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Coulluire to Barcelona itinerary advice

After a week in the Dordogne, we'll be driving to Barcelona for 3 or 4 days. We'd like to drop off our car at the airport before we begin touring Barcelona. On the drive to Barcelona, we'll be stopping in Colluire for two nights. I'm thinking of stopping in the Figueres/Cadeques/Girona. Several years ago, during a trip to Barcelona with a friend, we took the train to Girona, where we stayed for 2 nights, renting a car to visit Figueres (only the Dali museum) and Cadeques, where we had an early supper.

This time, I'm traveling with my husband, who hasn't been to this part of Spain at all. From Colluire to Barcelona, I'm thinking of skipping Girona and Figueres (maybe just a drive past the Dali museum) and going on to Cadeques to visit the Dali house and have a meal. My thinking is that I don't think I can mentally process both the Dali museum and house in an afternoon, and since I've already seen the museum, I'd prefer to see the house.

Should we eat in Cadeques, or stop somewhere along the way to Barcelona? Any suggestions for restos?

If we had more time. we might stay in Girona, but having been in both places, and knowing my husband, I think we'll have a lot to do in Barcelona, and want to maximize my time there.

Now, for the next question: We'll need to return our rental car at the airport. I'm thinking it might be good to stay that one night after the drive from Colluire, at an airport hotel with with free parking, so we can return the car to the airport, and then take a cab to our hotel in Barcelona in the Exeimple, near a trolley that goes into Plaza Catalunya, as well as near Park Guell. We'll have our luggage and I'm thinking a cab will be worth avoiding the hassle of 2 seventy-somethings shlepping luggage on the train.

Does this sound like a good plan? Any suggestions for restos in or near Cadeques? or maybe near the airport for a pintxos?

Any other ideas?

Many thanks in advance!
Lisa

Posted by
3643 posts

The first issue with your plan is that returning a rental car in a different country from the one where you picked it up triggers a huge fee. In the vicinity of €500 or more. I suggest you figure out how you want to deal with that before making further plans.

Posted by
137 posts

Our trip begins and ends in Spain. We are renting the car in Bilbao and returning it in Barcelona.

Posted by
7303 posts

Cadaqués sounds like a lovely side trip / lunch stop between Collioure and Barcelona. The drive from Collioure is twisty but takes less than 2 hours, so you can get there quite early (a good thing for parking!) and finish your visit with lunch around 2-2.30 (cannot recommend a specific restaurant, sorry).
If you still have time after Cadaqués and do not mind narrow (but not that narrow!) mountain roads, you could head up to San Pere de Rodes on your way out of Cadaqués towards the A-2 motorway. The views are incredible.

To return the car, airport offices typically have very late hours, so you should have no issue returning the car in the evening and immediately taking a cab to a hotel in central Barcelona. Ne need for an airport hotel!