Barcelona and the Maresme beyond summer

A different rhythm on the Barcelona coast

In summer, the sea tends to set the timetable. Outside the busiest months, a stay at Casa Vilá Reyes in Sant Vicenç de Montalt can have a gentler shape: a morning by the water, one considered excursion, and the pleasure of coming back with the afternoon still ahead. Barcelona is there when you want a city day; the Maresme is worth time in its own right. Choose the outing that fits the people travelling and the time you have.

1. Sea air and a short local walk

Make the first day deliberately simple. Walk along the seafront near Sant Vicenç and Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, pause around El Balís marina, then find a table nearby for lunch. The point is to share a few easy hours together, with no fixed programme. If the group wants a more structured walk, the “Passeig al passat de les 3 Viles” traces four kilometres of local history and landscape through 15 challenges. Check the route information, weather and any materials needed before setting out.

El Balís also runs autumn sailing courses for adults. Its 2026 course was designed as four sessions over two weekends, so it suits a longer stay and only if dates and places work for you. Kayaking and paddleboarding appear in the club's summer watersports offer; they should not be assumed available in winter.

For a cycling morning, choose a section of the Maresme coastal axis, which links the seafronts of coastal towns. Experienced mountain bikers can consider the Three Villages route: 17.43 kilometres with 501 metres of climbing. Pick the distance for the group, allow for daylight and weather, and arrange equipment separately.

2. Art and the winter light

For a quieter cultural day, go to Caldes d’Estrac and visit Fundació Palau, where Josep Palau i Fabre's relationship with Picasso gives the collection a personal thread. Leave time to walk through the town or by the sea afterwards. Museum opening hours and temporary exhibitions change, so check the programme before you leave the house. This compact outing leaves time to return to the house in the afternoon.

3. A chosen activity, then a shared table

For guests who already play golf, Golf Llavaneras offers a visitor option overlooking the coast; ask the club about the current licence or handicap requirements and available tee times. For a different pace, Turó Blanc describes tennis and padel classes for members and non-members; arrange a place directly with its team. Neither activity needs to fill the whole day.

Wine can provide the quieter alternative. Art Laietà in Alella lists visits and tastings by date. Choose a session that fits your group's language and size, then leave time for a meal nearby. Menus, openings and bookings are best checked with the individual restaurant. The pleasure of this itinerary lies in having one destination and time to talk over it afterwards.

4. A day of architecture in Barcelona

Give Barcelona a day of its own. The Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site combines restored hospital pavilions with gardens and a story of the city told through architecture. Another option is a visit to the Palau de la Música Catalana, where stained glass, mosaics and the concert hall make a memorable indoor plan. Choose one visit, book the appropriate time and language, and leave space for lunch and a neighbourhood walk before returning to the Maresme.

Beyond the house

These are suggestions for time beyond Casa Vilá Reyes, with each walk or visit chosen to fit the season and the people travelling. Arrange activities, admission and bookings directly with the relevant operator. Ask us about your stay, and we can discuss how much time you would like to spend together at the house and away from it. For group planning, see time together at Casa Vilá Reyes; teams can also read our congress stay guide.