Barcelona is one of Europe's best bases for day trips. Within roughly an hour by train or coach you can reach a mountaintop monastery, a beach town, a medieval city used in Game of Thrones, a surreal museum built by Salvador Dalí, a Roman UNESCO site, the Costa Brava coast, and Catalonia's sparkling-wine country. This guide rounds up the best day trips and how to reach each one by public transport, and links to our full guides for Montserrat and Sitges.
Most trips leave from Barcelona Sants, the main station, with some also stopping at Passeig de Gràcia. Montserrat is the exception: it runs from Plaça Espanya on the FGC railway, while the Costa Brava coaches leave from the Barcelona Nord bus station.
Montserrat
The serrated mountain of Montserrat and its Benedictine monastery is the classic half-day trip. Take the FGC R5 train from Plaça Espanya, then finish the climb on either the Cremallera rack railway or the Aeri cable car, about 1.5 hours in total. Our full Barcelona to Montserrat guide covers tickets and timings.
Sitges
Sitges is the easy beach escape, a pretty seaside town about 30 to 40 minutes south on the R2 Sud train from Barcelona Sants or Passeig de Gràcia, with frequent departures and the beach a short walk from the station. See our Barcelona to Sitges guide for the details.
Girona
Girona is the standout culture trip: a beautifully preserved medieval old town, one of Europe's best-kept Jewish quarters (the Call), a grand cathedral, and filming locations from Game of Thrones season six. The high-speed AVE or Avant train from Barcelona Sants gets you there in about 40 minutes; the slower regional R11 takes around 1 hour 20. The station is a short walk from the old town.
Figueres (the Dalí museum)
Salvador Dalí was born in Figueres, and the surreal Dalí Theatre-Museum he designed there, where he is also buried, is one of Spain's most-visited museums. A high-speed train from Barcelona Sants reaches Figueres in under an hour, or a regional train in about an hour and arrives closer to the museum.
Tarragona
Tarragona was a Roman provincial capital, and its remarkable Roman remains, a UNESCO World Heritage ensemble, include a seafront amphitheatre, a circus and forums. It is about 1 to 1.5 hours by regional train, faster by Avant. One tip: aim for the central Tarragona station, not Camp de Tarragona, which is the high-speed station well outside the city.
Costa Brava (Tossa de Mar)
For the coast, Tossa de Mar is the cleanest day trip: a walled medieval old town above a curved beach on the Costa Brava. There is no direct train, so take a Moventis (Sarfa) coach from the Barcelona Nord bus station, around 1.5 hours. Book ahead in summer.
Penedès wine country
Catalonia's cava (sparkling wine) is made in the Penedès, and you can be among the vineyards in about 45 minutes on the regional R4 train to Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, home to several big cava houses, or Vilafranca del Penedès. Book a winery tour in advance.
Day trips at a glance
| Destination | Why go | How to get there | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montserrat | Monastery & mountain | FGC R5 from Plaça Espanya + rack railway or cable car | ~1.5 hrs |
| Sitges | Beach town | R2 Sud train from Sants / Passeig de Gràcia | ~30–40 min |
| Girona | Medieval old town, Game of Thrones | AVE/Avant high-speed from Sants | ~40 min |
| Figueres | Dalí Theatre-Museum | High-speed or regional train from Sants | ~55 min–1 hr |
| Tarragona | Roman ruins (UNESCO) | Regional / Avant to central Tarragona station | ~1–1.5 hrs |
| Tossa de Mar (Costa Brava) | Coast, walled old town | Moventis coach from Barcelona Nord | ~1.5 hrs |
| Penedès | Cava wine country | Regional R4 train to Sant Sadurní | ~45 min |
Planning tips
- Stations: most trains leave from Barcelona Sants (some also stop at Passeig de Gràcia). Montserrat uses Plaça Espanya on the FGC network, a different operator from Renfe, and Costa Brava coaches leave from Barcelona Nord.
- Tickets: Renfe runs the regional and high-speed trains. High-speed seats (Girona, Figueres, Tarragona) and summer coaches are worth booking ahead; the frequent regional trains to Sitges and Penedès you can usually buy on the day.
- How to choose: short on time, go for Girona or Sitges; after history, Tarragona; after a view, Montserrat; after the coast, Tossa de Mar.
This is an independent airport guide, not affiliated with the official airport. Train and coach times are approximate (June 2026) and can change, so confirm current schedules with Renfe, FGC or the coach operator before you travel.
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