Forget Barcelona! These 4 Authentic Towns Less Than 2 Hours Away Are Less Crowded

When it comes to summers in Europe, Barcelona seems to be the number one destination on everyone’s mind.

Despite the rising anti-foreigner sentiment and the surging crowds, tourists continue flocking to the Spanish city year after year.

Between strolling the charming Gothic Quarter, as you slowly make your way to La Sagrada Familia, and lounging on the golden sands of La Barceloneta as the Mediterranean gently caresses your feet, it sure feels like heaven (on occasion).

That is, if you can look past the hectic urban scenes, the angry-looking locals holding up picket signs urging you to ‘Go Home!‘, and all the pickpockets and scammers.

Now, if you’re not exactly keen on elbowing your way through a mass of bodies just to get to the nearest gelato parlor, nor wait for hours in line to enter Park Güell, these 4 smaller Catalonian towns less than two hours away from Barcelona:

Tossa de Mar

The only remaining fortified town on the Catalonian Coast, Tossa de Mar is best known for its picture-perfect sandy beach, hugged by bright-blue seas, its maze of cobble-paved alleys, virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages, and its artistic legacy.

While Barcelona is widely known for its Gaudí associations, the quaint Tossa has once been home to artists like Rafael Benet, a Catalan painter, Enric Casanovas, a prominent 20th-century sculptor, and Marc Chagall, one of the leading figures in surrealism.

They were all drawn to the town’s romantic atmosphere and Bohemian character, with Chagall himself naming it ‘Blue Paradise’—and guess what, the scenic coastal drive from Barcelona to Tossa takes just over an hour (more precisely, 1h15).

Castelldefels

If you’re looking for a shorter day trip, Castelldefels is where you should go: easily reached from Barcelona, via a 25-minute train ride, it boasts over 3 miles of unspoiled golden sands, a lot wider and less crowded than the city’s main beaches, and family-friendly shallow waters.

Overlooking the historic center, the striking red-brick Castelldefels Castle is a must-see for culture aficionados: it offers the best views over the coast from its highest tower, and you can even visit temporary exhibits in summer.

For the foodies out there, the coastal promenade in Castelldefels is lined with cozy cafés and beach bars, serving delicious paella and freshly-caught fish at affordable prices, and the best part is, you rarely need to book a table! There’s almost always room for walk-ins.

Besalú

Now, if you don’t necessarily care for the beaches, and your primary reason for visiting this part of Spain is to take in the sights, you can’t miss out on Besalú, a riverside settlement dating back to the Middle Ages at a 1h30-drive northeast of Barcelona.

Home to a Romanesque bridge, built all the way back in the 12th century, a hilltop castle at the confluence of two winding rivers, and one of the best-preserved Jewish Quarters in Spain, it’s the kind of real-life postcard so beautiful it looks AI-made.

Considering most day-trippers leaving Barcelona for the day will be headed to either Sitges or Girona, lesser-known towns like Besalú keep flying under the radar, and are, thus, a lot more peaceful in comparison.

Lleida

An unsung cultural hub in western Catalonia, Lleida is an inland city rich in history and home to a food scene that most tourists have yet to discover. Trust us, some of the best butifarras (Catalan sausages) aren’t found in Barcelona’s La Boqueria market, but right here instead.

Lleida is also famous regionally for its fortress-like 13th-century cathedral, La Seu Vella, and adjacent King’s Castle, both located on top of a hill and commanding a breathtaking panorama of the timeless townscape below.

The narrow pathways in central Lleida, the historic stone buildings, and the leafy plazas all hint at its fascinating past, and if you think Barcelona’s is the only nightlife worth traveling for in Catalonia, wait until you try Lleida’s vibrant, bar-packed Els Vins district. This is a university city, after all.

Heading to Spain this summer?

Don’t forget to use our newly-launched TOP 1-Minute Trip Check tool to ensure all your documents, entry permits, and bags are in order.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.