The Most Beautiful Towns Near Barcelona

I could go on and on about why Barcelona is special. But in this blog, I'm going to give you just one more reason: it's got lots of beautiful towns close by. So close by that they're mere train rides away. 

Are you in Barcelona and have a day (or few) to spare? Here's my list of the most beautiful towns near (ish) to Barcelona, and why they're all must-sees. 

1. Sitges

I'm kicking things off with Sitges, the closest town to Barcelona. Take the train from Plaza Catalunya or the metro at the bottom of Passeig de Gracia, and ride for about 50 minutes. A word to the wise: make sure you're going down the right metro hole at Passeig de Gracia - there's 4 of them, and each goes in a different direction. 

Anyway, Sitges is a town with old Spanish towny charm that also feels like an extension of the cosmopolitan Barcelona. I'd recommend renting a bike and riding along the Sitges coastline - it looks (and feels) like a movie. 

Sitges' beauty draws in tourists from around the globe - so much so that it's got a world-famous carnival, film festival and string of buzzing LGBT+ nightclubs. If you're visiting around Christmas, make sure to go sit on the rocks at sunset - you can watch the Christmas marching band's entire show right on the sea. 

Sitges has narrow, hilly streets, see-through waves, white apartments with coloured shutters, a selection of long, white beaches, and of course - palm trees. Make sure to eat dinner at a beachfront restaurant, have an evening swim or take a nighttime stroll through the palm-treed hills past these coastal mansions. The moonlight will take your breath away. 

2. Tarragona 

Second on my list is Tarragona. Tarragona is in the Northeast of Catalonia and located 1 and a half hours from Barcelona. Fun fact: it was briefly named "Tarraco" during Roman occupation.

The port city's most famous landmarks include its Old Town and Ampifeatre Roma on the coastline. Try one of the many tapas or Italian places, grab an ice cream by the sea or take a sunset walk past the beach for amazing views of the ancient city. 

You'll see a bunch of fearless skaters trying their luck having a go down the impossibly steep hills - and nail it. Plus, Tarragona's rich history means there's a great free walking tour available. 

Some of the walking tour's pit stops include the Roman tombs and even traces of its old Forum! 

3. Lloret de Mar 

Lloret de Mar takes third place, and takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to from Barcelona. To get there, go to Barcelona's Estacio de Nord Station by Arc de Triomf and get the bus going towards Tossa de Mar. The bus ride is worth it - Lloret de Mar is very pretty, and soon after arriving I realised why Don Francis named a song after it. 

Lloret de Mar is on Spain's famous Costa Brava - and has the breathtaking views to match. If you've been paying a bit of attention, you'll realise a running theme in these towns is they've all got beautiful rolling hills, ivory beaches and spectacular views. But hey, it's Spain. And much like the other towns, Lloret de Mar is soaked in history. 

It dates back to 3rd Century B.C and used to be a fishing village. Not only that, it's home to some gorgeous Modernista architecture, a style made famous by none other than Antoni Gaudi. Do the cliffside hike that starts at the end of the promenade and takes you right along the ocean. The houses you'll pass on the way are beautiful. Don't worry, it's a tame hike with railing  and plenty of spots for a cliffside picnic. 

From there, you can visit the Jardin de Santa Clotilde. Jardin de Santa Clotilde cliffside gardens offer some of the most stunning views of the ocean in the whole town. The Renaissance-style gardens was built hundreds of years ago as a token of love from the Lord of the manor to his wife. Sadly, she passed away before the gardens were completed. But to this day, their distant relatives live in the manor house at the top, and kindly open up part of it for the public - for a small fee of course. Fun fact: the Game of Thrones prequel House of Dragons was filmed in the gardens! 

4. Castelldefels 

Like Sitges, Castelldefels is right on the outskirts of the Barcelona province. And like the other stunning towns on this list, it's pretty well known. But hey - in case you didn't know about any of these must-sees, you're welcome. 

And shocker - Castelldefels are beautiful. It's beaches are pearly white, the tapas is delicious, and the skies are warm and bright - even in the winter. Fun fact: some Castelldefels architecture traces back to as far as 967 A.D! 

There's a wicked park on the way to the main beach where you can play ping pong to your heart's content. And there's plenty of cute cafes where you can sit and watch the world (and the sea) go by. 

Take a walk along the promenade with the Catalonia mountains as your backdrop, or see the historic Castelldefels Castle or Torre Barona. Or if you're there in the summer, make sure to go to its festival on September 11th, which is national Catalonia day. 

5. Girona 

Next up is a place close to my heart - Girona. Girona is in the Northeast of Catalonia, and is about 1 and a half hours away from Barca. A series of colourful houses preside over the might River Onyar, that runs through the middle. 

Girona is world-famous for its charming cobbles lanes and historic architecture, Girona is not one to miss. I recommend grabbing your friends and going on a twilight walk through the walled Barri Vell Old Quarter. There are pretty landscaped gardens, the famous Passeig Arquelogic, and old-timey watch towers that you can climb up for sunset over the Medieval city. 

Plus there's even remains of the Roman Vella Fortress. Trust me, this walk will make you feel like you've gone back in time. Some of Girona's other must-see landmarks include Parc de la Devesa, which is great for a picnic, the Girona Cathedral and historic site Banys Arabs. 

And in true Spanish style, you must walk down Placa de la Independencia and have a long and drawn out morning coffee in its iconic main square. Fun fact: the hit HBO series Game of Thrones filmed an episode there! 

6. Cadaques 

It's not that I'm serving the best for last. But once in your life, you need to visit Cadaques. Cadaques is a little seaside town on the Alt Emporda Comerca, which is in the Girona province. I'm sure that you can get there quicker, but it took me about 3 hours to get to Cadaques from Barcelona. 

Cadaques is (you guessed it) another historic town, and has written records dating back to the 9th Century. Hundreds of years ago, Cadaques was frequented by Greeks and Romans, who often used its harbour as a pit stop between long voyages. 

Fun fact: one of the world's most influential artists, Salvador Dali, spent some time living in Cadaques. You can now visit the Dali Musuem. But all fun facts aside, Cadaques is truly spectacular. It's incredibly hilly, and lined with dark grey cobblestones, and looks a bit too beautiful to be true. The surrounding Cap de Crues mountains preside over the idyllic harbour, which is speckled with little blue and white sail boats. 

In the town centre, there's sea-view restaurants, sloping alleyways, secret coves, and quaint stony beaches. Take a left at the main square and walk along the coastline until you reach one of the small beaches that offers kayack rentals. Then take yourself on a little trip to one of the tiny rock islands in the harbour - it'll be an afternoon to remember. Cadaques by day is beautiful. And Cadaques by night? That and then some. 

Voila, my list of the most beautiful towns near Barca. Now you know exactly where to go if you want a few days break from the city life.