📷 Photo by M I S S S U on UnsplashInland Catalonia: Montserrat to the Garrotxa volcanoes
Montserrat’s monastery, a mountain of salt, the market square of Vic and a landscape of extinct volcanoes and basalt cliffs.
- Distance
- 262 km (163 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 37 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 9
- Countries
- Spain
- Updated
- August 17, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 262 km (163 mi) with 9 stops, from Barcelona to Girona. About 3 h 37 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Spain · More road trips from Barcelona
Route description
Leave Barcelona on the A-2 and turn off to Montserrat, the jagged mountain with a Benedictine monastery and its Black Madonna. The road up is busy and parking is paid; the alternative is to leave the car at Monistrol and take the rack railway. Walk up to Sant Jeroni or the hermitages for the best views.
Continue north to Cardona, where a castle on one hill faces a mountain of salt on the other; guided tours take you into the old mine galleries. The C-25 then runs east across the Catalan interior to Vic, whose arcaded Plaça Major fills with a big market on Tuesday and Saturday mornings; try the local fuet sausage.
From Vic the C-37 tunnels through to Olot, the centre of the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone, with some forty extinct cones covered in beech and oak. Walk into the crater of Santa Margarida, with its tiny chapel, and the beech wood of La Fageda d’en Jordà nearby, then see Castellfollit de la Roca perched on its basalt cliff.
End via Besalú, a medieval town entered over a fortified bridge, and the C-66 to Girona. Spring and autumn are best, when the woods are green or turning; the Garrotxa is also cooler than the coast in summer. Montserrat at weekends is very crowded, so go on a weekday morning.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Barcelona
Spain - 245 km
Montserrat
NatureMonistrol de Montserrat, SpainA saw-toothed mountain of pink conglomerate with a Benedictine monastery and its Black Madonna. Arrive early, or leave the car below and take the rack railway or cable car; paths lead higher to the hermitages.
- 347 km
Cardona
Spain - 460 km
Vic
Spain - 543 km
Olot
Spain - 67 km
Santa Margarida volcano
NatureOlot, SpainAn extinct, wooded crater in the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone with a small Romanesque chapel on the meadow at its bottom. It is an easy walk from the car parks near Santa Pau.
- 711 km
Castellfollit de la Roca
ViewsCastellfollit de la Roca, SpainA village strung along the top of a basalt cliff about 50 metres high, formed by two lava flows. The classic photo is from the old road bridge and riverside below.
- 816 km
Besalú
Spain - 933 km
Girona
Spain
Suggested stages and overnight stops
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Barcelona → Montserrat · 45 km · 0 h 37 minOvernight nearby, for example: Àrea d'autocaravanes de Navarcles (19 km); Sant Pere de Riudebitlles (20 km).
- Day 2: Montserrat → Vic · 107 km · 1 h 29 minOn the way: Cardona.Overnight nearby, for example: Àrea d'autocaravanes de Vic (1 km); Camping Parc El Pont (13 km).
- Day 3: Vic → Olot · 43 km · 0 h 35 minOvernight nearby, for example: les Tries (2 km); Càmping de Vidrà (16 km).
- Day 4: Olot → Girona · 67 km · 0 h 56 minOn the way: Santa Margarida volcano, Castellfollit de la Roca, Besalú.Overnight nearby, for example: Area Autocaravanes Vayreda La Devesa (< 1 km); Fang Aventura (18 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, July–August and November. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- Spain: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Many former toll motorways are now free; some AP roads still charge. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
- Barcelona: Low-emission zone. Older vehicles may be banned, and foreign vehicles often have to register before entering.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Inland Catalonia: Montserrat to the Garrotxa volcanoes?
4-day road trip of about 262 km (163 mi) with 9 stops, from Barcelona to Girona. About 3 h 37 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Inland Catalonia: Montserrat to the Garrotxa volcanoes?
We suggest 4 days: about 3 h 37 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Inland Catalonia: Montserrat to the Garrotxa volcanoes start and end?
It starts in Barcelona and ends in Girona.
Which countries does Inland Catalonia: Montserrat to the Garrotxa volcanoes pass through?
Spain.
Where can you camp along Inland Catalonia: Montserrat to the Garrotxa volcanoes?
OpenStreetMap lists 112 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Càmping Tres Estrelles, les Tries and Càmping de Vidrà.
When is the best time for Inland Catalonia: Montserrat to the Garrotxa volcanoes?
The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, July–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
