missypie

You need more time in Barcelona. We were there 7 days and had a very hard time tearing ourselves away for a day trip to Montserrat.

Dleon

In response to your questions about Hotel Girona, we stayed there on my last trip to Barcelona. It is clean and we had no problems. The rooms are small and we chose one with an outside view to the street. Interior means you will not have an outside view to the street, however the hotel is situated on a quiet street. It is fairly close to Las Ramblas but still a walk after a long day. This hotel is a great choice if you're on a budget.

travel_buzzing

I actually found the Reina Sofia to be a lot more stunning than the Prado, but that's all a matter of taste. I finally appreciated Miró there. The Guernica had too much of a crowd tho.
I had a day in Girona a while ago. although it is pretty, I think your time could be better spent.
you could take a wine tour at Torres (haven't been yet but it looks great).
Even if you're not into wine, its at the foot of Montserrat and I'm told there's a cable car up to some sort of shrine thing up the mountain. anyway a great day trip.
Think you can get away with not renting a car while in Barcelona/Catalunya area.

illopart

I'm from Barcelona. it's perfect arriving from Girona by plane, there are buses and also the train to Barcelona. If you take the bus, be careful at your arrival at Barcelona, go down the bus quickly to pick up your luggage as there are pickpockets there waiting for stealing handbags and suitacases. For the rest, and apart from Las Ramblas in Barcelona, my city is really very safe. I would prefer the train from Girona to BArcelona, that let's you at Passeig de Gracia street, right in the middle of the Eixample, a very safe and nice neiborough.

To go to Tarragona it's much better and very cheap to take the train from Barcelona, do not go by car, there is no place to park a car in Tarragona without paying a parking and trains are very cheap in my country.

Montserrat will take you a whole day, If you plan to going there for religious pourposes or for hicking or climbing mountains, this is ok,, but if not I thing that BArcelona itself deserves a bit more time than just one day.

If you visit Girona by car, you may then not miss the DAli museum at Figueres or a trip to the Costa Brava, for instance going to Begur, aiguablava, CAdaques or any of those nice spots of the coast.

bilboburgler

Probably worth searching on each city in these threads.

As has been said the pickpocket situation in Barcelona is exceptional but only in one area.

Cordoba after the shopping in Seville is a good use of a day watch out for the Norias in the river