Catalonia travel guide

A holiday in Catalonia is also a chance to discover a very different side of Spain, with Catalan culture and language creating a strong national identity which sets the region apart from the other Costas and Andalucia. With plenty to tempt you to this corner of the country, here’s everything you need to know before you go in our Catalonia travel guide.

Catalonia is in the north-east of Spain, bordered by France and Andorra to the north, Valencia to the south and Aragon to the west, with the Mediterranean to the east. The capital and largest city is Barcelona.

No, Catalonia is an autonomous community within Spain. It does have its own distinct culture and language, but has been part of Spain since the late 15th century. However Catalan is recognised as a separate nationality within Spain, thanks to the strong sense of national identity in the area.

Barcelona’s international airport is the second busiest in Spain and one of the easiest options if you’re looking to fly to Catalonia from the UK, with numerous direct flights from airports around the country. The second-largest airport is Girona-Costa Brava Airport, around 60 miles north of Barcelona.

There are flights year-round from some London airports and Manchester, as well as seasonal flights from other UK airports including Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle and Belfast.

You can also travel from the UK to Catalonia by train, taking the Eurostar to Paris then a high-speed TGV train to Barcelona, with the fastest routes taking around 10 hours.

While it’s possible to take a ferry to Spain, to either Santander or Bilbao, then a train to Catalonia, this would be a very slow option with a journey time of 30-40 hours, including several changes en route.

Barcelona tends to hog the spotlight when it comes to things to do in Catalonia, not unreasonably considering how much the city has to tempt visitors. But there’s far more than the region’s capital to discover, from natural treasures and gardens to art and history.

You can't visit Catalonia and not stop in the capital Barcelona at least briefly. And this vibrant city is somewhere which really demands more than a short stop, from its historic Gothic Quarter to the world-renowned architecture from Antoni Gaudi, especially the Sagrada Familia basilica, colourful Parc Güell and other buildings such as La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.

Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona

Add in beaches, art galore, one of Europe’s oldest food markets to browse plus shady green parks to enjoy your purchases, and it’s no surprise that it’s the second most popular destination in all Spain.

The second-largest city in Catalonia, Girona is unmissable if you love history, with one of the best-preserved medieval centres in Europe. Explore the narrow maze of streets in the 12th century Jewish Quarter, with museums dedicated to the area’s history, before visiting the cathedral, which boasts the widest Gothic nave in the world.

Medieval village of Besalú, Girona

The city is also home to 12th century Arab Baths, as well as medieval city walls which you can still walk around. Looking to the west of the city, there are spectacular views at sunset.

A little way south of Barcelona, this attractive seaside town has an enticing mix of beaches and art to enjoy. One of the highlights in Sitges is the Maricel Palace, which showcases art and architecture with Mediterranean influences, while you’ll also find modernist art and sculpture at the Museum Cau Ferrat.

Maricel Palace, Stiges

You’ll discover a variety of architectural styles too, from Renaissance to art nouveau, as well as medieval doorways on Carrer d’en Bosch, or soak up the panoramas from the viewpoint by Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla Parish Church.

While the Costa Brava might not be as well-known as the Costa del Sol, you won’t be short of golden sand to relax on along this 200km coast, including 28 Blue Flag beaches. Barcelona has its own city beaches, such as the golden sands of Platja de Sant Sebastia, but once you head out of the capital, you’ll find plenty more choice along the Catalan coast, including some of the best beaches in Spain.

Calella de Palafrugell

In the north, Roses has long sweeps of sand and some astonishingly clear water to enjoy. And near Girona, Aiguablava was named for its sparkling turquoise water while pretty Calella de Palafrugell oozes traditional charm, with a string of little sandy beaches around the town.

Further down the coast, Lloret de Mar is one of the most popular beach resorts for good reason. Playa de Sa Boadella is one of the quieter options, with wonderful bright blue water and shady pine trees. Or around Santa Susanna, you can find Blue Flag Platja de Llevant among the stretches of sand.

Beyond coast and cities, Catalonia has some wonderful scenery to explore, and Montseny Natural Park is one of the best places to go walking in Catalonia. This spectacular UNESCO Biosphere reserve is less than an hour from Lloret de Mar, with mountains, forest and open meadows to stroll through. It’s also rich in wildlife, home to wild boar, fox, genet and dormouse, as well as birds of prey such as goshawk, plus the endemic Montseny newt.

While Montjuïc is part of Barcelona, there’s easily enough on this hill outside the city centre to keep you entertained all day. Home to some of the most spectacular gardens in Catalonia, the elegant and formal Jardins de Laribal and Jardins de Joan Maragall, you can also explore the Historic Botanic Garden on the shady slopes, with its Mediterranean plant species.

As a bonus, you can also enjoy some spectacular views from Montjuïc Castle, along with the chance to visit a string of art museums.

Art-lovers will be in heaven in Catalonia, which has been home to many artists over the years. Barcelona is famous for the work of Antoni Gaudi, but you can also visit the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, with its collection of Catalan art, and the Joan Miró Foundation.

Salvador Dalí’s Castell Gala

Or explore Castell Gala, the Salvador Dali Museum set inside a medieval castle, a building which inspired many of his creations.

And close to the French border, pretty Cadaques was home to Picasso and Matisse, as well as Dali, drawn by the landscapes and relaxed atmosphere, with art galleries and workshops lining the streets today.

Set between Girona and the coast, La Bisbal d’Empordá is known as the pottery capital of Catalonia, and famous for its signature green mugs and bowls. Save some time to visit the Terracotta Museum, with its collection of pottery housed inside an old ceramics factory, as well as workshops to learn more about the skill involved.

Gardens of Santa Clotilde

One of the finest gardens in Catalonia, the Santa Clotilde Gardens near Lloret de Mar sit on a hilltop above the Mediterranean, stretching for around 258,000 square feet. Designed in an Italian Renaissance style, you’ll find sculpted hedges, marble statues and some wonderful views out along the coast, as well as an impressive array of trees and plants.

There are plenty of Mediterranean influences in Catalan food, but with a few regional twists. Look out for fideuà, a paella made with noodles instead of rice, as well as dishes which mix sweet and savoury, such as espinacs amb panses i pinyons, spinach combined with raisins and toasted pine nuts Traditional favourites also include pa amb tomàquet (bread with tomato), which can be eaten at any time, from breakfast to a snack or side with a main meal. Look out too for escalivada¸ a starter made with roasted red peppers, aubergine and onion.

Seafood stew

You’ll also find fish and seafood galore, from fish stews to rice dishes using cuttlefish ink, and soups containing lobster, but many Catalans consider their national dish to be pork sausages with white beans, or mongetes amb botifarra.

Finish with a crema catalana, similar to crème brulee. Catalonia is also famous for its cava, with 95% of the Spanish sparkling wine made in the Penedès region. Around an hour from Barcelona, the Codorníu vineyards, one of Spain’s oldest cava producers, are among the best-known and it’s possible to visit them for a tour and tasting. You’ll also find other wineries across the region, including Alella, one of the oldest wine-producing regions of Catalonia, which is known for its white wine.

Catalonia has a Mediterranean climate, with long hot summers and relatively short mild winters, including more than 300 days of sunshine throughout the year. There’s little rainfall and sea breezes make the more humid days more pleasant, unlike the stiflingly hot weather of other parts of Spain.

The best time to visit Catalonia is during May to June or September to October, when you’ve got the best chance of good weather without the soaring temperatures of midsummer and without the biggest crowds.

Spring is a lovely time to explore the region, with wildflowers blooming if you’re planning to go walking in Catalonia and plants at their best in Catalonia’s gardens, although the weeks around Easter weekend can be very busy, especially for the Semana Santa celebrations.

Autumn is still enjoyably sunny, with temperatures from around 23-28C on average and pleasantly warm sea temperatures if you’re planning to swim. The grape harvest also takes place during September and October.

Summer is fiercely hot and temperatures can hit around 30C in Barcelona in July and August, rising even higher in Girona. Winters are usually milder than the UK with limited rainfall year-round, although the wettest months tend to be around November and March/April. Temperatures do drop close to freezing in Girona during midwinter, although Barcelona is milder with lows hovering around 6C.

You’ll find plenty of choice when considering where to stay in Catalonia. If you’re planning a city break, both Barcelona and Girona have hotels galore, although Barcelona in particular can be busy and pricy.

But you can also find plenty of tempting options along the Costa Brava to the north of Barcelona, as well as the Costa Dorada to the south, home to Sitges.

There are good train connections along the coastline too, so it’s possible to choose a quieter beach resort for your base and travel in to Barcelona or Girona to explore.

Alongside better-known locations like Lloret de Mar, Malgrat de Mar and Calella, you can also stay somewhere like pretty Santa Susanna, around 80 minutes by train from Barcelona, and slightly less than an hour from Girona.

Or if you choose northern Catalonia, destinations such as Roses also make a great base to explore Cadaques, while you could even venture into nearby France.

Explore Catalonia for yourself on one of our holidays to Spain, including Special Interest breaks exploring the food, art and gardens.