10 Best Road Trips near Girona
Escape to Catalonia this weekend!
The best road trips near Girona take in everything from sandy Costa Brava beaches to rugged natural parks and picture-perfect mountain villages. Girona is an exciting city surrounded by glorious Catalan countryside, so prepare yourself for a wildly beautiful ride.
You’ll travel through time at tiny mediaeval villages hidden among rugged mountains and thick pine forest. Take time to sit and savour rich Catalonian cuisine at the region’s many welcoming restaurants and taverns. Whether you want to hike, cycle, swim or just relax and enjoy the scenery, Girona is a perfect starting point for your adventures in this scenic part of Spain.
1. Montserrat
Mountains, museums and a dramatically beautiful monastery
Ideal para: Foto, Alimentação
Around 2 hours from Girona, Montserrat attracts photographers, history buffs and sightseers with its stunning scenery and world-famous monastery perched beneath jagged peaks. The Benedictine Santa Maria de Montserrat monastery is iconic, complemented by a funicular railway offering incredible views and the Montserrat Museum housing works by Picasso and Dalí.
While a day trip from Girona is possible, guesthouses and hotels around the monastery offer cosy overnight options. Local cafes and restaurants serve dishes like mató (fresh cheese with honey), hearty meat stews, local sausages and refreshing cava or iced vermouth.
Montserrat
2. Tarragona
A treasure trove of Roman ruins
Ideal para: História, Foto
Imagine the amphitheatres of Rome against a backdrop of the blue Mediterranean Sea and you’re somewhere close to picturing the beauty of Tarragona. Around 2 hours’ drive southwest of Girona, the city is awash with archaeological evidence of its time as Tarraco, a Roman colony, although beach lovers will be in their element here, too.
History buffs can marvel at the amphitheatre, Roman Circus and ancient city walls that form part of the UNESCO-listed Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco, while the city’s cathedral impresses with its Romanesque and Gothic flourishes. The archaeological attractions are not far from soft sand beaches. Let the scent of freshly grilled fish entice you to try the catch of the day at relaxed seafront restaurants.
Tarragona
3. Montseny
A UNESCO-listed nature reserve in the mountains
Ideal para: Aventura, Foto
Around an hour’s drive or bus ride from Girona, Montseny is a mountainous natural park and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The rugged Montseny Massif attracts hikers and climbers, while gentler paths reveal waterfalls, tree-filled valleys and traditional Catalan villages hidden among forests and mountains.
Though wolves and wild boar are elusive, soaring birds of prey are often seen. If you’d like to stay a bit longer, book a room at one of the family-run guesthouses or luxe mountain retreats. To enjoy Catalonian produce like meats, cheeses and forest mushrooms, check out the local restaurants and their exciting menus.
Montseny
4. Vic
Gothic architecture and a mediaeval old town.
Ideal para: Foto, Alimentação
A handsome mediaeval old town and Catalonia’s largest arcaded plaza make Vic an excellent place to snap photos and soak up the ambience of a historic Catalan town. Regular buses make the journey of around 60 km (37 miles) from Girona, and day trippers will find plenty to keep them occupied in this traditional town.
Famed for sausages and cured meats, Vic attracts foodies with its abundant local restaurants set out on historic flagstones. The hearty fare helps fuel cultural walks around the 11th-century Cathedral, the grand 14th-century Plaça Major and the impressive Mediaeval art of the Episcopal Museum. It’s an easy day trip, but many visitors choose to stay overnight at the town’s many hotels and friendly guesthouses.
Vic
5. Beget
Picture perfect village in the Pyrenees
Ideal para: História, Foto, Alimentação
Around an hour’s drive from Girona, the tiny Pyrenean village of Beget is an ideal trip for visitors looking for fresh mountain air, resplendent nature and jaw-dropping views. Home to the Romanesque Sant Cristòfol church, mediaeval bridges and stone houses that appear untouched by time, Beget is officially classified as one of only 14 ‘Charming Villages’ by the Catalan tourist board.
Beget boasts charm in abundance, and a visit here invites travellers to slow down and stroll the cobbled streets or lace up their hiking boots for an energetic hike to tumbling see waterfalls. After a hard day’s exploring, take a seat at a local tavern for a carafe of house wine and bowls of rich soups and stews.
Beget
6. Parc Natural de Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac
Adventures in the great outdoors
Ideal para: Aventura, Famílias, Foto
About 2 hours’ drive from Girona, the magnificent Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac natural park attracts adventure lovers and outdoorsy types. It’s famed for its wildly beautiful landscapes of rocky cliffs and dense forests of pine and oak trees.
Hiking trails cut through the park, which stretches for some 85 km (53 miles) of remarkable biodiversity. Owls, eagles and even vultures are at home among the trees here, and wild boar and eagle-eyed visitors might even spot the park’s reclusive wild boars. It’s a fine destination for history lovers, too. The park is dotted with ancient ruins and scenic mountain villages such as Mura, with its stone houses and mediaeval castle.
Localização: Ctra. de Terrassa a Navarcles, km 14.8, 08230 Barcelona, Spain
Telefone: +34 938 31 73 00
Parc Natural de Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac
7. Castellfollit de la Roca
Dramatically beautiful clifftop village
Ideal para: História, Foto
Perched precariously on the edge of a basalt cliff, Castellfollit de la Roca is perhaps the most jaw-dropping of Catalonia’s many historic towns and villages. The tiny mediaeval village is backed by the rocky cliff faces and thick vegetation of the Garrotxa Volcanic Area Nature Reserve at the meeting of 2 rivers and is an absolute dream for photographers.
Hiking through the area and along the rivers of Fluvià and Toronell allow visitors to snap pictures of the village from below. To reach Castellfollit de la Roca, hop on a bus in Girona, sit back and enjoy a journey of less than an hour, passing through stunning Catalonian countryside.
Castellfollit de la Roca
8. Exile Memorial Museum (MUME)
Important Spanish Civil War museum
Ideal para: História, Casais, Grupos
Around 90 minutes’ drive from Girona, the Museu Memorial de l’Exili (or MUME) offers a fascinating insight into the Spanish Civil War. It serves as a poignant reminder of the subsequent exile of thousands of Republicans fleeing Nationalist forces.
Located in the town of La Jonquera, close to the historically important border with France, the highly regarded museum offers thought-provoking collections of letters, photographs and personal recollections of the 1936-1939 war and its painful aftermath. It provides an excellent historical overview for anybody interested in learning about the Civil War and the impact on Spain and its people.
Localização: Carrer Major, 43, 47, 17700 La Jonquera, Girona, Spain
Abre: Tuesday–Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm (closed on Mondays)
Telefone: +34 972 55 65 33
Exile Memorial Museum (MUME)
9. Màgic Món del Tren
Fun day out for families and train enthusiasts
Ideal para: Famílias, Foto
The Màgic Món del Tren (or ‘Magic World of the Train’) is an interactive museum that makes a fun day trip for families and train-loving visitors to Spain. The museum is in the picturesque town of Santa Eugènia de Berga, an easy 1-hour drive from Girona. This fun museum is known for its intricately detailed model railways, with miniature trains passing through replicas of famous cities.
Visitors are encouraged to get hands-on and control the model trains themselves. Engaging workshops and exhibitions provide an educational peek into the evolution of railway technology. Even if you’re not a rail enthusiast when you enter, this magical museum may convert you into a fully-fledged train fan.
Localização: Carrer Catalunya, 9, 08507 Santa Eugènia de Berga, Barcelona, Spain
Abre: Wednesday–Friday from 11 am to 1 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 11 am to 1 pm and 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm (closed on Monday–Tuesday)
Telefone: +34 938 83 51 30
Màgic Món del Tren
10. Clarella Winery
Famous winery set in glorious countryside
Ideal para: Casais, Foto, Alimentação
Leave the car behind and take a cab or organised tour to the inviting Clarella Winery. It lies some 40 minutes scenic drive from Girona in the rolling countryside of the Empordà region. This is some of Catalonia’s finest wine country, and the vineyards, set in a centuries-old estate at the foot of the Pyrenees, offer an unforgettable wine tasting experience.
Tour the manor house, vineyards and cellars, learn about local wines and their perfect food pairings, and of course, taste some of Clarella’s famous vinos, together with delicious charcuterie.
Localização: Mas Clarella Ctra. Vidra km 10, 08584 Barcelona, Spain
Abre: Wednesday–Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm (closed on Monday–Tuesday)
Telefone: +34 683 60 23 97
Clarella Winery
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