Wonderful and charming towns near Barcelona
Spain is a country rich in landscapes, variety of lands and types of grounds. It has many different options for touristic destinations to choose from. Each of its regions has its own particularities and is special in its own way. But if you want to have it all in the same place, you should visit Catalonia.
Most of the people think automatically in the city Barcelona when the heard “Catalonia”, but Catalonia has so much more, especially in terms of nature such as mountain and coast, green forests and drylands. Catalonia is a magnificent destination both for weekend getaways and/or for longer trips.
In case you are visiting Barcelona and don’t want to miss any of the places Catalonia has to offer, we have gathered in this article some of the most charming places, the most beautiful towns near Barcelona that will amaze you. Check this list because a day or an afternoon escape to one of these towns would be the best way to complete your trip!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best towns to visit near Barcelona city
Sitges
Sitges is a gorgeous town located in the Mediterranean coast (38 km from Barcelona) that belongs to the region of “El Garraf”. It has three ports: Puerto de Ginesta (one of the largest marinas in Europe), Garraf and Aiguadolç. Beyond the touristic offer, the exquisite restaurants, and its beautiful beaches, Sitges has two things that make it so special. First, Sitges is world-wide famous for hosting every year the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, one of the biggest science fiction and horror film events in the world. On the other hand, Sitges is popular for being an LGBT destination with visitors from all over the world, where respect and tolerance are the driving force of development and make Sitges an open and cosmopolitan city with a freedom atmosphere.
Besalú
The municipality of Besalú is located in La Garrotxa region, very close to the districts of Pla de L’Estany and Alt Empordà (Girona). Being a mountain destination, it is the perfect option for hiking lovers, biking fans and of course for those passionate about nature. In addition, this city has great symbolism, because it maintains original elements of the time of the Roman Empire and the Medieval Age. Since 1966, Besalú has been declared a National Historic Site for its architectural value, being one of the most important medieval towns in Catalonia. It takes between 1.5 and 2 hours to arrive from Barcelona. If you want to feel like you have traveled through time, we strongly recommend you visit this amazing town.
Sant Pol de Mar
Sant Pol de Mar is a town on the Mediterranean coast that belongs to the Maresme region, northern Catalonia. The main monument of this town is the Sant Pau hermitage, built in the 11th century. Likewise, the late Gothic Sant Jaume church, built in the 16th century on an existing chapel, is also very significant to the locals and the tourist that visit the town. From Sant Pol, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Maresme coast and the city of Barcelona. The city also has great architectonic value, and many of the buildings in the area retain modernist architectural elements on the facades. Among them, mention should be made of a series of buildings in the center of the city: Les Escoles, Cal Dr. Roura, Can Planiol and Can Tió.
Figueres
Figueres, located in the north part of Girona, is the capital of the Alt Empordà region. The beauty of its coast is spectacular to photograph. This city has many points of interest to visit. One of the most important is the Dalí Theater-Museum, which is dedicated entirely to the painter Salvador Dalí, where a considerable part of his great surrealist work is exhibited.
Dalí was born in this Catalan town and it’s his most notorious and beloved inhabitant, something you can feel in almost every street of the town.
Cadaqués
Cadaqués is one of our favorite towns near Barcelona. If you go to Cadaqués, a fishing village in the Alt Empordà located at the northern end of the Costa Brava, you will understand what natural beauty really means. The panoramic views offered by this town are unbeatable, as it borders the Mediterranean Sea on the one hand and the Puig Pení and Puig del Bufadors heights on the other. Two of their most notorious attractions are the beautiful Gothic church of Santa María and the Cap de Creus Natural Park, with 14,000 protected hectares. At its end, you’ll find the famous Cala Nans lighthouse where the Geology Museum currently operates. In Cadaqués there is also the Museum of Cadaqués where temporary exhibitions of the plastic artists of the area take place, especially the master Salvador Dalí, who chose this town as his preferred summer destination.
Ripollet
Ripollet is part of the metropolitan area of Barcelona, although it is in the Vallès Occidental region. It is noteworthy that the Ripoll River passes through this municipality, which originates in the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac Nature Park. Ripollet is a perfect place to make a weekend escapade or to make rural tourism since it is only 12 km away from Barcelona. Fun fact about Ripollet: according to Spotify, is the Spanish city that likes David Bowie’s music the most. Another great reason to visit it!
