Grand Tour of Catalonia, Section 5: Figueres to Barcelona Road Trip
Seven days from Dalí's Empordà back to Barcelona: Cadaqués and Cap de Creus, the Greek ruins of Empúries, medieval Pals and Peratallada, the Costa Brava coves, Girona, Vic and Montseny, then two days of Gaudí and the sea in Barcelona.
Route overview
Section 5 closes the loop: from the surreal world of Salvador Dalí in the Empordà, along the Costa Brava and through the forests of Montseny, back to Barcelona. It packs in the region’s most famous names — Cadaqués, Tossa de Mar, Girona — and joins them with medieval villages, fishing ports and mountain hikes.
The final two days are spent in Barcelona without the car, with a modernist tour, two cooking workshops and a sunset swim from a catamaran. It is a fitting finale, whether you have driven one section or all five.
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- Empordà natural parks — Cap de Creus, the Aiguamolls wetlands and the Medes Islands marine reserve.
- Camins de Ronda — coastal paths from Cadaqués to Cap de Creus, or Calella de Palafrugell to Llafranc.
- L’Escala’s salt festival — every September.
- Out with the Palamós fishermen — a working day on a trawler.
- Kayak the Ter — from the river mouth at Torroella de Montgrí.
- Costa Brava festivals — summer concerts at Cap Roig and Peralada.
Keep going: ← Section 4: La Seu d’Urgell to Figueres · All five sections
This itinerary follows Section 5 of the official Grand Tour of Catalonia route, created by the Catalan Tourist Board. We tailor it to your dates, pace and budget.
Trip highlights
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Dalí's Empordà
the Theatre-Museum in Figueres, the Portlligat house and lunch in Cadaqués.
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Sant Pere de Rodes and Empúries
a monastery above the sea, and the Greek and Roman ruins by the beach.
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Medieval villages
Peratallada, Pals and La Bisbal by electric bike, and a seafood cooking class in Palamós.
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The Costa Brava
Tossa de Mar's walls, a coastal path and the cliff-top gardens of Lloret de Mar.
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Girona, Vic and Montseny
a food walk in Girona, Vic's great square and a hike in the Montseny forests.
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Barcelona's finale
Gaudí's houses, a cooking workshop and a sunset catamaran with a swim.
Your route
Day-by-day itinerary
8 days from Figueres, Spain to Barcelona, Spain
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Day 1 Dalí's Empordà (128 km)
The Dalí Theatre-Museum, the Museu del Joguet and the Dalí jewels in Figueres. Drive through Empordà vineyards to the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, cross Cap de Creus to Dalí's Portlligat house, and have lunch in Cadaqués. In the afternoon, the Greek and Roman ruins of Empúries and the anchovy museum in L'Escala, before your first night near Pals. Try: L'Escala anchovies.
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Day 2 The Middle Ages (72 km)
Tour the medieval villages of the Empordanet by electric bike — Peratallada, Ullastret, La Bisbal (the pottery capital) and walled Pals. Buy Girona apple products in Palau-sator, see the coves of Begur and Josep Pla's Calella de Palafrugell, then join a fishermen's cooking class in Palamós. Overnight in Tossa de Mar. Try: Palamós prawns and Pals rice.
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Day 3 Along the Costa Brava (90 km)
Coffee on the walls of Tossa's Vila Vella, then a stretch of the Camí de Ronda coastal path. Visit the Santa Clotilde gardens above the sea at Lloret de Mar, then head inland to Girona for a food walk through the old town, the cathedral and the Jewish quarter. End in the volcanic Vall d'en Bas. Try: xuixo pastries and ice cream in Girona.
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Day 4 Hiking in Montseny (82 km)
The stone village of Rupit in the Collsacabra and the cliff-top views at Tavertet over the Sau reservoir. Learn about the river's textile colonies in Manlleu, then tour Vic's grand Plaça Major and taste its famous sausages. In the afternoon, walk a forest circuit in the Montseny Biosphere Reserve from Viladrau. Try: Vic llonganissa and fuet.
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Day 5 Modernist Maresme to Barcelona (158 km)
Descend to the coast at Sant Pol de Mar, then the Domènech i Montaner house-museum in Canet de Mar and the fishing port of Arenys de Mar. See Gaudí's first work in Mataró, and taste Alella wines before arriving in Barcelona. Return the car on arrival. Try: 'vidrieres modernistes' biscuits in Canet de Mar.
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Day 6 An appointment with Gaudí
A guided tour of Barcelona's modernist highlights — Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Casa Vicens, Sant Pau and the Palau de la Música. Learn trencadís mosaic, cook a Catalan lunch, then a literary walk to Santa Maria del Mar in El Born. Try: esqueixada and crema catalana you made yourself.
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Day 7 Barcelona's sea
Market shopping with a guide, a paella cooking workshop, and the fish auction at the port. End with a sunset catamaran trip and a swim in the Mediterranean. Try: a glass of Cava as the sun sets behind Collserola.
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Day 8 Depart
Fly home from Barcelona, or add more nights in the city.
Where you stay
- Pals Country hotel in the Empordà
- Tossa de Mar Seaside hotel near the old town walls
- Hostalets d'en Bas Rural hotel in the Vall d'en Bas
- Viladrau Mountain hotel in Montseny
- Barcelona Modernist or boutique city hotel (3 nights)
What's included
Included
- 7 nights in hand-picked hotels, rural inns and character stays, with breakfast, chosen around your budget and style.
- Car hire for the whole section, collected and dropped off where it suits the route (one-way rentals can carry a drop-off fee, which we include in your quote).
- A day-by-day route with driving times, our suggested stops and the places worth booking ahead.
- Pre-booked experiences on request, such as guided visits, tastings and activities mentioned in the itinerary.
- Flights from the UK on request when international flights are included, ATOL Protection is included.
- Support from your Travel Designer before you go and a UK phone line while you travel.
Not included
- Fuel, motorway tolls and parking.
- Catalonia's tourist tax, charged per person per night and paid at each hotel (the rate depends on the hotel category and is higher in Barcelona).
- Lunches and dinners unless listed, and entrance fees for sights you choose on the day.
- Travel insurance (we strongly recommend a policy that covers driving abroad).
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You don't want any city time — the last two days are in Barcelona (we can swap them for more coast).
- You're travelling in July or August and dislike crowds — the coast is busy in high summer; we'll route you to quieter coves.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this road trip?
Tap any "Enquire" button and a Travel Designer will be in touch within 24 hours (often the same day). Tell us your dates, how many nights you would like and the style of hotel, and we will build the trip and quote it. Nothing is booked until you confirm.
What financial protection do I get?
Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). When international flights are included, ATOL Protection is included.
Can I swap the Barcelona days for more beach?
Yes — many travellers add a few nights on the Costa Brava instead and end with one night in Barcelona before flying home.
Is the Dalí Theatre-Museum worth booking ahead?
Yes, especially in summer. We'll pre-book timed tickets for Figueres and the Portlligat house, which has very limited places.
Do I have to drive every day?
No. The stages are a guide, not a timetable. We can add rest days, cut a long day in two, or base you in one place for two nights so you can explore without packing up.
Can I book a private driver-guide instead of self-drive?
Yes, a private driver-guide is available on request for any section, or just for the mountain or city days.
Can I combine this with another section?
Yes. The five sections join up into one loop, so you can do two back to back, or all five over about a month. See the Grand Tour of Catalonia page.
This is a suggested route — talk to us and we'll shape it around you.
The itinerary above is an example we like for solo travellers. Want to spend longer on one island? Swap a hotel? Add a stop in Chiang Mai? We have tried-and-tested hotels across all four destinations we can firsthand recommend, and we'll re-quote your trip with your dates, your group size and your priorities. Talk to us — that's what we do.
Talk to a Travel Designer