This epic road trip offers the ultimate opportunity to discover Catalan cuisine

From the craggy peaks of its mountainous interior to the pristine beaches of its coastal shores, Catalonia is a destination of diversity. It's a diversity that is reflected in the gastronomic offerings of this northeastern Spanish region, which include everything from fresh seafood and award-winning wines to traditional liquors and hearty alpine cuisine.

Catalonia is set to become the first territory in Europe to be named World Region of Gastronomy in 2025, an award that highlights the rich variety of its agriculture and cuisine. The best way to explore it for yourself? On the Grand Tour of Catalonia, a specially designed circular road trip that aims to offer travellers an overview of the region’s best cuisine, culture and nature.

There are many ways to tackle the route, depending on your interests and time constraints, but for the ultimate gastronomic Grand Tour experience, here are the stages, stops and specialities not to miss.

Section 1: Barcelona to Tarragona

Begin your journey in Barcelona, the Catalan capital and the culinary heart of the region, where you can find everything from modern Michelin-starred restaurants to historic tapas bars. Don’t stop too long to savour the city though, as there’s plenty more to discover in Catalonia's lesser-visited reaches. Drive inland and head west towards the Penedès, Catalonia’s largest wine region, where sparkling is the star of the show. Hire an electric bike to cycle through its rolling vineyards or make straight for the ‘capital of Cava’, Sant Sadurní d'Anoia. Here, you can learn how Catalan Cava is made and sample some of the best local offerings at Caves Codorníu or Freixenet.

Then, resume your journey west to the city of Valls, where the Castell Museum of Catalonia gives an insight into the area's famous castells, human towers that have been declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Valls is also the home of the calçot, a cross between a spring onion and a leek that’s delicious chargrilled and eaten with an almond and red pepper sauce called romesco. Visit on the last Sunday in January for Valls’ Calçotada Festival, which marks the beginning of the calçot season.

End this first stage of your road trip in the historic city of Tarragona or the nearby town of Reus, birthplace of the architect Antoni Gaudí. Those who choose to rest up in Reus can round off a day’s driving with a visit to the Museu del Vermut, a restaurant and museum dedicated to vermouth.

Section 2: Tarragona to Lleida

From Reus, travel north west to Priorat, another of Catalonia’s undulating wine regions and one recognised internationally for its delicious, full-bodied reds. Make a stop at the Scala Dei winery, housed in parts of the ancient Scala Dei priory, to learn more about its production and enjoy tastings.

Follow the route south to drive along golden sands of the Costa Daurada, before ending up at the Delta de l’Ebre nature reserve. A distinct departure from the craggy mountains of inland Catalonia, the vast, flat landscape of this important wetland is home to over 340 species of bird, from ibis to flamingos. Beyond its long sandy beaches and reed-lined lagoons, the area is known for its expansive rice paddies, which have given rise to several superb rice dishes similar to paellas such as arròs a banda (rice cooked in fish stock) and arròs negre (rice in squid ink). Try it at restaurants including L'Algadir del Delta and Lo Pati d'Agustí, where dishes are cooked over an open wood fire, before spending the night in the northern city of Lleida.

Section 3: Lleida to Seu d’Urgell

Wander past Lleida's Gothic-Romanesque cathedral to reach one of the city’s covered markets, where you can browse colourful local produce including olive oil or one of the region's pears — both of which have been awarded a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) label. Then, lunch on the famous Lleida snails, traditionally served roasted a la llauna — on a metal sheet placed directly over the embers of a fire.

Sufficiently satiated, head north to Congost de Mont-Rebei, a dramatic gorge where rock walls rise 1640ft either side of an incredible cobalt river. Then, follow the road up to overnight in the historic village of La Pobla de Segur, nestled in the Pyrenees of Catalonia. Here, several rustic restaurants serve specialities such as fresh river trout, first-rate cured sausages and grilled Pyrenean meats. Round off your meal by sampling a shot of traditional ratafia, a liquor made from green walnuts, herbs and spices.

The next day, drive north towards Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici, Catalonia’s only national park, where over 200 lakes, rivers and streams flow between rocky mountain peaks and verdant green pastures. Stretch your legs on the park's many hiking or biking routes or continue straight onto the village of La Seu d’Urgell, famed for its PDO Pyrenean cheeses. Made using milk from Friesian cows, this cheese has a soft creamy texture, with notes of dried fruit and mushrooms.

Section 4: La Seu d’Urgell to Figueres

Drive east along the theatrical Pyrenees towards the Costa Brava. Along the way, you’ll pass through La Garrotxa and its Volcanic Zone Natural Park, where 40 dormant volcanoes sit proud in the green landscape, interspersed by ancient lava flows. Watching the morning sun light up this landscape is a truly magical experience best enjoyed from the sky — book a hot air balloon ride with Vol de Coloms to experience it at its best. In the nearby villages of Olot or Santa Pau, stop to lunch on volcanic cuisine that features pork, wild boar and the famous mongetes beans that thrive in the fertile soil of the area.

Spend the night in Figueres, hometown of the famous surrealist painter Salvador Dalí’. Stop in at the Dalí Theatre-Museum to learn more about his life, or browse a vast collection of local art at the Museu de l’Empordà.

Section 5: Figueres to Barcelona

Continue to the coast, passing through the wine region of Empordà before reaching the coastal village of Roses. Famed for being a foodies’ hotspot, this small village was once the home of El Bulli, five-time winner of World’s Best Restaurant. While the restaurant is no more, you can still learn about its legacy at the elBulli1846 museum (open May to October). And to satiate the taste buds, there are many other exceptional Michelin-starred and fine-dining spots in the area including Empòrium, Castell Peralada, and Compartir (owned by the same chefs that own the World’s Best Restaurant 2024, Disfrutar in Barcelona).

As you weave further up the Costa Brava, you'll pass apple orchards, fishing ports and picturesque botanical gardens. But be sure to make a final food-focused pit stop in the medieval town of Vic — known for its delicious sausages — before making your way back to Barcelona.