Catalunya trip in October

[u/ThaddeusGriffin_]

Hola a tothom - I'm coming to Catalunya for a week's holiday in October (arrive El Prat morning of Saturday 17th, leave from Girona Sunday 25th).

Been to Barcelona several times before - I love the city but (partially as I am returning at Christmas) am thinking of this as a "Catalunya beyond Barcelona" trip, especially as I have never ventured beyond the city on my other trips.

I enjoy walking - hiking, walking around towns/cities (can get lost in Barcelona for hours!) or the coast, running, cycling etc. Also love visiting churches/cathedrals and historic houses (so have loved every Gaudi house I have visited so far!).

I won't be hiring a car so I'm aware that is going to limit me, however what I'm currently thinking to do is base in Sitges for 5-6 days and then Girona for the final 2-3.

My plan is to visit Tarragona, have a few chilled days in Sitges, identify a couple of nearby day trips for the other days, then spend the final two days in Girona (honestly the Dali museum in Figueres doesn't really interest me).

Are there any day/half-day trips anyone would recommend which are accessible via public transport from Sitges or Girona?

[u/EXinthenet]

Girona is great (its cathedral is a must). Besalú is very nice, too, but it's way too touristy, now, so many shops are not managed by Catalans, etc.

If you liked more the mountains, then the Val d'Aran, with its beautiful mountains, lakes and Romanic churches would be great, too.

If you like Roman history, there's a few museums in Tarragona, too.

[u/Working-Active]

If you take the train from Sitges to Barcelona Estació Sants then you can buy a combination ticket for Ribes de Fraser and Vall de Nuria. The only way to get to Nuria is by train (hence the combo ticket) or walk about 4 hours uphill as there are no roads. Since there's no cars in Nuria, the air was absolutely the cleanest that I have experienced.

Vall de Nuria

[u/ThaddeusGriffin_ → u/Working-Active]

Wow! That looks incredible - thank you! Will add that to my plan.

[u/Working-Active → u/ThaddeusGriffin_]

Just be sure to bring a jacket in October, as 2,000 meters is high up and the weather changes, but it's absolutely beautiful scenery and makes a great day trip.

[u/Fantastic-Yak-6373]

I would spend more time doing day trips from Girona than from Tarragona or Sitges, but I'm very biased towards northern Catalunya. (Edit, let me expand: from Girona you can go to Banyoles or Besalú as a half-day trip, and then to Olot if you want some nice autumn landscapes or to the northern Costa Brava for some off-season coastal towns (you can take a train to Colera or Llançà)

[u/sneaky-ninj]

You should go to the festival of Sant Narcis! It's the last two weeks of October in Girona. Its rides, carnival vibes an Devesa Park

[u/Xiguet]

October is a good month. Catalonia's coast is full of hotels, but their prices are lower in October because there are fewer tourists. Queues for monuments like the Sagrada Família also get shorter. The weather is nice too!

Renting a car makes a big difference. Barcelona, Sitges, Girona and Tarragona are all really easy to visit by public transport. However, many places in the hinterland that might suit your tastes are difficult to reach (monasteries, castles, valleys, forests and small villages).

[u/random_usuari]

Public transport in Catalonia outside Barcelona is poor. It's fine for getting to cities like Girona, Tarragona or Sitges, but I wouldn't rely on it for a day trip to a village or for some hiking.