Montserrat, Girona and Costa Brava Day Trip from Barcelona

Montserrat monastery and mountain

Montserrat, about an hour from Barcelona, is a mountain of extraordinary rock towers rising to 1,236 metres, sculpted by wind and rain from layers of conglomerate. Halfway up its cliffs stands the Benedictine monastery, founded in the 11th century where a community of monks still lives and prays. Pilgrims have come here for almost a thousand years to see a revered 12th-century Romanesque wooden statue kept in the basilica.

On the guided visit your guide explains the history of the sanctuary, the basilica and the legends of the mountain, and your abbey entry is included. On many days you may also hear the monastery's boys' choir, one of the oldest music schools in Europe. A Montserrat day trip from Barcelona is worth it for the views alone: the terraces look out over valleys and, on clear days, as far as the Pyrenees.

The natural park of Montserrat

The mountain is protected as a natural park, with paths, viewpoints and rare plants clinging to the rocks. Rack railways and funiculars climb from the valley and from the monastery to higher points, and the rock pinnacles take shapes that locals have named after animals, faces and figures. Rock climbers are often seen on the vertical walls.

Your time at Montserrat allows for the guided visit, the basilica and a stroll along the main terraces, where stalls sell local honey, cheese and sweets made by farmers from the surrounding villages. The best time to visit Montserrat is in the morning, before the midday crowds, which is why this tour stops here first. Bring a light jacket, as the mountain can be cooler and windier than the city.

Girona old town and the Onyar river

Girona, about an hour and a half north-east of Montserrat, is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Spain. Its most famous view is the line of colourful houses hanging over the Onyar river, best seen from the red iron footbridge and the stone bridges that cross it. Behind them, the old town climbs a hillside of narrow lanes, stairways and arches.

At the top stands the cathedral, reached by a monumental Baroque staircase. Its single Gothic nave is the widest in the world of its kind, over 22 metres across. On the guided visit you also discover the Arab Baths, a 12th-century Romanesque bathhouse inspired by Islamic design, and sections of the old city walls with views over the rooftops.

El Call, Girona's Jewish quarter

Girona's Jewish quarter, El Call, is one of the best-preserved in Europe. For about six centuries, until the expulsion of 1492, a thriving Jewish community lived in this maze of steep, narrow alleys, and it was an important centre of learning in medieval Catalonia. Stone passageways, hidden courtyards and doorways still trace the shape of the medieval neighbourhood.

Your guide explains the history of the community and how the quarter was rediscovered in the 20th century. Is Girona worth visiting on a day trip from Barcelona? With its cathedral, river views and medieval streets, many travellers find it the most charming stop of the day. With the default option, lunch at a traditional restaurant is included during your time in the area.

A seaside village on the Costa Brava

The last stop takes you to the Costa Brava, the wild coast of Catalonia, where pine-covered cliffs drop into small coves of turquoise water. Fishing villages with whitewashed houses, boats pulled up on the sand and seafront promenades give this coastline its special charm. The village visited depends on the day, the timing and the weather.

You have time to stroll along the seafront, take photos of the coves and relax by the sea before the return to Barcelona. The best time to visit the Costa Brava is from May to October, when the water is warm and the light is bright, but even in winter the views of the rugged coast are spectacular. The drive back takes about an hour and a half.