The enchanting Catalan city of Barcelona is a beautiful coastal metropolis famed for its awesome architecture and vibrant nightlife.
Fringed by the palm-tree lined Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona packs a punch with its abundance of culture and cuisine. With a whole host of tapas bars and barrios (neighborhoods), there’s always an adventure around the corner.
But if you can tear yourself away for a day, you’ll be surprised by all the scenic train trips from Barcelona awaiting you – journeys to picturesque villages, beaches, and mountainous landscapes. It’s a win-win situation.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Pol Albarrán. Image Location: Sitges, Spain.
Where else to travel when in Barcelona, Spain?
Barcelona Sants is the largest railway station in Barcelona, served by a network of trains connecting the city, the surrounding suburbs, and other towns in Catalonia. Most day-trip locations can be easily reached from here.
With so many Spanish destinations on your doorstep, take your pick from a selection of perfect places for a 1-day trip from Barcelona by train.
Day trip from Barcelona to Sitges
Arrival station: Sitges
Journey time: from 36m
While Barcelona certainly doesn’t lack beaches, if you’re asking yourself, “What city is close to Barcelona by train?”, just over half an hour away, sunny Sitges is a seaside destination worth visiting. Famed for its LGBTQ-friendly atmosphere and world-famous horror film festival, Sitges offers something for everyone. Stroll along the pedestrianized Passeig Maritim, a scenic coastal boulevard lined with cafés, restaurants, and ice cream kiosks, ideal stops for when the heat gets too much.
Image Credit: Getty Images, littleny. Image Location: Girona, Spain.
Day trip from Barcelona to Girona
Arrival station: Gerona
Journey time: from 38m
With the photogenic Girona Cathedral, a bunch of museums, and well-preserved Arab baths in the heart of its labyrinthine Old Town, Girona stands out as Northern Catalonia’s largest city. Don’t forget to stop for some dreamy regional cuisine, rich in goodies from the land and sea. The ancient walled city is also the gateway to some seriously gorgeous Costa Brava beaches.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Geraint Rowland Photography. Image Location: Tarragona, Spain.
Day trip from Barcelona to Tarragona
Arrival station: Tarragona
Journey time: from 57m
Tarragona is arguably a lively rival to Barcelona – minus the tourists. This lovely corner of Catalonia is a port city blessed with a ream of well-preserved Roman ruins, including an amphitheater. Don’t miss out on the beaches, restaurants serving freshly grilled seafood, and the sight of Tarragona’s towering cathedral to “ooh and aah” over.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Erik Pronske Photography. Image Location: Montserrat, Spain.
Day trip from Barcelona to Montserrat
Departure station: Plaça d'Espanya
Arrival station: Montserrat-Aeri/Monistrol de Montserrat
Journey time: ~1h
Montserrat, a multi-peaked mountain range 38 mi northwest of Barcelona, is a magical region at the heart of Catalan identity, combining a mountain monastery and natural park. Visiting Montserrat, with its distinctive jagged peaks and the Santa Maria de Montserrat Benedictine monastery housing one of the few black madonnas in Europe, is one of the most popular day trips from Barcelona. To get there by train, take the FGC’s R5 line leaving Barcelona’s Plaça d'Espanya station and alight at either Montserrat-Aeri station for the cable car or Monistrol de Montserrat station for the rack railway up to the monastery.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Eduardo Fonseca Arraes. Image Location: Tarragona, Spain.