What can you do on a rural holiday? Hiking, cycling, farm visits, mushroom foraging, medieval villages, lakes, hot springs… Here are 12 outdoor rural tourism activities explained with real examples, plus what to do in the countryside in each season.
We are Carmen and Dani, and for more than 26 years we have been welcoming groups to Can Micos, an 18th-century farmhouse in Riudarenes, between the Montseny mountains and the Costa Brava. Everything here is less than an hour from the house, and much of it less than twenty minutes.
| Types of rural tourism | Agritourism, active tourism, nature, cultural, food and wellness |
| Most popular | Hiking, cycling, farm visits and charming villages |
| Best time | Spring and autumn; in summer, mornings and evenings |
| Free | Hiking, Estany de Sils, villages, coastal paths |
| From Can Micos | All under 1 h; much of it under 20 min |
| Ideal for | Groups of friends, families and companies |
Types of rural tourism and what you do in each
Rural tourism is more than sleeping in a country house. These are the most common types, with an example of each near Can Micos:
| Type | What it involves | Example near Can Micos |
|---|---|---|
| Agritourism | Getting to know farm life: animals, vegetable gardens, local produce | Mas Bes dairy farm, 15 min away |
| Active tourism | Sport and adventure in nature | Mountain biking in La Selva, zip lines in Arbúcies |
| Nature tourism | Walking, wildlife and landscapes | Montseny, Guilleries and Estany de Sils |
| Cultural tourism | Villages, castles, hermitages and festivals | Hostalric, Farners castle, Peratallada |
| Food tourism | Local cooking, markets and seasonal produce | Calçotadas (grilled spring onions), mushrooms and ratafia |
| Wellness | Rest, hot springs and switching off | Caldes de Malavella, a few minutes away |
12 outdoor rural tourism activities
The rural activities groups staying with us enjoy most, where to do them and our guide for each one.
Hiking
- Montseny 30 min
- Free
The classic rural activity. Paths through woods and fields start at the house; for longer routes, Montseny and the Guilleries. Routes in our Girona hiking guide.
Cycling
- From the house
- MTB and road
Dirt tracks between fields and the Carrilet greenway, flat and car-free. We are a bike-friendly house: rural house for cyclists.
Birdwatching
- 5 min
- Free
Estany de Sils is a wetland with bird hides and boardwalks, perfect for binoculars.
Visiting a farm
- 15 min
- Booking needed
At Mas Bes farm you meet the cows, try milking and have milk and cake. More ideas like this in things to do with kids in Girona.
Mushroom foraging
- Autumn
- Gavarres and Montseny
In autumn the woods of La Selva fill with foragers. We can point you to the general areas; always follow the local picking rules. More in our autumn guide.
Calçotada
- January to April
- Food
Eating calçots (grilled spring onions) with romesco sauce outdoors is a Catalan classic, and the covered barbecue area at the house is made for it.
Villages and castles
- 15-60 min
- Free
Hostalric and its walls, Farners castle in Santa Coloma, and further afield Peratallada or Pals. Ideas in what to see in La Selva.
Swimming in a lake
- 35-40 min
- Summer
Lake Banyoles: walks around the shore, rowing boats and a swim at Els Banys Vells. Full guide: things to do in Banyoles.
Coastal paths
- 30 min
- Free
The Costa Brava’s camins de ronda run above the sea from cove to cove, even better out of season. See the Costa Brava from Can Micos.
Hot springs
- A few minutes
- Wellness
Caldes de Malavella has been a spa town since Roman times. Perfect after a day on the trail: spas near Can Micos.
Adventure parks
- 30 min
- Paid
Zip lines and rope bridges in the trees at La Selva de l’Aventura (Arbúcies).
Outdoor games at the house
- On the estate
- Free
A 4,000 m² garden with pétanque, a badminton and volleyball net, table tennis and a covered barbecue. Ideas in things to do at a rural house with friends.
What to do in the countryside by season
What to do in the countryside changes a lot through the year. A quick planning guide:
| Season | What to do in the countryside | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Hiking, cycling, fields in bloom, calçotadas until April | Busy weekends in Montseny |
| Summer | Lake Banyoles, Costa Brava, early-morning walks | Midday heat; a crowded coast in August |
| Autumn | Mushrooms, chestnuts in Montseny, autumn colours, fairs | Mushroom picking rules |
| Winter | Sunny walks, medieval villages, fireplace at the house | Short days: set off early |
Rural activities for groups
For a group of 16 to 25 people, a whole house as a base is easiest: plan one outing a day and come back in the afternoon to the garden, the pool in season or the fireplace. If not everyone wants the same thing, split up in the morning and get together for dinner. And if you would rather not cook, we have a catering option. For groups of friends, see things to do at a rural house with friends; for culture, cultural activities in La Selva.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Estany de Sils, Pere López Brosa (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Hostalric, Alberto-g-rovi (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Coastal path, Wamito (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Lake Banyoles, Enfo (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Parc de Sant Salvador, Josep Maria Viñolas Esteva (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Can Micos: your base for a rural holiday in Girona
Can Micos is an 18th-century Catalan farmhouse in Riudarenes (Girona) rented in full to groups of 16 to 25 people, between the Montseny and the Costa Brava.
4.8 out of 5 on Google, with more than 220 reviews from groups who have stayed.
Frequently asked questions
What activities can you do on a rural holiday?
The most common are hiking, cycling, farm visits, birdwatching, mushroom foraging in autumn, exploring villages and castles, swimming in lakes or rivers and trying local food. There is also active tourism, like zip lines, and wellness, like hot springs.
What is agritourism?
Rural tourism focused on farm life: visiting farms, seeing animals, discovering vegetable gardens and local produce. Near Can Micos, Mas Bes farm lets you meet dairy cows and try milking.
What can you do in the countryside at the weekend?
A classic plan: on Saturday, a walk or bike ride in the morning and lunch at the barbecue; on Sunday, a medieval village or a lake. From Can Micos, Estany de Sils is 5 minutes away and Hostalric 20.
What rural activities are there in Girona?
Montseny and the Guilleries for hiking, Estany de Sils and Lake Banyoles, villages like Hostalric and Peratallada, the Costa Brava coastal paths, mushrooms in autumn and the spa town of Caldes de Malavella.
When is the best time for a rural holiday?
Spring and autumn, for the temperature and the scenery. In summer, head out early; in winter, sunny days are perfect for walking and coming back to the fireplace.
Can you do activities without driving from Can Micos?
Yes. Paths through fields and woods start at the house, for example up to the Argimon hermitage, and on the estate there is pétanque, badminton, table tennis and a pool in season.
Shall we send you a quote?
Tell us your dates and how many you are and we will reply in about 30 minutes with the exact price.
Ask for a quote Message us on WhatsApp