The 10 best day trips from Barcelona
You could spend months in Barcelona without running out of new things to experience, but if you're in need of a change of pace there are plenty of alternatives – most within easy reach, thanks to the excellent local railway system. Lesser-visited medieval towns, glorious hikes and curious museums are often less than an hour away.
All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best day trips near Barcelona. For further inspiration, see our in-depth guides to the city's best hotels, restaurants, bars and nightlife, shopping, attractions, things to do for free and beaches.
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Best for history
Montserrat Monastery
Come for the monastery and to listen to the celestial voices of the boys' choir, and stay for the hiking – paths scented with thyme meander over the jagged peaks revealing spectacular views. The museum has an unexpected collection of great art, including paintings by Caravaggio, Picasso, El Greco, Dalí, Miró and a host of others.
Website: montserratvisita.com
Area: Montserrat
How to get there: take the train from Plaça Espanya to Monistrol de Montserrat (one hour), then rack railway.
Tarragona
In Roman times 'Tarraco' was the capital of half of Spain, and many vestiges of that period can still be seen. These include the city walls; the praetorian; the amphitheatre and the Roman circus, where chariot races were once held. The cathedral and its beautifully preserved 12th-century cloister shouldn't be missed, but leave time for a wander through its old town.
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Daily Mail
32 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Tourists warned as wildfires threaten to ruin Spanish holiday hotspot this summer
Tourists have been warned as Spanish authorities issue a wildfire alert for a holiday hotspot this summer. A pre-alert has been issued for the Canary Islands, just as thousands of Brits prepare to fly to the archipelago. The General Directorate of Emergencies issued the warning, which extends to Tenerife, Grand Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and EI Heirro. It comes after the island's wet season, with dry and hot winds starting to blow in from the Sahara Desert, known as 'calima'. The alert is in place until further notice, as authorities urged residents and tourists to heighten their vigilance. Wildfires often occur during the summer months in Spain and neighbouring Portugal. However, in October 2017 the two countries suffered hundreds of large blazes that claimed the lives of 45 people in Portugal and four in Spain. In August 2023, some 12,000 were evacuated from Tenerife as 'out of control' wildfires ravaged the island. It comes after the island's wet season, with dry and hot winds starting to blow in from the Sahara Desert, known as 'calima' Spain's tourism sector has already been dealt a blow over rising anti-tourism protests ahead of the busy season. Last month the latest demonstration saw fed-up locals take to the streets to hit back at what they call 'excessive' tourism. Under the slogan 'Canarias tiene un limite' (The Canaries has a limit), the demonstrators gathered on the islands of Tenerife, La Gomera, Gran Canaria, El Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma. Activists want to limit the number of tourists visiting the islands, ban new hotel construction and introduce a tougher tourist tax, among other measures.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
We swapped stressful UK for sun-drenched Spanish island & save £2.3k a month on rent – if you WFH, it's a perfect move
ENJOYING a sunset walk along the beach with his partner and their five-year-old son, Ruben Diegz relishes the warm air, music playing on the beach and quality family time. But the trio are not on holiday - they left Britain for a break four years ago and decided to stay, swapping their "stressed-out lives" to pursue a dream of beach living and a cheaper way of life. 10 10 Their new home is a spacious four-bedroom villa style apartment with sea views in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, part of the Canary Islands located just 150 miles off the coast of Africa. In the island archipelago paradise, loved by Brit tourists for their cobalt blue skies, billowing palm trees and black volcanic sand beaches, a pint costs £1.50, cappuccinos around £1.40 and fresh seafood is in abundance. The family pay just £700 a month for their four-bedroom apartment, which features an open plan roof garden and balcony for evening meals. Renting their island home is a third of the cost of a one-bedroom flat in London, which costs around £2,000 a month, and £2,300 a month cheaper than the cost of a similar size property in Woking, where the couple lived previously. Ruben, 40, tells The Sun he, his partner Lisa Perri, 36, and their son 'couldn't be happier or more content" with their new life. 'It was a snap decision, a life altering one, but I knew it was the right thing for myself and our family," he says. "We now get to raise our son in a sub-tropical paradise where the sun shines 300 days a year. 'Making the decision was easy. Packing up home took longer, but it was worth the effort. 'We have access to amazing quality seafood, fruits and vegetables, everyone is more relaxed and less stressed. The best thing is our son is having an island upbringing." 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Times
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Happy birthday to the Loewe Puzzle bag
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