We are flying into Madrid, planning to rent a car and drive to Costa Brava and then spend 3 days in Barcelona in late july with our teen daugthers. We'd like to do some hiking for one day, is it worth going all the way up to Bielsa, from Madrid, or are there good place to hike near Costa Brava? And, would you suggest staying in Tossa del Mar or in Cadaques? Both look very nice but not sure if Cadaques is a bit isoloated from other places. thanks!!

Late July along the Costa Brava without reservations? Hopefully you have something in mind since July-September is the busiest time of the year along the Costa Brava, both inland and along the coast.

Hi Lisachris

Montjuic Mountain in Barcelona is well worth a visit if you like hiking. It's quite a small mountain so not too strenuous

Andrew
(Oh-Barcelona)

We did stay in Cadaques last October for one night & loved it!! It is beautiful & we also visited Dali's home & Cap de Creus. Cadaques is more isolated than Tossa de Mar. We stopped in Tossa de Mar on our way to Cadaques; it is beautiful, too, & we spent some time exploring the medieval walled fortress overlooking the Mediterranean. Tossa is closer to Barcelona. Our favorite was Cadaques, but Tossa is a great choice, too. There is plenty to do around Cadaques, with Dali's house in Port Lligat, Cap de Creus, & Dali's museum in Figueres. Also there is a monastery (Sant Pere de Rodes) near Cadaques that is supposed to be one of the more spectacular sites in Costa Brava, but we didn't have time to go there.

Also recommend Montserrat (just outside of Barcelona)for a day hike. My daughter did this when she was studying last fall in Barcelona & really enjoyed the hike. I didn't have time when we visited, so I can't speak from first-hand experience.

I think you can hike up Tibidabo, in Barcelona, as well, but not 100% sure of this. There is an amusement park & church & great views from the top.

thanks so much these are all great suggestions!
How does this sound:
2 days madrid
3 days tossa (with day trip to cadquesz)
1 night ripol (up in pyrennees)
3 nights in Barcelona

* we have one more night any suggestions for a stop over between Madrid and Tossa, or other places we should add on a day or go see? thanks!!

We also stopped in Ripoll for a couple hours & enjoyed the Benedictine Monastery there. It's a pretty and clean city with a river running through it (Fluvia, I think). I remember buying delicious pastries at a bakery. The drive from Girona through the Pyrenees was beautiful. We also stopped in Besalu for breakfast, which has an amazing medieval fortified bridge. This was on our way to Ripoll so you might have time to stop there.

Exactly how long is your trip? How many days/nights? I haven't been to Madrid & I've only been to Spain once, but I would spend one more night in Barcelona. We were there for 5 days & didn't see everything.

I like your idea of staying in Tossa with a day trip to Cadaques; that way you see both places & don't have to eliminate one or the other.