Have you have enough of Gaudí and Barcelona? You want to explore more of the beautiful surroundings? To get to know the local culture and scenic landscape of Catalunya, Barcelona is the perfect gateway to discover the region’s top attractions and you can do this in just a day. In the following guide you will find the best trips from Barcelona for every budget and every taste. And the best thing is, all of these exciting destinations are accessible by train within two hours!

Penedès – for wine lovers

Located in the South of Barcelona, the picturesque countryside of Penedès is one of the biggest wine regions in Spain. A wide range of Spain’s finest wines are produced here including the famous Cava, a sparkling wine similar to the French champagne. The two biggest Cava companies, Freixenet and Cordorniu, open the doors to their beautiful wine cellars dating to the 1800’s and you can taste the sweet wine and local food whilst learning more about the wine production. Beautifully set between the peaks of the Mediterranean mountains and the coastal range, the region of Penedès is well worth a day trip from Barcelona. You can get here by car in less than an hour or take the train from Barcelona and get off at Vilafranca del Penedès (R4). There you can visit the little wine museum and head to Sant Sadurni d’Anoia afterwards where most of the wineries are located.

Sitges – for beach lovers

This beautiful seaside resort is only half an hour train ride away from Barcelona. It has become one of the most popular destinations for Barcelonians as well as tourists that want to escape the hectic city during the high season in summer. The ancient fishing village of Sitges offers a breathtaking landscape, a nice little historical town centre and seventeen white sandy beaches to sunbathe and relax. But it’s not as quiet as it seems as the city has one of the busiest cultural agendas in all of Spain: the big Carnival parade, several wine shows as well as the famous Sitges film festival take place throughout the year. Get on the train (R2) at Plaza Catalunya in the city centre of Barcelona and enjoy the train ride along the beautiful coastline of the Mediterranean to Sitges.

Montserrat – for nature lovers

Montserrat is a multi-peaked mountain in a stunning setting only one hour North West from Barcelona by train. A visit to the Benedictine abbey Santa Maria de Montserrat on top of the mountain is worth the trip alone. The surrounding nature is the perfect place to hike, relax and you can discover some amazing views from the top of the Montserrat hill where you’ll also see the most unusual rock formations of the region. Catch the train (R5) at Plaza España in the city centre of Barcelona and get off at Montserrat Aeri. Take the funicular to get to the top of the mountain and a couple of minutes later you will be rewarded with spectacular views over the back country of the Cataluña region.

Figueres – for art lovers

Inaugurated in 1974, the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres is today the largest surrealistic object in the world. It was designed in the building of the former Municipal Theatre of Figueres and contains the most important works of Salvador Dalí’s artistic career. The theatre was destroyed at the end of the Spanish Civil War and Dalí decided to create his own museum on its ruins when he came back to his home town Figueres in the 1960’s. The town and museum are easy to reach with the Renfe train coming from Barcelona. The journey takes approximately two hours.

Tarragona – for history lovers

Situated 100 km South of Barcelona, Tarragona is a city with a long historical past and you can easily spend the whole day wondering around the medieval district, visiting the roman amphitheatre of Tarraco (the Roman name of the city), the cathedral and the numerous archeological sites. The ruins of Tarraco, dated from the II. BC, have been reconstructed to its original state and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. They are located near the sea-shore and provide you with spectacular views over the city and the bay. You can get to Tarragona by taking the Renfe train from Plaza Catalunya in Barcelona.

Have you already been to one of these places during your stay in Barcelona? Do you know some hidden gems in the back-country of Catalunya? If so, please leave a comment and share with us