During our recent trip to Barcelona, Spain, we opted to stay outside the main city in a charming seaside town called Mataro. Located about 40 minutes from the city by train, Mataro, Barcelona, is beautifully situated between the Mediterranean and the Serralada Litoral mountains.
It’s a wonderful place to take a break from Barcelona’s bustling community and enjoy some peace and quiet along the water.
Whether you’re looking for a day trip to take from Barcelona or would prefer to spend a few nights here like we did, here are some of the top things you can do!
Rather watch? Check out our Mataro adventure on YouTube!
Chill on the Beach
Even in October, Platja del Varador had a handful of people sunbathing on its sandy shores. With temperatures getting up into the 80s during our trip, it’s no surprise that you can enjoy the beach in Mataro for most of the year! Just keep in mind that most Spanish beaches require less clothing than American beaches, and you may want to choose a more remote location to enjoy your time.
Take a Diving Tour
If we’d had more time, the #1 thing on my list would be a diving tour. Blaumar Diving Center was just a few steps from our hotel, and they have excellent reviews for their trips, even with first-time divers. If you have half to a full day to spare, go on and take a trip for me!
Try All the Food
Mataro is home to some fantastic restaurants along the waterfront and in town. We particularly enjoyed the Pizza Yeray and canelones de foie y trufa (duck liver cannolis in mushroom sauce) at Dolce Vita. We also enjoyed local gelato (Orxata and Crema Catalana are must-tries!) and a few nearby cafes. It was an excellent opportunity to try new foods we’d never heard of!
Visit Nau Gaudi
If you’ve been exploring Barcelona, you’ve probably already checked out a few of Gaudi’s masterpieces. But if you want to see some more of Gaudi’s work paired with modern art, check out the Nau Gaudi (AKA the Consorci Museu d’Art Contemporani de Mataro). This museum displays art by Catalan artists, especially those related to the Mataro area.
Walk the Mataro Promenade
The promenade runs parallel to the beach and marina, providing easy access to the sand or the main town of Mataro. It’s a peaceful walk next to the sea, and you can quickly duck across the street to check out any stores or cafes that catch your eye.
Check out the Clos Arqueologic Torre Llauder
If archeological ruins pique your interest, you’ll have a great time checking out the ruins of this old Roman villa located near Mataro! It was built at the end of the first century BC and has lots of cool things to discover, from mosaic tile floors to the remains of bathing rooms and ornate pillars. It’s also free to visit, so why not?
Explore the Marina and Observation Deck
We were fortunate to get a hotel overlooking the marina, which was absolutely beautiful at sunset! Take some time to walk around and check out the boats, the dockside restaurants, and the scenic observation deck, Mirador Del Varador.
The observation deck wraps around behind the marina, providing gorgeous views of the Mediterranean Sea and Mataro and protecting the ships from storms.
Tour Casa Coll I Regas
Another great stop for architecture enthusiasts is the ornate Casa Coll I Regas. Josep Puig i Cadafalch designed this modernist building in the late 1800s. The four-story home has a gorgeous facade and lots of beautiful details to discover inside.
Hotel Recommendation for a Stay in Mataro: Hotel Port Ateneo
We spent four amazing nights at the Hotel Ateneo Port, a 4-star hotel located right on the marina. It was such a pleasant place to come back to each night, and we had amazing views of the Mediterranean Sea from our balcony window!
Review of Hotel Ateneo Port
The Hotel Port Ateneo gave us a fantastic stay from start to finish. Besides its great location near the train station and the beach, everything was modern, clean, and professional.
The staff was friendly and spoke English well, which made check-in that much easier. And despite arriving at the hotel several hours before the official check-in time, we were immediately allowed to access our room and get some much-needed rest, which we greatly appreciated.
We chose a double room with a balcony view, and I am so glad that we did! Our view of the harbor was absolutely stunning, and the upcharge was very minimal for such a great viewing experience–especially at sunset!
Our room was very comfortable, and the spacious layout made it easy to relax and cozy in for our stay. I loved the upscale bathroom with a glass shower and wide countertops, as well as the convenient open closet with shelving and hangers right next to the bed.
One thing I thought was wonderful for energy efficiency was the key-activated light switches. The lights in the room are only functional when you put your room key into a special slot, which cuts down on wasted electricity.
The only thing I didn’t love about our room was that the “double” meant two twin beds pushed together. It was just an odd experience to be close yet separated, but I know that this is fairly standard in parts of Europe.
The hotel also offers a variety of great amenities, from an infinity pool to a wellness spa and restaurant. The buffet breakfast was also one of the best I’ve ever had, featuring a fantastic variety of fresh pastries, fruit, yogurts, tropical juices, and meats.
We also enjoyed the convenient location of the hotel. It was a quick and easy walk each morning to the train station, and the marina was just steps away. There were also several fantastic restaurants just down the street from us and a weekend market on the sidewalk we took each morning.
If you make it to Mataro, I highly recommend booking your stay at the Hotel Ateneo Port! We had a great time there, and I’m sure you will, too.
Closing Thoughts
Thanks for coming on this quick tour of things to do in Mataro, Barcelona, and reading about the Hotel Ateneo Port! If you have time to spare while you’re in Barcelona, I highly recommend visiting Mataro for some relaxation.
Stay tuned in the weeks ahead for more fun posts about our trip to Barcelona, including detailed insights on the best things to do and how to make the most of your trip.
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Happy travels!
