Hi Friends-
My daughter and I are making plans for our trip to Barcelona in Nov/Dec. We arrive on 23 Nov and depart on 7 Dec. We are finding that our days are filling up with just the sites and activities that we want to see and do in Barcelona so we are not planning to travel to any other major cities during that time. We have plans to visit Girona and maybe an overnight to Monserrat (so we can stay for the late Mass).
I want to know your thoughts about Vall de Nuria. I've read that it can be reached by local trains and then a rack railway. We are considering making a day trip as our "unplugged" day. It would be during the first week of December. Our plan was to go for the day, pack a picnic, do some hiking and return to Barcelona in the evening. Tell me the pros and cons--would you "use" a day for this trip?
Thanks. I have poured over all of your insight in our planning and I value your opinions.
Cathi
Posted by
Barcelona + Sweden
4180 posts
Hi Cathi - I think that Vall de Núria is a great alternate day trip from Barcelona, it is definitely off the beaten path (as far as international tourists are concerned).
That being said I personally would not go there in December, it is high up in the Pyrenees and will be pretty cold and maybe snowing at that time of the year. However if one likes that kind of winter stuff then one could still go. I would just prefer more late spring/early summer.
Note that if the weather is bad, which maybe the case, your picnicking and hiking options will be limited. Also the available daylight hours will be significantly less at that time of year, so you will have to take that into consideration when planning. If you are unable to have a picnic due to the weather, there are a few restaurants up there too that you can warm yourselves up in. Although I have heard that the restaurants up there are not of the best quality, and you may want to look for dining options at Ribes de Freser, which is one of the lower towns you can take the rack railway from.