Catalonia
Travelers come to Catalonia for Gaudí's buildings in Barcelona, the Costa Brava coves and the Dalí museum in Figueres, with mountain days at Montserrat or the Pyrenees.
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Catalonia is an autonomous region in northeastern Spain, running along the Mediterranean from the French border toward Tarragona. Its capital, Barcelona, is the largest city and the usual starting point. Catalan and Spanish are both spoken, and signs appear in both. Travelers come for Antoni Gaudí's modernist buildings in Barcelona, Salvador Dalí's museum in Figueres, the Benedictine monastery on Montserrat, and the Roman remains in Tarragona. Try calçots, charred green onions eaten in late winter and spring, and pa amb tomàquet, bread rubbed with tomato and olive oil.
A trip usually splits into three parts: the city, the coast and the mountains. Barcelona needs at least two or three days for Gaudí's sites and the old quarters. The Costa Brava has rocky coves and fishing villages, and Girona's medieval walls are an easy day trip from Barcelona. The Catalan Pyrenees suit hikers and, in winter, skiers. Spring and early autumn suit the coast and city best, with mild weather and fewer crowds on the beaches. Allow a week to cover one or two of these parts without rushing.
Catalonia in five
- Book Sagrada Família and Montserrat tickets aheadSagrada Família sells timed entry slots online, and Montserrat's rack railway and cable car can be full in peak season. Pick your slots first, then plan the rest of the day around them.Tours and tickets
- Buy a T-casual card for Barcelona transportThe T-casual card gives ten trips on metro, bus and tram, and one card can be shared between riders. A single ticket costs more per ride, so the card is the cheaper choice for a city stay.Getting around
- Take the train to Girona and SitgesHigh-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Girona in under an hour, and the FGC line runs to Sitges. Trains beat driving on both routes because old-town parking is limited.Girona
- Rent a car only for the Costa Brava covesBarcelona is easier without a car, but the small coves and villages along the Costa Brava are not. Expect narrow roads and tight parking in summer, and collect the car in Girona rather than in the city.Costa Brava
- Order the menú del dia at lunchtimeThe set lunch, called menú del dia, is usually a starter, a main, dessert and a drink for a fixed price. It is often the cheapest way to eat a full lunch out in Catalonia.
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Catalonia, the full guide
Barcelona
Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia in northeast Spain, is the city for Antoni Gaudí's modernist buildings, a medieval old town and a beach within walking distance. Three to four days is enough for a first visit.
Girona
A walled city in Catalonia where the old town sits along a riverfront of painted houses, close enough to Barcelona for a day.
Tarragona
Tarragona is a Roman port on Spain's Costa Daurada, known for an amphitheater built against the sea and a cathedral in the old town above the harbor.
Costa Brava
The Costa Brava's rocky coves, white villages and Dalí sites make it a good base for a beach and village trip north of Barcelona.
Things to do in Catalonia
See all attractions in Catalonia
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Schengen short stays for many passports; check before you fly Read more
- Emergency
- 112 for police, ambulance and fire
- Tipping
- Not required; rounding up or leaving a few euros is common
- Time
- UTC+1 in winter, UTC+2 with daylight saving (CET/CEST)
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryCool, quiet
- FebruaryMild, quiet
- MarchMild, rising
- AprilSpring, Easter
- MayMild, best
- JuneWarm, busy
- JulyHot, crowded
- AugustHot, sea breeze
- SeptemberWarm, easy
- OctoberMild, quiet
- NovemberCool, quiet
- DecemberChristmas lights
Right now in Catalonia
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 11°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 1 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 3%
Catalonia
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today17°10°3%Monday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Tue11°9°85%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 85%.
- Wed13°5°55%Wednesday: Rain. High 13°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Thu14°5°18%Thursday: Rain. High 14°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Fri15°5°2%Friday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat16°5°8%Saturday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sun17°10°48%Sunday: Rain. High 17°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 48%.
Updated 09:44 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Feb–MarCarnival of Vilanova i la GeltrúSitges, a day trip
- May–JunPrimavera SoundBarcelona, a day trip
- JunSónarBarcelona, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Montserratabout 1 hour by train and rack railwayA monastery on a jagged mountain, home to the Black Madonna, with hiking trails from the top.Read the guide
- Gironaabout 40 min to 1 hour by high-speed trainOld town walls, houses along the Onyar river and a cathedral with one of the widest Gothic naves.Read the guide
- Sitgesabout 40 min by FGC trainA whitewashed seaside town with beaches and the Cau Ferrat museum.Read the guide
- Tarragonaabout 1 to 1.5 hours by trainRoman walls and an amphitheatre overlooking the sea.Read the guide
Before you go to Catalonia
Rules for Catalonia, checked
- Spain is in the Schengen Area, so check your entry requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site before you fly.Source
- Non-EU travelers may be registered at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the official EU page for current rules.
- Barcelona charges a tourist tax on hotel stays, paid per person per night. Check the city's official site before you book.Source
Plan around Catalonia
Districts, Gaudí sites and day plans
Read the guideCosta Brava travel guideCoves, Tossa de Mar and Cadaqués
Read the guideGirona travel guideOld town walls, cathedral and river houses
Read the guideMontserrat travel guideThe monastery, the mountain and getting up
Read the guideGetting aroundMetro, trains, buses and car rental
Read the guideVisas and entrySchengen rules and what to check
Read the guideCatalonia FAQ
Is Barcelona worth visiting?
Yes, for Modernisme architecture, food and beaches within a short metro ride. Plan two or three days for the city, then add Girona or Montserrat for a different side of Catalonia.
Do I need to speak Catalan in Catalonia?
No. Spanish works almost everywhere, while Catalan is the regional language on many signs and menus. A few phrases such as bon dia and gràcies are welcomed.
How many days do you need in Catalonia?
Four to five days for Barcelona with one or two day trips, or a week if you add the Costa Brava. Trying to cover the city, the coast and the Pyrenees in one short trip means long transfers.
When is the best time to visit Catalonia?
May, June, September and October suit the sea, mild weather and open old towns. July and August are hot, and the coast is busy.
Can you visit the Costa Brava without a car?
Yes for Girona and Tossa de Mar, which are reached by train and bus. The smaller coves and villages are easier by car, and parking is tight in summer.