are you thinking of a weekend getaway in Catalonia to discover the natural wonders of this community? Or do you already live there, but you would like to know what are the best excursions from Barcelona? We already tell you that the most difficult thing will be to choose your destination from “a menu” that offers you an endless number of places that will leave you speechless. Among the places to visit in Catalonia you will find from some of the most beautiful beaches in Spain to real high mountain areas and – as you will see – much more. If you love nature, you are guaranteed to spend a romantic weekend in Catalonia, we just want to help you choose. Here are the best places for your weekend getaways to Catalonia or your excursions from Barcelona.
Aigüestortes National Park – the magic of the Pyrenees
The Parc Nacional d’Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici is the only national park in Catalonia and it is with good reason that this part of the Pyrenees was awarded this distinctive title. It is one of the most beautiful landscapes we have ever seen and every time we feel in a world apart while walking through its pine forests, among its colorful lakes of Colomers, each with its different color tone or when we raise our heads to see the peaks of Els Encantats or other peaks that exceed 3,000 meters.
Hundreds of trails offer an immersion in this unique landscape and touring just a few of the most beautiful ones provide many weekend getaways in Catalonia. In addition to easy trails, there are challenging routes for hikers, such as the Carros de Foc, a circular route through Aigüestortes.
How to get there: The main accesses to the national park are from the towns of Espot and Boí. There is a 4×4 cab service to enter the park. Otherwise, you can leave your car in the parking lots on the edge of the national park and continue the route on foot. Access to these villages is possible by public transport in the summer season, although the connections are quite bad, so having your own vehicle is almost indispensable.
Ebro Delta – a unique natural area
Probably the most unique natural area you can visit in Catalonia is in the south of the region. The Ebro Delta is the place where the Ebro River reaches the Mediterranean Sea forming a wetland of incredible beauty. Surreal landscapes with a desert on the seashore, beaches on tongues of land, deep green rice fields and an unsurpassed variety of large birds, including pink flamingos, are some of the main attractions of this land.
However, what makes the Delta really unique is the solitude, the silence and the magical light that makes it our most recommended place for a romantic weekend in Catalonia. One of the activities we especially recommend is a boat trip through the Ebro Delta.
How to get there: The nearest town is Amposta which can be reached by train or bus from Barcelona. Then to explore the park you will need your own vehicle.
La Garrotxa and La Fageda d’en Jordà – volcanoes and a magical forest
La Garrotxa is one of the regions with more charming places in Catalonia. It is a volcanic area where you can see dozens of volcanic cones already inactive and covered by vegetation.
Although in the Garrotxa you can see the layers of an ancient volcano (the Croscat Volcano) that is cut or you can go into craters of volcanoes like the Santa Margarida Volcano, the most beloved corner by the locals is the Fageda d’en Jordà. This beech forest that has grown in the lava flow of the Croscat Volcano is one of the most popular nature spots to visit in Catalonia. It would be difficult to imagine a forest that has a more magical aspect and the truth is that walking among its trees is to feel inside a fairytale forest where at any moment a witch could appear. La Fageda shows its greatest beauty in autumn when the leaves turn yellow. If you want to visit the area on an organized tour, this excursion to La Garrocha from Girona is an excellent option.
How to get there: La Garrotxa and La Fageda can be visited by public transport from Barcelona, as the town of Olot (quite close to the forest and the volcanoes) can be reached by bus without any problem, although you will have to walk the 4 km stretch between the town and La Fageda, so the car is the best option.
Vall de Boí – a valley where you can breathe history
Among the valleys of the Catalan Pyrenees, the Vall de Boí is undoubtedly one of the most attractive for a weekend getaway in Catalonia. Besides enjoying the green landscapes of the valley, the main attraction of this place is a dozen of Romanesque churches located in picturesque medieval villages where time seems to have stopped. The ensemble has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and it is worth both climbing the towers of these churches to admire the beautiful scenery and entering each of the churches to marvel at the beautiful frescoes of the Romanesque period. The harmony of art and nature will make you live a truly romantic weekend in Catalonia. If you want, here you can buy the combined ticket to the Romanesque churches.
How to get there: La Vall de Boí has little public transport connection with the rest of Catalonia. To get to know its landscapes and visit the Romanesque temples it is essential to have your own vehicle.
Priorat – mountains, reservoirs and a lot of history
One of the ideal regions for an excursion from Barcelona is the Priorat, which combines incredible landscapes with some of the most interesting historical places to visit in Catalonia. The geography of this area is dominated by the impressive Monstant mountain range with its vertical rock walls.
In addition to the Monstant mountain range, it is important to mention the rivers in the area, the most important of which is the Siurana river that forms the reservoir with the same name, a wonderful place to spend a day in nature kayaking or hiking around the lake. If you are in Priorat you cannot miss the village of Siurana with its unbeatable views and the Carthusian monastery of Scala Dei.
How to get there: Several places in Priorat (Tivissa, Cornudella del Montsant) have direct bus connections with Barcelona. However, to move between the points of interest, you will need your rental car.
Montserrat
The Montserrat massif is a unique natural site and without a doubt one of the most beautiful places to visit in Catalonia. Although its proximity to the capital has transformed it into a rather touristy place, it has not lost its magic and remains one of the symbols of Catalan identity. We have been to Montserrat many times, but its rocks with peculiar shapes, its vertical walls that give vertigo and the wonderful views that are obtained from the high points; continue to amaze us.
In addition, Montserrat is a perfect destination that combines nature with cultural visits, as it is the spiritual center of Catalonia. Both the Monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat and all the small hermitages hidden in different parts of the massif, deserve your attention.
How to get there: One of the few places where you can make a getaway in Catalonia without having your own vehicle. The village of Monistrol de Montserrat is connected to Barcelona by trains that run frequently and from the village you can go up to the monastery in a green train called rack railway or a cable car.
To get to know Montserrat in more depth, you could take one of these organized excursions:
Full day excursion to Montserrat
Trekking around Montserrat and visit to the monastery
Trekking in Montserrat and visit to the monastery
Beaches of Begur
For beach lovers, we also have good news. The Catalan coast has truly spectacular areas, the best known of which is the Costa Brava, which extends for 150 kilometers in the north of the community. In all this stretch of coastline the area that can create the feeling of being in one of these paradises of white sand and turquoise waters that you have dreamed of, is located around the beautiful village of Begur. The coves of Begur have nothing to envy to perhaps more famous beaches in the world and dive into the clear turquoise waters of the Cala Aiguablava, will make you feel really in the Caribbean. The area has 8 main beaches and coves, each one is a jewel for nature lovers and relaxing in them is a really perfect plan for a romantic weekend in Catalonia.
How to get there: There are direct buses to Begur from Barcelona. During the summer months there are buses connecting the town with the main beaches.
Sau Reservoir
Less than 100 kilometers from the Catalan capital is the Sau Reservoir, a very popular place for excursions from Barcelona due to the number of places of interest found in this area. It is one of the main reservoirs in Catalonia and the bell tower of the flooded church that is more or less visible makes it a truly unique reservoir. The bell tower belongs to the church of Santa Romà de Sau which along with the rest of the village was flooded in the 1960s when the reservoir was created.
A few kilometers from the Sau Reservoir you will find a number of places of interest that make this place a perfect place to make one of your weekend getaways in Catalonia. Nearby are for example the charming medieval village of Rupit or the picturesque village of Tavertet full of stone houses, but you can’t forget to take a look at the monastery of Sant Pere de Casseres from the Romanesque period. Most of the places you will visit will also offer amazing views of the Sau Reservoir.
How to get there: The closest large town to the Sau Reservoir is Vic which is easily reached by train from Barcelona. From Vic there are places that can be reached by intercity bus, but most of the points of interest are only accessible by car.
Pedraforca
Among so many mountains in Catalonia there is a mountain that receives special affection from the locals. It is Pedraforca, a solitary U-shaped mountain in which the two peaks are separated by a pass. It is a mythical mountain and a place of popular legends about the witches of Pedraforca. There are several places (such as the pretty village of Gòsol) from where you can contemplate its very special silhouette, while climbing one of its peaks is also accessible to hikers, although I tell you from my own experience that it is more difficult than its height of 2,506 meters.
How to get there: From Barcelona you can get by public transport to the village of Gòsol at the foot of the mountain, although the trip will seem an odyssey because you will have to change in Berga and you can easily lose the day with this transfer. Indispensable car.
Congost de Mont Rebei
If Peter Jackson had not filmed The Lord of the Rings in New Zealand, but in Catalonia, he would have chosen the Congost de Mont-Rebei for many of his scenes. This beautiful gorge in the province of Lérida really blew us away when we visited it for the first time. In the Sierra del Montsec the river Noguera Ribagorçana has created the Congost de Mont-Rebei an impressive gorge whose rock walls reach 500 meters high. It will make you freak out both walking along the path carved into the rock and look at the dizzying views of the river below and kayaking through the Congost feeling tiny under the gigantic walls. Come on, it’s hard to imagine a more unforgettable weekend getaway in Catalonia.
How to get there: El Congost de Mont-Rebei is another place that absolutely requires you to have your own vehicle, as the parking lots that are located in the vicinity of the Congost are only accessible by public transport.
dO YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO CATALONIA? Here you will find a wide collection of posts we have written about the most essential places in Catalonia.
Núria Valley
The Nuria Valley is another emblematic place in the Pyrenees that is also very popular as a destination for an excursion from Barcelona. In addition to the beautiful high mountain scenery, the main attraction of Vall de Núria is the sanctuary of the Virgin of Nuria, which occupies an important place in the popular culture of Catalonia. The sanctuary is located on the shore of a lake and can be reached by cog railway or on foot. From Nuria you can go on several mountain walks or if you like a challenge, you can also climb Puigmal, the highest peak in this part of the Pyrenees (the fourth highest in all of Catalonia). While if you are planning a weekend getaway to Catalonia in winter, you will also find here a ski resort that although small, has a unique location.
How to get there: If you are planning a weekend getaway in the Catalan Pyrenees and don’t have your own car, this is the place for you. From Barcelona in 2 hours by train you will arrive in Ribes de Freser from where the rack railway leaves through the village of Queralbs and leaves you at the sanctuary of Vall de Nuria.
Aiguamolls of l’Empordà
A few meters from the Costa Brava is quite unnoticed the Natural Park of Aiguamolls de l’Empordà. This wetland area consists of a series of ponds inhabited by a large number of waterfowl (more than 300 species) and mammals. For nature lovers and especially for those who like bird watching, it is an unmissable place to see in Catalonia. The symbol of the park is the stork, but there are many other large birds and a network of trails and viewpoints that allow you to get to know this unusual place.
How to get there: You can also visit this beautiful natural park without renting a car. You can take a bus from Barcelona to Empuriabrava and from there you can reach the natural park on foot.
The route of the 7 Gorgs
A romantic weekend in Catalonia visiting a series of beautiful waterfalls, do you feel like it? We have the great news that near the village of Campdevànol you can visit one of the natural wonders of this land, the Ruta dels 7 Gorgs (Route of the 7 Gorgs) also known as the route Torrent de la Cabana. It is a fantastic trail that follows the Estiulà torrent through a total of seven pools (gorgs) that are formed under some waterfalls. To protect the area it is forbidden to swim in the pools, so you will have to be content to see them.
How to get there: By car is more convenient as there is a parking lot in the same place where the route begins, but this parking is paid about 10 euros a day and the truth is that Campdevànol is a walk of a couple of kilometers. There are frequent trains from Barcelona to Campdevànol.
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Costa Brava
We have already mentioned the coves of Begur, but there are many other beach areas on the Costa Brava that are worthy for weekend getaways in Catalonia. One of our favorite areas are the coves accessed from the scenic road between Tossa de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guixols. Around the town of Estartit is the Natural Park of the Medes Islands, a paradise for those who want to visit Catalonia in search of good diving or snorkeling options. Finally, the quite wild stretch of the coastline between Roses and Cadaqués will be your favorite if you are looking for deserted and hardly accessible coves, while the area of Cap de Creus stands out for its unusual and really unique landscape.
If you want to know the best landscapes of the Costa Brava in a guided excursion, we can recommend these tours:
Catamaran trip to Cadaqués from Rosas
Excursion to the Costa Brava through Calella de Palafrugell, Llafranc, Pals, Estartit and Ampurias
Tour around the Costa Brava and its medieval villages
While touring the coves of any stretch of this coast, you can not leave out the beautiful villages of the Costa Brava. Tossa de Mar with its promenade and its beautiful old town or Cadaqués, the white village that caught Salvador Dalí, are just some of the towns you can not miss. If you like hiking, a wonderful option to visit the most beautiful places of the Costa Brava is to follow the Camino de Ronda, a path that allows you to travel in whole or in sections this area of the Catalan coast.
How to get there: The main towns of the Costa Brava can be reached by public transport from Barcelona without any problem. Blanes is the only place with a train station, but there are direct buses to all the main tourist attractions. Then, depending on the area, to reach the most beautiful coves and beaches, the car is almost indispensable.
Sierra de Queralt and its sanctuary
Another of the mythical places to visit in Catalonia with a huge spiritual charge is located in the beautiful region of Berguedà full of natural wonders. In the Sierra de Queralt (a mountain in the Pre-Pyrenees area) at 1200 meters high is the Sanctuary of Queralt. In this sanctuary you can also contemplate the image of the Virgin Queralt and from the viewpoint – also known as the balcony of Catalonia – you can marvel at fantastic panoramic views. The city of Berga is at your feet, but you can also see the Montserrat and Montseny massifs. Also near the sanctuary there are several beautiful places to visit as beautiful fountains (such as Font Negra) and small picturesque hermitages.
How to get there: Another place in Catalonia with easy access by public transport for a weekend getaway. Perfect for those who want to leave the car at home, as Berga can be reached by bus from Barcelona. From Berga it is a nice hike up to Queralt.
Flower fields in Aitona
If you are planning a romantic weekend in Catalonia during the spring, what better plan could you imagine than to visit some of the fields that are in different colors during the flowering season? Whether it’s the pink peach trees of Aitona, the rapeseed fields of the Province of Girona that dress in yellow or the fruit fields of Ribera d’Ebre that in spring seem to be a white sea of cherry or almond blossoms, any of these places will amaze you.
How to get there: To enjoy the fields in bloom in Catalonia it is almost necessary to have a car. Aitona is very difficult to reach by public transport, to Tivissa in the Ribera d’Ebro there is a direct connection from Barcelona, but then to look for the fields in bloom you need your car.
Are you interested in an organized excursion or guided tour?
find here the best excursions in Catalonia!
Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park
Another mountainous area of the Pre-Pyrenees that we recommend for its enormous beauty is the Natural Park of Cadi-Moixeró. You can make several routes within the park, but the most essential is a fairly simple route that climbs through the forest from the village of Estana to one of the most beautiful meadows we have ever seen, the Prat de Cadi. This is an extensive meadow that sits below an impressive rock wall. A truly magical and unique place to visit.
How to get there: The most important town near the natural park is La Seu d’Urgell which can be reached by bus from Barcelona. However, to get into the park or for example to get to Estana where the route to Prat del Cadi starts, you will have to have a car.
Beaches of the Costa Dorada
Although the Costa Brava is more attractive for those looking for beautiful coves with transparent waters, it is not impossible to find this kind of paradise on a trip south from Barcelona. This part of the coast is referred to as the Costa Dorada (Costa Daurada). The wonderful beaches of this area start at the beach of the Tamarit Castle, a medieval fortress at the foot of which it is a great pleasure to swim.
Following the route to the south before reaching Tarragona you will find a stretch of the coast covered by the Marquesa forest and through paths within this pine forest you can access some dream beaches with crystal clear waters. The best known of these is Cala Fonda which is generally referred to simply as Waikiki Beach, a true wonder! and one of the most charming beaches in Catalonia. It is an especially popular beach for a weekend getaway among those who want to practice naturism.
How to get there: You can visit this area by public transport, although you will have to walk a bit. From Barcelona you will have to take the train to Altafulla and from there walk a couple of kilometers to Tamarit where the wonderful coves of the Costa Dorada begin.
Montseny Natural Park
For those looking for mountain excursions near Barcelona, the easiest option is the Natural Park of Montseny cataloged as a Biosphere Reserve that represents a true natural oasis full of trails for very pleasant walks in the forest. If you are planning a weekend getaway in autumn to visit the Catalan lands, you should know that Montseny is a wonderful place to look for chestnuts, something that children love. This natural park also has peaks to conquer, the best known of them the Matagalls with 1,697 meters high, a mythical summit that can be climbed quite easily.
How to get there: Montseny Natural Park is also easily accessible by public transport. There is a train to Sant Celoni at the entrance of the park and then you will find buses from there to reach the different villages in the area.
Val d’Aran
We have left almost for the end one of the most charming places to visit in Catalonia. The Aran Valley (Val d’Aran) is a world apart within Catalonia with its own language (Aranese – a variant of Occitan) and an atmosphere that will remind you of times long gone. The area of Baquiera-Baret in winter is one of the best ski resorts and in summer is a wonderful place for walks through the meadows that are dressed in green or reach isolated villages such as Montgarri; an abandoned village.
It is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Pyrenees where you can go hiking visiting medieval villages with jewels of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, while admiring lush forests, immense green meadows, the high peaks that surround the valley or the impressive waterfalls such as the waterfalls of Saut deth Pish and Uelhs deth Joéu. The magic of the Vall d’Aran is difficult to describe in words, it will not disappoint you if you choose it as a destination for a romantic weekend in Catalonia.
How to get there: Vielha, the capital of the Vall d’Aran has several daily connections from Barcelona. To visit the villages or the natural sites of the valley, you will need your car or you will walk a lot on the trails of the area.
Llobregat Delta
We finish with one of the surprises that we have just discovered, also a stone’s throw from Barcelona, the Llobregat Delta. This fascinating natural park is tucked between the airport and the industrial port of the city. A relatively small space is home to a truly spectacular biodiversity with more than 300 species of birds, white horses of the Camargue and many other animals. It is all in a beautiful natural setting between ponds, wetland areas, pine forests and a pristine beach. It is one of the coolest excursions to do from Barcelona with kids, as the trails are suitable to walk even with a baby stroller. We almost feel ashamed for having taken so many years to discover something so close to home.
The Penedès
The Penedès for many people means the area of one of the best wines in Catalonia. However, there is much more to the Penedès than its vineyards and wineries. It is a historical land full of beautiful castles such as the Castellet Castle, viewpoints with amazing views and amazing nature spots such as the Foix Reservoir or the Parc dels Talls.
