Barcelona & Surrounding Area

Barcelona & Surrounding Area

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J8 SVG

Original Poster:

1,468 posts

129 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Having only been to Spain once before when I was about 9 (Stayed in Alicante and all I remember is a dirty beach and disappointed parents) I've decided it's time to go back and do some exploring elsewhere in the country. Booked cheap flights to Barcelona and a hire car for 8 days at the end of October with my girlfriend.

Not expecting it to be hugely sunny or even dry (not been on a really hot holiday in over ten years, not my thing) but I am hoping to see some nice things!

I've not booked anywhere to stay yet and although I'm trying to keep this as low cost as possible the flights and car hire are only £175 each (despite under-25, £65 surcharge on car rental!!!) so this allows us to spend a bit more on exploring and maybe driving further from the city.

Is there anywhere within a 4 hour drive that you'd recommend, similarly, is there anything I shouldn't miss in Barcelona itself as I'm sure we'll stay there for a few days

Thank you!

The Leaper

4,937 posts

205 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
You could start here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Why is it that PHers have an aversion to using the excellent search facility?

R.

J8 SVG

Original Poster:

1,468 posts

129 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
They were asking for things to do in Barca, although very useful, I was asking for anywhere in a 4 hour radius so a slightly different thread. Thanks for the link, anyway smile

Sharted

2,615 posts

142 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Really enjoyed Girona last year.

Old town is mainly traffic free and has great places to eat/drink.

Was very warm in September so October should be pretty OK.

We rented an apartment close (as in joined to) the Cathedral, was expensive but there were affordable hotels very close by in the alleyways around the old town.

Felt very Spanish if that makes sense

Bluebarge

4,519 posts

177 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
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Get yourself a guidebook or have a browse on Tripadvisor. Your search area is so bloody huge that it is impossible to make recommendations (4 hours from Barca gets you to Valencia, Pamplona or Avignon at each landward compass point so listing the attractions in that area would take all bloody year).

To start you off a bit closer to your destination - Montserrat, Tarragona and the Segura Viudas winery (others are available e.g. Codorniu)

Trophybloo

1,207 posts

186 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Reus is a shortish drive and worth a day for the Gaudi museum (his birthplace)
Tarragona is full of Roman remains. Shame you aren't in the vicinity to take in viewing one of the stages of Rally Catalunya
Actually you might be 23-26 Oct. smile


The jiffle king

6,894 posts

257 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Sitges
Tarragona
Olot
Girona
Montserrat
Llanca


There are 100's of places

wibblebrain

656 posts

139 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
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Without hesitation I would recommend a day trip to Collioure in France. It's about a 2 hour drive from Barcelona.

Charming place to meander about in. Go there in the evening as the place comes alive with locals.

Bill

52,472 posts

254 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
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I'd also recommend Sitges and Colliore particularly, but you're also within easy reach of the Rioja region and the Pyrenees. The Parc National de Estany Saint Maurici is spectacular.

J8 SVG

Original Poster:

1,468 posts

129 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Thank you for all the advise, I'll take all these places into account when I'm planning where we'll stay and I may even come back here when the trip is done if I remember smile

J8 SVG

Original Poster:

1,468 posts

129 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
Having booked the car hire, my girlfriend decided that actually, she did not want to go that far and maybe we should just stay within an hour of barcelona so I've booked an apartment in Barcelona for four nights, a hotel in Girona for a night and one on the coast (S'agaro, I think?) so that she can 'wake up to sea views' for a few nights to end the holiday. Not the adventure I was hoping for but we will just explore the nearby areas and coastline more thoroughly smile

The jiffle king

6,894 posts

257 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
J8 SVG said:
Having booked the car hire, my girlfriend decided that actually, she did not want to go that far and maybe we should just stay within an hour of barcelona so I've booked an apartment in Barcelona for four nights, a hotel in Girona for a night and one on the coast (S'agaro, I think?) so that she can 'wake up to sea views' for a few nights to end the holiday. Not the adventure I was hoping for but we will just explore the nearby areas and coastline more thoroughly smile
In that case

Sitges
Tarragona
Monserrat (Go on the train though)
Girona

Olot is less than an hour from Girona... 3 volcano's and a town built on a cliff...

J8 SVG

Original Poster:

1,468 posts

129 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
The jiffle king said:
In that case

Sitges
Tarragona
Monserrat (Go on the train though)
Girona

Olot is less than an hour from Girona... 3 volcano's and a town built on a cliff...
I'm loathed to go on the train to monserrat when I have a car paid for, is it really not worth the drive?

Olot looks very cool, definitely on the research list for this weekend!

The jiffle king

6,894 posts

257 months

Saturday 20th September 2014
quotequote all
J8 SVG said:
I'm loathed to go on the train to monserrat when I have a car paid for, is it really not worth the drive?

Olot looks very cool, definitely on the research list for this weekend!
You can drive to Monserrat and I think I recall parking where the cable car starts... hope you like heights when you get there...