Explore Catalunya reviews: small-group day trips, prices and the fine print
Verdict: a solid middle ground between the big coach and a private tour, with groups of up to about 16 and highly rated guides, but its own site keeps 10% even if you cancel days ahead, and some of its trips look cheaper on Tiqets.
ⓘ Note: we are not Explore Catalunya We are not Explore Catalunya or its official website. This is an independent review based on public sources; some links are affiliate links (GetYourGuide, Tiqets, Headout).Tickets and tours to book
5 options · Prices checked on 18 October 2026
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Cadaques, Dalí House & Dalí Museum: Small-Group Ultimate Dalí Tour
4.5 (16 reviews)
from €99Check dates
Spain, France & Andorra: The Original Three Countries in One Day Tour
4.3 (6 reviews)
from €135Check dates
Verdict: 7 out of 10
Explore Catalunya is a Barcelona minibus day-trip agency that, according to its website, began almost 20 years ago as "practically one man and his van". Today it has more than 20 local guides, a small fleet of minibuses and a range that runs from Montserrat to the Pyrenees, Andorra, Girona, the Costa Brava and the Dalí triangle. It fills a clear gap: groups of 2 to about 16 at prices below a private tour. Reviews of its trips are excellent; what holds it back is a cancellation policy that is tougher than most of the market.
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Price and transparency | 8/10 | A €60 small-group Montserrat half day; clear prices and a named company in its terms |
| Flexibility | 5/10 | On its own site, a 10% fee even if you cancel days ahead, and 100% within 24 h |
| Public reputation | 8/10 | 4.7 to 4.9 on Tripadvisor with hundreds of reviews per tour |
| Experience | 8/10 | Genuinely small groups and much-praised guides; the odd rushed day or shortened stop |
| Reliability | 7/10 | Almost 20 years, legal name and address published; no agency registration number |
| Overall score | 7/10 | Mean of the five criteria, rounded to 0.5 |
Who it suits
- ✔ Travellers who want a day out of Barcelona in a small group without paying for a private tour.
- ✔ Anyone after less obvious trips: medieval villages, the Pyrenees, Tarragona and Sitges, or Game of Thrones Girona.
- ✔ People who value a guide who knows the area more than the lowest price.
Who should skip it
- ✘ Anyone whose dates are still loose: cancelling on its own site always costs something.
- ✘ Older travellers who like a slow pace: some reviewers found the days rushed.
- ✘ Anyone who needs a hotel pickup: it isn't included on every tour.
Fact sheet
| Company | GO2 Barcelona Travel Media Services SL, trading as Explore Catalunya; company number B65552903, per its terms and conditions |
|---|---|
| Founded | No exact year; the site mentions "almost 20 years" and more than 40,000 visitors in 2019 |
| Base | Carrer del Palau de la Música 1, 08003 Barcelona, per its terms; tel. +34 93 269 1154 and WhatsApp |
| Catalan tourism registration | Not published. It says it holds the Biosphere certification for tour operators |
| What it sells | Small-group and private day trips: Montserrat, Girona, the Costa Brava, Dalí, the Pyrenees, Andorra, Tarragona and Sitges; also tapas with flamenco and sailing |
| Official price range | From €60 (Montserrat half day) to €199 (food and wine day) per person |
| Where to book | explorecatalunya.com, its Rezdy storefront and the resellers its site names (Viator, GetYourGuide, Expedia, Veltra, City Discovery) |
| Public ratings | On Tripadvisor, per tour: Barcelona and Sagrada Família 4.9 (823 reviews), Medieval Villages 4.9 (389), Dalí 4.7 (270) |
What it sells and what it costs
Explore Catalunya sells mainly on its own site, but Tiqets lists five day trips with the same meeting point (Carrer del Palau de la Música 1), near-identical names and prices €4 to €10 lower. The supplier is shown as Explore Tours Worldwide Limited, based in Hong Kong. We could not confirm how the two companies are related, so compare the product page before you pay.
| Trip | Explore Catalunya website | On platforms | Honest take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girona and Costa Brava (11 h) | €99 | Tiqets €95 | Cheaper on Tiqets, with free cancellation up to 24 h before |
| Dalí, Figueres and Cadaqués | €109 | Tiqets €99 ("Ultimate Dalí Tour") | €10 less on Tiqets |
| Costa Brava coves and villages | €115 | Tiqets €105 (with lunch) | Check the itinerary matches |
| Medieval villages | €99 | Tiqets €95 (Besalú, Rupit and Tavertet) | Same meeting point; confirm the stops |
| 3 countries in one day (13 h) | €139 | Tiqets €135 | Slightly cheaper on Tiqets |
| Montserrat half day (optional Sagrada Família) | €60 | Not found; another operator on GetYourGuide from €35.10 | A fair price for a small group |
| Montserrat and winery | €135 | Not found; another operator on GetYourGuide from €103.66 | You pay for the small group and the guide |
Explore Catalunya prices read on its homepage; platform prices from Tiqets and GetYourGuide on the day of the review. Platforms change prices often. The Tiqets listings attributed here share their meeting point and names with Explore Catalunya's trips, but the platform shows a different supplier.
The good and the bad
The good
- Genuinely small groups. From 2 to about 16 people; reviewers mention 7 to 12 in practice.
- Local guides. The most common praise on Tripadvisor, with scores of 4.7 to 4.9 per tour.
- A broad range. Beyond Montserrat and Girona, places few operators cover in a group: the Pyrenees, Rupit and Tavertet, Tarragona and Sitges.
- Affordable Montserrat. €60 for a small-group half day, about the same as Julià's big coach.
- An identifiable company. Legal name, company number and address in its terms, plus Biosphere certification.
The bad
- Cancellation fees. 10% even with weeks of notice, and 100% within 24 hours.
- Times that don't match. Some reviewers found a different departure time in the itinerary and the confirmation.
- Shortened stops. Occasional complaints about a skipped stop or too much shopping time in Andorra.
- Pace. Some days feel rushed for older travellers.
- A hard-to-find office. A repeated complaint; the company offers a meeting-point map.
Fine print
- Cancelling on its own site: more than 24 hours ahead costs 10% of the price; under 24 hours or a no-show costs 100%, per its terms and conditions. If the company cancels, you get a full refund.
- Changes: transferring a booking to someone else needs written notice 7 days ahead plus an admin fee per person.
- Cancelling on Tiqets: the listings that match its trips allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
- Weather: there is no specific rain policy; the terms only release the company when weather makes travel unsafe.
- Pickup: not included on every tour; check the product page and the meeting-point map.
- Children and accessibility: the terms don't cover them. These are long days in a minibus with walking; ask first.
- Sagrada Família: on trips that include it, the guide inside the basilica must hold the Generalitat's qualification, which is compulsory for groups of 10 or more.
Traps and how to avoid them
How to book for less
Dates not fixed? Use Tiqets. Girona and the Costa Brava is €95, the Dalí and Cadaqués tour €99, the Costa Brava with lunch €105, Besalú, Rupit and Tavertet €95 and three countries in one day €135, all with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Montserrat and its exclusive trips: go direct. We only found the Montserrat half day (€60), Montserrat with a winery, the Pyrenees and Tarragona and Sitges on explorecatalunya.com. Book once your day is fixed so you don't lose 10%.
On a tight budget for Montserrat? Another operator's small-group half day starts at €35.10 on GetYourGuide, and Julià's rack-railway tour at €52.80. Compare inclusions in our Montserrat guide and other destinations in day trips from Barcelona.
Alternatives
For the cheapest fixed-departure trip, Julià Travel; for a hotel or cruise-port pickup, Barcelona Day Tours. For Montserrat on your own with an official ticket, the Catalunya Bus Turístic.
Frequently asked questions
Is Explore Catalunya legit?
Yes. It trades as GO2 Barcelona Travel Media Services SL from Carrer del Palau de la Música 1, has run day trips for almost 20 years, and its tours score 4.7 to 4.9 on Tripadvisor with hundreds of reviews each. Complaints are occasional: timings, pace or a shortened stop.
Can I cancel an Explore Catalunya trip?
On its own site, cancelling more than 24 hours ahead costs 10% of the price, and within 24 hours or for a no-show, 100%. On the Tiqets listings that match its trips, cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.
How big are the groups?
According to its website, from 2 to about 16 people. Reviewers mention groups of 7 to 12 in practice.
Where is the meeting point?
Next to the Palau de la Música, at Carrer del Palau de la Música 1. Not every tour includes a hotel pickup, and several reviewers found it hard to locate: download the map from its site.
Explore Catalunya or Julià Travel for Montserrat?
Explore Catalunya charges €60 for a small-group half day, with Sagrada Família as an option. Julià charges €62 on its own site (from €52.80 on GetYourGuide) for a big-coach trip with the rack railway, Black Madonna and a liqueur tasting.
Why is it cheaper on Tiqets?
Tiqets sells trips with the same meeting point and near-identical names for €4 to €10 less, under Explore Tours Worldwide Limited. We have not confirmed how the two are related, so check the itinerary and times before booking.
Flexible dates? Book with free cancellation
Girona and the Costa Brava in a small group from the Palau de la Música, free to cancel up to 24 hours before on Tiqets.
See Girona & Costa Brava