# Cerca de Manresa

Manresa sits at a crossroads. To the south, Montserrat half an hour away and the Penedès; to the north, up the Llobregat, Berga and the snow of the Cerdanya; to the east, Vic, the Ripollès and the Collsacabra, and to the west, via Lleida, the Pyrenees for two nights.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/manresa/getaways

## Planes de un día
- [Montserrat: horse, table and rack railway](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/montserrat/itineraries/horse-riding-lunch-and-rack-railway.md) (21 min en coche): A horse ride in western style at the foot of Montserrat, Catalan lunch in Marganell and an afternoon at the sanctuary, going up on the rack railway from Monistrol Vila.
- [Montserrat: cable car and Sant Jeroni](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/montserrat/itineraries/montserrat-cable-car-and-sant-jeroni-from-manresa.md) (31 min en coche): The 1930 cable car up to the monastery, the Sant Joan funicular and a two-and-a-half-hour circuit to the roof of Montserrat, with a buffet and the basilica afterwards. Half an hour from Manresa.
- [Montserrat: flat path and mató](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/montserrat/itineraries/montserrat-flat-path-and-mato.md) (31 min en coche): Go up by rack railway, walk early to the Sant Miquel viewpoint, hear the Escolania and buy mató with honey at the farmers' market.
- [Vic: square, cured meats and inn](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/vic/itineraries/vic-square-and-inn.md) (37 min en coche): A morning on foot through Vic's Plaça Major and old town, the medieval museum, lunch of Osona cooking and the cathedral painted by Sert before heading back.
- [Berga: viewpoints and a mountain table](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/berga/itineraries/berga-easy-walk-and-lunch.md) (39 min en coche): A morning of effortless viewpoints beside the Queralt sanctuary, a long lunch of Berguedà cooking and coffee in the old town. You are home before dinner.
- [Berguedà by motorbike: Coll de la Creueta and a mountain table](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/berga/itineraries/bergueda-motorbike-route.md) (39 min en coche): A hundred kilometres of bends between Berga and a pass at almost 1,900 metres, with stops at La Pobla de Lillet and Castellar de n'Hug, and an inn lunch on the way back.
- [Codorníu: cellars by train and lunch in the tower](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/penedes/itineraries/codorniu-cava-cellars-by-train-sant-sadurni.md) (49 min en coche): Puig i Cadafalch's Modernista cellars toured by underground train, the village cava centre and lunch in the estate's tower. 45 minutes from Barcelona, by train too.
- [Penedès: cava and a table among the vines](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/penedes/itineraries/penedes-cava-and-vineyard-lunch.md) (49 min en coche): A morning in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia to understand cava, a winery visit with a tasting and a long lunch with the vines in front of you. Best by train: that way nobody drives.
- [Penedès: a walk through the vines and an aperitif at the winery](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/penedes/itineraries/penedes-wine-walk-and-aperitif-from-barcelona.md) (49 min en coche): The Camí del Vi in Vilafranca, flat between the vines, then wine and tapas at aperitif time on the terrace of a family-run winery in Sant Sadurní. Home by mid-afternoon.
- [Caldes de Montbui: Roman baths and a thermal soak](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/caldes-de-montbui/itineraries/roman-baths-and-el-safareig-soak.md) (50 min en coche): The fountain that spouts water at 74 °C, the Roman baths with a guided visit, Catalan food at Robert de Nola and an hour of thermal bathing for €8. Half an hour from Barcelona.
- [Mining train and Cement Train](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/berga/itineraries/cement-gaudi-gardens-and-mine.md) (1 h en coche): In the morning, the mining train that goes 450 m into the Sant Romà mine; at midday, home cooking in La Pobla de Lillet; in the afternoon, the Cement Train to Gaudí's garden and the museum.
- [Ripoll: two monasteries and a greenway](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/itineraries/ripoll-monasteries-and-greenway-from-manresa.md) (1 h 3 en coche): The 1251 Descent from the Cross in Sant Joan de les Abadesses, the portal and cloister at Ripoll, lunch with Ripollès produce and a flat stroll along the old mining railway. An hour from Manresa.
- [Sitges: seafront promenade and rice](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/sitges/itineraries/sitges-promenade-and-rice.md) (1 h 5 en coche): The seafront promenade from end to end, the old town of the Punta and the Cau Ferrat, and a rice dish facing the sea. By train from Barcelona, without thinking about parking.
- [Empalomar, Cercs mine and Queralt](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/berga/itineraries/empalomar-via-ferrata-pedraforca-bergueda.md) (1 h 6 en coche): The Roques de l'Empalomar ferrata with a Pedratour guide, the train that goes 450 metres into the Sant Romà mine, Berguedà food at La Cabana and the afternoon at the Queralt viewpoints.
- [Garraf: coves and rice by the sea](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/garraf-coves/itineraries/garraf-coves-and-rice.md) (1 h 8 en coche): A tiny village at the foot of the cliffs, the beach of the huts, a path above the sea and a rice dish to finish. Half an hour from Barcelona by train.
- [Núria: rack railway and snowshoes](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/itineraries/rack-railway-and-snowshoes-nuria-sanctuary.md) (1 h 16 en coche): You ride up to Núria on the Cremallera rack railway from Ribes de Freser, snowshoe for two hours with an Oxineu guide and eat Catalan food at El Racó de la Vall, with the cable car included in your ticket.
- [Rupit: waterfall and inn](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/rupit/itineraries/rupit-sallent-waterfall-and-suspension-bridge.md) (1 h 21 en coche): An easy walk along the stream to a 115-metre waterfall, the stone village with its suspension bridge, the bell tower and lunch at a 1930 inn. An hour and twenty from Manresa.
- [La Molina: a day on the slopes and a grill at Pista Llarga](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/cerdanya/itineraries/skiing-la-molina-and-pista-llarga.md) (1 h 25 en coche): A day on the slopes at La Molina, from the greens of Pista Llarga to the reds of the Tosa d'Alp, with lunch at the foot of the slope at El Tirol. An hour and a half from Barcelona through the Cadí tunnel, or on the R3 train.
- [Cerdanya: the Tosa by gondola and the Puigcerdà lake](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/cerdanya/itineraries/snow-without-skis-and-gondola.md) (1 h 25 en coche): For those who do not ski: the La Molina gondola goes up to the summit of the Tosa d'Alp, at 2,537 metres, you eat at the refuge at the top and the afternoon is for the Puigcerdà lake. An hour and a half from Barcelona.
- [Montseny: beech forest, summit and chestnuts](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/montseny/itineraries/autumn-les-agudes-and-chestnuts-in-viladrau.md) (1 h 26 en coche): The classic climb to the roof of the Montseny, from the golden Santa Fe beech forest to the ridge of les Agudes and the Turó de l'Home, and a chestnut lunch in Viladrau. An hour from Girona.
- [Montseny: guided mushrooms and the inn](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/montseny/itineraries/guided-mushroom-sunday-in-the-montseny-and-inn-lunch.md) (1 h 26 en coche): Four hours in the forest learning to recognise mushrooms with the park's guides and a grilled lunch at the inn in Montseny village. Only certain autumn Sundays.
- [Montseny: easy beech forest and grill](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/montseny/itineraries/montseny-beech-forest-and-grill.md) (1 h 26 en coche): A flat walk round the Santa Fe reservoir, among beeches that turn copper in autumn, and a grill lunch in the mountains. By car, or by train and Bus Parc.
- [Montseny: Gothic castle and chestnuts](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/montseny/itineraries/montsoriu-castle-and-chestnut-lunch-from-girona.md) (1 h 26 en coche): A climb through the forest to the Gothic castle of the Viscounts of Cabrera, a free guided visit and a lunch with Viladrau chestnuts all over the menu. An hour from Girona.
- [Besalú: bridge, Jewish quarter and basalt](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/besalu/itineraries/besalu-bridge-jewish-quarter-and-castellfollit.md) (1 h 29 en coche): The fortified bridge, the Jewish quarter and Sant Pere in the morning, lunch facing the Fluvià and, in the afternoon, the village hanging from the basalt. 40 minutes from Girona.
- [Fageda d'en Jordà: beech forest and farm](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/besalu/itineraries/fageda-den-jorda-in-autumn.md) (1 h 29 en coche): A morning in medieval Besalú, a Catalan buffet lunch and, in the afternoon, a guided walk through the beech forest on lava with a farm visit and tasting. 40 minutes from Girona.
- [Prades: red town and Roca Foradada](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/prades/itineraries/prades-red-village-and-roca-foradada-from-tarragona.md) (1 h 48 en coche): A hermitage tucked into a cave, an old town of red stone with its globe-shaped fountain, an inn lunch and a short walk to a natural arch. An hour from Tarragona and from Lleida.
- [Peralada: Dalí, winery and mill](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/peralada/itineraries/peralada-dali-museum-and-winery-from-girona.md) (1 h 57 en coche): The Teatre-Museu Dalí first thing, the Perelada winery with a three-wine tasting and a long lunch in an 18th-century mill between Figueres and Peralada. 45 minutes from Girona.
- [Port Ainé: north-facing slopes and a buffet at the base](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/pallars-sobira/itineraries/skiing-at-port-aine-from-lleida.md) (3 h 5 en coche): A ski day at Port Ainé, the Pallars Sobirà resort above Rialp, with 25 north-facing runs, a snowpark and sledges, and lunch at the base buffet. About two hours forty from Lleida.

## 25 minutes from the foot of the Montserrat Aeri

Three roads lead to almost every plan. The C-55 runs down the Llobregat towards Abrera: in 25 minutes you are at the lower station of the Aeri de [Montserrat](/en/spain/catalonia/montserrat), and carrying on towards the A-2 and the AP-7 you reach the [Penedès](/en/spain/catalonia/penedes) of the cavas and the coast of [Sitges](/en/spain/catalonia/sitges) and the [Garraf](/en/spain/catalonia/garraf-coves). The C-16, the Eix del Llobregat, climbs north to [Berga](/en/spain/catalonia/berga) and, through the tolled Cadí tunnel, to the [Cerdanya](/en/spain/catalonia/cerdanya). The C-25, the Eix Transversal, crosses east to [Vic](/en/spain/catalonia/vic), and from there the C-17 continues to [Ripoll](/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll) and the C-153 climbs to the Collsacabra, towards [Rupit](/en/spain/catalonia/rupit). To the west, the same C-25 heads for Lleida, the gateway to the Pyrenees of Lleida and Aragon. For [Caldes de Montbui](/en/spain/catalonia/caldes-de-montbui) you go via Sabadell and the C-1413.

Without a car, the obvious choice is Montserrat. The Ferrocarrils R5 line, which starts at Manresa, stops at the Aeri station and at Monistrol de Montserrat, where the rack railway departs. The Rodalies R4 also leaves from Manresa and, after crossing Barcelona, reaches Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, right by the cava cellars; it is a long journey, but nobody has to drive home. For everything else, the car rules.

## Montserrat, Vic and Berga in a long morning with lunch

**Under an hour away** is Montserrat, 31 minutes, with two ways up: the 1930 Aeri cable car or the rack railway. Also Vic (37), Berga and the Berguedà (39), the Penedès (49) and the hot springs of Caldes de Montbui (50). They all fit into a long morning with lunch.

On a Sunday, **between one hour and an hour and a half** already calls for an early start: Ripoll and Sant Joan de les Abadesses (63), Sitges (65), the Garraf (68), Rupit (81), La Molina and the Cerdanya (85), the Montseny (86) and Besalú with the Garrotxa (89).

**Between an hour and a half and two hours and a quarter**, outings work better with a night away: Prades (108), Peralada (117), the medieval Empordà based at [Peratallada](/en/spain/catalonia/peratallada/itineraries/medieval-weekend-peratallada-emporda) (122) and [Siurana and the Priorat](/en/spain/catalonia/siurana/itineraries/siurana-priorat-weekend-vineyards-reservoir) (134).

Beyond **two and a half hours**, it is a weekend trip: [Grandvalira](/en/andorra/grandvalira/itineraries/grandvalira-ski-weekend-from-lleida) (150), [Alquézar and its canyons](/en/spain/aragon/alquezar/itineraries/alquezar-canyoning-walkways-somontano-wine) (175), the [Pallars snow](/en/spain/catalonia/pallars-sobira/itineraries/snow-weekend-pallars-from-manresa), about three hours away, and the [Vall de Boí](/en/spain/catalonia/boi-valley/itineraries/ski-romanesque-spa-weekend-vall-de-boi) and [Carcassonne](/en/france/occitanie/carcassonne/itineraries/weekend-cite-from-girona), three and a half.

## The Cadí puts snow an hour and twenty-five minutes away

In winter the Cadí puts snow an hour and twenty-five minutes away: a [ski Sunday at La Molina](/en/spain/catalonia/cerdanya/itineraries/skiing-la-molina-and-pista-llarga) or, for non-skiers, the [cable car up to La Tosa and the lake at Puigcerdà](/en/spain/catalonia/cerdanya/itineraries/snow-without-skis-and-gondola). If you fancy two days, there is the [ski weekend in the Cerdanya](/en/spain/catalonia/cerdanya/itineraries/cerdanya-ski-weekend-from-barcelona). Cold days are also the best for the hot water of [Caldes de Montbui](/en/spain/catalonia/caldes-de-montbui/itineraries/roman-baths-and-el-safareig-soak), which is not recommended in summer.

In spring you can go up to [Sant Jeroni from the Aeri](/en/spain/catalonia/montserrat/itineraries/montserrat-cable-car-and-sant-jeroni-from-manresa) before the heat sets in, and the season of the [bends up to the Coll de la Creueta](/en/spain/catalonia/berga/itineraries/bergueda-motorbike-route) begins, running from April to October. It is a good time for the Garraf and Sitges, before they fill up.

In summer it pays to escape the coast and the Montserrat crowds at midday. The [Ripollès with the Núria Rack Railway](/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/itineraries/ripolles-romanesque-monasteries-and-nuria), two nights with the valley at a higher altitude, and the shade of the Penedès cava cellars work better.

In autumn the forest rules. In October and November there are the [guided mushroom outings in the Montseny](/en/spain/catalonia/montseny/itineraries/guided-mushroom-sunday-in-the-montseny-and-inn-lunch), the climb through the [Santa Fe beech wood to Les Agudes](/en/spain/catalonia/montseny/itineraries/autumn-les-agudes-and-chestnuts-in-viladrau) and the [Fageda d'en Jordà](/en/spain/catalonia/besalu/itineraries/fageda-den-jorda-in-autumn), in the volcanic Garrotxa, an hour and a half away.

## Montserrat by rack railway and mató

- **Without a car, in a day:** [Montserrat by rack railway, the path to Sant Miquel and mató](/en/spain/catalonia/montserrat/itineraries/montserrat-flat-path-and-mato). The R5 to Monistrol, the rack railway up, a flat walk to the viewpoint and lunch under a stone vault.
- **A cultural Sunday:** [the Ripollès, two monasteries and the greenway](/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/itineraries/ripoll-monasteries-and-greenway-from-manresa). An hour via Vic and the C-17, the Descent from the Cross at Sant Joan de les Abadesses, the portal of Ripoll before it closes at two and a flat stroll along the old mining railway.
- **With one night:** [Rupit and the cliffs of the Collsacabra](/en/spain/catalonia/rupit/itineraries/rupit-collsacabra-cliffs-one-night). 81 minutes away, to see the Salt de Sallent without the crowds and walk along the cliff edge to Tavertet.