- Combine a few days in Barcelona with a beach stay on the Costa Brava or in Sitges
- Girona and Reus airports are handy for the coast but sometimes have fewer flights
- Fast trains link Barcelona with Girona in under 40 minutes and Tarragona in about 35
- Catalonia charges a nightly tourist tax on top of your room rate
- Airports
- Barcelona El Prat (BCN), Girona (GRO), Reus (REU)
- Best time to go
- May-June and September-October
- Type
- Region
Catalonia, in Spain's north-east corner, has its own language, its own flag and a very strong sense of identity. Most UK visitors know it through Barcelona, but the region around the city is just as rewarding: the pine-fringed coves of the Costa Brava, the medieval streets of Girona, Roman ruins in Tarragona, the jagged mountain monastery of Montserrat and the high Pyrenees.
You'll see signs in Catalan first and Spanish second, though everyone speaks both. For the rest of the country, see our Spain guide.
Where to stay
- Barcelona – for culture, food and nightlife, with city beaches on the doorstep. Pricier than the rest of the region.
- Costa Brava – the rugged coast north of Barcelona. Tossa de Mar has a walled old town above its beach; Calella de Palafrugell, Llafranc and Tamariu are pretty, small-scale fishing villages; Cadaqués, near the French border, is a whitewashed artists' town. Lloret de Mar is the big, lively package resort.
- Girona – a compact medieval city with colourful houses along the river Onyar, one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe and a famous food scene. A good base for the Costa Brava.
- Sitges – a stylish beach town 40 minutes south of Barcelona by train, with a lively LGBTQ+ scene and an excellent February carnival.
- Costa Daurada – the long sandy beaches around Salou and Cambrils, next to the PortAventura theme park, are a family favourite.
Things to do
- Sagrada Família and Park Güell – Gaudí's two biggest sights in Barcelona; book both ahead.
- Montserrat – a Benedictine monastery in serrated mountains about an hour from Barcelona, reached by rack railway or cable car, with excellent walks.
- Dalí Theatre-Museum, Figueres – the artist's surreal museum and burial place, an easy day trip from Girona.
- Tarragona – a Roman amphitheatre by the sea and old city walls, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Camí de Ronda – coastal footpaths linking coves and villages along the Costa Brava.
- Wine country – cava cellars in the Penedès, and powerful reds in Priorat.
- The Pyrenees – hiking in Aigüestortes National Park in summer and skiing at resorts such as Baqueira-Beret in winter.
Getting there and around
Barcelona El Prat has the most flights from the UK, taking about two hours from London. Girona airport is around 40 minutes from the Costa Brava resorts, and Reus airport serves Salou and the Costa Daurada; both have mainly seasonal routes. You can also travel by train from London via Paris to Barcelona or Girona in a day.
High-speed trains link Barcelona with Girona in under 40 minutes and Camp de Tarragona in about 35, and regional Rodalies trains serve Sitges and the coast. For the smaller Costa Brava villages, Montserrat at your own pace and the Pyrenees, a hire car makes life much easier, though parking near beaches is hard in August.
When to go
May, June, September and early October are the sweet spot, with warm weather, a swimmable sea from June and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and busy, especially on the coast. Winter is mild in Barcelona but many Costa Brava hotels close, and the Pyrenees turn to skiing.
Top attractions in Catalonia
LandmarkAlhambra
A hilltop palace-fortress of carved stucco, tiled courtyards and water gardens, the Alhambra is the high point of…
LandmarkPark Güell
Gaudí's hillside park of mosaic benches, gingerbread-style lodges and a famous dragon, with sweeping views over…
MuseumPrado Museum
One of the world's great art museums, the Prado holds Spain's royal collection, from Velázquez's Las Meninas to Goya's…
LandmarkReal Alcázar
A dazzling Mudéjar palace and gardens in the heart of Seville, still used by the Spanish royal family and famous as the…
LandmarkSagrada Família
Gaudí's unfinished basilica, with its forest-like nave and glowing stained glass, is Barcelona's must-book sight.
NatureSerra de Tramuntana
A UNESCO-listed mountain range of stone villages, olive terraces and hairpin roads along Mallorca's north-west coast.
Catalonia on the map
Frequently asked questions
Is the Costa Brava good for a beach holiday?
Yes, especially if you like small sandy coves, clear water and pretty villages rather than long beaches. For long sandy beaches, the Costa Daurada around Salou is better.
Do I need to speak Catalan?
No. Everyone speaks Spanish, and English is widely understood in tourist areas. A simple "bon dia" (good morning) and "gràcies" (thank you) are appreciated.
How much is the Catalan tourist tax?
It varies by type of accommodation and location, and Barcelona charges an extra city surcharge. Expect a few euros per person per night outside Barcelona, usually paid at your hotel.
Written by
Anna Beach, family & practical travel editor
Anna knows which beach has shade at 3pm and which car hire excess is a rip-off. She covers sun, islands, family trips and practical travel tips.
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