If you’re looking for a day trip from Barcelona, look no further than the Cava making region of Catalonia. Nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of Catalonia lies the town of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, less than an hour outside of Barcelona and the perfect destination for a day trip. Sant Sadurní d’Anoia offers a tranquil city escape, where the air is filled with the effervescent aroma of Cava, Spain’s beloved sparkling wine. Renowned for its Cava vineyards and the famous Simón Coll chocolate factory, this region promises an authentic taste of Spanish culture. After several days exploring the bustling streets of Barcelona, I found myself desperate for a city escape, while still immersing myself in the essence of Spain. What better way to do so than by tasting the country’s finest Cava? Below, I present a guide to planning a day in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia—a must-visit day trip from Barcelona!
Getting to Sant Sadurní d’Anoia
If you have a car, Sant Sadurní d’Anoia is just a 40 minute drive from Barcelona. If you’re taking public transportation to Sant Sadurní d’Anoia from Barcelona, you can take the R4 Renfe train line. Tickets can be purchased directly at the station, and the train comes every 30 minutes. The ride is about 50-60 minutes long. Once you arrive at the Sant Sadurní d’Anoia train station, the area is quite rural with little to no taxi service, however, the town is quite small and walkable. From the train station, it is about a 20-25 minute walk to the country’s most famous winery, Codorníu.
Cava Tour at Codorníu
Sant Sadurní d’Anoia is home to several wineries, including Codorníu, Spain’s oldest winery and the second largest producer of Cava! Codorníu is a stunning property comprising various buildings including a restaurant and 30km of wine cellars. Codorníu is known to be the most impressive winery in the region due to the beauty of the property and quality of the guided tours. You can book a tasting directly through their website to learn about the history of the property and the art of Cava making, all while touring the impressive cellars before a guided Cava tasting.
Before my scheduled Cava tour, I enjoyed some tapas at their restaurant which has incredible views of the property and wine region. Not only is the food excellent, but the scenery of the rolling hills and lily ponds makes it feel like you’re in a dream! The tour itself was one of the best wine tours I’ve been on. The small group toured the property and learned about the history of Codorníu and the Cava process. We descended 4 stories below ground to see the cellars, which are so vast there are street signs on the cellar wings, as well as a train that takes you around! The tasting itself was done within the cellars in an elegant tasting room, which included 3 types of Cava as well as chocolates. Visiting Codorníu is a must if you’re in Barcelona, and is the perfect day trip for a city escape.
Chocolate Tasting
After you finish indulging in the region’s best Cava, enjoy a chocolate factory tour with a tasting at the Simón Coll Xocolata! As you’re approaching the factory from a few blocks away, you can begin to smell notes of chocolate. You can book a tour on their website here, which includes an inside look on the chocolate making process, as well as a guided tasting. The tour is only 6.5 euro and comes with a 2 euro discount in the store. The tasting was so much fun and the chocolate is amazing! If you do not have time for a tour, still be sure to check out their shop which is packed with so many cute chocolate gifts.
Sant Sadurní d’Anoia is a small town but makes for one of the best day trips from Barcelona. This famous cava region is home to beautiful vineyards with impressive history, and of course, chocolate! If you are traveling to Barcelona, be sure to plan a day trip to Sant Sadurní d’Anoia to experience countryside charm and Cava among Catalonia.
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