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Things to do

Our top tips for things to do in and around Catalunya.

For the culturalists

Barcelona

Gaudí's masterpieces - The Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and Casa Batlló create a surreal architectural hard to find anywhere else.
Mediterranean magic - Beaches, Las Ramblas, outdoor cafés, and that distinctive Spanish energy where life happens outside until late into the night.
Cultural heavyweight - World-class museums, pioneering gastronomy, and stunning venues like Palau de la Música Catalana.

Montserrat Monastery

Dramatic setting - it sits about 4,000 feet up on a jagged, otherworldly mountain with distinctive rock formations that look almost sculpted. This can also be hiked!
Spiritual significance - it's home to La Moreneta (the Black Madonna), a 12th-century Romanesque wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary that's Catalonia's patron saint. Millions of pilgrims visit annually to venerate her.
The boys' choir - L'Escolania de Montserrat is one of Europe's oldest boys' choirs, dating back to the 13th century. They perform daily in the basilica, and hearing them sing in that setting is quite moving.

Cervera

Medieval charm - Well-preserved old town with narrow streets, ancient walls, and a beautiful main square.
Authentic and quiet - A genuine Catalan town where you experience local life without tourist crowds.

Zaragoza

Basilica del Pilar - One of Spain's most important pilgrimage sites, with stunning baroque domes sitting dramatically on the Ebro River.
Roman and Moorish layers - From the ancient Roman theater to the magnificent Aljafería Palace, centuries of history are stacked throughout the city.
Goya's birthplace region - The province claims Spain's most famous painter, with works displayed in local museums.

For the foodies

Nearby restaurants

L'Antic Forn - A japanese and spanish fusion, one of our favourites!
La Cava - An authentic Catalan experience. We have to stop ourselves from going there every week. Order the "Brava" (oven baked potato), any of the fresh fish on the "Pescado a la Brasa" (bbq), and the "Tortilla con bacalao" (omellete with cod).
l'Apagallums - A solid classic. Casual, yummy and one of our caterers for the wedding. They have a really unique cheese cake for cheese cake lovers.

San Sebastian

Pintxos paradise - The old town is a non-stop culinary crawl where every bar competes with elaborate, creative small bites on toothpicks.
Michelin star density - More Michelin stars per capita than nearly anywhere on earth - Arzak, Mugaritz, Akelarre, and more pack this small city.
Fresh seafood - Right on the Bay of Biscay, the catch comes straight from boat to plate - think grilled turbot, hake, and anchovies.
Top tip - there is also a lesser known town on route called Logroño which is lesser known by tourists and has arguably better pintxos than in San Sebastian.

Barcelona

Bar Bocata - a must have: the Torilla de Patatas Tapa
Sartoria Panatieri - Pizza

For sporty spice

Montserrat hike

The hike up Montserrat takes you through the distinctive rock formations with trails ranging from easy to challenging. The most popular route goes from the monastery to Sant Joan chapel, offering great views of Catalonia and close-up access to those unique serrated peaks.

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park

Gorgeous hike with lakes and waterfalls!

Pyrenees

The Pyrenees mountain range between Spain and France offers exceptional outdoor activities in May, when melting snow creates ideal conditions across different elevations.

River sports - Snowmelt fills rivers with fast-flowing water, making it prime season for white-water rafting, kayaking, and canyoning in the valleys.
Hikes - Lower trails are clear and lush while higher peaks still have dramatic snow-capped views, offering routes for all levels from gentle walks to challenging climbs.
Cycling - Mountain passes start opening up for road cycling, and endless trails through forests and meadows are perfect for mountain biking as the weather warms. For the unfit ones can rent out ebikes.

For the wine lovers

La Rioja

Wine paradise - Spain's most famous wine region, producing exceptional Tempranillo-based reds in endless vine-covered valleys.
Wine tourism heaven - Tastings, vineyard tours, and wine hotels make it easy to spend days exploring the region's hundreds of producers.
Charming wine towns - Medieval villages like Laguardia and Haro are packed with atmospheric wine bars and local character.

Penedès

Cava central - This is where about 95% of Spain's Cava (sparkling wine) is produced. The traditional method is the same as Champagne, using local grapes like Macabeo, Xarel·lo, and Parellada.
Big name bodegas - Freixenet and Codorníu are the giants here, both offering impressive tours. Codorníu's modernist cellars designed by Puig i Cadafalch are particularly stunning - kilometers of underground passages.
Top tip - the big name bodegas are quite commercial, but the region is full of smaller bodegas with a lot of charm and great wines.