A thermal Sunday in Caldes de Montbui: steam in the square, a long lunch and an hour in hot water.

Caldes de Montbui is about 35 minutes from Barcelona and is the closest thermal Sunday to the city. In the square, the Font del Lleó spouts water at 74 °C; next to it, the Romans bathed in the Aquae Calidae baths, which you visit with a guide. You eat on the passeig del Remei and in the afternoon you soak for an hour at El Safareig, a former washhouse turned into a municipal thermal bath. You are home before dinner.

The day, hour by hour

9:30 · Set off. From Barcelona, take the C-59 towards Mollet and Moià; from Girona, the AP-7 to Granollers and the C-1415; from Manresa, via Sabadell and the C-1413. Park in one of the public car parks the tourist office recommends, such as the one at the Les Cremades sports ground or the Centre car park, and walk up to the centre.

10:15 · Font del Lleó. The fountain in the main square, with the stone lion of 1927. In cold weather, the spouts give off steam. Do not touch the water: it burns.

10:30 · Thermalia Museum. On the same square; it is also the tourist office. Admission €3.70, free for under-10s and for everyone on the first Sunday of the month. On Sundays it closes at 14:00.

12:00 · Roman baths with a guide. The visit to the thermal circuit leaves from the museum and takes in the vaulted pool of Aquae Calidae, 13.5 by 6.9 metres. With museum admission, €5.30 in total. On Sundays it is in Catalan; in Spanish it is on Saturday afternoons. According to the Generalitat's listing, there is no visit on the first and third Sundays of the month: on those days, look at the baths from Plaça de Can Rius.

13:30 · Lunch at Robert de Nola. On the passeig del Remei, ten minutes on foot. Seasonal Catalan cooking, with three set menus for the whole table at €35, €40 and €50. On Sundays it only opens at midday, from 13:00 to 16:00: book.

16:00 · Soak at El Safareig. A one-hour session, with 30 to 40 minutes in the water, in the municipal thermal washhouse. €8 admission, €5.25 reduced. Capacity of 15 people and booking compulsory with payment in advance: do it before leaving home. Arrive already changed, on the hour.

17:15 · Head home. In Barcelona around six.

What to bring for the bath

Swimsuit, swimming cap, towel and flip-flops: nothing is provided at El Safareig and street shoes are not allowed in. There are lockers with a key. The changing room is small.

With children, as a couple or if it rains

El Safareig admits from age 13; children aged 3 to 12 only enter the Xip-Xap sessions, which have their own dates. With small children, the day works without the bath: fountain, museum free up to age 10 and guided visit. As a couple, swap El Safareig for the two hours at the Espai CEL of Termes Victòria, from age 16, or for the Termal Experience at Broquetas, with a massage, for €80. If it rains, all the better: the whole plan is under cover except the walk between the fountain and the restaurant.