If you dream of quiet beaches, charming towns, and getaways that don’t require a car, this is your cue: the Rodalies R1 line is the train route that connects Barcelona with some of the best beaches in the Maresme and drops you right at the doorstep of the Costa Brava—all for the price of a train ticket.
We’ll tell you everything you need to know about it for a quick getaway this summer.
Where does the R1 go?
The R1 line connects L’Hospitalet de Llobregat with Maçanet-Massanes, running the entire length of the Maresme coast and ending at the geographical border of the Costa Brava. From Plaça Catalunya, you can hop on the train and be in Blanes in just over an hour —a town considered the “Gateway to the Costa Brava,” as it’s the first municipality in the area.
If you get off at Blanes, you’ll discover a town with a seaside vibe, the spectacular Marimurtra Botanical Garden, and coves like Sa Forcanera or Cala Sant Francesc, which are every bit as beautiful as those in the south. From here, you can continue your adventure toward Lloret, Tossa, or Sant Feliu de Guíxols by bus or carpool, but just arriving in Blanes is like opening the door to paradise.
The other option is to walk. In Blanes, you can take the camí de ronda, an old watchtower path that runs the entire length of the Costa Brava along the coast, passing through each and every cove.
If you want to continue your journey, buses also depart from Blanes that connect to other towns further inland along the Costa Brava, such as Tossa, Lloret de Mar, or Calella.
Where to get off on the R1
Blanes is the gateway to the Costa Brava, but the R1 runs the entire length of the Maresme and lets you stop in some of the most charming towns along the Barcelona and Maresme coastlines.
If you don’t feel like going all the way to Blanes, we recommend getting off at Calella, Sant Pol de Mar, Canet de Mar, or Arenys de Mar—all of them beautiful former fishing villages. Although they’re now tourist destinations, they’re also charming places with great food, great beaches, and, in some cases, access to very secluded and special coves.
Summer schedules and frequencies
During the summer, Renfe has increased service on the R1 through September 28, especially on weekends and holidays. Trains between Barcelona and Mataró run every 10 minutes during peak hours (morning and afternoon), making it very easy to plan a last-minute beach getaway.
Trains to Blanes and Maçanet-Massanes run less frequently, but you can check the updated schedules on the Rodalies website to plan your trip better.
By the way, if you’d rather go in the other direction, here’s an article on the other train lines that take you to the beach.
