Montserrat, Girona & Costa Brava Small Group Tour with Pick-up
Description
Discover some of Catalonia’s most iconic landscapes on this full-day small-group tour from Barcelona, with hotel pick-up included. Travel into the Montserrat mountains to explore the monastery complex and visit the Montserrat Basilica, set among stunning rock formations and panoramic viewpoints overlooking the surrounding valleys. Continue to the historic city of Girona for a guided walk through its medieval old town and well-preserved Jewish Quarter, passing key landmarks such as Girona Cathedral, the Arab Baths, and several Game of Thrones filming locations. Later, continue to the Costa Brava, where you'll have time to explore the coastline at a relaxed pace. Wander through charming streets, admire beautiful Mediterranean views, and enjoy the region's distinctive coastal atmosphere. Take time to stroll, capture memorable photos, and soak up the scenery before returning to Barcelona.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Begin your day with convenient hotel pick-up in central Barcelona. Meet your guide before setting off in a comfortable van toward the Montserrat mountains. Your guide will outline the day’s itinerary and provide context about the regions you’ll be visiting as you leave the city behind.
Arrive at Montserrat, a mountain range known for its unique rock formations and spiritual significance in Catalonia. Walk around the monastery complex and surrounding viewpoints as your guide explains the history of Montserrat, its role as a pilgrimage site, and its importance to Catalan culture. Enjoy time to take in panoramic views over the valleys and rugged peaks that make this setting one of the most distinctive landscapes near Barcelona.
Enter the Montserrat Basilica, located within the monastery complex and one of Catalonia’s most significant religious buildings. Learn about the basilica’s history, architectural features, and its role in centuries of pilgrimage. Your guide will provide context while allowing time to observe the interior and appreciate the atmosphere of this important spiritual site.
Continue to the historic city of Girona for a guided walk through its well-preserved medieval old town. Explore narrow stone streets, ancient city walls, and the Jewish Quarter, one of the best preserved in Europe. As you walk through the historic center, your guide will point out locations used as filming sites for Game of Thrones, explaining how Girona’s architecture and streets were transformed on screen. Pass by key landmarks such as Girona Cathedral and the Arab Baths while learning about the city’s Roman origins, medieval history, and cultural heritage.
The journey continues along the Costa Brava, where you'll have free time to explore the charming coastal surroundings at your own pace. Stroll through picturesque streets, admire Mediterranean views, and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of one of Spain's most beautiful coastal regions. Take in the scenery, capture memorable photos, or simply unwind by the sea before returning to Barcelona.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
- We will pick you up from any hotel or apartment in Barcelona. Please make sure to include the address of your accommodation when booking. - Even if your Hotel is not listed, you can type it down in the field. - Unfortunately, we are unable to provide pick-up or drop-off services at the cruise terminal or the airport - We will send a message the day before departure through the booking system to inform you of the specific pick-up time at your hotel as well as the name of your guide and the telephone number.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(487)
We had a wonderful day. Hengameh and Augusto were great. The tour was nice paced with good stories and attention to detail
Gaspar was an awesome tour guide. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Was very detailed with the tour. He also took amazing pictures of us. Would definitely recommend this tour.
I wanted to like this tour, but it fell very short, and I cannot recommend it. The term “private” is a misnomer. We are a family of 5 and were paired with another couple, so it was quite tight and uncomfortable in the small van. Dulce was our guide. While she was nice, she didn’t go above and beyond for our tour. She didn’t share her qualifications as a guide or engage us at all, and on at least one occasion, she lost track of time chit-chatting with another local guide while we were supposed to be touring. At no time did she ask us what we wanted to do or how she could tailor the day to our needs with 3 teenage boys. We spent way too much time in Girona, and while it was interesting, we weren’t allowed to enter the cathedral. Repeatedly, we were told this is “not a beach tour,” and yet the second stop was a seaside community where the only activity was lying on the beach. Dulce gave no tour or explanation. Instead, we received 2 hours of “free time” to eat lunch. Our final stop was Costa Brava, and instead of receiving the most time here, we had a little over an hour, which was not enough. Our driver was on personal phone calls most of the time, which was not only distracting but also unsafe. We have taken many tours like this before and found it strange that we weren’t provided with at least a bottle of water and the van was not equipped with outlets. I do not recommend this tour and felt we definitely overpaid for what we received.
We had an amazing experience with our local tour guide Hengameh and driver Roger in Barcelona. Our guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about the Catalonia history and culture. Every stop was explained in an engaging way, making the tour both enjoyable and informative. Our driver was punctual, professional, and ensured we traveled safely and comfortably throughout the day. He prepared and provided cold drinks and water for us especially such a hot day was amazing! The coordination between the guide and driver was excellent, making everything smooth and stress-free. Thank you both for making our visit to Barcelona so memorable. We highly recommend your service to anyone looking for a wonderful and well-organized tour!
Hengameh, our wonderful guide, and Roger, our fantastic driver, made our Spain tour unforgettable—knowledgeable, fun, and welcoming. We highly recommend them!
Hengameh, our guide, was exceptionally friendly, helpful, and extremely knowledgeable. Her passion for the places we visited made the experience both enjoyable and educational. We learned so much about the history and culture of each location, and her insights added real depth to the tour. Roger, our driver, was equally helpful and an outstanding driver. We always felt safe and comfortable on the road, and his professionalism, friendliness, and willingness to assist contributed greatly to making our journey a pleasant one.
Our guide Hengameh and driver Augusto provided a very nice day for us! The trip covers a lot of ground, so you can expect driving times of 1-2 hours between towns. We found Girona the most interesting and would have enjoyed some free time there (like we had in the other two places, including to get lunch on the coast) but understand the day can only provide highlights of three interesting spots. Seeing the range of environments and histories was really interesting, and we learned a lot from Hengameh who knows a lot of facts and fun information plus was lovely to talk to! The van was cozy with 9 of us and I am prone to carsickness but had no problems; was comfortable and able to deal with some other travel logistics during the driving portions. Hotel pickup made it easy to join this trip and we felt well-cared for by both Augusto and Hengameh. Thank you!
The tour was amazing. Very well organized. We got to get a taste of the highlights of the region and learned a lot. I absolutely loved the experience. Dulce, our guide, was amazing and I really appreciated her help. Her good vibes and energy were one of the best parts of this trip. I totally recommend.
We had a great time touring with Hengameh. She is super prepared and very accommodating. Roger our driver and Hengameh were on time to pick us up. They had the appropriate car seats for our kids along with drinks and snacks. Hengameh's knowledge of the areas we toured was fantastic. She moved along our route slowly when needed or quicker pending on our groups needs. Roger our driver was fantastic getting us in and out of very populated areas with little trouble. We would recommend Hangemeh and Roger.
The Guide was very good, she gave.detailed explanations of where we were and advice on things to do in our spare time . She was also very friendly and approachable. An excellent day out
