Day Trip Montserrat, Girona & Costa Brava from Barcelona

Three Catalan landmarks in one day: rocky peaks, medieval walls, and Mediterranean coves

You travel by air-conditioned bus from Barcelona to three sites: the rocky Montserrat monastery with its Black Madonna statue, the medieval walled city of Girona with its Jewish quarter and cathedral, and the Costa Brava fishing village of Tossa de Mar with its seaside castle. A professional multilingual guide leads you through each stop, entry fees are included, and you have free time in Girona for lunch. The full day runs about 10 hours, and you return to Barcelona by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Montserrat Mountain2h · entry included
2. Girona Cathedral1h

Montserrat, Girona and Costa Brava tour

• Depart from Barcelona to Montserrat
• Guided tour of Montserrat Monastery
• Bus ride to Girona
• Explore Girona Old Town and Jewish quarter
• Visit Girona Cathedral and Eiffel Bridge
• Walk Girona medieval walls and Game of Thrones sites
• Leisure time for lunch in Girona
• Bus ride to Costa Brava
• Explore Costa Brava village and coves
• Visit Tossa de Mar Castle and old town
• Return to Barcelona by bus

The experience

The bus pulls away from Barcelona while the city is still waking up, and within an hour the landscape shifts: flat streets give way to the jagged silhouette of Montserrat Mountain rising ahead like a fortress made of stone needles. The massif is unmistakable once you see it: hundreds of rock formations stacked and tilted at angles that look almost impossible, each one a different shape. Your guide meets you at the base and leads the group up to the monastery, where the main basilica sits tucked into the rock face. Inside, there's the Black Madonna statue (the one that's been here since the 12th century and draws pilgrims from all over), and you walk through the cloister and atrium at your own pace, taking in the quiet weight of the place. It's the spiritual heart of Catalonia, and even if you're not religious, the setting makes that clear.

After Montserrat, the bus carries you north to Girona, a medieval city that feels like it's been left mostly untouched. The guide walks you through the Jewish quarter first (narrow lanes where the buildings lean in close and the light comes down in strips), and then along the city walls, which you can actually climb and walk on top of. From up there you see the Onyar River cutting through the old town, and the houses on both sides are painted in colors that look almost unreal reflected in the water. The Girona Cathedral sits at the top of a long staircase, and your guide points out that it has the broadest Gothic nave in the world, which is the kind of detail that makes you look up and actually notice the space around you. If you're a Game of Thrones fan, the guide will show you where they filmed scenes from season six (the medieval streets and walls doubled as King's Landing), but the city is interesting enough on its own that it doesn't feel like a gimmick. You get free time here to grab lunch and wander, which most people need after the morning's walking.

The final stop is Tossa de Mar on the Costa Brava, a small fishing village with a walled castle perched on a rocky point above the beach. The water is clear enough that you can see the bottom, and there are little coves tucked between the rocks where you can sit and just be quiet for a while. The medieval streets inside the castle walls are steep and narrow, and the viewpoints at the top give you the kind of panoramic coast view that makes the drive worth it. By the time you're heading back to Barcelona (about an hour and a half on the bus) you've moved through three completely different landscapes and time periods in a single day. The group stays together on the bus, but once you arrive at each site, you're split into smaller groups of up to 25 people with your guide, so it never feels crowded.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel or city center pickup in Barcelona, round-trip bus transport to all three sites, entrance to Montserrat Abbey, a professional multilingual guide for the full day, and guided visits to the monastery, Girona's old town and cathedral, and Tossa de Mar on the Costa Brava.
• Free time in Girona allows you to find lunch independently.
• The bus is air-conditioned and the entire group travels together, splitting into smaller guided groups at each destination.

Options for this experience

2 options

Standard visit to Montserrat, Girona and Costa BravaGuide in English or Spanish · 08:30The regular version covers Montserrat, Girona and the Costa Brava, with no meal included.

Upgrade with lunch in a traditional restaurantGuide in English or Spanish · 08:30This upgraded version adds lunch at a traditional restaurant on top of the Montserrat, Girona and Costa Brava route.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (3 to 8 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by World Experience

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see three major Catalan landmarks in one day without arranging separate transport, tickets, and timing: the fixed itinerary and included guide handle all of that, leaving you to focus on the sites themselves.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 8 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How long is the drive from Barcelona to Montserrat?

About one hour by bus from Barcelona city center.

Is lunch included in the tour?

No, but you have free time in Girona to buy and eat lunch on your own.

Can I walk on Girona's medieval walls?

Yes, you can ascend and walk along the walls for panoramic views of the city.

What is the Black Madonna statue at Montserrat?

A revered 12th-century statue housed in the Montserrat Abbey basilica, a cornerstone of Catalan spirituality and culture.

Is this tour suitable if I have mobility issues?

The tour involves climbing stairs and walking on uneven medieval streets and walls. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

How many people are in each group at the sites?

Groups are divided into smaller units of up to 25 people per guide once you arrive at each location.

Are Game of Thrones filming locations a major part of the tour?

The guide will point out where season six was filmed in Girona's medieval streets, but it's not the focus. The city's history and architecture are the main draw.

What time does the tour return to Barcelona?

The tour is a full day lasting around 10 hours, with return to Barcelona by bus in the evening (approximately 1.5 hours from Tossa de Mar).