Maresme, Costa Brava, and Costa Daurada are the three main summer hotspots near Barcelona. A popular getaway for those looking to escape Barceloneta, you can travel by public transit from the Catalan capital to several beaches located in these tourist hubs of Catalonia. You can do this via Rodalies, and we’ll explain how.
This summer, Renfe has expanded service on two key Rodalies lines to make it easier to reach beach areas from Barcelona and other nearby towns. These are the R1 and R2 Sud lines, which connect Barcelona to the Catalan coast, and which, through September 28, will operate on an expanded schedule with trains every 10 minutes on weekends and holidays.
The R1 line: from Barcelona to the Costa Brava
The R1 line runs from L’Hospitalet de Llobregat to Maçanet-Massanes, passing through the main beaches of the Maresme region, such as Calella, Sant Pol de Mar, and Canet de Mar. During the summer, additional trains are added, providing service every 10 minutes between Barcelona-Plaça Catalunya and Mataró during morning and afternoon peak hours.
If you get off at Blanes, you’ll arrive at the “Gateway to the Costa Brava,” where some of the best beaches in all of Catalonia begin.
Here are the schedules for the Rodalies R1 line.
In this article, we’ll give you all the details about the line, from the schedules to the coves and towns worth visiting.
The R2 Sud: Destination Costa Daurada
Meanwhile, the R2 Sud line, which connects Sant Vicenç de Calders with Barcelona-Estació de França, is increasing the number of stops at Platja de Castelldefels station, with 20 additional stops on weekends and holidays.
Toward the coast, train frequencies increase between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and in the opposite direction, toward Barcelona, frequencies double between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. to make it easier to return after a day at the beach. See the full schedules here.
This train takes you to destinations such as Castelldefels, Sitges, or Calafell, where you can later connect to the first stops on the Costa Daurada in Tarragona.
You can also stop at the beaches and coves of Vilanova i la Geltrú, Cubit, or Garraf.
