Let me share another epic itinerary for 7 Days in the Pyrenees of Spain. In this article, you will find a one-week road trip from Barcelona, planned after my numerous getaways in the Spanish Pyrenees.
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One-week Pyrenees Itinerary from Barcelona
How to spend One Week in the Pyrenees?
Following last week´s article 10-Day Pyrenees Road Trip from Madrid, I have curated for you another itinerary, but this time – from Barcelona. By combining these two routes you can easily enjoy 2-3 weeks in the mountains without missing out on any of the top places to visit in the Pyrenees.
Keep in mind that this itinerary for 7 days in the Pyrenees covers entirely different places than the previous 10-day Pyrenees Road Trip from Madrid. So, having both up your sleeve will give you an exclusive opportunity to plan this trip like a local. Alternatively, you can combine this one-week Pyrenees itinerary with my 5-day Costa Brava Road Trip.
Where are the Pyrenees?
The Pyrenees mountain range is spread between 3 Spanish Autonomous Communities: Navarra, Aragon, and Catalonia. For these 7 days in the Pyrenees, I´ve built an itinerary across the mountains of Catalonia (since it is the closest area to Barcelona).
Also, right on the border with Catalonia, you will find Andorra, one of the smallest states in Europe. It is nestled in the mountains between Spain and France. So, it is an amazing stop on any one-week Pyrenees itinerary from Barcelona.
Driving in the Pyrenees
Driving in the Pyrenees of Spain for the first time? – You might find handy this Driving in Spain Guide, with Expert Videos, 360 Driving Tours and an On-The-Go PDF.
7 Days in the Pyrenees of Spain
Day 1: From Barcelona to Olot
While this 7 Days in the Pyrenees road trip starts in Barcelona, you can also change it to Girona (or make a stop in Girona to enjoy the popular Game of Thrones Tour or Small Group Walking Tour).
Your first destination for this one-week itinerary from Barcelona will be the famous volcanic zone of La Garrotxa, where you can spend a few days hiking and exploring lesser-known villages.
The main small town in this area is Olot, but on the map below you can easily pick any other hotel in the surroundings.
On the way from Barcelona to Olot you can not miss Besalu, one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Spain. Alternatively, you can visit the famous Dali Theatre Museum in Figueres or the Lake of Banyoles.
If you are visiting Spain with kids or enjoy local legends, near Lake Banyoles, you can find Les Estunes – a beautiful natural setting, considered the hideaway of the Catalan fairies. It is a nice area to walk around or try to find the magical fairies with your kids.
Days 2-3: La Garrotxa
Visiting La Garrotxa
La Garrotxa is one of the most unique landscapes of the Iberian Peninsula. This Catalan region is considered to be one of the best-preserved volcanic areas in Europe, known for the 40 inactive volcanoes. You’ll need a minimum of 2 days to explore La Garrotxa.
Things to see and do in La Garrotxa
- Volcanology Center in Olot, a great place to learn more about the volcanoes of La Garrotxa (get your tickets now)
- the ancient villages of Santa Pou, Sant Joan de les Fonts, and Sant Feliu de Pallerols – all of these are great for the fans of secret villages in Spain
- Hot Air Baloon Flight over the volcanoes (check availability)
- a waterfall Gorg de Moli dels Murris
- hiking the volcanoes: the most popular trail is this one on Wikiloc (from the parking of Fageda d´en Jorda or from Santa Margarida parking) – for more trails you can check the official web, unfortunately not available in English
- Fageda d´en Jorda (often called one of the top magical forests in Spain)
- Alta Garrotxa Area of Natural interest (check the trails on the official web)
- the village of Rupit & Salt de Sallent waterfalls
Days 3-4: Andorra
From La Garrotxa to Andorra
After experiencing La Garrotxa, head to Andorra for a few days.
It is an easy stop for a one-week Pyrenees itinerary: many people even visit Andorra on a day trip from Barcelona (which is not enough, in my opinion). You can read more about Andorra in my Andorra Travel Guide and Romantic Weekend Ideas for Andorra.
On the way from La Garrotxa to Andorra, you can make a stop at one of these places:
- the ancient Iberian settlemnt Poblat ibèric de l’Esquerda
- Jardins Artigas
- Roman Temple of Vic
- Salt de Mir waterfall
- the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll
- Cercs Mine Museum
- fans of mysterious and haunted places in Spain can consider making a stop at Parador de Cardona (it is also relatively on the way)
What I like about Andorra is the great hotel offer and the famous Caldea SPA (if you decide to visit – go first thing in the morning, otherwise it is too crowded).
Top experiences to book in Andorra:
- Caldea Spa Entrance Ticket (check availability)
- Walking Tour of Canillo’s Best (check availability)
- Tour of the Old Town and Commercial Hub (check availability)
- Snowshoe Guided Excursion in Grau Roig (check availability)
Days 5-6: Lleida (or Vielha)
Visiting Lleida
There are two main regions to stay in the province of Lleida – Vielha (in the Vall D ´Aran region) and somewhere near Lleida city. Here, your plan for these 7 days in the Pyrenees will depend on personal preferences.
The province of Lleida is known for one of the most famous hiking areas in Spain – Cogost de Montrebei. Visitors access it from Parking La Masieta (but the previous booking is a must-do since it often gets full). You can dedicate one day to Cogost de Montrebei and another one – to exploring the secret villages of Lleida. For more ideas, check out this post about my weekend in Lleida.
Another alternative is to stay somewhere near Vielha in the Vall D´Aran region (which I describe within my 10-day Pyrenees Itinerary from Madrid). If you opt for staying near Vielha, head to this post for more details.
Things to see and do in the region of Lleida
- Cogost de Montrebei (check out the details in this post)
- La Seu Vella, the Cathedral of Lleida
- the graffiti village of Penelles (read the full story)
- Castell de Montsonis (one of the dreamy castles in Spain)
- the villages of Guimera, Balaguer, Montfalco Murallat, Cervera, and Solsona
- Aiguestortes National Park (one of the most unique National Parks in Spain)
Day 7: From Lleida to Barcelona
To finish this 7 days in the Pyrenees itinerary, you can drive back from Lleida city (or Vielha) to Barcelona.
On the road from Lleida (or Vielha) to Barcelona, you can visit the graffiti village of Penelles, the castle Castell de Montsonis, or the village of Montfalco Murallat.
Important thing to know about driving near Girona
Let me also warn you about a current scam on the road from Girona to Figueres – La Jonqura – France.
The robbers pass you with their car while making signs that something is wrong with one of your wheels. While you stop to check it out, one of them entertains you and his partner steals your handbags. They specifically look for non-local cars (knowing that tourists do not speak Spanish and usually have cash). Unfortunately, friends of mine were recently robbed like this. So, I went with them to the police office to discover that it was a frequent scam. The police officers are after this criminal group. However, the problem is that the robbers are not Spaniards and use cars rented in France. So, by the moment the victims call the police, they have already crossed the border and are outside of reach.
This scam only takes place in the touristy areas of Catalonia – Girona, Figueres, Cadaques, and Barcelona. Once you reach La Garrotxa and the Pyrenees, I have never heard of similar stories. But you need to know the details in order not to fall into this trap and end up ruining your epic 7 Days in the Pyrenees right from the start.
If you have any questions about this 7 days in the Pyrenees itinerary, let me know in the comments below.
Read more about the Pyrenees:
- Top Adventurous Things to Do in the Pyrenees (read it)
- Beautiful Small Towns in the Spanish Pyrenees (read it)
- Exploring The Pre-Pyrenees of Spain: A weekend in Sierra de Guara (read it)
- Cogost de Montrebei: The Most Adventurous Hike in Spain (read it)
- 10-Day Pyrenees Itinerary: An Ultimate Road Trip from Madrid (read it)
- Hiking Trails in The Pyrenees You Can Not Miss (read it)
- Top Beautiful Places to Visit in the Spanish Pyrenees (read it)
- Exploring the Pyrenees of Catalonia (read it)
- 5 Epic Reasons to Visit the Pyrenees with Kids (read it)
- Top Romantic Things to do in Andorra (read it)
- The Spanish Pyrenees Road Trip 4-Day Itinerary (read it)
- Skiing in Spain: Our Baqueira Beret Family Getaway (read it)
- Top Things to Do in Andorra (read it)
- Best Foods in the Pyrenees of Spain (read it)
- 3 days in the Pyrenees of Aragon with Seniors & Kids (read it)
- One Day in Andorra: Why You Should Really Visit Andorra in Winter (read it)
- The Best eSIM for Andorra: Why you actually need one? (read it)
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For more Spain travel tips check out my Pinterest board Spain Travel Collection and Flipboard Travel to Spain.
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Saving this itinerary for when I can plan a Spanish road trip. The combination of ancient villages with hiking and waterfalls sounds great!
Wonderful insights of local and historical road trip locations with hiking trails. Having visited Spain and walked the Camino de Santiago, I can truly appreciate the history and beauty of this region.
Amazing scenery and great spot for hiking in Spain, lovely photos too..
Great itinerary. I’ve been to Barcelona, but haven’t explored the surrounding area. Would love to visit the vulcanic area of La Garrotxa.
Parabéns pelo site e conteúdo. Muito completo.
Pretendo viajar aos pirineus no fim de março. Gosto de trilhas, mas li que é uma época ainda de neve e muito frio.
É uma viagem muito limitada, ou ainda consigo aproveitar nessa época?
Muito obrigado
Hello, thanks for your kind words! March can be a tricky month for the Pyrenees. Last year, there was very little snow even in December and January, making it a very bad season for skiing. So, while there is still a chance of snow in March, it’s less common nowadays, likely due to global warming. The higher you go in the Pyrenees, the greater the chances of snow. For example, this trip to the Pre-Pyrenees https://atlifestylecrossroads.com/pre-pyrenees-weekend-in-sierra-de-guara/ took place in April, and the weather was perfect for hiking.