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Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route inspiration

Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava

Gaudí, medieval Girona and rocky coves

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9 days through Barcelona, Girona, Calella de Palafrugell, and beyond.

Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava is a 9-day curated route with 4 destinations and 40 places to eat, see, and do. Plan it in TripsCircle.

  1. 1
    Barcelona on the Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route

    Destination 01

    Barcelona

    10 places

    Catalan capital; stay 3 nights for Gaudí, markets and tapas.

    • Sagrada Família near BarcelonaPhoto: Canaan · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Sagrada Família

      Gaudí's basilica under construction since 1882, with forest-like columns and stained glass.

      Tip Morning light hits the east-facing windows best.

      SeeEixample$$$2 hrMorning
    • Casa Batlló near BarcelonaPhoto: ChristianSchd · CC BY-SA 3.0

      Casa Batlló

      Gaudí-remodeled townhouse with a bone-like facade and a dragon-back roof.

      SeeEixample$$$75 minAfternoon
    • Park Güell near BarcelonaPhoto: essetefano · CC BY 3.0

      Park Güell

      Hillside park of mosaic terraces and Gaudí structures overlooking the city.

      Tip Timed tickets; the monumental zone is ticketed.

      SeeGràcia$$1.5 hrEarly morning
    • Gothic Quarter near BarcelonaPhoto: Llull · CC BY-SA 2.0

      Gothic Quarter

      Medieval lanes around the cathedral, Plaça del Rei and Roman wall remains.

      DoCiutat VellaFree2 hrMorning
    • Palau de la Música Catalana near BarcelonaPhoto: Ralf Roletschek · GFDL 1.2

      Palau de la Música Catalana

      Modernist concert hall with a stained-glass skylight; tours or concerts.

      Tip A concert ticket often costs about the same as a tour.

      SeeSant Pere$$60 minEvening
    • Bunkers del Carmel near BarcelonaPhoto: Laura V. G. · Google

      Bunkers del Carmel

      Civil War anti-aircraft site on Turó de la Rovira with a 360° city view.

      Tip Bring water; no shops at the top.

      OutdoorsEl CarmelFree60 minSunset
    • Picasso Museum near BarcelonaPhoto: uayebt · CC BY 2.0

      Picasso Museum

      Large collection of Picasso's early work in medieval palaces.

      Tip Free on Thursday evenings with booking.

      SeeEl Born$$1.5 hrAfternoon
    • La Boqueria near BarcelonaPhoto: Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0

      La Boqueria

      Covered market off La Rambla; eat at counter bars like El Quim.

      Tip Head to the back stalls; front ones target tourists.

      EatEl Raval$$60 minMorning
    • Bar Cañete near BarcelonaPhoto: Bar Cañete · Google

      Bar Cañete

      Counter-seating tapas bar near La Rambla serving classic and seasonal plates.

      Tip Book a counter seat.

      EatEl Raval$$$1.5 hrDinner
    • El Xampanyet near BarcelonaPhoto: El Xampanyet · Google

      El Xampanyet

      Tiled cava bar near the Picasso Museum, busy since the 1920s.

      Tip Order house cava and anchovies.

      DrinkEl Born$60 minEarly evening
  2. 2
    Girona on the Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route

    Destination 02

    Girona

    10 places

    Walled medieval city on the Onyar; 2 nights.

  3. 3
    Calella de Palafrugell on the Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route

    Destination 03

    Calella de Palafrugell

    10 places

    Fishing village with arcades on the beach; 2–3 nights to explore the coast.

  4. 4
    Cadaqués on the Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route

    Destination 04

    Cadaqués

    10 places

    Whitewashed town on Cap de Creus; 2 nights.

The moments that shape this trip.

Planning Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava.

Spend three days in Barcelona for the Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló and the Gothic Quarter, with cava at El Xampanyet. Take the 40-minute fast train to Girona to walk the city walls and the old Jewish quarter. Drive to the Costa Brava around Calella de Palafrugell for the coastal path to Llafranc, Cap Roig gardens and the medieval villages of Pals and Peratallada. Finish in Cadaqués, with Dalí's house at Portlligat and the wild headland of Cap de Creus.

Good for Travelers who want a big-city art fix followed by medieval towns and coastal walking.

When to go

Late May, June and September have warm sea and fewer crowds than July and August. Spring and autumn suit walking the Camí de Ronda; many beach restaurants close from November to March.

Getting around

Use the metro in Barcelona and the high-speed train to Girona. Hire a car in Girona for the coast, since buses between Costa Brava villages are slow and infrequent.

Tips for your crew

  • Book Sagrada Família, Park Güell and the Dalí house online; all use timed tickets that sell out.
  • Cadaqués has limited parking; use the paid car park at the town entrance and walk in.
  • Pack water shoes; many coves are pebble or rock rather than sand.

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