bluesphee

Hi all,

I wanted to hear from those of you who have done day trips from Barcelona. We have 4 days (5 nights) in Barcelona and are definitely planning on doing one day trip.

So far I think Montserrat looks very cool, but I wanted to hear what everyone else thinks would be a cool day trip. Another place that looked pretty cool is Tossa De Mar. Any other suggestions?

laclaire

It depends on what you want to see and when you are there. Girona is a great place, and Sitges has wonderful night clubs and beaches. Figueres and Cadaques show you Dali. What are you up for?

Claire

bluesphee

We are not going to be going to clubs or any night life most likely since we would be travelling back that night.

I enjoy Dali but don't know that I would want to make a trip just to see his art. I'm more interested in scenic areas (mountains, beaches, etc...). Is it possible to see any of the Pyrennes mountain range in a day trip from Barcelona?

wco81

I'm in almost the exact same situation.

I'm going at the end of March so I wonder if the beaches, like at Sitges, are worth it.

Just looking at the list of attractions, I could probably spend the whole time in the city but it might be worth to look at the country side too. Guess someone posted here that the rest of Catalunya was nothing like Barcelona.

otto

sitges was the highlight of my trip! especially if you are going in the off season, you'll get to really enjoy it.

PalQ

Sitges is nice and also has a different flare because it's one of Europe's premier gay resorts - March is probably too early for the gay invasion but when i went there one September it was very apparent - right on the train station platform there was a lot of same-sex passion going on and all over town. This didn't bother me and i'm not gay but added a fascinating aspect to the resort.

Intrepid1

Scenic area near Barcelona: Montserrat and easy to reach by public transport and the whole thing can be well done in a day out.

rainbow007

I'll be traveling to Barcelona in June and am interested in everyone's suggestions for day trips, too. Monserrat is one I was looking at, and many seem to say it was a nice trip. It would be great to hear from someone who thinks it's really amazing. (I guess what I'm wondering is what was memorable, what was special?)

The other day trip I am considering is to visit a cava producer like Cordorniu in Sant Sadorni d'Anoia and maybe the Museu del Vi in Vilafranca. (I'm interested in wine making in general.) Has anyone visited these and if so, what was your experience?

Thanks,
Rainbow

ekscrunchy

We went on an overnight trip from Barcelona to Cadaques. Along the way, we drove through the towns of Vic, Rupit and Besalu which were, I believe, in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Each was interesting and Rupit is one of the prettiest towns I had ever visited in Spain. If you have a car, you could go up into this area on a day trip. If you need more info, I will attempt to find my notes.

bachan

Hi,

We'll also be travelling to Barcelona at the end of June with our 12 yr old son & 10 yr old daughgter. We'll probably stay in Barcelona for a few days then travel to Calonge - Girona where we rented a small villa for a week - approx 2 km from the beach. We like the idea of being close enough to the beach/shops/town but still "away from it all". What do you think of 1 week in Girona with the kids? Will they be "bored"? Any other suggestions before we finalize our plans?

Thanks for your help!

nessundorma

Regarding a trip to Montserrat, I didn't find it particularly interesting, especially if you have spent a lot of time visiting churches in Europe. The position of the monastery is panoramic, so if you are the kind of traveler who is hungry for views, it might be worth the trip for you. It also offers a easy shot at doing a bit of hiking away from the city.

I don't know how often Spanish elementary school students are brought to the monastery for school day trips, but the day I was there the grounds were almost overrun with children and school buses. The children made an unholy racket, running around, tossing balls and screaming. I often joke that the noisiest place I've ever been in my life is the monastery at Montserrat.

(By the way, if you have any problems with vertigo, taking the cable car to the site is not advised.)

emnyc

The monastery at Montserrat is not especially interesting, but what is amazing are the rock formations that surround the monastery, which were like nothing I had ever seen before--rounded, Martian looking, sere, and in some ways almost flesh-like, with stunning vistas over farmland, villages, all the way to the sea. I wouldn't really bother going there for the church and the little shops, but the hiking above the monastery (another little cable car ride up into the mountains) was the highlight of my time in and around Barcelona--just spectacular, and so easy to access in the midst of an otherwise urban vacation. I highly recommend it. Stop off at the monastery long enough to buy some wine and bread and cheese, and then wander in the hills for a few hours, with a picnic at some point.

wco81

I'm also going for 4 days, 5 nights and was considering a day trip. Does it make sense or could I easily spend all 4 days in the city and not get to enough? For instance, I don't mind burning 4 hours (or even more) in a big museum.

But I was considering this:

http://viator.com/tours/Barcelona/31...l-by-Minicoach

First of all, what is the sanctuary? Is that different from the monastary? Must be since it doesn't include either cog train or the cable car rides.

Seems like a good deal compared to the other tours they have on there, under $50 for 9 hours. For instance, this one costs more for 5 hours just in Montserrat without the cava winery tour:

http://viator.com/tours/Barcelona/21...ing-Montserrat

But the downside is, it is 9 hours so it uses up all that daylight, most of a day which could be spent in the city.

BTW, how does cava compare to champagne? Does the cava tour seem worthwhile?

bluesphee

We took a day trip to Montserrat and did it on our own. We really enjoyed it. I agree w/ the others that the monastery is nothing special. It's really about getting to see some very interesting mountain formations and scenery. They are beautiful and definitely worth a visit. I would say 2-3 days in Barcelona is plenty + a day trip like we did to Montserrat.

artlover

We went to Montserrat and the most amazing part was hearing the boys choir. I believe they sing every day at 1.

I really liked Girona and wish I had spent more time there than at the Theatro de Dali in Figueres, but I'm not a big Dali fan, so you might feel differently about that.

danon

we'll be in Barcelona early Oct. ( not the first time)
Is Tarragona a good day trip??