Bedazzling Barcelona & the Costa Brava

Fly into the Barcelona International Airport (BCN). If you're flying overnight, consider arriving a day early to rest, relax, and adjust to the local time zone. (See the Add-ons section for the Arrive 1 Day Early option). Regardless of when you arrive, hop into a taxi - there are plenty of them at the airport - and head to the 5-star Ohla Barcelona in the Gothic Quarter. Your trip facilitator will meet you at the hotel.

Take time to settle in and freshen up. The day is yours. Relax at the pool, nap, enjoy the hotel and the surrounding area.

In the early evening, we'll set out with our local guide on a walking tour of central Barcelona, followed by a welcome dinner at La Plassohla.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel restaurant and prepare for a morning of Barcelona exploration.

Today, we'll experience the whimsy and wonder of Gaudí’s architecture. We’ll step inside the still unfinished (after 150 years) Sagrada Família Basilica - a stunner, with dozens of animals cavorting on the façade.

Next, we'll head up the hillside to Park Güell, an expansive area blooming with gardens and buildings by Gaudí. All of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea will be laid out before you from the many vista points inside the park.

From Park Güell, our private transport will whisk us back to the hotel for a bit of downtime. It's your time to explore the city from our central base or shop at the many nearby boutiques. Lunch is on your own, either at the hotel or one of the many cafes and restaurants in the neighborhood.

We’ll get together for dinner at the modern gourmet restaurant Capet for a true Catalan culinary experience in the evening.

Enjoy a light breakfast because we're heading to the famous, sprawling Boqueria Market. Vendors have sold their wares here since the 13th century!

We'll stop at select spots to buy ingredients for our private cooking class. Then, it’s over to the kitchen so the chef can show us the ropes. This is a hands-on experience, so get ready to tie on an apron and slice and dice. The payoff is a three-course meal with wine, enjoyed with your Girls' Guide travel companions.

Enjoy “you time” after lunch. Hit the hotel for a siesta or stroll the Gothic Quarter to sightsee and shop.

Tonight, we'll be wowed by a live performance at Palau de la Musica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most important concert venue in the city. The Palau de la Música Catalana was built between 1905 and 1908 by the modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. After the show, we'll stop in for some light tapas.

Sleep tight. Tomorrow we're off to the Costa Brava.

Today, we'll depart Barcelona to motor north to Girona. Perched on the Onyar River, the walled city of Girona is our first stop in the Costa Brava. The city is a compact cluster of history and culture with roots in Roman times.

We’ll start with a walking tour of Girona, using local Catalan guides. Visit the cathedral and Jewish Quarter, and enjoy free time in the old part of the city, browsing the charming boutiques.

Our lunch is at Carlos, an old inn with stone walls and arches - a former meeting for the merchants of yesteryear. 

After lunch, we’ll make our way to our home in Girona, the Hotel Palau Fugit. Located in the heart of Girona’s Barri Vell, Palau Fugit was originally an ancient baroque palace from the 18th century. In 2022, the building was completely renovated and converted into a hotel and a space open to art, artisans, and nature - lucky us!

Later in the evening, we'll dine at a local Girona restaurant.

Today is all about wine, history, and art – three things we love about Catalonia!

We’ll head to Púbol to explore Gala’s Castle. Gala was Salvador Dalí’s wife. The artist gave her the castle as a gift. It is a weird and wonderful place, and we’ll learn much more about the castle, the couple, and their interesting visitation arrangement.

We'll lunch together in the beach town of Begur.

After lunch, we'll head to Peratallada, a stone village built in the Middle Ages. Peratallada means “carved stone.” You’ll appreciate the name as you tour this charming hamlet. If we have time, we'll also stop at Pals, another Medieval village. The cobblestone pathways, bursting flower boxes, and snug plazas will captivate you.

Later, we'll head back to our fabulous hotel. Enjoy some downtime, sip some cava, and marvel at how lucky we are to be in this remarkable place.

Dinner is on your own tonight. Order room service or try one of the many Girona cafes and restaurants. (We'll offer recommendations.)

We'll check out of our hotel and begin the journey back to Barcelona. In Figueres, we'll get up close and personal with Salvador Dalí’s artwork at the Teatre-Museu Dalí. We’ll learn more about the artist’s fascinating life and discover the evolution of his work over the years. Dali’s museum is like no other you've ever seen. The artist designed the museum contents himself. We’ll have a guided museum tour, then free time to look around the grounds or shop and wander around Figueres. Even if you're not a Dali fan, after learning more about the man and the importance of his work, you’ll walk away changed.

Back in Barcelona, we'll check in at the Ohla Eixample. The rest of the afternoon is yours to catch up on anything you missed during the first few days. Perhaps you want more Gaudí or feel like scoping out a few Barcelona art museums, like the Joan Miró Foundation, the Picasso Museum, or the MACBA, or explore the Eixample neighborhood.

We’ll conclude our adventure with a farewell dinner at La Pepita, a hyper-local Tapas bar in the heart of Barcelona.

For those not joining the optional trip extension, it’s time to say goodbye. It’s “fins després” to all your Girls' Guide amigas before hopping into a taxi to the Barcelona International Airport for your return flight home.

We're happy to help you set up your taxi to the airport with the help of the hotel’s front desk. 

For those joining the trip extension, ¡Adelante!

After a lovely breakfast at the hotel, we’re off to the sandcastle spires of Montserrat, where an eponymous abbey sits snugly between the peaks. A Benedictine community has existed in Montserrat for almost 1,000 years and is still active today. Short hikes meander on paved pathways from the abbey. 

It’s a quick jump from Montserrat to Penedès, Spain’s premier cava region. (Cava is like champagne but made in Spain). We’ll have lunch in wine country at the Codorníu vineyard. The visit includes a tour and a bubbly wine tasting. The expert bilingual guides will explain the 450-year-old history of this brand and give you the scoop on the best way to serve cava (spoiler: icy cold). 

In the afternoon, we’ll head back to Barcelona. 

Enjoy the evening alone or dine out with your new amigas.

What a trip! You'll have memories and friendships to last a lifetime.

After a leisurely morning (last minute shopping anyone?), we're happy to help you set up your taxi to the airport with the help of the hotel’s front desk.