Medieval Villages in Barcelona

Catalonia is a place of great historical interest thanks to the Greco-Roman settlements that still survive today and for the medieval legacy, which can be seen in several villages of the Costa Brava.

Visiting the medieval villages of the Costa Brava will undoubtedly enrich your trip, and best of all, there are organized excursions so you don't have to worry about anything.

First, you will travel to Lloret de Mar, epicenter of maritime life and, from there, you can enjoy a boat trip to Tossa de Mar, a town that will dazzle you with its medieval architecture.

Duration: 9 hoursRecommended: If you are passionate about the sea.

What you will see

The villages of the Costa Brava offer unique views of the Mediterranean and are an indivisible part of the tourist route of Catalonia. But the great advantage of this excursion is that it shows you the Costa Brava with a route that most tourists miss, as its true essence lies in the small coves hidden along the coast. You will be able to swim in the sea away from the crowded beaches and enjoy the crystal clear water of the coves, just like a local.

In addition, with this excursion to the villages and beaches of the Costa Brava, you will visit the medieval village of Pals, whose cobbled streets dotted with arches, stone balconies and wall walk will transport you to another time, and you can climb the medieval tower of the village to enjoy spectacular views of the Costa Brava.

Duration: 9 hours.Recommended: If you tend to get tired of full day excursions and want to spend part of the day swimming in the sea.

What you will see

If you are passionate about Dalí's art, you can visit the artist's house and his Theater-Museum if you book an excursion to Figueras and Cadaqués (you have all the details in my guide on Barcelona Salvador Dalí Museum Tickets and Visits).

In addition, on this trip you can also discover the charm of Cadaqués, a town on the Costa Brava that will dazzle you.

The excursion, which lasts approximately 11 hours and a half, is done in small groups and you will be accompanied by a local guide who will fill you in on all the details.

Duration: 11 hours and a halfRecommended: If you are a lover of contemporary art.

What you will see

Booking an excursion to the Pyrenees is a must on your trip to Barcelona. You will explore Vic, Queralbs and some mountain valleys. You will walk through its streets and its main buildings, such as its town hall, its cathedral and the Episcopal Museum, and you can visit a local charcuterie to taste a selection of typical sausages.

Part of the tourist attraction of Vic is its market, which is held in the main square of the town, and once a year, in December, it becomes one of the most genuine and beautiful medieval markets in Spain. After touring Vic, you will head to Queralbs

Duration: 11 hours.Recommended: If you have already visited the Costa Brava and want to explore the inland villages and their medieval legacy.

What you will see

If you want to combine a day in nature with a visit to medieval villages, I recommend the excursion to the Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa and several medieval villages. You will start the day with a walk through the Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa, one of the most impressive volcanic landscapes in Spain. You will cross a lush oak forest and visit the crater of a volcano during the walk.

Afterwards, you will head to the medieval villages. You will visit Castellfollit de la Roca, a village that seems to have stopped in time and whose views are impressive as it is located on top of a cliff almost a kilometer long. Later you will go to Sant Joan les Fonts, visited for its impressive medieval buildings such as the church and monastery, the bridge, the Canadell Tower, the Estancia de Juvinyá, a fortified manor house with a tower, and an old mill.

And to finish the excursion, you will explore Besalú, the most amazing village of the three thanks to its medieval bridge that gives an incomparable charm to this town, whose streets transport you directly to feudal times.

Duration: 9 hours.Recommended: If you want to get into nature.

What you will see

Alex's Traveller Tip

If you visit Vic during the Constitution Day in December you will find its medieval market, one of the most beautiful and authentic in Spain thanks to the rural atmosphere of the town.

Do you want to make a getaway to the mountains of Barcelona, but you have not been convinced by the excursions to medieval villages? In that case, book a trip to Montserrat Monastery, which has stunning views of the city from the top. Read all the information here: Day Trips to Montserrat from Barcelona.

The excursion, which lasts approximately 4.5 hours, is accompanied by a professional guide and you can admire the popular wood carving of Our Lady of Montserrat. In addition, to immerse yourself in the origins of the municipality, you will have the opportunity to see the audiovisual exhibition "Espai Audio visual Montserrat".

And to delve even deeper into the local culture, you will enjoy a tasting of the liqueurs made by the monks of the place.

Duration: 4 hours and a half.Recommended: If you want to get the best snapshots.

What you will see

Although it is a bit difficult to choose one excursion as they all have their particular interest, I think nothing beats the excursion to the Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa with a visit to three medieval villages. The beauty of the surroundings that are seen in this experience is something that no one should miss if you have the chance to be in Barcelona for a few days.

Also, I would say that Pals is one of the most touristy villages in the area, so if you usually flee from the crowds I will tell you that you may not enjoy visiting it as much.

In any case, in the end it is a matter of choosing according to your preferences: if you like the sea you will probably like the villages of the Costa Brava more, and if you like the mountains and medieval history you will love to visit the villages of La Garrotxa, and especially Besalú.

How much time do I need

Most excursions are full day trips, which gives you an idea of how long it really takes to visit a particular area. In case you want to combine a visit to Pals, on the coast, and an excursion to the medieval villages inland, you will have no choice but to do two separate excursions.

If you are traveling to Barcelona with children, it is probably best to do an excursion to the Costa Brava, as you will spend most of the day at the beach and the sightseeing will be better adapted for them in terms of time and route.

Best day of the week to make an excursion

Some areas of the Garrotxa Natural Park are closed during the week, so you may want to go on a weekend (although you can do the excursion route any day of the week). To visit the villages of the Costa Brava and swim in its beaches, as you would expect, it is best to go during the week to avoid the weekend escapades of other tourists and residents in Barcelona.

And if you think that the excursions to the medieval villages of Catalonia are not exactly what you are looking for, that's ok, keep reading and later I will tell you about other day trips that can be done from Barcelona.

Best time of the year to visit medieval villages

You can go to the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park at any time of the year, but without a doubt autumn is the star season thanks to the reddish and orange tones of the oaks, especially in mid-November.

In winter, the leaves of the trees will be on the ground and between the fog and the cold you will see a somewhat more fantasy-like panorama. In spring and summer the colors of the leaves will not be as impressive but the weather is usually better and inside the oak forest through which the route passes it is hardly hot, being so lush.

If you have total freedom to choose, visit the medieval market of Vic is well worth it. It is held on the Constitution Bridge in December, and is one of the most genuine I've seen. For a trip to the Costa Brava, summer is undoubtedly the best time as you can enjoy a day at the beach accompanied by the perfect weather.

Where to eat in the medieval villages

Both in the excursion to Vic and Rupit and in the visit to the villages and beaches of the Costa Brava you can choose the option with lunch, in which you will be taken to a local restaurant to eat. In the case of the excursion to La Garrotxa and the three medieval villages, lunch is not included so you can take a sandwich in your backpack or eat in Besalú.

Whatever your choice, here are my recommendations for each excursion:

I have written a practical guide about Day Trips from BarcelonaCheck it out to see all the options you have to spend a day discovering Catalonia beyond the city!

For any of these excursions I recommend the usual: comfortable shoes, as you will be walking most of the day, sunscreen and a cap or hat if you do the tour in spring or summer as the sun can end up hitting hard and make you not enjoy the experience. Ah! And swimwear if you go to the Costa Brava, to swim in its coves.

Take a good coat if you go to the medieval villages in winter, as you will enter into mountainous areas where the temperature drops quite a lot.