Barcelona’s vibrant city life is captivating, but the surrounding regions offer an equally enchanting experience. Whether you are looking to disconnect from the city buzz, explore quiet coastal towns, hike mountain trails or discover a vineyard or two, these easy day trips offer a refreshing change of pace, and all within a couple of hours from the city.
1. Costa Brava
For a day trip that feels like a true getaway, the Costa Brava delivers. Less than two hours from Barcelona, this stretch of coastline offers quiet coves, clear water, and some of Catalonia’s most scenic seaside towns like Calella de palafrugell and Begur. Whether you are stopping for a long lunch or exploring the coast by boat, it’s a polished escape with real variety and well worth the drive.
How to get there?
About 1 hour and 45 minutes by car from Barcelona
Where to eat?
Tragamar in Calella de Palafrugell serving seafood right on the beach
Toc al Mar in Begur, an elegant beachside restaurant seafood, including local specialties like red lobster from Cape Begur and fresh Palamós prawns
What to do?
Rent a kayak or paddleboard to explore the hidden caves and coves
Walk a stretch of the Camí de Ronda trail for panoramic coastal views and secluded beach access
2. Montserrat
One of the most iconic landscapes in Catalonia, Montserrat is just an hour from the city and completely different in character. The winding journey ends at a mountaintop monastery with panoramic views, cliffside hiking routes, and peaceful trails. If you want to swap city noise for open air and still be back by dinner, this is an easy, highly rewarding day out.
How to get there?
About 1 hour from Barcelona via rack railway or cable car
Where to eat?
Montserrat Restaurant serving Catalan dishes with views
Restaurant Abat Cisneros for formal dining inside the monastery complex
What to do?
Visit local farmers’ market stalls (cheese, honey, fig cake)
Visit the Montserrat Monastery, home to the famous Black Madonna (La Moreneta)
Hike Montserrat’s scenic trails. Choose from a range of routes for all levels, from gentle walks with sweeping views to more challenging hikes through unique rock formations and forested paths.
3. Tarragona
Tarragona gives you history, beaches, and a working Mediterranean port city, all within an hour of Barcelona. The roman amphitheater and old quarter add depth, while its seafront promenade is ideal for a long-relaxed lunch. Easy by train and often overlooked, Tarragona is one of the most complete day trips from the city, with real local character and a strong sense of place.
How to get there?
About 1 hour by train from Barcelona
Where to eat?
AQ Restaurant serving refined Mediterranean cuisine
El Llagut serves fantastic seafood near the beach, offering fresh local catches
Plaça de la Font, ideal for coffee or tapas
What to do?
Visit Amfiteatre Romà and Pont del Diable aqueduct
Detour to DO Tarragona vineyards for wine tasting
4. Sitges
Sitges is where you go when you want beach, culture, and atmosphere, but without the hassle. Just 35 minutes by train, this stylish town offers boutique shopping, smart seafront dining and golden- sand beaches. Its lively year-round and polished enough to feel like a, mini getaway. Ideal for last-minute plans or when you want luxury close to home. Sitges also has a vibrant LGBTQ+ scene and is especially festive during its annual carnival and film festival.
How to get there?
Only 35 minutes by train from Barcelona
Where to eat?
La Zorra offers a creative take on paellas
Fragata provides seafront lunch near the church
Pastisseria Massó serves traditional Catalan pastries
What to do?
Visit Museu Cau Ferrat, home of Santiago Rusiñol
Enjoy the Carnival (7th to 18th February 2026) and Film Festival (9th to 19th of October 2026)
5. Penedés
For something quieter and more rural. Penedès is less than an hour away from Barcelona and offers a completely different pace. You will find rolling vineyards, family-run wineries, and long slow lunches under the trees. Many estates offer private tasting, making is perfect for a refined day trip especially if your interests in Catalan cava or exploring the wine scene without committing to a full weekend.
How to get there?
Under 1 hour from Barcelona, ideal for a scenic rural drive
Where to eat?
Cal Blay in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia offers modern Catalan cuisine
Winery picnics often available at local vineyards
What to do?
Book cava tastings at Codorníu or Freixenet
Try small producers like Parés Baltà or Can Feixes
Enjoy a relaxed afternoon among the vineyards
6. Girona
Girona is easy to reach by high-speed train in under 40 minutes- and feels like stepping into another world. Its medieval core, city walls, and riverside cafes make it a picturesque contrast to Barcelona. There is a thriving food scene and if you want to combine culture, history, and great lunch options in one day. Girona is a effortless choice.
How to get there?
40 minutes by high-speed train from Barcelona
Where to eat?
Divinum, fine dining experience with local roots
La Fábrica offers brunch and coffee spot for cyclists
El Celler de Can Roca, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant run by the Roca brothers (book far in advance)
Heladería Rocambolesc offers creative ice cream by the Roca brothers
What to do?
Visit the Cathedral of Girona
Walk along the ancient city walls for views
7. Cadaqués
This destination is slightly further, around two and a half hours, but is worth it for a full day escape and feels truly removed. Cadaqués, a small fishing town at the edge of Cap de Creus peninsula, known for its bright white town houses, narrow cobbled streets, and peaceful coves. Artistic, isolated, and utterly charming, a favorite getaway for Barcelona’s uptown crowd, seeking a relaxed and beautiful coastal escape.
How to get there?
Around 2.5 hours by car; more remote
Where to eat?
Compartir, Michelin-recommended and run by former El Bulli chefs
Casa Anita offers rustic seafood and local charm
What to do?
Tour the Salvador Dalí House-Museum in Portlligat
Hike Cap de Creus coastal paths
Relax on white-stone beaches
8. Sant Pol de Mar
Sant Pol de mar, an hour up the coast. Its low key, elegant and easy to reach by train. It does not try too hard and that is its appeal. Locals come for its quiet beaches and excellent food (it was once home to Catalonia’s most awarded female chef). If you want a day at the coast without the tourist crowds, this is your spot.
How to get there?
About 1 hour by train up the coast
Where to eat?
El Sot del Morer offers seafood and rice dishes in a casual setting
Canet pastisseria, the local favourite for coffee and pastries
What to do?
Walk down whitewashed alleys to Platja de Sant Pol
Enjoy a quiet, elegant beach day with few tourists
