
While Palma is the most popular place to stay, smaller villages like Valdemossa, Soller and Cales de Mallorca are super charming, endlessly-Instagrammable and-best of all-never far from a beach. Rent a car and drive around-public transportation is available, but service is minimal. What to do: If lying around on some of Spain’s most beautiful beaches isn’t enough for you, you’ll want to take advantage of the rest of what this stunning island has to offer. There are direct flights every day that are a little under an hour and you can usually find them for about €20-€30 roundtrip, which means that Mallorca is also a very cheap weekend trip from Barcelona! Getting there: Getting to Mallorca from Barcelona is surprisingly easy. Pack a picnic, go boating on the lake or just enjoy people-watching! Once you’re warmed up to the posh city, round out your weekend with a tour of the Royal Palace-with over 3,000 rooms, it’s the largest functioning palace in Europe. Don’t miss the famous Prado Museum, a massive museum with a huge collection of European art, and the nearby El Retiro Park, one of the largest parks in Madrid. Madrid is a very classy and cultured city, so get ready for plenty of chic city strolls, elegant palaces and fancy parks and gardens. What to do: Madrid is the capital of Spain and thus is definitely deserving of at least a weekend. Flights from Barcelona to Madrid are about 1.5 hours and you can usually find tickets for €60-€80 (roundtrip). Otherwise, tickets are about €70-€100 (each way). If you have a Eurail pass, you don’t need to purchase a ticket, just make seat reservations. Getting there: A high-speed train will take you between Barcelona and Madrid in just under 3 hours. And, of course, be sure to spend an afternoon on the beaches! 4. Enjoy a walk (or a picnic) along the Balcon del Mediterraneo, which overlooks the Mediterraean Sea and the city. Some of Spain’s most well-preserved ruins, including ruins of a Roman amphitheater and chariot tracks, are here in Tarragona.

#Weekend trips near me free
What to do: Although perhaps not as well-known as other places in Catalonia, Tarragona is the perfect place to explore during a free weekend. Renfe, the national railway company in Spain, is a great place to get tickets. Prices vary from €10-€25 typically, depending on the itinerary. Getting there: Get from Barcelona to Tarragona via train-it takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your train. Spend the weekend sunbathing, kayaking, snorkeling and soaking in the amazing coastline views. Miles of sandy beaches, stunningly clear-blue water, rocky cliffs and small medieval towns to explore make up a lot of the Costa Brava region. What to do: Imagine your ideal Spanish beach and that’s probably close to what Costa Brava looks like. Alternatively, you can take a train to Blanes and a bus from Blanes to Costa Brava.
#Weekend trips near me license
You’ll also need an International Driver’s License (which you can get pretty easily through AAA). In order to rent a car in Spain, you just need to be 21 or older with a driver’s license, a passport and a credit card. Getting there: The easiest way to get to Costa Brava is simply to rent a car and drive there. While you’re there, be sure to try some authentic paella (it originated in Valencia!), check out the beaches and experience one of dozens of Valencia’s festivals. Stroll through Old Town Valencia for a dose of history and endless quirky cafes and city streets to get lost in, then pop over to see the City of Arts and Sciences: a massive, futuristic complex of museums, parks and an aquarium. What to do: Valencia is a can’t-miss stop in Spain, blending the ultra-modern with longstanding and historic culture and architecture. You can also grab a cheap flight to Valencia, which takes about an hour and costs around $50-$100 (round trip). It costs about €30 (one-way) and takes just over 3 hours. Getting there: You can easily take a high-speed train from Barcelona to Valencia. They’re perfect for a quick weekend (or mid-week) trip! 1.Valencia

While you’re in the area, make time for at least one of these awesome places in Catalonia and the surrounding regions.
#Weekend trips near me full
Catalonia is full of culture and history, delicious food and tons of small towns-and big cities-to explore.

Head’s up, though: while Barcelona is the capital of the Catalan region and offers a ton to see and do, it’s not the only place you’ll want to visit while you’re there. Whether you’re studying abroad in Spain or just visiting for a few weeks, no doubt Barcelona is on your bucket list. Studying abroad in Spain this semester? We’ve got a lineup of 10 of the best weekend trips from Barcelona, so you’ll have plenty to do all semester long.
