So where are the most ideal spots in Spain to spend the winter season? Here are my five top picks:

Fuerteventura. Photo: Regina W Bryan

1. The Canaries

Known and well-loved by Northern Europeans, the Canaries are overlooked by many travelers from the US and Canada. I assume this is because Mexico and Central America is where most North Americans go to escape January’s chill. The Canary Islands offer a summery getaway and make for a smart add-on to any trip to Spain. For example, if you’re coming to Spain this March when most of the mainland is still pretty frigid, tour around Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastian and Seville, and then end your trip on Tenerife, where it’s currently 70°F. Tenerife is my favorite of all the islands, though Fuerteventura is a close second with some beautiful white-sand beaches.

A wintry scene in Andorra la Vella. Photo: Roberto Al

2. Andorra

Right, it’s not Spain! But hey, it’s nearby—just a two-hour drive from Barcelona to the north. Andorra is famous for its skiing, winter sports, and shopping (less tax there). A visit to the tiny, mountainous country makes for an interesting junket and the countryside between Barcelona and Andorra is gorgeous. A few fun facts: they speak Catalan in Andorra as well as Spanish; a country made up of mountains the highest peak in Andorra is over 9,500 feet; it is the sixth smallest nation in Europe. If you’re a skier or snowboarder put Andorra on your list this winter.

3. Madrid

It’s true that Madrid is frosty in the winter, and it can snow there, but the country’s capital deserves a place on this list because cities are excellent destinations when the weather is unpredictable. Madrid’s nightlife, art museums, and many festivals and events provide plenty for visitors to do rain or shine.

4. Barcelona

Of course, we can say the same about Barcelona, Spain’s most popular city. Wander around the Gothic Quarter, marvel at the organic shapes inside the Sagrada Família, and run your fingers over Roman walls. In both Barcelona and Madrid it can be cold, but more often than not the sun is shining. Soak up some vitamin D on a terrace with a café con leche, or cozy up inside with a hot chocolate.

Hot springs in the Pyrenees. Photo: Regina W Bryan

5. La Garriga and other hot spots

Winter is also a superb season to take a dip in some of Catalonia’s abundant thermal hot springs. Many of these springs have been used since Roman times (or before) and are contained within elaborate, historical buildings. In the village of La Garriga, just forty-five minutes from Barcelona by train, there are two hot springs open for day-use or overnight stays. Further north there is Vichy Catalan and Sant Hilari Salcalm’s deluxe spa Font Vella, plus a handful of other thermal springs spas in the Pyrenees Mountains. For a complete list of villages with thermal hot springs, check out the Catalan Spa Towns website.

Spain is a diverse country with a wide range of travel options. With a bit of planning, you could ski, soak in thermal springs, catch a show in Madrid, see Gaudí masterpieces in Barcelona and then hit the beach on the Canaries — all on the same vacation!

The post 5 winter escapes in Spain: Beaches, mountains, museums & hot springs appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Tarragona

This is a favorite, but it always takes a lot of convincing on my part to get my visitors to go there. When they return they always thank me, enchanted by the experience in this Roman city. Take the train from Barcelona to Tarragona from l’Estació de França, which will get you there in about an hour. Many trains head to Tarragona throughout the day.

Upon arrival, climb the steps to the city’s “balcony” where the Mediterranean Sea poses before you like a brazen movie star, waiting to have her photo taken. You’ll snap her photo, and then move onto the Roman amphitheater, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the old city quarter. There’s a lot to see here, so go early and plan to have lunch in one of Tarragona’s many breezy plazas.

For more information and for help planning your trip, check out the Tarragona Tourism website.

The mansions and gardens of La Garriga make for a relaxing respite from Barcelona’s bustle.

La Garriga

Not many tourists make it to La Garriga, which is part of its charm. A small village in the mountains near the Montseny Natural Park, expect cooler weather and lots of green. The main draw in La Garriga are its thermal springs. You can get a day pass to soak in the springs or spend the night in one of the few hotels in town.

Don’t miss the Saturday morning market, where a rainbow of local veggies are sold. La Garriga also has a large number of Art Nouveau mansions in its city limits, some crumbling and others in exemplary condition.

Read more about the hot springs at the website of the Blancafort Hotel and Spa.

Sitges is a great option for a Spanish beach getaway.

Sitges

As the weather warms, Sitges calls visitors back.  This is one of the top beach escapes within 45 minutes from Barcelona in that it offers swimming, sunbathing, shopping, art, history, nightlife and countless restaurants. It’s also one of Europe’s gay getaway spots (their Carnaval festivals in February are fabulous).

Related: Budget guide to Sitges

Go for the day and stroll the boardwalk, have lunch and then snooze on a beach lounger (which you will have to rent). Note that in the summer months you might feel a bit like a sardine on Sitges tiny beaches, which are very popular.

For more information about the city, check out the Sitges Tourism website.

Anything to add?

Do you have your own favorite day trips from Barcelona? What about advice on visiting Tarragona, La Garriga or Sitges?  Let us know by posting in the comment section below.

And be sure to check out our Barcelona hotel recommendations for a place to stay, as well as this article in our Barcelona guide for more information on great day trips from the city.

The post Barcelona: Day trips to Tarragona, La Garriga and Sitges appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Although I do have access to a car, I often take day trips by train, and La Garriga, located about a 40-minutes ride north of Barcelona, is one of my “top five” when it comes to a weekend or day trip getaway from the Catalan Capital. Here’s why:

1. The Hot Springs

The main draw for city folk to La Garriga is its natural springs. There are two that offer soaking options and treatments in four- and five-star facilities.

I stayed at the Blancafort and very much recommend it. While I opted for a package deal and stayed two luxurious nights, one can also just pop in for the afternoon. A two-hour soak in their Terma Romana pools costs €32 and includes hot tea in the chill-out area, as well as access to several indoor pools with waterworks and to the outdoor heated and cold pools. The Blancafort also offers up a tempting massage menu, but the rates are steep at €47 for 25 minutes.

Fresh air and hiking in Montseny park. Photo: Stvcr

The other thermal spring spa in town is Termes La Garriga, which is smaller and more classical in style than Blancafort. Both spas are in the center of the village and an effortless walk from the train.

2. The “Modernista” homes

Along La Garriga’s main drag, El Passieg, there are numerous “Modenista” (think Art Noveau) homes that were built as summer residences for the wealthy in the late 19th and early 20th century. Some of these are well-kept and extravagant, while others look like they might be haunted (or at least inhabited by mice and bats).

All of them are interesting, and most have little plaques explaining their histories. Follow “Villa Termal y de Veraneo,” a self-guided tour through town that is marked by said plaques and outlined in detail here.

There are also formal guided tours offered each month, but these may be in Catalan or Spanish, so it’s best to ask ahead of time. Visit La Garriga’s Web site for more tour information.

3. Montseny

The mountains surrounding La Garriga are part of Montseny, a protected park. This means that wherever you look in the village you see green and forest in the distance. (Wherever I look in Barcelona I see concrete, so the views in La Garriga were extra refreshing.)

Many trails into Montseny leave from La Garriga, so those who stay the night or come early in the day could easily fit in some hiking (and then hit the springs!).

4. The Saturday market

You’ll find markets in lots of places around Catalonia, and certainly Barcelona has many of its own Saturday markets. Still, the produce tasted fresher from the market in La Garriga than my normal Barcelona mercado‘s offerings. Maybe it was the clean mountain air that made the difference?

Set in the center of the village, in several squares around the church, the market runs from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. every Saturday. This is the spot to pick up a jar of local honey, some cheese or sausage from Vic, or even inexpensive clothing items. (I snagged a couple of colorful spring scarves!)

For such a small town, La Garriga has a lot going for it. The village itself is pretty, with a cobblestoned strip filled with boutiques and cafés running through the middle of it. There seemed to be a lack of restaurants in the town, but we did find a couple that were reasonably priced. Of course, both of the hotel/spas also have eateries.

For more information about La Garriga, check out the city’s Web site.

The post Barcelona: 4 reasons to take a day trip to La Garriga appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.