Travelisto destinations
Catalonia holidays
Barcelona and Gaudí, the Costa Brava’s coves, Pyrenean valleys and some of Spain’s best wine and food — all within a few hours’ drive.
Overview
Welcome to Catalonia
Catalonia, in Spain’s north-east corner, packs an astonishing range of holidays into one region. Barcelona is the headline act, with Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter and a city beach. Along the coast, the Costa Brava has pine-backed coves, fishing villages and Dalí’s Cadaqués, while the sandy Costa Daurada around Salou and Cambrils is made for families. Inland lie the Pyrenees, with Catalonia’s only national park, Romanesque churches and the Val d’Aran.
Catalonia is also a food and wine destination in its own right: Cava from the Penedès, powerful reds from Priorat, seafood rice on the coast, and calçots grilled over vine cuttings in winter. Its culture is distinctive too — its own language, the human towers called castells, and festivals in every town.
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The best way to see it all is by road. The Grand Tour of Catalonia is a 2,119 km loop in five sections, which we turn into tailor-made self-drive holidays: do one section in a week, or the whole loop in about a month.
Best for: city breaks, family beach holidays, food and wine trips, walkers and road-trippers, and anyone who wants to combine a city, the coast and the mountains in one trip.
From the team
Why we love Catalonia
Catalonia is my favourite answer to “a bit of everything”. Two nights in Barcelona, a few on the Costa Brava, then up into the Pyrenees — or pick one section of the Grand Tour and take your time.
Rossella Rossella, Luxury & Destination Specialist Meet our Travel DesignersRoad trip
The Grand Tour of Catalonia
A 2,119 km loop in five sections, each a tailor-made self-drive holiday. Do one section in a week, or the whole loop.
1 Section 1: Barcelona to Tarragona
462 km 6 stages
Gaudí, a night on Montserrat, Cava cellars and Roman Tarragona.
Tailor-made self-drive — price on request View itinerary
2 Section 2: Tarragona to Lleida
418 km 7 stages
The Ebro Delta, Picasso’s village, Priorat wine and Poblet.
Tailor-made self-drive — price on request View itinerary
3 Section 3: Lleida to La Seu d'Urgell
357 km 5 stages
Mont-rebei gorge, Aigüestortes lakes and the Val d’Aran.
Tailor-made self-drive — price on request View itinerary
4 Section 4: La Seu d'Urgell to Figueres
357 km 5 stages
Pyrenean villages, Núria, Garrotxa volcanoes and Besalú.
Tailor-made self-drive — price on request View itinerary
5 Section 5: Figueres to Barcelona
525 km 7 stages
Dalí, Cadaqués, Costa Brava coves, Girona and Barcelona.
Tailor-made self-drive — price on request View itineraryMain areas
Where to go in Catalonia
6 distinct regions — they pair beautifully two or three at a time.
Barcelona & the coast
Barcelona
Sitges
Maresme
Costa Brava & Girona
Cadaqués
Begur
Tossa de Mar
Girona
Costa Daurada & Tarragona
Tarragona
Salou
Cambrils
Priorat
Terres de l’Ebre
Ebro Delta
Tortosa
Els Ports
Central Catalonia
Montserrat
Penedès
Vic
Montseny
Catalan Pyrenees
Val d’Aran
Aigüestortes
Cerdanya
Garrotxa
Find your trip
Holiday types in Catalonia
Pick a holiday style — or combine two. Each section links straight to the next step.
City breaks
Catalonia's cities reward 2-4 nights each — pair two for a tailor-made multi-centre trip.
Girona
Cruises
Barcelona is one of Europe’s busiest cruise home ports, and Tarragona and Palamós are regular calls on Mediterranean itineraries. See our cruises from Barcelona.
Escorted tours
Self-Guided Cycling Catalonia: Girona & the Costa Brava – 9 Days
Self-Guided Catalan Classic Walk: the Costa Brava – 5 Days
Self-Guided Cycling in Catalonia: Costa Brava & Empordà – 5 Days
Solo Christmas & New Year on the Costa Brava with Flights – 11 Days
Cycling Spain’s Mediterranean Coast: Barcelona to Valencia – 8 Days
Self-guided walking and cycling holidays on the Costa Brava, a solo Christmas in Catalonia and a coastal ride from Barcelona to Valencia. Many of our Spain tours also start or finish in Barcelona.
Tailor-made
Everything you see above is a starting point — we'll shape any of these around how you actually want to travel.
Barcelona and the coast
A few nights in the city, then a beach hotel on the Costa Brava or in Sitges.
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Family Costa Daurada
Family hotels near Salou and Cambrils, with PortAventura days.
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Food and wine
Penedès Cava, Priorat wineries and cooking classes on the coast.
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Grand Tour road trip
One section or the whole loop, with hotels and car hire arranged.
EnquireOur editor’s picks
Our hand-picked Catalan stays
A few of the hotels we book across Barcelona and the Catalan coast.
Ohla Barcelona is a five-star hotel in central Barcelona.
H10 The One Barcelona is a five-star base in Barcelona.
Hotel ME Sitges Terramar is a four-star hotel in the beach town of Sitges.
H10 Cambrils Playa is a four-star hotel in Cambrils on the Costa Daurada.
Golden Port Salou & Spa (PortAventura) is a four-star family choice in Salou, close to PortAventura.
Golden Bahia de Tossa & Spa is a four-star hotel in Tossa de Mar on the Costa Brava.
Hotel Ciutat de Girona is a four-star hotel in the city of Girona.
Also in Catalonia
Where to stay in Catalonia
Our hotel guides for Catalonia’s main holiday areas.
For city breaks, see Barcelona holidays, with hotels by neighbourhood.
For coves and fishing villages, see Costa Brava holidays.
For family beaches around Salou and Cambrils, see Costa Dorada holidays.
For an island add-on, Mallorca is a short flight from Barcelona — see Balearic Islands holidays.
Travel guides
From our editorial team
Self-Drive Catalonia: The Complete Guide to the Five-Section Grand Tour
Self-drive Catalonia guide: the five-section Grand Tour route, when to go, driving tips, tolls and tourist tax, where…
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Grand Tour of Catalonia: Which Section Is Right for You?
Grand Tour of Catalonia sections compared: art and Cava, the Ebro Delta, the high Pyrenees, volcanoes and villages,…
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Medieval Catalonia: Monasteries, Castles and Old Towns Worth the Detour
Medieval Catalonia: Montserrat, the Cistercian monasteries of Poblet and Santes Creus, the Vall de Boí Romanesque churches, Besalú…
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Catalonia’s Wine Country: A Road-Tripper’s Guide to the Penedès and Priorat
Catalonia's wine country guide: Cava in the Penedès, Priorat and Montsant reds, Terra Alta's cathedrals of wine, when…
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The Best Costa Brava Coves and Beaches (and How to Reach Them)
The best Costa Brava coves and beaches: Begur, Calella de Palafrugell, Llafranc, Tossa de Mar and Cap de…
Read morePractical info
Knowing before you go
When to go
Jan
14°
Feb
15°
Mar
17°
Apr
19°
May
22°
Jun
26°
Jul
29°
Aug
29°
Sep
26°
Oct
22°
Nov
18°
Dec
15°
April to June and September to October are the best months for touring: warm days, quieter roads and good light. July and August are hot and busy on the coast but ideal in the Pyrenees, where the lakes, high passes and rafting are at their best. Winter brings skiing in the mountains and calçot season inland.
Flights & how to get there
Direct flights from many UK airports to Barcelona take about 2 hours; Girona and Reus airports are useful for the Costa Brava and the Costa Daurada. A full UK driving licence is valid for car hire, and traffic drives on the right.
Visa & passport
Spain is in the EU and the Schengen area. UK passport holders can visit without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and the EU’s Entry/Exit System records your fingerprints and photo at the border. For up-to-date entry requirements and safety advice, check the UK FCDO travel advice for Spain.
Currency & money
The euro (EUR). Cards are accepted almost everywhere. Catalonia charges a tourist tax per person per night, paid locally at the hotel; the rate depends on the hotel category and is higher in Barcelona.
Language & tipping
Catalan and Spanish are both official. English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and the main sights.
Health & safety
No special vaccinations are needed. Carry your UK GHIC card and buy comprehensive travel insurance that covers driving abroad.
FAQs
Catalonia — your questions
What is the best time to visit Catalonia?
April to June and September to October for touring and city breaks; July and August for beach holidays and the Pyrenees; December to March for skiing and calçot season.
Is Catalonia the same as Barcelona?
Barcelona is Catalonia’s capital, but the region also includes the Costa Brava, the Costa Daurada, the Ebro Delta, wine country and the Catalan Pyrenees.
What is the Grand Tour of Catalonia?
A 2,119 km road-trip loop created by the Catalan Tourist Board, split into five sections. We plan each section as a tailor-made self-drive holiday, with hotels and car hire arranged.
Are there local taxes in Catalonia?
Yes. Catalonia charges a tourist tax per person per night, paid at the hotel. The rate depends on the hotel category and is higher in Barcelona; we show it before you book.
Do I need a car in Catalonia?
Not for Barcelona, where walking and the metro are easier. For the Pyrenees, wine country and the smaller coastal villages, a car gives you far more freedom.
Make this trip yours
Plan your Catalonia holiday with a Travel Designer
Pick from any of the options on this page or tell us what you have in mind — we'll build it around how you actually like to travel. ATOL protected, flights included, real humans available 9am–7pm.
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