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Barcelona is a great base for day trips. High-speed trains, cheap regional trains, and coastal roads connect you to mountains, medieval towns, and beaches within 1-2 hours. The catch? If you're doing a day trip on your first or last day, your luggage needs to go somewhere. Here are the 6 best day trips from Barcelona - with transport details, costs, and how to handle your bags.
What to do with luggage on a day trip
If you're checking out of your hotel and doing a day trip before heading to the airport, LUGGit picks up your bags from your accommodation and delivers them to Barcelona Airport (or your next hotel) while you explore. A Keeper (Driver) handles everything - you travel with just a daypack.
Price: From €2/bag. Use code BLOG10 for 10% off.
Use code BLOG10 for 10% off your booking
1. Montserrat
A jagged mountain with a 1,000-year-old monastery perched on a ledge at 720 meters. Montserrat is Catalonia's spiritual heart and the most popular day trip from Barcelona. The monastery houses the Black Madonna (La Moreneta), and the boys' choir (Escolania) sings at 1 PM on weekdays. The mountain trails offer spectacular views - the Sant Joan hike takes about an hour and rewards you with panoramic views of the Pyrenees on clear days.
Detail
Info
Getting there
FGC train from Placa Espanya (R5 line) to Monistrol, then rack railway or cable car up
Journey time
~1h 15min total (train + rack railway)
Cost
Tot Montserrat ticket ~€45 (includes train + rack railway + museum + funiculars)
Time needed
4 - 6 hours
Luggage tip: There are no lockers at Montserrat monastery. The rack railway and hiking trails are impossible with suitcases. Leave bags with LUGGit or at your hotel before heading to Placa Espanya.
2. Girona
Girona is a medieval city with colorful houses lining the Onyar River, a beautifully preserved Jewish Quarter (Call Jueu), a massive cathedral with the widest Gothic nave in the world, and an old town that served as a filming location for Game of Thrones. It's compact enough to see in half a day, and the food scene (including a restaurant with 3 Michelin stars) is outstanding.
Detail
Info
Getting there
AVE high-speed train from Barcelona Sants
Journey time
38 minutes
Cost
~€12 - 20 each way (book on renfe.com)
Time needed
4 - 6 hours
Luggage tip: Girona station has coin lockers (€3 - 5). But if you're heading to the airport after, LUGGit at Barcelona Sants is easier - they pick up before your train and deliver to BCN airport.
3. Sitges
A charming coastal town 35 minutes south of Barcelona by train. Sitges has 17 beaches, a picturesque old town perched above the sea, excellent seafood restaurants, and a vibrant LGBTQ+ scene. It's the easiest beach day trip from Barcelona - less crowded than Barceloneta and with cleaner water.
Detail
Info
Getting there
Rodalies train (R2 Sud) from Passeig de Gracia or Sants
Journey time
35 - 40 minutes
Cost
~€5 each way
Time needed
Half day to full day
Luggage tip: Sitges station has no lockers. If you're combining a beach day with airport transfer, book LUGGit morning pickup from your Barcelona hotel and afternoon delivery to the airport.
4. Costa Brava (Tossa de Mar)
The Costa Brava coast has some of the most beautiful beaches in Spain. Tossa de Mar is the best day-trip option from Barcelona - a medieval walled town on a headland with a stunning beach below. The old town (Vila Vella) is the only fortified medieval town on the Catalan coast, and the coves nearby have crystal-clear water for snorkeling.
Detail
Info
Getting there
Bus from Estacio del Nord (Sarfa company), or drive
Journey time
1h 15min by bus
Cost
~€13 each way by bus
Time needed
Full day
Luggage tip: No storage at Tossa de Mar. This is a full-day trip best done mid-stay, not on checkout day.
5. Dalí Museum in Figueres
The Dalí Theatre-Museum is the largest surrealist object in the world - an entire building transformed into a work of art. Dalí designed it himself, and it houses the single largest collection of his work. Even people who aren't art fans find it fascinating. The town of Figueres is small, so 3-4 hours is enough.
Detail
Info
Getting there
AVE from Barcelona Sants or regional train from Passeig de Gracia
Journey time
55 min (AVE) or 2h (regional)
Cost
Train ~€12 - 25, Museum ~€14 adults
Time needed
3 - 5 hours
Luggage tip: Combine with Girona - take the AVE to Figueres in the morning, visit the museum, train to Girona (30 min) for lunch and the old town, then AVE back to Barcelona. LUGGit handles your bags while you do both.
6. Tarragona
If you love Roman history, Tarragona (ancient Tarraco) was the capital of Roman Hispania. The amphitheatre overlooking the sea is spectacular, and the old town has Roman walls, a forum, and an aqueduct. The Museu Nacional Arqueologic ties it all together. It's also the closest city to PortAventura theme park.
Detail
Info
Getting there
Regional train from Passeig de Gracia or Sants
Journey time
1h - 1h 15min
Cost
~€8 - 10 each way
Time needed
4 - 6 hours
Luggage tip: Tarragona station has no tourist lockers. If combining with PortAventura, leave bags with LUGGit in Barcelona.
Quick comparison
Destination
Travel Time
Cost (return)
Best for
Montserrat
1h 15min
~€45 (Tot ticket)
Mountains, monastery, hiking
Girona
38 min
~€24 - 40
Medieval town, food, Game of Thrones
Sitges
35 min
~€10
Beach day, seafood, nightlife
Tossa de Mar
1h 15min
~€26
Best beach, swimming, medieval walls
Figueres
55 min
~€24 - 50 + €14
Dalí Museum, surrealism
Tarragona
1h
~€16 - 20
Roman ruins, amphitheatre, history
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best day trip from Barcelona?
Montserrat is the most popular - a mountain monastery 1 hour from Barcelona with incredible views and a boys' choir. For beaches, Sitges (35 min by train). For history and food, Girona (38 min by AVE). For art, the Dalí Museum in Figueres (55 min).
Can I do a day trip on my checkout day?
Yes - book LUGGit to pick up your bags from your hotel at checkout (from €2/bag). They store everything and deliver to Barcelona Airport before your flight. You spend the day exploring Montserrat or Girona with just a daypack.
Is there luggage storage at Montserrat?
No. Montserrat monastery has no luggage lockers or storage. The rack railway and hiking trails make it impossible to visit with suitcases. Leave bags in Barcelona with LUGGit, your hotel, or at Placa Espanya station lockers before taking the FGC train.
How do I get to Montserrat from Barcelona?
Take the FGC train (R5 line) from Placa Espanya station to Monistrol de Montserrat (about 1 hour). Then take the rack railway (Cremallera) up the mountain (20 min). The Tot Montserrat ticket (~€45) includes everything: train, rack railway, museum entry, and the Sant Joan funicular.
Which day trips from Barcelona are best by train?
Girona (38 min AVE), Sitges (35 min Rodalies), and Figueres (55 min AVE) are the easiest by train - frequent departures from Barcelona Sants or Passeig de Gracia. Montserrat uses the FGC commuter line from Placa Espanya. Costa Brava (Tossa de Mar) is the only one that requires a bus.
