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Why Barcelona is worth the trip
Barcelona is a city everyone dreams of visiting. It’s a place packed with a huge number of sights—truly interesting and important—and they’re absolutely worth seeing at least once in your life.
The essentials for a Barcelona day trip (from the coast)
From Lloret de Mar, the easiest options are a direct bus or a train (with a transfer).
SARFA buses run daily; the direct bus takes about an hour.
For the train from Lloret de Mar, you first need to get to Blanes, then take the R1 line.
From Malgrat de Mar, you can travel by bus both ways, including a nightly bus that runs every day.
Start with the main sights: Gaudí’s icons, the Gothic Quarter, La Rambla, Montjuïc and the waterfront.
What to see and where to begin
Barcelona’s main attractions (first-time essentials)
In Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, you can explore a huge number of landmarks and visit plenty of interesting places. We’d like to recommend the most important sights in the city—these are exactly what you should see first:
Sagrada Família — Antoni Gaudí’s largest project, in other words: the “construction of the century”.
Casa Batlló — one of Antoni Gaudí’s most attractive and fascinating houses.
Christopher Columbus Monument — an interesting architectural landmark, and many are surprised to learn there’s an elevator inside.
Montjuïc — one of Barcelona’s key sightseeing areas: a cactus park, a cable car, a fortress, and much more.
The Cathedral — the city’s most important cathedral.
The Gothic Quarter — Barcelona’s historic center.
Ciutadella Park — Barcelona’s main city park.
La Rambla Boulevard — the city’s calling card, with everything from souvenir shops and restaurants to street performers and tourist-friendly entertainment.
Camp Nou Stadium — the largest stadium in Europe, where you can walk around and visit the museum of one of the greatest football clubs.
Port Vell — one of Barcelona’s most scenic areas, perfect for walks, yacht views, and the drawbridge.
How to get there: Lloret de Mar → Barcelona
From Lloret de Mar to Barcelona, you can travel by bus or by train — these are the most convenient options. On a direct bus you’ll get there in about an hour; by train (with a transfer) it takes roughly two hours. SARFA buses run daily from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona, from 6.00 to 19.00. They depart from the Lloret de Mar bus station. The ticket costs about 11 euros. To return from Barcelona to Lloret de Mar, you can take a bus from the North Bus Station — buses there run from 8.45 to 21.15.
To take the train to Barcelona from Lloret de Mar, you first need to get to the resort town of Blanes — there you’ll have to switch to the R1 line. The train fare is about 7 euros. You can also return by train, using not only the R1 line but also the RG1.
How to get there: Malgrat de Mar → Barcelona
From Malgrat de Mar to Barcelona and back, you can also travel by bus. You can even use a night bus that runs daily. The trip takes a little over an hour. You can board the bus at Malgrat de Mar - Av. Barcelona - Av. Verge de Montserrat station.
What to do (quick inspiration)
In Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, you can explore countless landmarks and visit many interesting places. We’d like to recommend the city’s main attractions—these are exactly what you should see first:
Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, the Christopher Columbus Monument, Montjuïc, the Cathedral, the Gothic Quarter, Ciutadella Park, La Rambla, Camp Nou Stadium and Port Vell.
1-day itinerary
Sagrada Família — Antoni Gaudí’s largest project, in other words: the “construction of the century”.
Casa Batlló — one of Antoni Gaudí’s most attractive and fascinating houses.
The Gothic Quarter — Barcelona’s historic center.
The Cathedral — the city’s most important cathedral.
La Rambla — the city’s calling card: souvenir shops, restaurants, street performers and other tourist-friendly entertainment.
The Christopher Columbus Monument — an interesting architectural landmark, with an elevator inside.
Port Vell — one of the most scenic areas, perfect for a walk, yacht views and the drawbridge.
2-day itinerary
On day one, you can comfortably cover the central highlights: Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, the Gothic Quarter, the Cathedral, La Rambla, the Christopher Columbus Monument and Port Vell.
On day two, add bigger viewpoints and walkable zones: Montjuïc — one of Barcelona’s key sightseeing areas. Here you’ll find a cactus park, a cable car, a fortress, and plenty more to explore.
Ciutadella Park — Barcelona’s main city park.
Camp Nou Stadium — the largest stadium in Europe, where you can walk around and visit the museum of one of the greatest football clubs.
Getting there: buses and trains (quick overview)
From Lloret de Mar to Barcelona you can travel by bus or train. The direct bus takes about an hour; by train (with a transfer) it’s roughly two hours. SARFA buses run daily from about 6.00 to 19.00, departing from the Lloret de Mar bus station. The ticket costs about 11 euros. For the return trip, buses from Barcelona’s North Bus Station run approximately from 8.45 to 21.15.
For the train: first reach Blanes, then take the R1 line. The fare is about 7 euros. On the way back, you can use both R1 and RG1.
From Malgrat de Mar: bus to Barcelona and back (including a night bus that runs daily). The ride takes a little over an hour. Board at Malgrat de Mar - Av. Barcelona - Av. Verge de Montserrat.
FAQ: Barcelona day trip from the coast
Why is Barcelona worth visiting at least once?
It’s packed with important and truly interesting landmarks that are worth seeing in person.
What’s the fastest way from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona?
A direct bus: about one hour.
How long does the train take from Lloret de Mar?
Around two hours, because you’ll need a transfer.
When do SARFA buses run from Lloret de Mar?
Daily, roughly from 6.00 to 19.00, departing from the Lloret de Mar bus station.
How much is the bus ticket to Barcelona?
About 11 euros.
Where do you catch the return bus in Barcelona?
From the North Bus Station, roughly between 8.45 and 21.15.
How do you take the train to Barcelona from Lloret de Mar?
First get to Blanes, then switch to the R1 line.
How much is the train fare (R1)?
About 7 euros.
Which lines can you use to return by train?
You can use not only R1, but also RG1.
Is there a night bus from Malgrat de Mar to Barcelona?
Yes—there’s a night bus that runs daily.
How long is the bus ride from Malgrat de Mar?
A little over one hour.
Where can you board the bus in Malgrat de Mar?
At Malgrat de Mar - Av. Barcelona - Av. Verge de Montserrat.
What are the main “must-see” places listed for Barcelona?
Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, Montjuïc, the Gothic Quarter, La Rambla, Camp Nou, Port Vell and other key highlights.
