Everyone knows of Barcelona. You’ve probably seen images of Gaudi’s incredible architectural gems like the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell.
But not everyone can name the cities surrounding Barcelona, nor tell you about the incredible experiences located just a few hours drive away.
We spent a month living in Barcelona as part of Airbnb’s LiveAnywhere Program and wanted to make the most of it by exploring other cities in Catalonia as well. For those unfamiliar with Catalonia, here’s a short introduction: Catalonia is made up of four regions — Barcelona , Girona, Tarragona, and Lleida.
This Spain travel guide shows the highlights of our epic Catalonia road trip — the best things to do in Girona, Tarragona and Monserrat!
Note: We did a separate video guide and article on the best things to do in Barcelona.
Our Catalonia road trip kicks off in Girona. This region has beautiful old towns as well as plenty of activities to satisfy thrill-seekers. We spent a day seeing the Game of Thrones filming locations around Girona Old Town and then checked out lesser-known gems outside of the city, like a hot air balloon ride over the volcanic region of Garrotxa and skydiving at Empuriabrava.
We also made a day trip to the town of Figueres, best known for the eclectic Dali Theatre-Museum.
Next, we drove south towards Tarragona, the first Roman stronghold in Spain. The best things to do in Tarragona include themeparks like PortAventura Park and Ferrari Land as well as historic landmarks like the Tarragona Amphitheatre, the Mediterranean Balcony and Las Ferreres Aqueduct.
Lastly, we stopped by Montserrat — one of Catalonia’s most famous landscapes. There are two main things to do at Montserrat: visit the Montserrat Monastery and hiking to Montserrat’s Peak, Sant Jeroni.
Plan your own Catalonia road trip with our guides and itineraries:
–10D Barcelona Itinerary for First Timers — Road Trip Around the Best of Catalonia
–16 Best Things to Do in Barcelona Besides the La Sagrada Familia
Best Things to do in Catalonia
0:06 – Introduction to Catalonia
Catalonia is made up of four regions — Barcelona , Girona, Tarragona, and Lleida. Despite being part of Spain, Catalonia has its own flag, language, and traditions not found anywhere else in the country!
GIRONA – 0:24
If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, opt for a GOT tour. The tour comes with an experienced guide who will introduce the prominent filming locations as well as the interesting history of Girona.
0:47 – Girona Cathedral (Free)
The Girona Cathedral is the city’s crown jewel. It was built between the 11th and 18th centuries and houses one of the world’s widest Gothic naves.
0:57 – Our unique castle Airbnb
This 13th-century farmhouse on Airbnb was a little out of the way (1.5hr drive from Barcelona or 30min drive from Girona), but truly an unforgettable experience.
1:22 – Exploring the Mas Las Heras, the 13th Century Farmhouse
Warm hospitality, beautifully decorated rooms, and adorable donkeys outside.
2:29 – Vol De Coloms — Riding The La Garrotxa Hot Air Balloon (From ~S$249)
An hour’s drive from Girona Old Town is the stunning volcanic region of Garrotxa. The area is known for medieval villages and a range of dormant volcanoes.
3:26 – Skydive Empuriabrava (~S$409)
Empuriabrava’s mix of ocean and mountain views make it a rewarding place to try skydiving.
5:44 – Dali Theatre-Museum (~S$21.60)
The Dali Theatre-Museum is the main reason why people visit Figueres.
TARRAGONA – 6:12
A coastal city famous for well-preserved ancient Roman ruins. It was the first Roman stronghold in Spain, dating back to 218 BC.
6:22 – Las Ferreres Aqueduct (Free)
Also known as Devil’s Bridge, this structure has been around since the first century A.D. and used to supply the city with water.
6:30 – Mercat De Tarragona (Free)
Beautiful indoor market hall housing butchers, bakers, produce vendors & artisanal food stalls!
6:40 – Ferrari Land (~S$29.30) & PortAventura Park (~S$70)
PortAventura Park, a thrill-seeker’s paradise has 43 rides across six themed worlds. Ferrari Land’s Red Force stands at an intimidating 112m and goes from 0 – 180km/hr in just five seconds!
MONTSERRAT – 7:07
7:34 – The Montserrat Monastery
Founded over a thousand years ago, Montserrat Monastery is one of Catalonia’s most recognized landmarks.
7:43 – Escolonia Boy’s Choir
This prestigious all-boys choir is one of Europe’s oldest singing groups, with a history of over 700 years!
8:09 – Sant Joan Furnicular (~S$13.30) and Sant Jeroni Hike
Montserrat, or “serrated mountain” in Catalan, is one of Catalonia’s most famous landscapes.
How to get to and around Catalonia (from Singapore)
Flights to Catalonia
For this Catalonia itinerary, we flew in and out of Barcelona Airport (BCN).
Pro-tip for the cheapest flight fares — set up a price alert about three to six months ahead so you’ll be notified of price drops.
If you can’t see the widget above, click here to check flights from Singapore to Barcelona instead!
Renting a car in Barcelona
Look up car rentals via doyouspain.com and opt to pick it up from Barcelona Sants (train station). We got a five-seater SUV with automatic transmission from OK Rent A Car at €153 (~S$236) for six days (excl. zero excess for insurance).
