An hour of train journey from Barcelona will take you to some amazing coastal towns. You can plan this day trip from Barcelona if you want to spend some time on beach or enjoy the sublime view of ocean.
I always dream of a moment. I am inside a pretty train, and it is running along a coastal area. I can see the waves of the sea right from my window. A gusty wind is blowing my spectacle away. I can sense the salt on my tongue. At one point, I feel like touching the water from the window; I get down, enjoy my moments in the vastness. When I have enough, I get into the train again and get down in some other place when I feel like it. This dream came into reality in Barcelona when I visited some of the best beach towns.
Why You Should Escape Barcelona for a Beach Day
Barcelona has its own beaches — and Barceloneta is fine, genuinely fine — but it’s also packed with tourists from June through September. If you want the Mediterranean to yourself, or at least more of it to yourself, you need to head north.
The Costa del Maresme stretches roughly 60 kilometres north of Barcelona along the Costa del Maresme railway line. It’s one of Spain’s least-known coastal strips among international tourists, yet locals have been escaping here for weekends for generations. The reason: it’s easy, it’s cheap, and it’s beautiful.
I did this trip on a whim — got on a train from Barcelona Passeig de Gràcia station, watched the city fall away, and spent the day hopping off at whatever town caught my eye. It became one of my favourite days in all of Spain.
What to Expect: A Day Along the Costa del Maresme
Montgat — The First Stop Worth Getting Off
Montgat (approximately 20 minutes from central Barcelona) is where the coastline begins in earnest. Step off the train and you’re essentially on the beach.
The stretch here is narrow — the railway line runs directly alongside it — but that lends the place an unusual, cinematic quality: the rhythmic sound of trains, the crash of waves, the smell of salt and sunscreen. There’s an old, decommissioned lighthouse perched on the rocks just beyond the beach that makes for a striking photo.
This is a neighbourhood town rather than a tourist resort, which means the restaurants serve proper Catalan food at prices aimed at locals rather than visitors. Order a menú del día (set lunch menu) — two courses, bread, drink, and dessert for around €12–15.
El Masnou — The Marina Town
El Masnou feels a touch more polished than Montgat — it has a large marina full of sailing boats and yachts, a pleasant seafront promenade, and some excellent seafood restaurants along the port. It’s a popular spot with Barcelona’s upper-middle classes who have second homes here, which keeps the town well-maintained and the restaurants good.
If the weather is clear, the light here in the late afternoon is extraordinary — golden and low, the kind that makes everything look like a painting.
Premià de Mar — The People’s Beach
Premià de Mar is probably the most representative of the towns along this route: a working town with a genuinely local beach scene. On weekends, Barcelona families descend here with parasols, cool boxes, and children, and the beach takes on a festive, slightly chaotic energy that’s joyful to be around.
There’s a volleyball court (free to use if it’s unoccupied), an outdoor gym along the promenade, and several cafés facing the sea where you can nurse a coffee for as long as you like.
Vilassar de Mar — Charm Beyond the Beach
Most visitors stay on the beach strip, but Vilassar de Mar rewards a short walk inland into the old town centre. There’s a medieval castle (Castell de Vilassar, dating to the 10th century), a Gothic church, and a pleasant main square surrounded by traditional Catalan houses. It feels like a different era from the coastal resorts just a few hundred metres away.
Mataró — The Capital of the Maresme
If you want to go all the way, Mataró is the largest town on this rail line and has some genuinely interesting sights beyond the beach: the Museu de Mataró (which includes one of the best collections of Roman-era textiles in Spain), a covered market, and a historic old quarter. It’s a proper Catalan city that happens to have a beautiful beach at its edge.
The Experience of the Journey Itself
Here’s something worth saying clearly: the train journey is part of the attraction.
Once you clear the city limits, the railway line runs directly alongside the sea for much of the route. Looking out the right-hand window (sit on the right if you can), you’ll see the Mediterranean rolling blue-green to the horizon, interrupted by small coves, rocky outcrops, and the occasional small boat. It’s the kind of view that makes you exhale without realising you’d been holding your breath.
I found myself getting on and off at stops almost at random — spending 45 minutes on one beach, watching pelicans and pigeons compete for the same patch of sand, then hopping back on the next train north to see what the next town offered. It’s the perfect structure-free day trip.
It was not all about sandy beaches. There were patches of green, too. I could see a lone tree right beside the sea. I wish I could take its place!
Further exploration took me to a place which seemed to be a harbour for boats and yachts. I wanted to take one and get into the sea.
The sky turned grey all on a sudden, and a storm was looming. I felt hungry too after an entire day of walking and train hopping.
Usually, when I write something in this blog; I write the name of the destinations and describe things to do in those areas. For this route, I did not want to get into those specifics. I want you to explore. Just get on the train towards Montgat from Barcelona and continue your journey towards Costa del Maresme. You will find your place and pace.
It will be a day worth getting lost in some small towns of Barcelona. Will you tell me your experiences to me? I would love to hear them!
Tips for Planning Your Beach Town Day Trip
Go on a weekday if possible. Weekends bring Barcelona families to these beaches en masse, and while the atmosphere is lively, the quieter weekday vibe is more pleasant if you want peace.
Bring cash. Many small beach bars and local restaurants are cash-only or have minimum card payments.
Wear layers in spring and autumn. The sea breeze can be surprisingly cold even on sunny days outside of summer. A light jacket goes a long way.
Start with Montgat and work your way north. Don’t try to plan every stop — explore loosely. If you love a place, stay longer. The trains run every 20–30 minutes.
Pack your own food/drinks or buy at a local supermarket. Beach-front restaurants are fine but more expensive. Picking up supplies at a Mercadona or local corner shop lets you have a beach picnic for a fraction of the cost.
Combine with a Barcelona attraction. These towns are close enough that you can do half a day in Barcelona and half a day on the coast without feeling rushed. The trains run until midnight.
Where to Stay: Base Yourself in Barcelona
The beach towns themselves have accommodation, but most visitors use Barcelona as their base and do this as a day trip. Given the short train journey times, that makes perfect sense.
If you want to stay in one of the coastal towns for a quieter, more relaxed experience of Catalonia:
More Day Trips from Barcelona
Loved the beach? Barcelona has even more incredible day trip options:
- 🏔️ Montseny Natural Park — Hiking through misty mountain forests, only 1.5 hours from the city
- ⛪ Montserrat — The mountain monastery, one of Catalonia’s most sacred sites
- 🍷 Penedès Wine Region — Cava and wine country, 45 minutes from Barcelona
👉 Browse All Barcelona Day Tours and Experiences on Viator →
👉 Discover Barcelona Day Activities on Klook →
👉 Find Barcelona Day Trip Tours on GetYourGuide →
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgat is the first beach town north of the city by train, about 20 minutes from Barcelona Passeig de Gràcia. It’s a great first stop.
Sitges (south of Barcelona, about 35 minutes by train) is another excellent option — particularly for those who want a more upscale resort atmosphere, a vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, or a well-developed beach town. The Costa del Maresme (north) is better for a quieter, more local feel.
Yes — the Costa del Maresme beaches are clean and safe for swimming from June through September. Water temperatures peak around 24–26°C in August.
The train journey is very affordable (around €4–6 return with a T-Casual card). Bring €30–50 for food, drinks, and any activities, and you’ll have a full, wonderful day.
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