PortAventura: A great day out for the whole family, PortAventura is a huge theme park in the resort of Salou (a 90-minute drive from Barcelona). The park has five themed areas based around historic civilisations (such as Polynesia and the Far West), and is home to Shambhala — a roller coaster with the longest drop in Europe. PortAventura also has a water park if you want to spend some time cooling off from the Spanish heat.
Girona: The beautiful city of Girona is also just a 90-minute drive from Barcelona, so why not see two Catalonian cities during your visit? Brimming with medieval architecture, you can explore the walled ‘Old Quarter’ and see the Roman remains at the Força Vella fortress. Girona also has plenty of fantastic restaurants, shops and museums for you to enjoy.
Montserrat Mountain: The multi-peaked mountain of Montserrat can be reached in an hour from Barcelona; so escape the city and take in the spectacular landscapes. The mountain is also the site of Santa Maria de Montserrat — a Benedictine abbey accessible by road.