Barcelona Day Trips: Montserrat, Sitges, and Girona

Barcelona is a great base for day trips, and I tried three that each offered something completely different. Montserrat (1 hour by train + cable car) is the most dramatic. The monastery sits high in the mountains, and the views are incredible. Sitges is a coastal escape just 40 minutes by train — beaches, relaxed atmosphere, and great seafood. Girona, about 1 hour away, offers medieval streets, city walls, and a quieter alternative to Barcelona. Each trip is easy using regional trains from Barcelona Sants Station. I also rented a car once and travelled north with some friends, and stayed in the mountains before going back the next morning. We preferred a B&B, but some of the group had stayed at the hostels in the past, and while an experience, they are busy 24/7 so take your eye patch and ear plugs. I have also gone to Barcelona for large international trade shows and the city handles the crowds with ease. A great place to meet international colleagues in. What I’d do differently: Spend a full night in Girona — it deserves more time.