Barcelona: Day Trips

Figueres Lovers of surrealism can’t skip the Dalí Theatre-Museum in this pleasant town at the heart of Catalonia, where the great Salvador Dalí was born. 136 miles north of Barcelona; www.figueresciutat.com/angles/index.html
architecture | culture | art

Girona Check out the steep, narrow streets, Arab baths, and impressive Gothic cathedral of this enchanting medieval town that acts as the official capital of Costa Brava, the coastal strip reaching to the French border. 60 miles northeast of Barcelona; www.girona-tourist-guide.com
family | architecture | history

Montserrat At 4,320 feet, this mountaintop shrine to the Black Virgin is home to a Benedictine monastery, dramatic peaks, hermitage-dotted hills, and dazzling views of the Mediterranean. 30 miles northwest of Barcelona; www.abadiamontserrat.net
family | architecture | culture | history

Penedés Wine Country This scenic region of rolling hills and verdant valleys has been famous for its wine since the Roman era some 2000 years ago. The following vineyards offer daily cellar tours: Codorníu, Freixenet, or Miguel Torres. Alternatively, book a daytrip through Spanish Trails. 1 hour southwest of Barcelona; www.spanish-trails.com
culinary | wine | nature

Sitges Nice strips of sand and a charming old quarter make this the best beach resort in Barcelona’s vicinity, and an extremely popular destination for the international gay crowd. 27 miles southwest of Barcelona; www.sitgestour.com
beach | family | gay and lesbian