Small Town near Barcelona Recommendations

Hi Stacey, my husband and I are also going to that area except in December. We are spending several nights in Girona at the start of our trip. We are also going and spending a few nights in Villafranca del Penedes, but I am still planning that part of the trip. Both are an hour or less by train from Barcelona.

Happy to share more on the itinerary for Girona if that would be helpful for making your decision.

Girona is a good choice. Not only is the old part of town walkable and enjoyable, but you are a short train ride away from Figueres, where the Dali museum is, and you can rent a car to visit Besalu and or Cadaques. So 3 day trips if you want them plus Girona is nice by itself. We stayed there the first few nights of our trip and it was a nice way to be active while getting over jet lag. You can catch the train at the airport directly to Girona

Driving or public transportation?

There's rail service from Girona to Figueres and bus service from there to Cadaques along an extremely scenic road (which the driver won't have a great chance to enjoy if you rent a car). However, I don't know how frequently the buses will run in November. Cadaques, I would guess, is a lot busier during the warmer months.

I love Girona and recommend it often here, but honesty forces me to point out that, with a population of 100,000, it doesn't fit most people's definition of a "small town". It's certainly true that when you're walking around the expansive medieval historic district, you're unaware of the rest of the city.

Public Transportation

Some suggestions by public transportation

• GIRONA
• BESALÚ -I always recommend pairing Besalú and Girona
• FIGUERES -note this and Girona are also fairly close
• SITGES
• MONTSERRAT
• TARRAGONA
• VIC
• ROSES
• TOSSA DE MAR

more text based info here:
http://catalunya.com/ -Catalonia’s Tourism Agency
http://en.costabrava.org/ -Costa Brava Tourism Agency
http://www.girona.cat/turisme/eng/index.php -Girona City Council
http://www.tarragonaturisme.cat/ -Tarragona City Council

Collioure, France near the Spanish border, on the sea, is one of our favorite places to visit. It pairs well with Barcelona.

I love Tarragona, just one hour from Barcelona, you have there all you need. I recomend you visit Priorat, a magic place with one of the best wines in the world