Monument to Christopher Columbus at the Rambla

Barcelona is full of sights. No matter how many days you allocate to explore this vibrant city, it will still not be enough. A demanding traveler who finds himself in the capital of Catalonia will certainly want more, his soul will be eager to explore the far corners of this region rich in sights.

It is right! Since there are a lot of places and attractions near Barcelona that deserve your attention. These are the Balearic Islands, and snowy Andorra, and the alluring South of France, and neighboring regions of Spain. But that's another story.

Today we will consider worthy and scenic spots, located near Barcelona, ​​for the inspection of which 1 day is enough. If you have a few days left and a desire to go with it, don't miss the opportunity to visit some of these beautiful places.

Montserrat mountain range

The complex of Montserrat is a fantastic beauty mountain range and a basilica, a monastery representing a spiritual symbol and religious center Catalonia, which attracts pilgrims from all over the world. They flock here for the main shrine of the monastery - the statue of Our Lady from poplar with the baby. For its dark color, the Catalans call it lovingly "La Moreneta" ("Darkie").

It is believed that if you touch the sphere in the hand of the Mother of God, then the desire will come true within 3 months. Especially "La Moreneta" favors women who wish to become mothers. Whether this is fact or fiction, you decide. However, the room in which the gifts to the Virgin Mary from grateful mothers and petitioners lie will make even an inveterate agnostic doubt.

In honor of the Virgin Mary of Montserrat in Catalonia, girls are often called. So, the famous opera diva Montserrat Caballe was named in her honor.

If you also decide to join the ranks of those who ask, go in the morning, so you will avoid the queue and can fully enjoy the fantastic views of the mountains.

There are several ways to get to Montserrat:

• On the sightseeing bus. You can arrange a trip at one of the tourist points in Barcelona.
• By car. Take the C55 or A2 highways.
• By train. From metro pl. Espanya takes the FGC train line R5 in the direction of Manresa to the Aeri De Montserrat stop, where you have already changed to the cable car.

Tarragona and the Roman ruins of Tarraco

This is now you are eating from the notorious Barcelona to the little-known Tarragona. And once everything was different. Barcino (as Barcelona was called in ancient times) did not even appear in the annals, while the history of Tarragona was written in a sweeping, confident handwriting.

Once Tarraco (Tarragona) was the capital of Roman possessions in Spain. Fuel to the fire of the dawn of the city was added by the stay of the Roman emperor Augustus here for 2 years. During this time, Tarraco acquired the necessary attributes of the capital: an amphitheater, a circus, an aqueduct and 2 forums.

As befits the capital, for the amusement of the public, bloody gladiator fights with predatory animals, horse races and chariot competitions were arranged. Affairs of national importance were repaired by ambassadors from all over the world, matters of imperial importance were decided. Life in Tarraco was in full swing. Years passed… A difficult fate happened to the city, which was once equated with the second Rome. Through the efforts of invaders and time majestic architecture the city turned into ruins, and the once prosperous Tarraco gradually fell into oblivion.

But do not be discouraged, there is still something to see in the city and feel the atmosphere of the once great city. Walk along the narrow stone streets of the historical center and see the traces of the past: here is the surviving part of the fortress wall, and the remains of the circus - the only well-preserved Roman circus in Western Europe. Take a look at the amphitheater, where events once boiled not for life, but for death. Even UNESCO employees were imbued with this spirit and immediately included the ruins of the Roman buildings of Tarragona in their list.

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Girona

Girona is a small medieval city, which is the capital of the province of the same name in Spain. The city walls seem to be imbued with a medieval spirit, which allows everyone to take a trip into the past. Walking around the historical part of Girona, you just expect a knight in shining armor on a horse to jump out from around the corner, or a lady rustling past with long outfits.

You can get to Tarragona by train from railway station Barcelona Sants. Timetables can be found on the train website. Renfe .

Sitges - Spanish Saint-Tropez

Sitges is a noisy and party resort near Barcelona. In terms of the number of nightclubs, bars and restaurants, it can compete with the alma mater of debauchery and fun Ibiza. Moreover, Sitges is the unspoken capital of Spanish gay culture and the venue for the country's informal carnivals.

Rule of conduct in Sitges: hang out and have fun all night long, sleep during the day. Monday is considered the official day off from revelry and debauchery.

But the land of Sitges is not only filled with gays, and why is it called the Spanish Saint-Tropez? - you ask. The city acquired this status thanks to the shops of famous luxury brands, round-the-clock entertainment, professional golf clubs, a picturesque marina, plus high prices: all this attracts the rich of this world and those who want to join it. What are we left?

You can get to Sitges by train. It's better on a yacht. Saint Tropez!

The coast and beaches of the Costa Brava

As the Spaniards themselves say, "There is no place more beautiful than the Costa Brava." If the locals like it, then the tourists even more so. And the coast has something to show: steep cliffs cut by cozy turquoise bays, crystal clear water, pine trees and soft yellow sand beaches that stretch along the coastline for 214 km.

The Costa Brava coast includes many small resort towns. It is especially worth noting Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar, Blanes.

Appreciate the coast active tourists: about 30 diving and windsurfing centers, golf courses, horseback riding, water parks, kayaking, rafting, canoeing, cycling are organized for them.

You can get to Tarragona by train from Barcelona Sants train station. Timetables can be found on the train website. Renfe .

Triangle of Salvador Dali: Figueres, Port Lligat and Pubol

The long mustaches of Salvador Dali left a mark on the territory of Spain already in 3 places: Figueres, Port Lligat and Pubol. The fattest spot, of course, is in Figueres, wherever you go to Figueres, you will see a pointer to everywhere. The museum is not difficult to find, but to deal with its contents, here you have to sweat. To tie together and understand the lexical meaning and sacred meaning of what you saw, you will be helped by the instruction on the Dali Museum, written by the current director and part-time friend of the artist A. Pichot.

Not far from Figueres, there is the fishing village of Cadaqués, where the creative and artistic duo DaliGala lived and worked for a long time. Wherever they lived, no matter how far they traveled from Port Lligat, they would still return to their cozy little lair. Due to the size of the house, the museum cannot accommodate everyone at the same time. Therefore, it is better to take tickets in advance on the museum website. The house in Port Lligat has completely preserved the atmosphere and atmosphere of the house. Where every visitor can touch the life of the most unusual and eccentric couple of the 20th century.

At the dawn of a joint life-game, Gala was tired of playing, she wanted to rest and just rest from Dali's eternal steps. So she became the owner of a chic gift from her husband - a palace in Pubol. True, she had a chance to live there for a short time.

If someone is interested in the life of these great creative schemers, I can recommend an excellent biographical book by the author Dominique Bona "Gala". After reading which all illusions about this family will be dispelled.

Figueres can be reached from Barcelona by train. Schedule can be viewed on the website of the trainsRenfe. . Buses run from Figueres to Cadaqués and Pubol. You can see the schedule.

Andorra

If you decide to go to the dwarf principality of Andorra, then go to the capital of Andorra la Vella. The Principality is located in the Eastern Pyrenees, already on the way you will stare in fascination at the bus window, which will take you from Barcelona in 2 hours and 50 euros.

Of course, people go to Andorra la Vella for shopping, as there is a duty-free zone on the territory of the country. But do not flatter yourself: what is cheap for a European is a little expensive for a Russian. And the choice of clothes here is scarce and of the same type. What is really worth paying attention to is alcohol, perfumes, cosmetics, optics and watches.

For example, alcohol here costs 20 euros cheaper than in duty free, the price tag for perfumes and cosmetics is also quite low. If you follow my advice, you can save enough time to walk around the city.

From all sides the city is surrounded by mountains at an altitude of 1029 m, which makes Andorra la Vella the highest mountain capital in Europe. Also, having quickly bought everything you need, you can visit the Caldea thermal complex - you will notice it by its unusual design, built of glass.

I also want to warn you, from bitter experience, about the enemy of an empty stomach: the siesta. Here it is observed as sacredly as in neighboring Spain (so do not be deceived by the views of the mountains). During the siesta, we walked around most of the establishments in the city center. Everywhere the owners of the establishment, turning away from their plate filled with dishes, and turning to our empty stomachs, said in one voice: "Closed." We had to break our moral principles and fill our stomachs at KFC, which warmly welcomed us with many free cash registers.

The Principality of Andorra can be reached by bus. Timetables can be found at www.andorradirectbus.es.

Amusement park "Port Aventura"

On the Golden Coast of the Costa Dorada, in the city of Salou, the Port Aventura amusement park is located on a vast territory. You can get to the park from Barcelona by train, it will take a little over an hour. The park is divided into six themed zones: "Mediterranean", "Polynesia", "China", "Mexico", "Wild West", and a zone for young children "Sesame".

In the city of Salou, Port Aventura can be reached on foot or by a small train that runs around the city every half hour from the station.

Roller coaster Furius Baco the fastest roller coaster in Europe

If you are going to Port Aventura from Barcelona for only 1 day, then right at the station you can buy single ticket, which includes the cost of travel by train and entrance tickets. The benefit is tangible.

You can avoid queuing at popular attractions by buying an express ticket, which will give you the right to skip the line through a special entrance, although the price is too high. But if you visit the park during the season, and even for 1 day, then the benefits are obvious.

The Hurakan Condor ride is one of the tallest rides in the world

If you come with a baby, then use the rental stroller. It will save your baby's legs and your nerves. Plus, it fits in a train that runs around the park, where you will move between the rides, thereby saving your legs.

Whichever of these routes you choose, you will have enough impressions until the next trip. Where were you? What did you visit and what did you see? Share your experience and impressions in the comments.

Highest point Montserrat mountains (1236 m.) - WE DID IT!

Cost of visiting: entrance to the monastery is free, ticket to the museum - €7, funicular to Mount Sant Jeroni - €12 round trip, funicular to Santa Cova cave - €5 round trip. You can climb the mountain and go down to the cave from the monastery on foot, it's free.

2. Cardona, Solsona and Artigas Gardens

Few have heard of the Artigas Gardens, designed by Antonio Gaudí, outside the country (unlike the Sagrada Familia, another creation of a genius), but guides and travelers in love with Catalonia strongly recommend visiting here and call them a "hidden masterpiece" and "secret gem" . On the way from Barcelona, ​​we suggest looking into Cardona and Solsona.

Things to do in Cardona:

1. visit the fortress, the construction of which began in the 9th century - the main attraction of the town and one of the most beautiful castles Europe;
2. descend into a salt mine 86 meters deep. The tour in English is held once a day, but you can safely sign up for any group - you will be given an audio guide for free;
3. stroll through the Old Town, which was built in the 11th century. Look into one of the entrances of a residential building, where the width of the flight of stairs barely allows two adults to pass.

Barcelona never get bored, it's true. But really try Catalonia possible and necessary outside its capital. There are plenty to choose from: restaurants, bars, beaches, pretty little towns, mountains and ancient monasteries. All this is very close to the Catalan capital, just an hour's drive from your hotel in Barcelona.

Ten beautiful places near Barcelona on which you can spend a whole day

Girona

Old city Girona- these are the ancient arcades of houses, churches, Cathedral and cobbled sloping streets. It's worth spending a day on it.

Until the expulsion of the Jews from the city in 1492, Girona was home to a large Jewish community, its history can be found in the museum Museu d'Historia dels Jueus de Girona. Another historical layer - Arab baths (Banys Àrabs) 12th century construction. Worth seeing a pretty Romanesque monastery Monestir de Sant Pere de Galligants, then stroll along the Onyar River and admire the brightly colored houses along the shore. In the newer part of the city, there are plenty of tapas bars where you can grab a bite to eat. Gerona is home to one of the best restaurants in the world, El Celler de Can Roca. You can visit it only if you have pre-registered and you have enough funds.

How to book accommodation in Girona

Budget accommodation or hotels in Girona Hotels Combined booking.com- you have to choose best deal. We liked the inexpensive Ibis Girona- about 30 euros per night and enough comfort for us for one night.

How to rent an apartment in Girona

If you are traveling with a company or for a period of more than two days, for example, you want to save on accommodation in a more expensive Barcelona, it is worth renting an apartment or an apartment through Booking.com - apartments in Girona . We lived in Priçosa Apartments - maximum comfort, price and city center, parking.

How to get to Girona from Barcelona

From Barcelona in Girona there is a bus from the Nord bus station, the ticket price is 10 euros one way, in addition, there is a local airport in Girona that serves flights of low-cost airlines - Wizzair and Ryanair, from there there is also a bus to Barcelona.

Figueres

The distance from Barcelona is 140 km., the trip can be combined with a visit to Girona.

Beautiful Art Nouveau architecture, 18th century castle of Castell de Sant Ferran. All this would be lost against the backdrop of the same lovely Catalan towns, if not for Salvador Dali. The most famous attraction of Figueres is the Toy Museum (Museu del Joguet), also known as the Salvador Dali Museum. The former theater was turned by Dali himself into a museum of surrealism and a split personality is guaranteed when visiting it. Behind the high red walls are collections of paintings, decorations designed by Dali and other installations created to entertain guests.

Montserrat

Distance from Barcelona - 60 km.

Another iconic place in the mountains not far from Barcelona. You can get there by train from plaza spain, then funicular or rack railway to Mount Montserrat to the monastery of the same name. Monastery of Montserrat- Catalan shrine, there is a sculpture of a black Madonna, and inside you can listen to the famous choral singing. After visiting the monastery, it is worth climbing Peak of Sant Jeroni, the charm of the picturesque surroundings is guaranteed. In addition, it is worth taking a walk to Santa Cova - the place where the holy image of the Virgin was found.

Sitges

Distance from Barcelona - 40 km.

People come to this town to admire the whitewashed walls of houses that adorn the coastline, take a promenade along the embankment and sunbathe on local beaches, among which the famous nudist beach. In warm and sunny weather, it is quite crowded here. During the walk, choose your favorite seafood restaurant and plan lunch.

If attracted modern Art worth a visit to the old center. Among the elegant buildings, there are many home museums, which are worth devoting some time to.

Vilanova i la Geltrú

Distance from Barcelona - 45 km.

You can combine a trip with a visit Sitges which is located 5 km. from Vilanova i la Geltru.

Down the coast from Sitges(you can get here on foot walking along the picturesque cliffs of the Costa Brava) is Vilanova i la Geltrú. The former fishing village is still charming and picturesque. In addition to wide beaches in the south and clean air, there is an interesting railway museum Museu del Ferrocarril.

Tarragona (Tarragona)

The distance from Barcelona is 100 km.

Another historic coastal town close to Barcelona, resembling in size and scale Girona. The main attraction is the remains of the Roman amphitheater and a good viewpoint to the coastline. Of the museums - the Museum of National Archeology Tarragona.

AT Tarragona located very beautiful Cathedral, near it there is an excellent choice of restaurants, in one of which you can end your acquaintance with the city. You can also dine in the fishing area of ​​El Serrallo, where the choice of seafood restaurants is pleasantly surprising. Near Tarragona located famous park entertainment Port Aventura, we went there just from Tarragona where they spent the night. Selection of hotels in Tarragona good and cheaper than Barcelona. Most prefer to travel PortAventura from the resort, noisy and package Salou - a matter of taste.

Montblanc

The distance from Barcelona is 115 km.

You can combine a trip with a visit to the city Tarragona which is located 20 km. from Montblanc

Montblanc a fairly large walled medieval city, easily accessible from Barcelona by train, with a decent selection of places to eat and sleep. Ideally, you need to come here by car and go around everything that is called "Cistercian Route", as well as a triad of beautiful monasteries located close to each other in the towns Poblet, Vallbona de les Monges and Santes Creues. To see all three monasteries, the journey is worth starting early in the morning.

Colserola (Collserola)

Distance from Barcelona - 10 km.

collserola – perfect place for an escape from the city life of the party Barcelona closer to nature. Parc de Collserola – nature Park near Barcelona, many walking and cycling trails and farm restaurants. It is worth picking up a route map at the park's Info Center, the routes are numbered from the train station Baixador de Vallvidrera. From here you can walk or cycle through the mountains to Sant Cugat stations and from it immediately take the train to Barcelona.

Vic (Vic)

Distance from Barcelona - 70 km.

Another pretty town away from the coast in the south of the Pyrenees. Beautiful historical Center with good restaurants. The Tourist Office is located on Plaza Catalunya from here it is very convenient to start exploring the city. It has everything that tourists like - stylish mansions in the Art Nouveau and Baroque styles, a central market Square, cozy streets and delicious food.

Colonia Güell (La Colònia Güell)

Distance from Barcelona - 15 km.

Colonia Güell- settlement of textile workers magnate Eusebi Güell, who was a patron and one of Gaudí's customers.

Church of the Crypt in Colonia Guell - another major project of the famous Gaudi, which he began to build on order Eusebi Güell outside Barcelona. Gaudi managed to finish only the crypt, which was open to visitors. Its vaults are supported by twisted ribbed brick columns, which are tilted at an angle, reminiscent of trees in a dry forest.

This rather little known place is located near the village Santa Coloma de Cervelho just 20 minutes drive from the center Barcelona

How to get there: Train (FGC) from Plaza España in Barcelona (Plaza España) to the station Colonia Guell. Lines: S4, S8 and S33.

Budget accommodation in Barcelona

Budget accommodation or hotels in Barcelona can be found through the booking system Hotels Combined, a service I use myself. The advantages of the service are that it compares the prices of dozens of booking systems, including the one beloved by many booking.com- you just have to choose the best offer. In each article or report, I provide links to hotels where I have stayed and which I liked.

How to find a cheap apartment in Barcelona

If you are traveling with a company or for a period of more than two days, for example, you want to save on accommodation, it is worth booking Apartments in Barcelona - Booking.com We lived in Barcelona in the Eixample district, near the Gaudí Cathedral. The apartments were called - Apart-Suites Hostemplo, near the bus station, metro and within walking distance of several attractions.

Excursions in Europe are always Sputnik - Barcelona is no exception!

How to get to Barcelona

Air travel can be bought directly from airlines, it is often more profitable to buy a flight by direction Kyiv-Barcelona through an aggregator airline sales. The service chooses the most profitable offer- you just have to choose the best for the price, time of departure or airline. I used four well-known booking sites, in the end I settled on aviasales, as the most friendly in terms of interface, prices, as well as the choice of airlines, including low-cost airlines.

How to rent a car at Barcelona Airport

If the price does not matter, then you can rent a car directly upon arrival at Barcelona Airport. You can save up to 20% on car rental if you use the service Rentalcars.com - Barcelona and pick up a car in advance.

Useful Links for Travel Planning

Aviasales- budget flights around the world

Hotels Combined (RoomGuru)- allows you to save up to 20% when booking hotels and apartments as it searches all popular booking sites, including Agoda, Booking.com and others, offering the best deals for the price

Booking.com– a familiar and convenient site for searching and booking accommodation around the world

Airbnb– the world leader in finding apartments and apartments for travel, register using the link and get a cash bonus on your first booking

rentalcars– a site for searching and renting cars around the world with the possibility of free cancellation

You will be transferred from the airport to the hotel and vice versa. The driver will meet you with a sign with your name and take you to your destination. No clarification of the route is needed - everything is done in advance online. Often it is cheaper than ordering a taxi on the spot and very convenient. Knowledge in English not necessary.

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– Misto-travel- this is the only online operator for the sale of online tours that has proven itself well

Distance 109 km. Travel time is about 1 hour 20 minutes one way without stops. The route will be toll highway C-32 (12.55 euros).

Port Aventura is a major theme park and one of the most visited in Europe. It is divided into 6 areas - Mediterranean, Polynesia, China, Mexico, Wild West and Sesame Street. Here you are expected as extreme rides(for example, free fall from a height of 100 meters), and for the smallest, as well as a variety of shows and performances. Each region has restaurants with cuisines from the respective countries.

Also part of the resort are the Caribe Aquatic Park and the Ferrari Land Park. At the box office you can buy combined tickets to several parks at once. However, we advise you not to rush and spend the whole day in PortAventura. In the evening, be sure to stay for a beautiful fireworks display in honor of the closing of the park.

The cost of an adult ticket is 47 euros, for children (4-10 years old) - 40 euros. Current prices can be found on the website.

2. Montserrat Monastery (Monasterio de Montserrat)

Distance 61 km. Travel time - about 1 hour one way without stops.

Montserrat is a Benedictine monastery located high in the mountains and attracts pilgrims from all over the world. It offers panoramic views of the mountain valleys.
By car, you can drive up to the monastery itself; there is free parking near its walls. An alternative option to climb the mountain is the cable car (Aeri de Montserra), the trip will take about 5 minutes. In this case, the car will have to be left in the parking lot at the foot of the mountain (also free). A round-trip ticket costs 10.30 euros. The opening hours of the cable car vary depending on the season, detailed information can be found on this site.
The monastery is available for visits daily from 07:00 to 20:30, (from December to June - from 07:00 to 19:30).

3. "Dali Triangle" - Figueres, Pubol, Cadaqués

Distance 197 km. Travel time is about 3 hours one way without stops. There will be a toll highway AP-7 on the route (about 10 euros).

The famous "Dali triangle" includes three cities that are inextricably linked with the life and work of the famous surrealist Salvador Dali.

The first stop on your way will be a small town Pubol. Here is the castle that Dali gave to his wife Galya. Currently, it has been turned into a museum, and the interior has remained the same as in the old days. The entrance ticket costs 8 euros. There are discounts for students and pensioners. Opening hours vary by season, see this page for up-to-date information.

Next stop on your way - Figueres. It was in this city that Dali was born, and the main attraction here is his theater-museum. The exposition of the museum is the largest collection of paintings by the artist. Here, in the crypt, the artist himself is buried.

The entrance ticket costs 14 euros, there is a system of discounts. Opening hours vary by season, see this page for up-to-date information.

The final stop on the route will be Cadaqués. The city is known primarily for the stay here of Salvador Dali. Once here, you will understand why great artist so loved and inspired by this place - the town is amazingly beautiful. Almost all houses in the city are snow-white.

The most visited attraction is the Salvador Dali Museum. The entrance ticket costs 11 euros. We advise you to book a tour - here they are passionate about their work and tell really interesting things. Museum hours vary depending on the season. Up-to-date information can be viewed on this site.

4. Andorra

Distance 199 km. Travel time - approx. 2 h 30 min one way non-stop. Roads are free.

A great idea for a day trip is to visit the small mountain principality of Andorra, located on the border of Spain and France.
The capital - Andorra la Vella - is a fairly compact city that is easy to get around on foot. The main attractions, conveniently, are concentrated in the Old Quarter.
If you have had time to walk along the narrow medieval streets of the capital and see the old mansions, we advise you to go to the largest mountain thermal center in Europe - Caldea. The entrance ticket costs from 30 euros, detailed information on tariffs can be found on this website.

The entire state is a duty-free zone, so it is profitable to shop here.
You can find detailed information on how to spend time in Adorra on this one.

5. Carcassonne (Cité de Carcassonne)

Distance 303 km. Travel time - approx. 3 h one way non-stop. The route will have toll highways AP-7 and A-9 (total cost 40.60 euros).

In a small French city Carcassonne is located as many as two objects world heritage UNESCO.

First of all, Carcassonne is known ancient fortress, which is unique not only in that it has been perfectly preserved, but also in its size (it is rather a whole fortified city). You can take a whole day to see it.

The best views of Carcassonne itself are from the west (for example, from the old bridge over the River Aude or the A61 highway). Keep in mind that all parking lots are paid directly at the fortress walls.

Entrance to the territory is free. You can take an audio guide (the cost is 4.50 euros). You can also order a tour of the fortress (3.50 euros - 1 hour, 4 euros - 1.5 hours).

Opening hours vary depending on the season: from October 1 to March 31 - daily from 09:30 to 17:00, from April 1 to September 30 - daily from 10:00 to 18:30.

The second UNESCO World Heritage Site within the city is the Canal du Midi, linking Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean. Currently, mainly tourist ships move along it, so if you wish, it is quite possible to ride on it.

6. Girona

Distance 102 km. Travel time - approx. 1 h 30 min one way non-stop. There will be a toll highway AP-7 (8.90 euros) on the route.

Girona is a city of contrasts, where modern urban culture coexists with a well-preserved historic center with medieval architecture. The old Jewish quarter is also located here. Girona is relatively small and great for walking.

7. Zaragoza

Distance 302 km. Travel time - approx. 3h 30 min one way non-stop. The route will be toll highway A-2 (14.45 euros).

Zaragoza is a city whose appearance was formed under the influence of Roman, Arab, Christian, Jewish cultures. The main attractions are concentrated in the Old City.

Here you will see the largest Spanish church in the Baroque style, the Moorish Aljaferia Palace, the Cathedral of San Salvador, the most beautiful stone bridge over the Ebro River, the modern building of the expo center, as well as various objects reminiscent of the Roman period.

8. Valencia

Distance 349 km. Travel time - approx. 3 h 30 min non-stop one way. The route will have a toll highway AP-7 (38.20 euros).

Valencia has everything to be considered a European capital - the historical center, medieval walls and towers of the old city, architectural masterpieces of world importance ("City of Arts and Sciences"), an excellent public transport system. However, only 800 thousand people live in the city, so it does not reach the status of a metropolis. Besides, while Valencia manages to avoid tourist routes: during the summer holiday season, the main flow of tourists tends to Alicante.

As a result, travelers get the following benefits - free tables in restaurants, no traffic jams (if you are used to traveling in a rented car),
low prices for groceries and museum tickets (on Sunday admission to most Valencia museums is generally free).

9. Driving route from Barcelona: Medieval cities and lava plateaus

Distance - 181 km.
Travel time- 3 hours non-stop one way. With full stops - 10 hours.

This unusual road route runs through the volcanic region of Garrocha. Charming small medieval towns with suspension bridges, fortress walls and narrow streets, extinct volcanoes and frozen lava flows await you. In addition, in each of the towns you can taste local liqueurs, wines and cheeses. So you will also have a gastronomic trip!

10. Driving itinerary from Barcelona: Cistercian monasteries and Priorat wineries

Distance - 271 km.
Travel time- 4 hours 50 minutes one way non-stop. With full stops - 10-12 hours.

For lovers of history and wine, we have prepared detailed itinerary car travel in the mountains of Catalonia. You are waiting for the Cistercian monasteries, the Templar castle, the wineries of the famous Priory wine region, picturesque mountain valleys, beautiful serpentines, as well as delicious food and unforgettable impressions.

And we also have

Ideas independent trips around Barcelona

Barcelona (Barcelona), of course, in itself is a huge and almost inexhaustible world. Nevertheless, in its vicinity there are many other interesting places that deserve attention. As a matter of fact, further on these places will be discussed. So, where can you go from Barcelona on your own?

Where to go around Barcelona

To begin with, consider several options near the capital of Catalonia. The choice here is considerable and is able to satisfy a lot of the most diverse interests. So, for example, very close to the place Montserrat(Montserrat)– mountain, natural park and monastery (Monestir Santa Maria de Montserrat) rolled into one. The place is amazing. You can safely set aside a whole day for Montserrat, or you can even stay longer, since at least one hotel (Hotel Abat Cisneros) is located literally at the very monastery walls. Getting to the mountain and Montserrat monastery from Barcelona is quite easy. R5 trains (see www.fgc.cat) regularly run from Plaza España (Plaça d "Espanya), where you can get to Montserrat-Aeri station. Then go up the cable car, to a height of about 1200 meters above sea level.

One more thing, definitely iconic place Catalonia is Figueres(figueres), hometown Salvador Dali, which houses his theatre-museum. In addition, here you can find a huge and generally well-preserved fort - Castell de Sant Ferran. You can get to Figueres on your own by train from the main Barcelona Sants station (Sants, see www.renfe.com). Travel time is about two hours.

Also deserves some attention Tarragona(Tarragona), an ancient city, now famous for its ruins of the ancient Roman period. You can get to Tarragona from Barcelona within an hour by railway or by bus (see www.autocarsplana.com).

Not far from Tarragona is another interesting city – Reus(Reus) birthplace of Antoni Gaudí. Accordingly, the main attraction of Reus is the Gaudí Museum. The drive to Reus is a little longer than to Tarragona - about one and a half to two hours.

Also not far from Tarragona is monastery Poblet(Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Poblet) see - www.poblet.cat - listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Therefore, a trip to Tarragona can be completely supplemented with either Reus or a visit to this monastery. You can get to it from Tarragona by bus (see www.vibasa.com - routes in the direction of Lleida (aka Leida in Catalan - Lleida). The town closest to the monastery is called La Espluga de Francoli (L "Espluga de Francolí It can be reached by rail both from Tarragona and directly from Barcelona. Poblet Monastery is located at a distance of about four kilometers from Esplugi, and the road to it is quite picturesque. Therefore, if you have time, it is worth walking to the monastery. Moreover, many take much longer walks from Montblanc, which is about 10 km from the monastery.This route is even more interesting and beautiful than the road from Esplugy.And the fortified city of Montblanc itself deserves to walk along it for at least a couple of hours. detailed maps and other materials on this area of ​​Catalonia can be found. In general, in this tiny corner of Spain (however, as in many others) you can easily spend more than one week. The area is very beautiful, and there are plenty of attractions here.

Beach holidays near Barcelona

Separately, we will say a few words about the possibilities beach holiday in the vicinity of Barcelona. In general, Barcelona itself has pretty good city beaches, but, in our opinion, preference should still be given to other places, which, I must say, are quite a few nearby.

To the north of Barcelona stretch the beaches of the Costa Brava. The center of this region is Lloret de Mar(Lloret de Mar), where it is convenient to get either directly by bus from the North Station (Estació del Nord, you can buy tickets here www.sarfa.es) or through Blanes (Blanes) - first by train, then by bus. Read more about Lloret. You can also pay attention to the town Tossa de Mar(Tossa de Mar). It is calmer than Lloret. There are, of course, other options. For example, Escala(L" Escala), next to which is the archaeological site of the Greco-Roman city of Empurion (Sitio arqueológico del puerto grecorromano de Ampurias). Here, on the Costa Brava, you can stay for a few days and travel around the surrounding towns. In addition to Empurion, you can go to the very picturesque town of Cadaques (where, by the way, there is the Dali house-museum - not to be confused with the theater-museum in Figueres), as well as look into Rosas (Roses) and Empuriabrava (Empuriabrava), a kind of Catalan Venice, though , unlike the original, interesting only from a beach point of view. To implement such a route, it will be more convenient to rent a car, but in principle summer period you can think of something with the same Sarfa buses. Finally, don't forget Girona, which is worth a trip if only for a leisurely stroll along the Onyar River.

To the south of Barcelona, ​​towards Tarragona and beyond, are the resorts of the Costa Dorada (Costa Daurada). In particular, this is Salou(Salou), known not only for its beaches, but also for the nearby popular amusement park Port Aventura. You can get here from Barcelona either by bus (details at www.autocarsplana.com) or by train (see timetable). Both sites work crookedly, but you can find information.

From Barcelona to Spain

Since Barcelona is a major center of the north-east of Spain and the most important transport hub, it is convenient to take not only short-term trips around the area, but also longer ones from here. solo travel across the country in general. Moreover, in addition to ground and air, it is worth bearing in mind sea ​​transport. For example, it is quite possible to make a short cruise to the Balearic Islands (Ibiza, Mallorca, etc.). Similar routes are implemented by Balearia and Trasmediterránea.

If you look at the mainland, then the most logical points for continuing your trip to Spain from Barcelona are cities such as Zaragoza, Valencia and Madrid. By and large, you can go to all these cities for a day, but such trips, in our opinion, do not make much sense - it will turn out to be tedious, superficial and expensive.