“Must-see” places in Catalonia - Excursion to Montserrat
DanielHello everybody!
How are you? I went to Germany for a short holiday trip 1 week ago. Unfortunately, it rained a lot, it was very cold (-3ºC) and we had snow… 
As I arrived in Barcelona last Wednesday, I saw that there has been really sunny weather… I thought about what you could discover on those sunny day in Catalonia. So, pay attention and keep reading…
If you have time left for a day or weekend trip from Barcelona, I can propose various ideas… in the mountains, on the beach and cultural trips…
First of all, let me start with Montserrat. The mountain and monastery of Montserrat are one of the most important places in Catalonia. It is not only know for its beautiful landscape, but also for its historical and religious meaning. In one day you can visit the monastery, use the Funicular railways, walk around to discover the nature park or just taste the regional gastronomy. It is located 40 km from Barcelona and it’s a very important place for all the Catalans. Beside from being a natural reservation, Montserrat is also visited by thousands tourists every year from all over the world.
Next Saturday we organize a full day excursion to Montserrat and to the ‘Cavas Freixenet’, where the famous ‘Catalan Cava’ is made. So this is the perfect opportunity to discover the wonders of Montserrat!
The excursion includes coach and tourist guide. You can find further details here at the school.
Alternatively, to go to Montserrat, you can take the train line R5 in direction to Manresa from Plaza España. Near the montain, there is also a cable train that will take you to the Monastery of Montserrat. There you can enjoy a free and unlimited view all over the region! At midday there is a great concert of children choir, between 10 and 14 years old, playing every day between 12:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., except on Saturdays.
Near Barcelona, there is just another great town that you can’t miss: Gerona.
It is a fantastic town just 100 km away from Barcelona and is considered as the city with the highest living quality in Spain and it’s really worth a visit!
When you reach the historical city centre, Gerona will shoy you its romantic side with its gorgeous winding streets. The landmark of the city is without no doubt the cathedral “Santa Maria” and its sweeping stairs, which lead to the main entrance. Behind the building you will find a garden with romantic arcade ways. This is a very recommendable place to rest! Regardless whether you would like to go shopping or just to feel the flair of the historic city centre, Gerona is worth a visit!
My last town for today is Sitges. Half an hour by train from Barcelona, this picturesque small town offers you enough restaurants and terraces to satisfy your needs during the day. Futhermore, it is the perfect place (apart from BCN 
) for a day on the beach or for having a ball all night long! Sitges is the best choice!
You must check out the town centre where you can discover all the bars, restaurants and discos. The nightlife is really a lot of fun in Sitges. If you have the chance to stay over-night, do it! This little town turns into a “party island” at night on local holidays! Friday and Saturday nights are probably the liveliest! And to top it off, Sitges is really near to Barcelona! Trains run every 30 minutes and the journey takes just 40 minutes! It’s not expensive either! You can also get the train from Passeo de Gracia train station, right near the school.
I hope all this information is useful for you. There are a lot of places to see apart from Barcelona! Take your time and do them all!
Greetings,
Daniel
