Getting out of the city
Barcelona has more than enough to fill a week, but Catalonia rewards anyone willing to spend a day on a train. The three trips below are all reachable by public transport and offer very different scenery: mountains, history and beach. Each can be done comfortably between breakfast and dinner.
Montserrat: the serrated mountain
About an hour north-west of the city, the jagged pink rock of Montserrat rises abruptly from the plain. Halfway up sits a Benedictine monastery, home to the revered Black Madonna and a famous boys' choir that often sings in the basilica around midday. Trains from Plaça d'Espanya connect with either a cable car or a rack railway for the final ascent.
Beyond the monastery, funiculars climb further to hiking trails with wide views across Catalonia. Bring a layer, as it can be noticeably cooler than the coast, and arrive early to beat the coach tours.
Girona: walls, river and cathedral
High-speed trains reach Girona in well under an hour. The old town climbs from the River Onyar, whose banks are lined with houses painted in ochre, orange and red. Walk the medieval walls for views over rooftops to the Pyrenees, then explore the narrow lanes of the old Jewish quarter, one of the best preserved in Europe.
The cathedral's broad Gothic nave is among the widest of its kind, and its steep baroque staircase is a striking sight. Girona is also a serious food city, so plan a long lunch.
Sitges: beaches and whitewashed lanes
Sitges is around forty minutes south by local train and makes an easy escape on a hot day. The town has a string of sandy beaches, a pretty church on a promontory above the sea and a lively seafront promenade. It is known for its festivals, film culture and welcoming atmosphere.
Spend the morning on the sand, have lunch at a seafood restaurant and then wander the old streets, where small museums hold collections of art and modernista design.
Want more freedom?
If you would rather explore the Costa Brava or the Penedès wine country at your own pace, a rental car booked alongside your AeroVista flight to BCN opens up villages and coves that trains do not reach. Just be prepared for limited and paid parking in the most popular coastal towns in summer.
Good to know
- Buy combined train and cable car or rack railway tickets for Montserrat to save queueing.
- Check the choir schedule if you want to hear it, as it does not sing every day.
- For Girona, book high-speed train seats in advance at weekends.