Catalonia Luxury Holidays

Catalonia, a picturesque region distinct from the rest of Spain, has much more to offer than just Barcelona. With an abundance of diverse natural landscapes, rural Catalonia offers meadows, plains, lakes, mountains, coves and vineyards for travellers to explore. Of course, Barcelona itself, along with the equally alluring Girona, never disappoints.

City life

The charming seaside city of Barcelona is packed with interest and excitement. Comprising Roman, Gothic and traditional Catalan architecture, the city’s buildings are a fascinating mosaic, and more art can be found inside in museums dedicated to legendary artists, including Pablo Picasso. Another must-see architectural wonder is the stunning La Sagrada Família, a monumental and ornately decorated Roman Catholic basilica, which is magical to behold. After all the sightseeing, the best way to spend the evening in Barcelona is sipping refreshing drinks at a traditional ‘chiringuito’ beach bar at sunset. A buzzing live music scene keeps the city alive all evening, and anyone with enough energy can enjoy the plentiful bars and clubs open until the sun comes up.

Girona, a labyrinth of cobbled lanes peppered with museums, galleries and churches, is just as worth a visit. A walk on the medieval city walls provides spectacular wide-reaching views, and once you’ve had your fill of history and culture, wandering Girona’s individual shops, bijoux cafes and picturesque streets will while away a blissful afternoon.

While in Catalonia’s cities, sampling traditional Spanish cuisine should be high on the list. From paella to tapas, there are lots of delicious meals to be tried, and in Barcelona especially, wondrously fresh seafood takes pride of place. For dessert, try crema Catalana, Catalonia’s blowtorched, crunchy topped vanilla custard, or Girona’s sweet sugary pastry ‘xuixos’, the most authentic and memorable of which can only be found in the city itself.

The landscapes beyond

Outside the cities, Catalonia boasts a wealth of natural beauty. Perhaps the most tempting are the long sandy beaches of Costa Brava, some with calm turquoise water and some with waves and wind that provide a watersports playground. From Begur, a quaint little town with interesting medieval architecture, roads spiral down to reveal numerous secret coves fringed with pine trees. Here, you can escape the crowds and discover your own slice of paradise.

Inland, the Pyrenean mountains provide plenty of hiking trails with stunning views, passing churches and monasteries that give walkers an insight into the area’s history and culture. Perhaps Catalonia’s best opportunity to get close to nature can be found in Parc Nacional d’Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici. Glittering with lakes and waterfalls among fir and pine forests, grasslands full of wildflowers and dramatic mountains, there’s a vast range of scenery to explore.

In the wetlands of Delta de l’Ebre, sand dunes and beaches meet lagoons and marshes to create a habitat for a whole host of birdlife, including elegant ibises and astonishingly pink flamingos. Cycling, walking and watersports will keep the active traveller entertained, and it’s a fantastic place to watch the sunset reflected in the mirror-like water, dotted with birds.

Your Catalonian experience

To find out more about your personalised luxury trip to Catalonia, simply contact our friendly team by phone or live chat. At Azure, we’re on hand to create a trip to remember.