157 / 344
151
of all Catalan cities, with its river, fortified walls and golden buildings. These
three destinations are an hour or so from Barcelona, and it’s only the extreme
northern town of
Figueres
that requires any lengthier a journey – entirely
justified for anyone interested in seeing Catalunya’s most indescribable museum,
the renowned
Museu Dalí
.
Full
public transport
details are given below for each destination. Local and
regional trains provide the most reliable service, and you can check current
timetables with RENFE (
T
902 240 202,
W
www.renfe.es) or FGC (
T
932 051
515,
W
www.fgc.es).There are buses to most regional destinations, too, from the
Barcelona Nord bus station, though these usually take longer than the train. It
really isn’t worth renting a car unless you want to see a lot of what’s described
above in a short time. Each account also includes some
café and restaurant
recommendations,while if you feel like spending the night away from Barcelona
it’s best to contact the local tourist offices, whose details are provided.A visit to
Barcelona’s
Centre d’Informació de Catalunya
at Palau Robert, Pg. de
Gràcia 107 (
T
932 388, 091,
W
www.gencat.cat/palaurobert) might also be in
order, to pick up maps, information and advice before you go.
Sitges
The seaside town of
SITGES
, 36km south of Barcelona, is definitely the
highlight of the Costa Daurada – the great weekend escape for young Barcelo-
nans, who have created a resort very much in their own image. It’s also a noted
gay holiday destination, with a nightlife to match and between June and
September it seems like there’s one nonstop party going on – which, in a way,
there is. During the heat of the day, though, the tempo drops as everyone hits
the beach, while out of season Sitges is delightful: far less crowded, and with a
temperate climate that encourages promenade strolls and old-town exploration.
Sitges beach
OUT OF THE CITY
|
Sitges