costa brava day trips from barcelona

I spent 3 nights in Girona last year and loved it. Geographically, it's a better base for visiting Figueres and Cadaques than Barcelona is. I skipped the Dali sights, but friends raved about the Theatre-Museum in Figueres. Cadaques--all whitewashed and dripping with bougainvillea--is very picturesque. Figueres and Cadaques can be visited from Girona by bus or by a combination of rail and bus, but you'd have to manage the schedules pretty carefully if trying to get to both the Dali sights (one being a 20-minute or so walk from the port of Cadaques) and also see the town of Cadaques in a single day.

Girona has a lot of sights of its own, and you'd benefit from not being limited to a day-trip timeframe there: large medieval district, two cathedrals, walkable wall, and the very fine Museu d'Art. Lodgings, while not cheap, will likely be less expensive than in Barcelona, too. It's pleasant to stroll through the historic district in the evening and pick a nice spot for dinner.

I do adore Barcelona, too. I spent 10 days there and am anxious to return, but the scale of Girona gives it quite a different feel.

Besalu has a smallish historic area (quick to visit) with a really striking fortified bridge. I don't think it's along your likely route toward the Vall de Boi, but it can be done by bus as a half-day trip from Girona. Print the town map and take with you so you can easily navigate the winding streets and find your way back to the bus stop. (There is no bus station.) The day I traveled there the onward bus left at least 8 minutes early, so be careful about that.

I'm not sure what route you'll be taking toward the Vall de Boi, but I liked these places/experiences that are kinda sorta on the way:

La Seu de Urgell: really pretty small city of historical/religious importance, near Andorra. I was very sorry I had to leave so quickly due to the bus schedule. One of those days when I wished I had gotten an earlier start.

Puigcerda: City practically on the French border with sizable hilltop historic district, very attractive. In the Cerdanya Valley, which is very sunny and hotter than many of the surrounding areas--could be a good thing or a bad thing in June, depending. It was approaching oppressive when I was there in late July.

Llivia: smallish Spanish town surrounded by French territory. Near Puigcerda. Can get hot.

There are several attractive old villages along the N-260 as it runs SW from Puigcerda, including Bolvir, Bellver de Cerdanya and Martinet. Can get hot.

Yellow Train running through the French Pyrenees from La Tour de Carol to the fortified (and touristy) town of Villefranche de Conflent. I picked up the train at Bourg Madame, which is very near Puigcerda. You can do the round-trip in one day with lunch in VdeC. The temperature was pleasant the day I took the trip.

While you're in Bilbao, be sure to visit the medieval old town area. I have a feeling many people just go to the Guggenheim, but I liked the historic district (Casco Viejo) a lot; it's lively but not overwhelmed by tourists as San Sebastian's is. The "downtown" area south of the Guggenheim has some very nice 100-year-old architecture. I believe the Museu de Bellas Artes is also quite good, but it was closed during my visit because of a strike.

I would spend a night in Girona, possibly visiting Llafranc, Begur, Sant Feliu de Guixols.
Then 2 nights in Cadaques, possibly visiting, Figueres, Port Lligat, Port de la Selva and the ruins at Empuries.
Besalu, monastery Santa Maria of Ripoll, La Seu d'Urgell are then on your way to Vall de Boi (never been here).
I hope you have time to include Tarragona, Poblet and Sitges, all to the south of Barcelona.

Thank you so much for the advice. We have decided to spend 4 nights in Begur- which will allow our children some time at the beach in the late afternoon after our touring. We plan to take a day trips to Girona, Empuries and Besalu. Hopefully that will give us a taste of the different Catalonia/ Costa Brava offerings.