Free walking tours in Granollers and what to see

Must-sees

Granollers is the capital of the Vallès Oriental, about thirty kilometres from Barcelona. Its symbol is La Porxada, a 16th-century arcaded market hall that presides over the square of the same name and was used for the grain trade. Around it spreads the historic centre, with shopping streets, the church of Sant Esteve and plenty of bars and terraces.

The city is known for its Thursday market, one of the largest in Catalonia, which fills much of the centre. The Granollers Museum and the Natural Sciences Museum round off the visit. Very close, in Montmeló, is the circuit that hosts Formula 1 and motorcycle Grands Prix, and to the north begins the Montseny massif.

Free tours and guided visits

Free tours are not frequent in Granollers. The usual options are guided visits run by the city itself and trips into the surrounding area. If you want a pay-what-you-wish free tour, Barcelona is less than an hour away by train, with walks through the Gothic Quarter, El Born and the Modernisme of the Eixample.

Among paid activities, trips to the Montseny natural park, with walks among beech woods and mountain villages, and visits to Montserrat are worthwhile. In Barcelona, guided entry to the Sagrada Família and Park Güell is the best way to get to know Gaudí’s work.

How long to spend

Central Granollers can be seen in half a day. If you are there on a Thursday, spend the morning at the market and the afternoon at the museums. To combine it with the surroundings, three or four days are ideal: one for Granollers, one or two for Barcelona and another for the Montseny. If you are coming for a race at the circuit, book well in advance.

Where to stay

The best area to stay is the centre, near the Porxada and the train stations, so you can walk around the city and reach Barcelona easily. Granollers has two stations on different lines, so check which suits you best. On race days at the circuit, demand and prices rise sharply.