Planning a day trip from Barcelona to Figueres and have Dali museum tickets already for 11:15am. With what I read allow 2-3 hours for it. My question is the return train options are either 2:55pm or 5:04pm. Is there some other things to do in the town? Assume there are food places is there also any shops? Or perhaps try and get that 2:55pm return train back.
Thanks!
Plan on two-three hours at the Dali Theatre/Museum. Dali must be the Patron Saint of Figueres because poor Figueres has little else in the way of attractions, although you can see where Dali was born in the ground-floor apartment at Carrer de Narcis Monturiol #20. It’s about a five-minute walk from the Dali Theatre/Museum to the site of his birth which today is a private building with its interior off limits to the public.
You might have lunch before taking the 2:55 train back. BTW, on a very rainy day when absolutely no parking was available in the Dali parking garage, we arrived 45 minutes late for our admission time. Even with a timed-ticket, there was a line of 100+ people. We walked up to the entrance door and explained our situation to the doorman and he simply opened the door and let us enter. No waiting at all, and we still were admitted.
Be sure to visit Girona and its Old Town. It’s between Figueres and Barcelona.
It likely depends upon time of day and even season, but I found Figueres to be kinda boring outside of the Dali Museum. BUT we were there midday like when you'll be there. Maybe it's more alive in the evening.
There's a decent cideria -Txots, a few blocks from the museum on the way to the bus stops back to the train station. If you won't get a chance to experience this aspect of Spain gastronomy by going up north, you could give it a try here. The food is good. They stay open longer than their posted hours if there are customers.
I'm sure I spent at least three hours at the Theatre-Museum if you include the fabulous (but small) jewelry collection also covered by the entry ticket. It's in a separate building, and I was told you can see the jewelry collection before the entry time shown on your ticket.
The fast trains to Figueres go to the Figueres-Vilafant station, not the Figueres Station. Vilafant is about a mile from the Theatre-Museum. There are buses that go within a few blocks of the Theatre-Museum, but my train was somewhat late and the bus didn't wait. Allowing time to walk in case there's no taxi waiting at the station.
@Kenko you write: “…the site of his birth which today is a private building with its interior off limits to the public.” No, it’s not, not any more. There is now a Dalí birthplace museum. Here’s a link to the website in English: https://www.casanataldali.cat/en/
I have not visited, and have no imminent intention to do so, so I cannot report what it's like.
Bill, That is news! I was in Figueres at the museum in September and, at that point, all the info I found didn’t even mention that plans were in the works for a museum in the building where he was born. I’m thinking the Dali Foundation may have bought it. If they put some of his more whimsical artwork in the museum of his birthplace— it’s going to be another fun attraction for Figueres.
Cheers!
RE. Dalí birthplace museum — as said I haven't yet visited, but I did track down a positive review in The Times, here's a link: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/inside-salvador-dalis-childhood-home-and-his-old-haunts-qxlrnlbt2
Thank you all for the valuable information. Appreciate it.
