist’s hometown of Figueres and other highlights of the Costa Brava. Visit the spectacular Theatre-Museum Dalí showcasing his drawings, paintings and jewels, and stroll around the bay of Port Lligat, where Dalí lived later in life. You’ll also visit the surreal landscape of Creus Cape Natural Park.

Go wine-tasting in the Emporda wine region without worrying about driving home after on this half-day small-group tasting tour from Girona, which includes transportation so that you won’t need to designate a driver. Sample wine and olive oil while you learn about the region and enjoy a typical Catalan breakfast.

Check off three countries in one day on this guided tour from Barcelona. Travel through the Pyrenees to a picturesque French spa town, continue over a scenic mountain pass into Andorra for dramatic photo stops and duty-free shopping, then return to Spain in the afternoon. Sit back and relax while your guide handles the driving and border crossings, making it a hassle-free way to experience France, Andorra, and Spain in a single trip.

Montserrat is home to both a mountaintop monastery and hiking trails, but reaching both from Barcelona takes some planning. This small-group trip handles it, with a guide leading you through the Benedictine monastery and to the "Black Madonna" wood carving. The second half of the day is spent hiking the range, past the hermitages (retreats) set into the hills.

Make a pilgrimage to Montserrat Monastery, one of Spain's key religious sites, during this guided visit. Scale Montserrat Mountain by your choice of cogwheel train or cable car, enjoying striking vistas of the mountain's surreal rock formations. Then visit the Benedictine abbey and the Basilica de Montserrat, to view La Moreneta (the Black Madonna). Your tour includes coach transport and free time to sample the monastery’s liqueurs.

Spend a day exploring two traditional Spanish Jewish communities and learn about Jewish history on this full-day tour. Join a small group and see the Jewish sights of Girona including “the Call” quarter and the area’s medieval history. Then, head to the medieval town of Besalu to walk through the Jewish Quarter and see the 12th-century Miqve.

Immerse yourself in the work of surrealist painter Salvador Dalí on this tour. Travel with your guide and small group in an air-conditioned minivan to significant places in Dalí’s life. Visit the Theatre-Museum Dalí with skip-the-line access, the village of Cadaqués, and the bay of Port Lligat, where there is a second Dalí museum in the artist’s former home.

Spend an exciting day swimming, snorkeling, and soaking up the sun on Costa Brava during this small-group excursion from Barcelona. Travel up the coast to a relaxed beach and enjoy activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, and cliff jumping in the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean. Lunch and equipment are also included making this an easy day away from the city.

Have limited time in Barcelona? See the best of the city in a single day on this comprehensive tour. With round-trip transit directly from your hotel, see and do more than you could alone. Tour the Passeig de Gracia, glimpse Las Ramblas, admire views from Montjuic, and explore the Old Town on foot. Then, discover two of architect Antoni Gaudi's top landmarks when you visit Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia (own expense or included with private option).

Plenty of gems lie beyond Barcelona, but exploring them without your own car is difficult. Combine two top attractions in one on this private full-day tour that includes Montserrat and a cava winery. Spend your morning exploring the mountaintop monastery of Montserrat, then head to the Penedes region to learn about cava production and sample its produce paired with tapas and snacks.

Journey back in time to medieval Spain on this full-day tour to several of Costa Brava’s most charming villages. See a historic lighthouse in Llafranc, walk a coastal trail to the hillside cottages of Calella de Palafrugell and admire Begur’s imposing castle. In the inland towns of Pals and Peratallada, sample local cuisine and wander down cobblestone streets while learning about the area’s fascinating history from your guide. Numbers are limited to 7 for a more personalized small-group experience.

Instead of juggling multiple bookings, pair one of Catalonia’s most important spiritual landmarks with rural food and wine experiences on this full-day tour from Barcelona. Travel to Montserrat by cogwheel train for a guided visit to the monastery, then continue into the countryside for a relaxed three-course lunch with wine at a historic farmhouse. Finish the day with a winery visit and tasting in the Bages region.

Discover Catalonia’s landscape, history, and cuisine on a full-day tour from Girona to Cap de Creus National Park, the village of Cadaqués, and the mountain monastery of Saint Pere de Rodes, exploring each destination with a local guide. Following a tour of the Benedictine monastery, you’ll also visit a local shop of olive oil and locally-produced wines. This 10-hour tour includes pickup and drop-off at Girona hotels, and it’s the perfect way to experience the very best of Catalonia.

Enjoy a unique way to experience Barcelona's La Pedrera-Casa Mila—one of Gaudi's most famous architectural works—when you book tickets to the La Pedrera Night Experience. Upon arrival, tour the iconic landmark until you reach the rooftop, where a light show transforms the architectural features into surreal and spectacular objects. Conclude the evening with a chilled glass of cava and nibbles as you admire the glittering city lights.

Get more out of your Barcelona vacation by setting off further afield and ticking off Girona and Costa Brava in a day. Air-conditioned private transport is taken care of, which saves you the stress of organizing it yourself, and the route uncovers lots of Catalan countryside gems, including medieval villages and “Game of Thrones” filming locations.

The majestic Natural Park of Montserrat lies about an hour from Barcelona, making it difficult to reach without a car. Join this small-group tour and hike and visit the Basilica of Santa Maria de Montserrat and learn about the monks' daily life. Trek ancient pilgrimage paths, discovering diverse flora and fauna, and savor panoramic vistas. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore the monastery, taste local specialties, and shop before returning to Barcelona.

Follow in the footsteps of the Lannisters and the Starks on this full-day, small-group 'Game of Thrones' tour in Girona. Stop at filming sites from the show. Sample 'King’s Hand' ice cream, a delicacy invented by locals in honor of the series, and enjoy free time to see the city’s Roman walls and Jewish district. Ice cream isn't the only food provided—you also enjoy lunch with sangria in pretty Blanes.

Wine lovers—get ready for the ultimate adventure. Swap Barcelona sightseeing for a trip to Montserrat, where you can tour vineyards and visit a family-run cava winery. As well as wine–themed sights, the tour offers some cultural highlights too, with a visit to the Black Madonna statue and Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery. Also, to ensure you don’t get hungry, a homemade lunch at a family-run winery is included.

Journey from Barcelona to a monastery hidden among the peaks of Catalonia's Montserrat mountain without the need to organize transport. This guided tour offers a more in-depth experience than is typical. Visit the Church of Santa Maria de Montserrat, where you see "La Moreneta," also known as the "Black Madonna," and hear the Children’s Choir of Montserrat, before hiking to a scenic viewpoint.

Spend time in the great outdoors near Girona on this full-day excursion to Besal and its surroundings. Join a small group and take a guided tour of the medieval and Jewish quarters of Besalu. You also visit two ancient volcanoes with villages built in them as well as Banyoles Lake, where you can enjoy a walk.

Trace the footsteps of Catalonia’s signature surrealist without worrying about parking or bus schedules on this guided Dalí tour from Barcelona, with different schedules for peak season and the rest of the year. In July-August, you’ll visit the Dalí Theatre-Museum, the Castle of Púbol (own expense), and Sant Marti d'Empuries; the rest of the year, you’ll follow the Theatre-Museum with Cadaqués and the Salvador Dalí House—Portlligat (own expense).

Soak up the glorious scenery of the Priorat wine region—and sample some of Spain’s most prestigious wines safely, without having to worry about designating a driver—on this tour from Barcelona, capped at just eight people per tour. Visita to three different top-rated wineries for tastings and tours. To accompany those tastings, you'll also enjoy a delicious, 3-course lunch of Catalan specialties.

Appease an appetite for adventure on a full-day trip to Caribe Aquatic Park at PortAventura World from Barcelona. Depart in an air-conditioned coach and then plunge into the exhilarating attractions as soon as you arrive at the park. Summon your courage to glide down Europe’s highest free-fall slide; challenge your friends and family on the 6-land Rapid Race; and float in a rubber tube on the Mad River.