Sometimes you just need to get away from it all for a day. Here are some recommended destinations for day trips from Barcelona:

Life’s a Beach!:

Sitges: Sitges is a small town just a 1/2 hour train ride down the coast. If you’re trying to escape the tourists, then this is not the place. However, the beaches are nicer and there is abundant nightlife. Big gay community here and during Carnival it’s off the hook!

How to get there: The fastest way is to jump on the RENFE (leaves every 30 minutes) train from Passeig de Gracia station. Shouldn’t cost more than about 5-8 Euros roundtrip. For rates and schedules check out www.renfe.es

Tossa de Mar: Tossa is truly a gem of the Costa Brava. This small town is host to a gorgeous beach, excellent restaurants, and even ancient ruins. Try the Pandora’s Box walking tour, or just lay out in the sun and throw the frisbee. Either way, you’ll be glad you got away for the day. Tons of info here: www.tossacostabrava.com

How to get there: Go to Estacion del Nord (North Station) <– Directions found here and hop a bus from the company SARFA, which will take you directly there.

San Pol de Mar: Between Tossa and BCN you’ll find Sant Pol de Mar. The town has a beautiful beach surrounded by its typical white houses that cover the hills surrounding. The old Benedictine monastery gave rise to this town and on the outskirts you can check out the ruins of the Iberian-Roman town of El Farell.

How to get there: Take the RENFE from Clot (metro: Clot), Line C1.

Towns:

Figugeres: This is a SL recommended day trip. The highlight of this small quaint town is the Salvador Dali museum, which is the permanent home to the largest collection of Dali works in the world. This uber-creative man was a visionary and a visit to this museum will leave you with your jaw on the floor. www.salvadordalimuseum.org

How to get there: Take the RENFE train from Passeig de Gracia station. They leave every 1/2 hour to an hour and the ride takes just under 2 hours.

Tarragona: Sure they have a great beach but if you’re a history buff than you’ll love this place. The modern city is built around some of the oldest Roman ruins on the Iberian Peninsula. Work on your tan and check out the Roman Amphitheatre at the same time!

How to get there: RENFE trains from Passeig de Gracia run the 100km south to Tarragona frequently. Round trip will cost you about 7 Euros.

Girona: You’ll only need one day in Girona, but it’s worth a visit. It’s a complete mélange of Roman and Gothic buildings and ruins and old military fortresses. There’s also a Jewish District worth checking out. Overall a very pleasant day trip.

How to get there: The RENFE train is your savior again. Costs is about 7 Euros roundtrip.

Mountain Vacations:

Pyrenees/ Vall de Nuria: The Pyrenees is the vast mountain range that acts as a natural border between Spain and France. If you’re a skier or snowboarder this is your dream location. Only about an hour and a half from the city and you’ll be rewarded with some great powder skiing. In the summer, the area’s exquisite nature offers wonderful hiking, climbing, and camping opportunities.

Vall de Nuria is the western part of the Pyrenees and if you’re looking for outdoor activities such as horseback riding, hiking, and climbing, this is the spot for you.

How to get there: Take the RENFE to Ribes de Freser. Then jump the rack railway up to Vall de Nuria.

Montseny: Nature at its best folks! Montseny has some titillating legends, one involving beautiful water maidens that only appear on warm nights to bathe in the ‘black pool’. This is the place to come to hike and see some incredible Roman ruins and natural treasures. Tons of info here: www.turisme-montseny.com/

How to get there: Gonna have to rent a car for this one. Check out the directions on the site listed above.

Mont Serrat: Just 40 kms from BCN, you probably won’t find a Catalan person who hasn’t visited this site. Literally meaning “sawed mountain”, it’s a unique geological form of tremendous beauty. This is where Richard Wagner wrote his famous opera Parsifal. There’s a beautiful monastery where monks held secret services in Catalan, while the language was outlawed by Franco.

How to get there: Take the train from Plaza Catalunya, runs every two hours from 9:11am.