My husband and I are starting to think about a two month summer sabbatical in Spain in 2028. Our kids will be 10 and 7 by then. We are thinking somewhere outside of Barcelona as our base and then travelling from there. So we want a town on a train line. Any recommendations? My husband found some vbros in Sitges. Any thoughts?
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
3217 posts
My thoughts:
South of Barcelona
- Vilanova i la Geltrú: About 50 minutes from Barcelona Sants on the R2 South line. Wide, family-friendly beaches, parks, and kid-friendly activities. Museums, a peaceful seafront promenade, and plenty of services.
- Sitges: Around 35 minutes on the R2 South line. Charming town with lovely beaches suitable for kids, plus cultural activities. Perfect if you want a mix of beach fun and a lively atmosphere with good dining options.
North of Barcelona
- Mataró: 30 minutes on the R1 line. Urban beaches but with quiet spots, local museums and markets. Parks and green spaces great for children.
- Sant Pol de Mar: Around 45 minutes on the R1 line. Small, calm beaches ideal for relaxing with kids.
- Calella: About 50 minutes on the R1 line. Spacious family beaches, a promenade with playgrounds and services. Summer festivals and local cultural events.
Posted by
Chicago
708 posts
About 12 years ago, I visited Barcelona and saw a coworker, as my London-based employer had people all over the world. My coworker, who was a native of the UK, lived in the Montjuic region about 12-15 miles or so south of the city center. There was a train to his town from Barcelona. He was married with two kids. It looked like a nice area. There's a Mountjuic Castle overlooking several towns in the area. I believe several municipalities in the area had the word "Montjuic" in their names.
North of Barcelona is a town, Figueres, a lot of tourists see because it houses the Salvidor Dali museum. Figueres is around 80 miles north of Barcelona, very close to the French border. I walked through the town, in addition to seeing the museum, and found it very pleasant.
Posted by
Washington DC
29105 posts
I've traveled a lot in Spain. Figueres I would tend to discourage for a long stay. I found it just not as interesting o4 attractive as most of the dozens of other places I've been. Lodging is comparatively inexpensive there, which would be a plus, but then again, there's probably a reason for that.