Medieval villages, towns in the middle of nature, and coastal locations with scenic beaches are part of this list of Towns near Barcellona, full of essential visits and unforgettable experiences!

Whether you are looking for a weekend getaway, a short day trip, a two-day cityscape, or a week-long vacation out of the city, this is the article for you.

Come with me and discover the best corners and magical towns worth prioritizing when organizing a short getaway from the city. These towns are perfect for going with family and friends or even a romantic date with your partner.

After reading this, you’ll be able to choose the one that fits your needs better to have a memorable vacation while discovering Catalonia.

P.S: At the end of this article, you’ll find a video explaining how to rent a car! Hope it helps.

This unique province has it all, including the most beautiful town in the world, according to Salvador Dalí. Guess what it is…

1. Sitges

Distance from Barcelona: 34.82 km. Approximately 42 min away from Plaça de Catalunya.

Sitges is the gem of the Costa Dorada of Barcelona. It is a beautiful municipality in the Garraf region, southeast Barcelona, very close to the city. It is a charming village on the central coast of Catalonia.

This is a must-visit since this town has a lot of charm and history on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It maintains a rich, varied, and quality cultural life in a modernist from the nineteenth century.

📷 What to do in Sitges?

Well, you should visit many landmarks, famous spots, and picturesque locations. These are the main ones:

1. Take a tour of the Old Town
2. Entering the Church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla
3. Go to El Pati Blau, a beautiful courtyard
4. walk along El Paseo de la Ribera and Paseo Marítimo
5. Take a swim at San Sebastian Beach
6. See L’hort de Can Falç
7. Walk along the Calle del Pecado
8. Go to Plaça de la Vila

Look at the beauty of this beach in the following video! It shows a relaxing and pleasant walk through the Platja de l’Estanyol in Sitges:

⌛How long does it take to visit Sitges?

This beautiful town is worth seeing on the weekend from Friday to Sunday. But, many people visit it as a getaway day, which also comes in handy. 

This will depend on the time you have to visit Barcelona and get to know the city and its surroundings in depth. This article can help you plan how much time you need to visit Barcelona: 

How long to Visit Barcelona? Local Guide for First Timers

🚏How to get to Sitges?

• By train: 

Take the R2 SUD line toward Vilanova i la Geltrú or Sant Vicenç de Calders. The price is around 4'20€ bought at the ticket offices or the station’s vending machines. It has good frequency during the day.

• By Bus:

Operated by the BUSGARRAF company. Check the schedule online. It takes about 45 and 55 minutes to arrive. The price is 4.10€ and can be bought on the same bus.

• By car

From Barcelona is about 45 minutes. Take the C-32 Pau Casals highway towards Sitges, Tarragona, Exit 30. The toll is 3.31€ for bikes and € 6.89 for cars.

• By taxi 

The most expensive option. It will depend on your needs. Less effort, more comfort. The price is around 75-85€ plus the toll.

Either way, you’ll experience stunning views of the Mediterranean coast.

2. Caldes de Montbui

Distance from Barcelona: 33.9 km. Approximately 42 min away from Plaça de Catalunya. 

Caldes de Montbui is a municipality in the Vallès Oriental region near Barcelona. 

It has a charming old town, a prevalence of agriculture, excellent gastronomic offers (lots of good restaurants), mountains and forests crossed by trails, and the thermal water, one of the hottest in Europe!

This small town is famous for having one of the hottest hot springs, from the spout of the Font del Lleó springs a water of 74 degrees Celsius!

It has defined the village’s history since “Caldes” means hot, and the town has received this name because of the temperature of the water that characterizes it. 

So, Caldes de Montbui is perfect for visiting in the cold of winter.

📷 What to do in Caldes de Montbui?

1. Visit the iconic Lion’s fountain
2. Relaxing in Banys Termals El Safareig
3. Learn in Thermalia, a thematic center dedicated to the hot spring culture.
4. Touring the medieval wall
5. Try “carquinyolis,” and “mató” (cottage cheese), typical desserts of the area.
6. See the monastery Sant Miquel del Fai
7. Hiking through the gorges of the River Tenes
8. Eat at the restaurant Robert de Nola. Excellent food and good service.

⌛How long does it take to visit Caldes de Montbui?

This beautiful historic town is perfect for a day trip. You can leave from the center of Barcelona in the morning and arrive in the evening if you prefer. It is enough time to see the main attractions and taste the culture. Perfect when we have a lot of days in Barcelona and want a little escape out of the ordinary. 

🚏How to get to Caldes de Montbui?

The distance between Estación Sants Barcelona and Caldas de Montbui is 28 km. The distance by road is 40.6 km.

• By Subway + Bus

The cheapest way to get from Estación Sants Barcelona to Caldas de Montbui is by subway and bus, which cost €5 - €8 and take 1h 29m. It is operated by Tmb and starts at Berlin - Nicaragua station.

There is no direct bus from Estación Sants Barcelona to Caldas de Montbui.

• By Train + Bus / Train

From Barcelona Sants to Barcelona-Clot-Aragon (Apd.) to Meridiana - Metro Clot. Then transfer to Meridiana - La Sagrera. Then Barcelona - Av. De Meridiana-Metro Sagrera to Caldes De Montbui - Estació D’autobusos. Around €6 - €9

For more info: Tmb

• By Taxi

The quickest but most expensive way to get from Estación Sants Barcelona to Caldas de Montbui is by taxi, which costs €55 - €70 and takes 34 min.

• By Car

From Estación Sants Barcelona to Caldas de Montbui through via C-59. 

3. Besalú

Distance from Barcelona: 130.3 km. Approximately 1 hr 36 min away from Plaça de Catalunya. 

Besalú is another town in the province of Gerona that belongs to the region of La Garrocha.

It is worth a visit, especially if traveling along the Costa Brava, to appreciate the area’s richness.

This medieval jewel is a reference spot for travelers and film and television directors for its breathtaking views and beautiful scenery. Besalú was home to filming Game of Thrones and Perfume.

From its origins, it was an important independent county with its own currency. Then, its urban center began to weave around a castle built in the tenth century on top of a hill, of which only the church of Santa Maria remains.

But, without doubt, the Pont Vell bridge is the most significant landmark here, declared a national historic-artistic site in 1966 for its architectural value.

📷 What to do in Besalú?

1. Pont Vell of Besalú
2. Monastery of Sant Pere of Besalú
3. Church of Santa Maria.
4. Visit the micvé.
5. Attend the procession of the Dolores or manaies.
6. Church of Sant Vicenç

⌛How long is enough to visit Besalú?

The town can be visited in a few hours, but I recommend waiting for the night in this beautiful town since there are fewer tourists and it develops unique magic.

🚏How to get to Besalú?

• By Bus

The cheapest way to get from Barcelona to Besalú is to take a direct bus departing from Barcelona - Gran Via, 658 and arriving at Besalú. Services depart 4 times a day. It costs €13 - €19 and takes 1h 42m. Operated by Transports Elèctrics Interurbans S.A

• By Car

It costs €22 - €35 for the price of fuel and takes 1h 26m to drive to Besalú. Take the road AP-7. 

4. Cadaqués

Distance from Barcelona: 170.9 km. Approximately 2 hr 17 min away from Plaça de Catalunya. 

Cadaqués is the most beautiful village in the world, according to Salvador Dalí, where he spent practically all his summers. What makes this town a reference destination for international tourism and other artists. 

It is located at the eastern end of the rocky Cap de Creus, in the Alt Empordà region, just a few kilometers from France. Sheltered by the mountains and open to the sea.

There are many places to see in Cadaqués, and it touches the hearts of everyone who visit it since it retains all the charm of its maritime past in its white houses and narrow cobbled streets full of colorful plants and flowers, where you can walk around and get lost among art galleries and lovely stores.

📷 What to do in Cadaqués?

1. Visit the Salvador Dalí House Museum
2. Enjoy the beautiful beach with stunning views in Platja del Ros
3. Visit the private island of S’Arenella
4. Discover the Museu de Cadaqués
5. Discover the most emblematic religious building Santa Maria de Cadaqués
6. Go to the Beach des Llaner Gran
7. take a minute to visit the Sant Baldiri hermitage
8. Experience the views in Far de Cala Nans
9. Hiking route through the fantastic Cap de Creu Natural Park
10. Eat the best fish at Es Balconet restaurant.

⌛How long is enough to visit Cadaqués?

This place is perfect for visiting for a weekend or two days. Although it can be visited perfectly in one day. The beauty of this place is coming several times so you can fully appreciate it.

Also, I recommend you go in late August and early September when the summer heat is tolerable, and you can appreciate a crystal clear sea with a mild climate.

🚏How to get to Cadaqués?

• By Train + Bus

The cheapest way to get from Barcelona to Cadaqués is to train from Barcelona-Paseo De Gracia to Figueras. Then you can take the line 12 bus. It costs approximately 14 € - 22 € and takes 4h 5m.

• By car

Driving by car is the fastest way from Barcelona to Cadaqués and takes 1h 58m. It costs between 29€ - 45€. Take the road AP-7. 

• By bus

There is one direct bus departing from Barcelona Nord and arriving at Cadaqués. You must be aware that it only departs once a day and takes approximately 2h 45m. It can cost between 2€ - 27€.

5. Miravet

Distance from Barcelona: 67.0 km. Approximately 56 min away from Plaça de Catalunya. 

Miravet is a typical postcard village that you can not miss if you visit Tarragona or want to go a little further outside Barcelona and know in-depth the corners of the region of Catalonia. 

It is in the Ribera d’Ebre, in the interior of Tarragona, crossed by the Ebro river. Which is one of the main attractions if you visit the village. Did you know that this is one of the largest rivers in Spain? Read more in this article:

My main recommendation is to be prepared to walk and climb hills. This village was a Muslim settlement in the past, so it has a characteristic zig-zag built on top of a crag. It is an absolute wonder to walk through the streets and enjoy the beautiful views it offers. 

📷 What to do in Miravet?

1. Travel through history at Miravet Castle
2. A different experience for children and adults in the Pas De La Barca
3. See the Ebro River
4. Go to the pier of Miravet to see the silhouette of the village
5. Get lost in the streets of the Old Town
6. Visit the Old Mill
7. Walk through the Portal del Motxi
8. Enjoy the architecture of the Comendador Palace
9. Witness views of the river at the Sanaqueta Viewpoint
10. Learn about the Spanish Civil War in the Iglesia Vieja (Old Church)

⌛How long does it take to visit Miravet?

This beautiful village near Barcelona can be visited in the afternoon for 2 or 3 hours. But, as it offers many activities to do with children and to go with the family, you can stay one night and continue your route through different villages nearby the next day in the morning. My best recommendations are in this post if you want to check them out!

Pueblos Blancos: The 13 Most Fascinating White Cities in Spain

🚏How to get to Miravet?

• By Train

A convenient way to go is by train. It departs from Barcelona-Paseo De Gracia and arrives at Mora La Nueva. It will cost you around 29€ - 40€ and takes 2h 32m. Keep in mind that the train leaves you at the station, so you will probably have to take a cab to the center from there, which will cost approx 16€ - 20€.

• By Bus

Departing from Barcelona to Móra d’Ebre. It costs between 17€ - 25€ and takes 2h 36m. Note that if the bus drops you off at the station, you will probably have to take a cab to the center, which costs approx 16€ -20€.

• By Bus from Tarragona

It departs from Barcelona to Tarragona, takes 1h 50m with a frequency of every 3 hours. Then you transfer from Tarragona to Móra d’Ebre with a duration of 1h 10min and runs 3 times a day. It costs between 5 -11, and you take a cab on arrival. 

• By Car

The quickest way to get from Barcelona to Miravet is to drive, which costs €27 - €40 and takes 1h 57m. Take via C-32 and N-420.

6. Tossa de Mar

Distance from Barcelona: 86.5 km. Approximately 1 hr 19 min away from Plaça de Catalunya. 

Tossa de Mar is one of the medieval towns that still preserves its fortified walls along the entire coast of Catalonia. It is famous for having the region’s best scenic beaches and idyllic calas. 

This town is located east of La Selva’s coastal sector, northeast of Barcelona, and southeast of Girona.

In addition, in the city center, there are many shops and cafes to take refuge in the afternoon after a day at the beach and many restaurants with typical dishes and products from the area, where fish predominates.

📷 What to do in Tossa de Mar?

1. Visit the impressive Walls of Tossa de Mar in the sunset
2. Swim at these scenic beaches:

• Big beach of Tossa de Mar
• Plajta Mar Menuda
• Llevadó cove
• Giverola Cove
• Pola Cove

3. Get to know the old part of the town Vila Vella
4. Admire the Roman ruins
5. Visit the weekly markets in the Rambla Pau Casals and the surroundings

⌛How long does it take to visit Tossa de Mar?

As you can see, this town is famous for its fantastic beaches, so you will want to have enough time to see them all, which is what I recommend. Tossa de Mar is a perfect place for a weekend getaway from Friday to Sunday. This way, you can ensure enough time at the beach while discovering picturesque landscapes and streets. 

🚏How to get to Tossa de Mar?

• By bus

The bus is a cheap and convenient way to get from Barcelona to Tossa de Mar, which takes 1h 20m and costs 2€ - 16€. It departs from Estació del Nord and arrives directly in Tossa de Mar. 

The service is operated by Moventis, departs every 3 hours, and runs every day. You can buy your ticket through Omio.

• By Taxi

If you are looking for more comfort and don’t mind spending a few extra euros, the quickest way to get from Barcelona to Tossa de Mar is by cab, which costs 110€ - 150€ and takes 1h 6m.

• By Car

You can also drive along the road via C-32, about 88 km. The trip takes approximately 1h 6m. It can cost you between 15€ - 22€.

7. Rupit i Pruit

Distance from Barcelona: 106.2 km. Approximately 1 hr 35 min away from Plaça de Catalunya. 

Rupit i Pruit is a municipality comprising two towns, Rupit and Pruit. This village retains all its medieval charm with Romanesque houses and stone streets.

Here you will find a lot of scattered farmhouses where the area’s architectural heritage is preserved. It is located in the El Collsacabra area, on a bend of the river Pruit, and you can access it down the road and by a suspension bridge. 

If you want to spend a quiet and unforgettable day in a small but charming village, this Spanish town in Osona is the right for you!

📷 What to do in Rupit i Pruit?

1. Visit the suspension bridge of Rupit
2. Get lost in the corners of the historic center
3. Get to know the Church of Sant Miquel
4. Follow the route of the Sallent waterfall.
5. Incredible views from the Castell de l’Envestida viewpoint
6. Let yourself be impressed by Sant Joan de Fàbregues, one of the most emblematic Romanesque buildings
7. Wander through Fossar Street. 
8. Hiking route through El Salt Del Sallent
9. Stroll in the Hermitage of Santa Magdalena and the viewpoint

⌛How long does it take to visit Rupit i Pruit?

This small town is tiny and can be easily seen in 2 hours. Although, I recommend spending an afternoon on a date since it is a lovely place that can create an unforgettable romantic experience.

🚏How to get to Rupit i Pruit?

• By Train

The train is one way to travel to Rupit and Pruit from Barcelona. It takes 1h 55m and costs €7. It departs from Barcelona-Arc De Triomf and arrives in Manlleu. The only thing is that when you arrive at Manlleu station, you have to take a taxi, which can cost between €45 - €60

• By Bus

The cheapest way to go from Barcelona to Rupit i Pruit is by bus, with a transfer to bus line 464, which costs €10 - €16 and takes 3h 40m.

There is no direct bus from Barcelona to Rupit and Pruit. The bus departs from Barcelona - Casp - Pau Claris and arrives in Rupit and Pruit, passing through Vic El Viaje.

• By Train + Bus

It leaves Barcelona-Arc De Triomf and arrives at Vic bus station in 1h 13m with a 53m transfer wait and from Vic, take the bus to Rupit i Pruit, which takes 1h 13m. It costs €4–7 and lasts 3h 40m.

• By car

This is the fastest way to go from Barcelona to Rupit i Pruit. It takes 1h 31m and costs €18 - €27. Take C-17 and C-153 roads. 

8. Sant Pol de Mar

Distance from Barcelona: 51.3 km. Approximately 43 min away from Plaça de Catalunya. 

Sant Pol de Mar is a municipality in the Maresme region on the coast between Canet de Mar and Calella.

This town discovers a beautiful fishing village of white houses, narrow, quiet streets, rocky coves, and coarse sand beaches bathed by crystalline waters.

This is a great place to enjoy the rich architectural heritage of Catalan modernist buildings. Sant Pol stands out both for its beaches and for its history. It has white houses and, narrow, quiet streets, rocky coves. 

In addition, this town discovers a beautiful fishing village and sandy coves to appreciate the impressive beauty of its crystalline waters.

📷 What to do in Sant Pol de Mar?

1. Stroll through the streets of the town.
2. Eating paella at the Banys Lluís Restaurant.
3. See the hermitage of Sant Pau.
4. Visit the old Church of Sant Jaume
5. Take a dip in one of these beautiful beaches:

• Platja El Morer
• Murtra Beach
• Les Barques Beach
• Sant Pol Beach
• Can Villar beach
• White Rocks Beach

⌛How long does it take to visit Sant Pol de Mar?

Whether you’re looking for a short weekend trip or a more extended summer stay, you’ll want to save a few days to spend them at the beach.

It is an ideal town if you have already been to enough beaches inside Barcelona and are looking for a beach outside that is easily accessible by train and can be done as a day trip.

🚏How to Get to Sant Pol de Mar?

• By Bus

The bus is the cheapest way from Barcelona to Sant Pol de Mar station. It costs €6 - €9 and takes 55 min.

This direct bus leaves from Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes to Marina and arrives at the Ctra. N-II - Pl. St. Cristòfol stop. The services leave every 2 hours and operate every day.

• By Train

A direct train leaves from Barcelona-Plaça De Catalunya and arrives at Sant Pol De Mar. The trip takes approximately 1h 2m, and the ticket price starts from €10.55. Services depart every 30 minutes and operate daily. The journey takes about 1h 2m.

• By Taxi

This is a very comfortable and fast way to get to Sant Pol de Mar station from Barcelona. It is the most expensive, costs €70 - €90, and lasts 38m.

• By Car

Another comfortable and fast way to get to the Sant Pol de Mar station from Barcelona if you have a car is taking the C-32 road. Fuel costs around €10–14 and lasts approximately 38 minutes.

9. Figueres

Distance from Barcelona: 138.0 km. Approximately 1 hr 36 min away from Plaça de Catalunya. 

Figueres is a lovely town in the province of Girona. It is a multicultural city where 30% of the population is of foreign origin. In addition, it also has a high population of gypsy ethnicity.

I highly recommend this town for art lovers and followers of Salvador Dalí. It is a paradise of art, history, and culture.

Figueres is known mainly for being the birthplace of Salvador Dalí. But he was not only born there. He lived there with his wife and was buried there while he spent the summer in Cadaqués.

📷 What to do in Figueres?

1. See the works of Salvador Dalí at the Figueres Theater.
2. Get a tour in Castell de Sant Ferran.
3. A Journey to the Magic Museu del Joguet de Catalunya.
4. See where Dalí was baptized at Església de Sant Pere.
5. Visit the Museu de l’Empordà for archaeological works, medieval art, and Baroque paintings.
6. See Dalí Jewels Museum.
7. Hike in Cap de Creus National Park.

⌛How long does it take to visit Figueres?

Figueres is an easy day trip from Barcelona and the South of France. You can see everything in a few hours. 

🚏How to Get to Figueres?

• By Train

You can get from Barcelona to Figueres by train, it is the fastest option, it costs €12 - €40 and takes 55 min. This direct train leaves from Barcelona-Sants and arrives at Figueres Vilafant. The services go every 2 hours and operate every day.

• By shared car

This is the cheapest way to get from Barcelona to Figueres. It costs €10 and takes 1h 55m. You can take a BlaBlaCar, a trustworthy and reliable platform for getting to near towns at a lower price. 

• By Bus

A direct bus leaves Estació del Nord and arrives at Figueres. Services depart 4 times a day and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 2h 45m and costs between €15 - €21.

• By Car

If you have a car, it is possible to get to Figueres from Barcelona in 1h 28min. It costs approximately €25–35, taking the AP-7 road.

And the list could go on! Catalonia is fantastic, and the number of beautiful towns with impressive histories is endless!

So, if you come to Barcelona, you already know that you have to plan at least 1 visit to one of these places to truly say that you know the region. (I’m kidding) but it would be nice since only a few people go out of the city and have had such a beautiful opportunity to come across such unique places.

They are very easy to reach by car. Here’s how to rent one:

Remember, always check the weather so you plan your vacations accordingly. See the best times to visit Barcelona in this article:

Prepare for Barcelona Weather: Advice from a local + 7 Tips!

I hope you liked this article, and let me know in the comments which towns you are adding to your list for your next vacation trip!