National parks near Pau, Catalonia
Pau sits inside the Figueres area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Figueres for the full write-up.
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is the closest national park to Pau, Catalonia — 178 km (111 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 3 hr 4 min behind the wheel.
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici, Ordesa y Monte Perdido, and Cabrera Archipelago are better with a night booked nearby.
Pau has a population of about 446.
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici
Ordesa y Monte Perdido
Cabrera Archipelago
Asinara
Gran Paradiso
Archipelago of La Maddalena
National parks near Pau
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park | 178 km (111 mi) | 3 hr 4 min | Best as a weekend |
| Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park | 254 km (158 mi) | 4 hr 11 min | Best as a weekend |
| Cabrera Archipelago National Park | 352 km (219 mi) | 5 hr 38 min | Best as a weekend |
| Asinara National Park | 450 km (279 mi) | 7 hr 4 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Gran Paradiso National Park | 487 km (303 mi) | 7 hr 37 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Archipelago of La Maddalena National Park | 536 km (333 mi) | 8 hr 20 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cinque Terre National Park | 571 km (355 mi) | 8 hr 51 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Golfo di Orosei and Gennargentu National Park | 580 km (361 mi) | 8 hr 59 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Tuscan Archipelago National Park | 586 km (364 mi) | 9 hr 4 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Val Grande National Park | 594 km (369 mi) | 9 hr 11 min | Worth a longer road trip |
When to make this trip
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is generally best May, June, September, and early October, with April and late October as the quieter shoulder either side.
Winter is cool and wet at low elevation and snowy in the mountains, with reduced hut and refuge service.
July and August combine peak heat with peak domestic holidays. Shoulder months are both cooler and quieter.
Month-by-month detail for Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Pau are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici → Ordesa y Monte Perdido | 75.8 km (47.1 mi) | 1 hr 33 min |
Planning a trip from Pau
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Read the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park guide
Other towns in Província de Girona
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Pau?
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. It is about 178 km (111 mi) from Pau, roughly 3 hr 4 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Pau?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Pau?
10 parks are within reach of Pau, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Pau?
For Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, the closest one, generally May, June, September, and early October. Either side of that, April and late October stays quieter.