The Best Day Trips From Barcelona by Train

From a hilltop monastery to lively beach towns, there are many easy day trips from Barcelona by train.

The region around Barcelona has a lot to offer, with its charming medieval towns, quaint fishing villages, and beautiful beaches.

And trains are a convenient way to explore much of this region.

In this article I want to share the 10 best day trips from Barcelona that you can do by train.

And I say day trips, but all of these are also great for weekend trips or even longer stays.

10 Day Trips From Barcelona by Train

1. The Montserrat Monastery

The Montserrat monastery is located approximately 50 kilometers northwest of Barcelona.

Its setting is incredible and it therefore without a doubt makes one of the best day trips from Barcelona by train!

This legendary monastery has been in existence since the 11th century. It was rebuilt between the 19th and 20th centuries and still functions to this day.

Montserrat today is home to a small number of Benedictine monks who are dedicated to a life of hospitality, prayer, theology study, and works like publishing magazines and books.

The basilica houses a museum with works of art by many prominent painters. The site also holds restaurants, shops, a food market, a casual cafeteria, and hotel accommodations.

Montserrat has steep rocks on each side, creating a dramatic sight.

The mountain also has eroded crags that look like crenellations of a middle age fortress. Montserrat means ‘serrated mountain’ to signify the serrated peaks.

Walk up to Montserrat’s highest point, Sant Jeroni, from the monastery. From there you have a view of almost all of Catalonia, and on a clear day you can even see the island of Mallorca.

Getting to Aeri de Montserrat from Barcelona by train takes about an hour and 15 minutes. From there you’ll take the cable car and travel 1,236m up the Montserrat mountain, which is an experience in itself!

Tip: book the cable car ticket online so that you don’t have to wait in line to buy a ticket once you arrive.

1. Figueres

Figueres is a nice small town in the Costa Brava region in Spain. The town is famous because it’s the birthplace of revolutionary surrealist Salvador Dali.

The Salvador Dali Museum opened in Figueres in 1974 and now attracts visitors from all over the world. Fans flock to the museum to view the collection of surrealist art.

But, there’s more to Figueres than Dali.

After checking the art, roam around the Figueres’ Rambla, a pedestrianized walkway. Visit the attractive St.Peter’s Church, and Figueres’ 18th-century pentagonal castle, the Castell de Sant Ferran.

Traveling to Figueres by train from Barcelona takes 55 minutes.

3. Girona

Girona is located in northern Catalonia, and it makes an amazing day trip from Barcelona.

The ancient medieval town is home to Gothic architecture, galleries, and museums. The preserved Jewish Quarter of tortuous cobbled alleyways is made of Catalonian stone framed by low archways.

The multi-colored houses at the edge of River Onyar alongside ancient cathedrals are breathtaking. Go back in time and marvel at the 12th-century Arab Baths and the Old Jewish Quarter.

May is the best time to visit Girona when Temps de Flors, the annual flower festival, makes the city bloom.

Are you a Game of Thrones fan? Then you don’t want to miss the Game of Thrones tour that takes you to the filming locations that were used in Girona.

Traveling to Girona from Barcelona-Sants takes 38 minutes by train.

Also Read: Crazy Spanish Festivals You Have to See to Believe

4. Sitges

Sitges was a fishing village that, over the years, has turned into a popular seaside resort.

If you are looking for beach towns near Barcelona that you can easily get to by train, Sitges is your best option.

The town is located 42 kilometers southwest of Barcelona, with leafy mountains as the backdrop.

The main tourist attraction in Sitges is the beaches during summertime. The sandy beaches have excellent amenities such as showers, restrooms, lifeguard supervision, umbrellas and sun loungers, and plenty of cafés and restaurants along the boardwalk.

The two churches in Sitges’ historic center are worth visiting; the Iglesia de Santa Tecla and the Iglesia de Sant Bartomeu.

Visit other important buildings like Palau Maricel, Casa de la Vila, and the 19th-century Neo-Gothic mansion.

The city has several great restaurants that serve hearty regional dishes like xató and fideuà.

And, if you want to do something special in Sitges I can highly recommend this sailboat trip and walking tour. It includes a visit to a local wine cellar as well.

Traveling from Barcelona to Sitges by train takes approximately 35 minutes.

Also Read: Famous Spanish Food to Try in Spain

5. Tarragona

A trip to Tarragona is ideal for those who love Roman ruins. An incredible amphitheater that looks out over the Mediterranean Sea still exists from almost two millennia ago.

Tarragona has a picturesque Old Town and an amazing Gothic cathedral to enjoy.

The Roman Walls of Tarragona date back to the second century BC. The Romans built approximately 3,500 meters of walls around the city limits, of which 1,100 meters have been preserved, which now surround the Old Town.

Visit the mosaic museum and admire the Roman amphitheater before dining on fresh fish at the town’s medieval center.

The Pont del Diable (Devil’s Bridge) was part of the Roman aqueduct built to supply water to the city, and is now a famous sight to visit, albeit a bit of a walk from the city center.

Book a Roman Heritage walking tour if you want to see all the sites and learn more about Tarragona and its Roman history.

Traveling from Barcelona to Tarragona by train takes about an hour.

6. Perpignan

Salvador Dalí in 1963 called the town’s train station ‘the center of the world’. That was a kind gesture since it’s not located in his indigenous Catalonia but above the border in France.

Part of Perpignan’s train station is decorated in the style of Salvador Dalí, making it a sight to visit in itself.

But, there’s more that makes Perpignan worth visiting.

Perpignan’s alleyways, tangerine houses, and shady squares reflect the allure of Spanish and French cultures. The streets of Perpignan host festivities every Thursday evening during the months of July and August. Enjoy the festivities that come alive with theatre, music, and dance.

Other places to visit in Perpignan are Palais des Rois de Majorque, the Casa Pairal Museum, the Tet river, and the Perpignan Cathedral.

Traveling to Perpignan from Barcelona by train takes just 1 hour and 20 minutes by high-speed train.

7. The Penedes Wine Region

aerial view of Penedes — Photo credit: Depositphotos

If you love wine, small Spanish towns, and scenic countryside, then the Penedes wine region makes a great train destination from Barcelona.

The Penedes wine region lies on the southern side of Barcelona.

Penedes is best known for its Cava, the Spanish sparkling wine. But the more than 140 wine producers in this region also produce great dry red wine and white wine, as well as some dessert wines.

Many producers offer tours that include a cellar and vineyard tour and wine tasting.

For a great day trip, take the train and visit several wineries.

Traveling from Barcelona to Vilafranca del Penedès, the regional capital, takes about 50 minutes by train. Or take a train stop earlier, at Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, which is the center of Cava production.

8. Lleida

Lleida is a beautiful ancient city located west of Barcelona.

Towering over the city is La Seu Vella, an impressive Gothic-Romanesque cathedral inside a ruined hilltop fortress.

Visit the La Paeria Palace (city hall) and check the museum located in the basement that features items gathered during archaeological excavations.

Stroll along the long, pedestrianized Eix Comercial de Lleida, with shops inside many of the old town’s beautiful buildings.

If you love castles, visit the Castle of Gardeny (Castell Templer de Gardeny), built in the second half of the 12th century, after the Templars helped to conquer the city of Lleida.

And for a cultural experience, visit Lleida during the Aplec del Cargol festival in May. It’s a snail festival. But, even if eating snails isn’t your thing, the festival comes with a lot of other entertainment. This includes live music and the building of castells, the famous human towers.

Traveling to Lleida from Barcelona by train takes about 1 hour.

9. Vic

Vic is an ancient town set among lush green hills, located north of Barcelona.

This lively town on the way to the Pyrenees is popular for its cured meats and rich culture.

The Catalan town has a blend of medieval architecture and Modernista buildings that make the town lovely and feel traditional.

If you want to experience the Catalan culture, Vic offers just that. There is a calm and relaxed feel here that is a big contrast with the more hectic, big city life of Barcelona.

The Plaça Major, located in the center of Vic, has a lively food market on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The best time to visit Vic is in early December when the town hosts one of the biggest medieval markets in Spain.

Traveling to Vic from Barcelona by train takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Also Read: Celebrating Christmas in Spain

10. Madrid

Traveling from Barcelona to Madrid by train takes around 3 hours.

Of all the day trips listed in this article, the one to Madrid takes the longest. Nevertheless, it is worth visiting this wonderful city, even if you just have one day.

Although of course, if you can, make a trip to Madrid into a multi-day one because there is a lot to see and do in Madrid!

A tour of Madrid’s Palacio Real is a must. Not far from Palacio Real is a nice next stop, the Almudena Cathedral. And of course the Prado Museum can’t be missed.

Madrid is also a great city for just wandering around, enjoying its lively plazas, parks and cafes.

But, for many more tips, read this article about things to do in Madrid.

Day Trips From Barcelona By Train – Conclusions

I’ve spent a large part of my adult life living in Spain and I have to admit, public transport in Spain isn’t the best.

There are still many places that are difficult to reach if you don’t have a car.

But, thankfully especially from Barcelona, there are also many places that are perfect to visit by train.

Trains in Spain are generally not very crowded and especially the AVE, Spain’s high-speed trains, are very comfortable.

Do book AVE trains early because they sell out!

And like I said, even though all of the destinations listed above are day trips from Barcelona, I’d highly recommend spending more time in each of these places. Make it into a weekend getaway or a multi-day trip if you can!

Talking about great weekend trips from Barcelona, one of my favorite cities in Spain is Valencia, and I have written many articles about visiting Valencia and what to see & do here.

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