Vilafranca del Penedès Holidays: Wine, Palaces and Olèrdola
Província de Barcelona · Catalonia · Spain · 38,425 residents
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Vinseum – Catalan Wine Cultures Museum.jpg/500px-Urbanitzaci%C3%B3_les_Palmeres_(Canyelles).jpg)
Parc d'Olèrdola.JPG/500px-Ruinas_de_olerdola-2014_(11).JPG)
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Basilica of St. Mary, Vilafranca del Penedès
Cova dels SegarullsVilafranca del Penedès is an inland Catalan town of around 38,000 people, set 229 metres above sea level in the Província de Barcelona. Its appeal is concentrated and walkable. The Vinseum, a museum devoted to Catalan wine cultures, sits in the centre beside the Basilica of St. Mary and a cluster of palaces including Palau Baltà, the Palau Reial and Cal Macià. A few miles out, the Parc d'Olèrdola and its monumental ensemble add open country and archaeology. Barcelona airport is under half an hour's drive, which makes the town an easy base or day out for British travellers who prefer culture to crowds.
Why go
- The Vinseum, a museum of Catalan wine cultures, is right in the town centre.
- Barcelona, Reus and Girona airports all have direct flights from the United Kingdom.
- Parc d'Olèrdola and its monumental ensemble lie about 3 miles from town.
Top sights in Vilafranca del Penedès
Museums, Palaces and Olèrdola's Archaeology
Start with the Vinseum – Catalan Wine Cultures Museum, roughly 100 metres from the centre and the town's best-known sight. Within the same few steps stand the Basilica of St. Mary, a minor basilica, and a run of palaces: Palau Baltà, the Palau Reial de Vilafranca del Penedès, Cal Macià and, a touch further at about 200 metres, the Palau del Marquès d'Alfarràs.
For open air, the Parc d'Olèrdola, a natural park, is about 3 miles away, and the Conjunt monumental d'Olèrdola, a protected cultural site, is just beyond it. Around Olèrdola you will also find the archaeological sites of Cova dels Segarulls (about 2.5 miles), Abric de Can Castellví and Abric de Can Ximet (both under 3 miles). Closer in, the Vinya del Catxo site is about half a mile out and Sant Pau Inferior a little over a mile. Families might add El Jardí dels Ocells, a bird park around 2 miles away.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly from this page.
- 1Vinseum – Catalan Wine Cultures Museum
- 2Parc d'Olèrdola
- 3Conjunt monumental d'Olèrdola
- 4Basilica of St. Mary, Vilafranca del Penedès
- 5Cova dels Segarulls
- 6Palau Baltà
- 7Abric de Can Castellví
- 8Palau Reial de Vilafranca del Penedès
- 9Cal Macià
- 10El Jardí dels Ocells
- 11Abric de Can Ximet
- 12Palau del Marquès d'Alfarràs (Vilafranca del Penedès)
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1museum- 2protected area
- 3protected area
- 4basilica
Basilica of St. Mary, Vilafranca del Penedès
In the centre · Photo
minor basilica in Vilafranca del Penedès, Spain
- 5archaeological site
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6palace_-_1.jpg/500px-Abric_de_Can_Castellv%C3%AD_(Ol%C3%A8rdola)_-_1.jpg)
7archaeological site.jpg/500px-083_Vinseum%2C_antic_Palau_Reial%2C_pl._Jaume_I%2C_1-3_(Vilafranca_del_Pened%C3%A8s).jpg)
8palacePalau Reial de Vilafranca del Penedès
In the centre · Photo
cultural property in Vilafranca del Penedès, Spain
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9palaceCal Macià
In the centre · Photo
10zoo
11archaeological site.jpg/500px-35_Palau_del_Marqu%C3%A8s_d'Alfarr%C3%A0s%2C_c._Ferran_1_(Vilafranca_del_Pened%C3%A8s).jpg)
12palacePalau del Marquès d'Alfarràs (Vilafranca del Penedès)
In the centre · Photo
building in Vilafranca del Penedès, Alt Penedès, Catalonia
Tours & tickets in Vilafranca del Penedès
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Vilafranca del Penedès can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Vilafranca del Penedès
Staying in a Compact Inland Town
Vilafranca is not on the coast, so the choice is less about seafront versus old quarter and more about how central you want to be. The museum, basilica and palaces all sit within a couple of hundred metres of one another, so a room in the centre puts the main sights on your doorstep.
With a population of around 38,000, the town is a mid-sized, workaday place rather than a resort, which suits travellers wanting a quieter base with Barcelona and Reus airports close by. The page shows live hotel prices so you can compare what is available for your dates.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Vilafranca del Penedès and the villages around it is a hire car from Barcelona (BCN), about 29 min away.
Best time to visit Vilafranca del Penedès
When to Visit Vilafranca
- 14°CJan20 mm
- 16°CFeb54 mm
- 18°CMar45 mm
- 20°CApr44 mm
- 22°CMay77 mm
- 26°CJun96 mm
- 30°CJul25 mm
- 31°CAug39 mm
- 25°CSept66 mm
- 23°COct92 mm
- 18°CNov36 mm
- 15°CDec18 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
July and August are the best months on the climate figures, with highs of 30°C and 31°C, lows around 20°C and only about six rain days each. August is the hottest month, so plan sightseeing for mornings and evenings.
The wettest spells are June, with about 96 mm of rain, and October, with about 92 mm, while May has the most rain days at 13. Winter is dry but cool: December and January bring highs of 14°C to 15°C, lows near 4°C and only three rain days. As an inland town, there is no sea temperature to consider here.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14°C | 4°C | 20 mm | 8 h |
| Feb | 16°C | 5°C | 54 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 18°C | 7°C | 45 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 20°C | 9°C | 44 mm | 11 h |
| May | 22°C | 12°C | 77 mm | 13 h |
| Jun | 26°C | 17°C | 96 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 30°C | 20°C | 25 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 31°C | 20°C | 39 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 25°C | 15°C | 66 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 23°C | 14°C | 92 mm | 9 h |
| Nov | 18°C | 9°C | 36 mm | 8 h |
| Dec | 15°C | 4°C | 18 mm | 8 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and the Drive
Barcelona airport (BCN) is the closest, about 20 miles away and roughly 30 minutes by car, with direct flights from the United Kingdom. Reus (REU) is around 30 miles off, about 45 minutes' drive, and also has direct UK flights. Girona (GRO), another option with direct UK services, is about 67 miles away, roughly an hour and 35 minutes by road.
If you are bringing a car, the drive from Calais takes around 15 and a half hours. Barcelona's ferry port, about 25 miles away, connects to Palma, Alcúdia, Maó, Ciutadella and Ibiza, as well as Civitavecchia, Genoa and Porto Torres in Italy and Tangier Med and Nador in Morocco.
By air
- Barcelona (BCN)20 miles, about 29 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Reus (REU)30 miles, about 44 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Girona (GRO)67 miles, about 1 h 35 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 15 h 26 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Barcelona (25 miles).
Vilafranca del Penedès is good for
Around Vilafranca del Penedès
Easy Day Trips Nearby
Vilanova i la Geltrú, a town of about 66,000, is the closest neighbour at around 9 miles. Sitges is about 10 miles away, with Cunit at 11 miles and Calafell at 12 miles. Coma-ruga, a small place of about 4,000 people, is roughly 14 miles off.
At around 15 miles you can reach Castelldefels, Martorell or Torrelles de Llobregat, all within easy range with car hire.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Visit
Hire a car if you plan to explore Olèrdola: the park, the monumental ensemble and the rock-shelter sites are spread 2 to 3 miles from town. Sun protection is essential in July and August, when highs reach 31°C at an elevation of 229 metres. If you visit in late spring or autumn, pack a waterproof, as May, June and October are the wettest months.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Vilafranca del Penedès?
Barcelona airport (BCN) is the nearest, about 20 miles away and roughly 30 minutes by car. It has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Reus, about 45 minutes away, is a good alternative, also with direct UK flights.
Is Vilafranca del Penedès on the coast?
No, it is an inland town at 229 metres above sea level. Neighbouring towns such as Vilanova i la Geltrú and Sitges are around 9 to 10 miles away, so they make straightforward day trips with car hire.
What is the best month to visit Vilafranca del Penedès?
July and August have the best conditions, with highs of 30°C to 31°C and only around six rain days each. If you prefer cooler weather, December and January are dry but chilly, with highs of 14°C to 15°C.
What is there to see in Vilafranca del Penedès?
The Vinseum, a museum of Catalan wine cultures, is the headline sight, set beside the Basilica of St. Mary and palaces including Palau Baltà, the Palau Reial and Cal Macià. Parc d'Olèrdola and several archaeological sites lie within about 3 miles.
Can you drive to Vilafranca del Penedès from the UK?
Yes. The drive from Calais takes around 15 and a half hours. Once there, a car is useful for reaching Olèrdola's park and archaeological sites, the bird park, and nearby towns such as Sitges and Castelldefels.
Is Vilafranca del Penedès good for families?
Families can visit the Vinseum, the El Jardí dels Ocells bird park about 2 miles away, and the Cova dels Segarulls archaeological site around 2.5 miles out, all within a short drive of the centre.