Eixample Escapes: 5 Best Day Trips From Barcelona’s Heart

So, you find yourself in Eixample, Barcelona, a place practically overflowing with architectural splendor and delightful cafes. That’s a sweet deal, too, it is a really amazing place. But the call of something new, a change of pace, might get rather strong, a little pull outwards to investigate what treasures are hidden just outside the city. Right? That’s perfectly reasonable! Catalonia is so, so rich in culture, history, and those stunning views you see in travel magazines, it is almost a must to explore beyond the Barcelona city limits. We can help! These five day trips from Eixample offer something for pretty much everyone, whether you are someone who digs art, a history lover, or really into outdoors. And getting to them is simple, so you won’t be pulling your hair out about that.

1. Montserrat: Spiritual Heights and Stunning Views

First up is Montserrat. As I was saying, picture dramatic mountains rising sharply from the earth, seemingly touching the sky. Well, that’s what you get with Montserrat, more or less. At the summit is the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, a functioning monastery that has been important in Catalonia’s history for, like, literally centuries. The views from up here are totally knockout, too, on a clear day, you can see pretty much all the way to the Pyrenees! Very very neat! Getting to Montserrat is doable by train from Barcelona. It’s just a bit of a scenic route, or, for a little extra fun, you could take the Aeri cable car directly up the mountain! You could spend your time touring the basilica, peeping the art museum (they have works by El Greco and Caravaggio!) or hiking around the mountain’s trails.

Montserrat actually provides more than just a visual experience. And the spirituality just, really seems to flow there, especially at the abbey. You can catch a service and just listen to the Escolania de Montserrat, one of the oldest boys’ choirs in Europe, for real, like really old! Also, local legend says the mountains contain the Holy Grail. As a matter of fact, it can become quite magical there when combined with natural beauty. One local person has argued that a trip there is almost not possible to forget.

2. Girona: A Step Back in Time

Girona is next, apparently. What happens if you want to wander around medieval streets and visit sites from ” *Game of Thrones*?” Well, you’ve got to swing by Girona. The city’s pretty historic Jewish Quarter is just a really incredible network of narrow streets, which provide cool shadowy spots in hot weather. And is like a place that will draw you in at every turn, right? That location also sits next to the Onyar River and has multi-colored buildings hanging over the riverbanks. This location alone practically screams for a postcard, literally. Walking the ancient city walls offers you views of Girona. As I was saying, I mean of both old and what has turned into this new spot as well as its nearby countryside.

History lovers often have something new to explore. The Girona Cathedral’s a really unique blend of architectural styles with Gothic and Roman designs coexisting like it all had gone as originally planned. Girona also claims a strong culinary tradition! A little something that offers you a great spot for trying authentic Catalan cooking in small bistro restaurants or just simply sitting to admire food carts! Take a train out there that’s only about an hour, and make your decision to tour this memorable area soon!

3. Tarragona: Roman History by the Sea

Now, let’s just head to Tarragona, seemingly the spot to be for Roman ruins and that beautiful coastline! Tarragona served as one of the primary Roman cities in the Iberian Peninsula! That’s cool! A little part of what remained is what you see is there, yet those sights remind us how historic this site used to be! Anyway, you can gaze over what’s left of the Roman Amphitheater! That same spot had fighters and gladiators mixing it up centuries ago, right next to a super view of the Mediterranean Sea, actually! It’s rather unique to pair historical experiences up so close to, like, a really tranquil setting of pure natural beauty!

The city’s seaside rambla invites you to simply chill and grab a bite, like the Spanish call “Tapear” around some bistros! As a matter of fact, it’s ideal to go, stretch your legs, breathe and admire the waters, truly rest after the adventures of going around ancient sights. Also, there is a train connecting the city in only an hour. Very quickly one can visit those ruins by the coastline.

4. Sitges: Beaches, Art, and a Festive Vibe

Then Sitges calls you for relaxation. It is close enough that you may just visit by short trip. Famous sandy spots wait for tanning. Also Sitges’s coastal walks provide great scenes for Instagram! Very famous, you can be famous by taking shots from there! Many spots welcome people from different types, but there seems to always be room at Sitges.

Also for culture and arts, Sitges surprises you in several ways with modern galleries and museums featuring Catalan artists, right? Apparently, not just a sunbathe there, it welcomes people for culture. If you feel like there should be more you will find little restaurants waiting at harbors. There should always be options you have! You will enjoy the town’s energy if you happen to visit in the Film Fest or Carnival because something is always up in that town! Train rides are possible. You may be having fun by just doing some walks around!

5. Besalú: A Medieval Gem

Have we thought about heading towards Besalú as one last spot for what our memory keeps stored from Catalan history? It’s more than a single place or the others, there’s sort of like the entry to what time used to be there since Besalú has managed and has been protected from contemporary issues, right? Just step around its older part through the fortified bridge and get surprised to find former medieval life.

The historical location is famous in Europe. Even if small Besalú takes you towards old buildings, temples and some unique quarters, very carefully preserved that tell ancient Jewish culture. Now imagine touring all hidden sites quietly, it is almost unreal you went back to when tales got conceived inside an old setting!