I will be in Spain for six days, four of which I am spending in and around Malaga and Granada, with two days still up in the air, before meeting up with a friend in Barcelona, where we'll spend four days before renting a car and driving to Chamonix to start a small group tour. Where would you recommend for the two days I've not yet booked on my way to Barcelona? I mostly enjoy the outdoors, smaller villages, food and wine! I have recently been to Madrid, Toledo, Rhonda, and Cordoba. Also I wouldn't mind if I went somewhere beyond Barcelona and then back-tracked.) TIA for your ideas!
Posted by
Northwest Arkansas
715 posts
Figueres for the Dali museum. Montserrat. Both can be either day trips from Barcelona or overnights. Sounds like you would like the overnights, especially if you hike from the summit to the base at Montserrat.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10697 posts
Girona. A FYI, a crossborder rental will have very high extra charges. You could take the Renfe train from Barcelona to Lyon and rent your car there, for a short trip, or just over the border in France, for example Perpignan, Narbonne, if you want a longer drive.
Posted by
Massachusetts
1124 posts
Girona is a beautiful medieval city not far from Barcelona - visit the beautiful cathedral, walk the city walls for great views, see the Eiffel bridge, wander the streets.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks for the most helpful replies. Montserrat is already on itinerary as a day trip from Barcelona. And as for rental car, we are taking train to Narbonne, and will rent a car there. Off to research Figueres and Girona!
Posted by
Washington DC
28305 posts
As a city, Girona is a lot more attractive and has more to offer than Figueres. Figueres is mostly about the very interesting Dali Theatre-Museum. You could stay in Girona and head to Figueres by train mainly to see the museum--and the nearby jewelry collection covered by the same ticket. If you can find luggage storage available in Figueres, you could stop on your trip up to France long enough to see the museum. It can take a good bit of time if you want to take it all in. I'd allow for at least three hours.
The museum doesn't sell out really early, as far as I know, but it does get some bus tours. It would be smart to buy that ticket somewhat it advance so you don't run the risk of being told to come back in several hours if the early tickets have already sold out.
Posted by
new york
69 posts
Girona.
Second choice: Tarragona