Barcelona Tourist Information & Barcelona Guide

Barcelona General information Barcelona Language Barcelona Weather
Barcelona Beaches Barcelona Restaurants Barcelona Shopping
Barcelona Official Tourist Information Offices Barcelona Post Offices
Barcelona Bars and Nightlife

Barcelona Transport
Barcelona El Prat airport Metro underground Railway Stations

Barcelona Buses Hop on - Hop off Barcelona Tourist Bus Barcelona Taxis
Barcelona tours & Activities

Barcelona Attractions
Barcelona Cathedral Barcelona Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotti) Casa Batilo - House by Gaudi
Casa Calvet - House by Gaudi El Palau Guell - Palace & Park by Gaudi Temple La Sagrada Familia Gaudi's Masterpiece La Rambla - Famous Street Christopher Columbus Monument IMAX Cinema Barcelona Picasso Museum Fundacio Miro Maritime museum Barcelona Beaches Barcelona Restaurants Barcelona Shopping Barcelona Official Tourist Information Offices Barcelona Post Offices

Barcelona General information

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, located on the Costa Brava in North East Spain. It's Spain's second largest City with 4.5 million inhabitants. Madrid the capital of Spain is the largest city - 6 million inhabitants.

The city of Barcelona has the benefit of a large metropolitan City, a busy sea port and a beach resort combined together.

The city is blessed with an efficient bus services and Metro (Underground) system with stations scattered throughout the city.

Barcelona has 4 km of sandy beaches, making it a beach resort, a busy harbour and is also a popular City break. It's mix of history, cosmopolitan atmosphere , large beaches and culture draws tourists from all over the world. Because of Barcelona's size the location of your hotel will be important, and will vary depending on the reason for your visit.

Barcelona Language - Catalan

The main and official language for Spain is Castilian known around the World as Spanish, but Catalan is more widely spoken and is an official language for the Barcelona and also the Balearic Islands and along the coastCosta Brava, Costa Dorado and as far south as Valencia

The use of more than 1 language can result in place names and street names having different spellings on maps and street signs.

English is widely spoken in the main tourist resorts in tourist hotels, bars and shops.

The favoured language of the area of Barcelona, and the Balearic Islands is Catalan rather than the national language of Spanish.

Tip

Spanish pronunciations are different from English pronunciations. When using public transport write down your destination and show when purchasing tickets.

Barcelona Attractions

Barcelona Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotti)

The Barri Gotti, the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona is where the medieval walled town of Barcelona is situated. Unfortunately most of the old town walls have disappeared as the city expanded. The Barri Gotti is a maze of narrow twisting streets. The entire area is a tourist attraction with it's shops, cafes, bars and hotels. Being the old part of the city it contains the following major attractions: Placa del Reial , Palau Major

More information Barri Gotic

Barcelona Cathedral

Casa Batilo - House by Gaudi

Casa Calvet - House by Antonio Gaudi

El Palau Guell - Palace & Park by Antonio Gaudi

The Palace is under restoration & will be closed between closed from June 2010 until April 2011

Built for a very rich industial magnate the Palace was deigned by the renowned Antonio Gaudi & built in 1888

Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3-5, 08001 Barcelona, Spain

Metro Liceu: Line 3

Bus: 14, 59, 91, 120

Park Guell by Antonio Gaudi

Temple La Sagrada Familia Antonio Gaudi Masterpiece

The most eye catching building on the Barcelona skyline, this unfinished cathedral masterpiece designed by Gaudi is a must on your sightseeing list.

More information and photographs La Sagrada Familia

La Rambla - Famous Street

La Rambla is Barcelona's best known Streets and well worth a stroll along its length. Full of market style stalls many selling flowers, its street performers and living statues. One of Gaudi's famous buildings, El Palau Guell , is located towards the lower end.

Christopher Columbus Monument (Monument a Colom)

The Christopher Columbus Monument is a statue of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the West Indies and America. The statue surmounts a tall column with a height of 60 Metres.

Located in the center of the roundabout at the bottom end of La Rambla on the sea front

The discoverer of America is pointing to the East away from his discovery America located to the west. When he set out to the west he was looking for a westerly route to the spice islands in the East and thought he had found them.

IMAX Barcelona

IMAX Barcelona is a 416 steeply banked seat cinema with an extremly large screen showing a various of films in one of the following formats:

IMAX Technology uses a 21 metre high x nearly 29 metre wide screen, thats a 7 story building high
3 D Technology uses the same screen as IMAX and patrons wear polorized glasses. The size of the screen really does make this a most memorable experience
Omnimax Technology uses an even bigger 900 square metre wrap around screen that almost turns the screen into a dome

Sound in the theatre is spectacular and uses wrap around & didgital technology

Located in Port Vell

Address: Moll d'Espanya, s/n

Metro Liceu: Line 3 & Line 4

Bus: 14, 17, 19, 36, 45, 57, 59, 64, 157 & Tourist Bus

Website

Picasso Museum (Museu Picasso)

The Picasso Museum is across Via Laietana, down Carrer de la Princesa, and right on Carrer Montcada - a street known for Barcelona's most elegant medieval palaces. Displays include childhood sketches, pictures from the beautiful Rose and Blue periods.

Picasso Museum. Montcada, 13/15 08002, Barcelona Tel 93 256 30 00

Fundacio Miro

The Miro Foundation was a gift from the artist Joan Miro to his native city and is one of Barcelona's most exciting showcases of contemporary art. The airy, white building was designed by Joseph Lluís Sert and opened in 1975.

Maritime museum

Dressanbes ave s / n, 08001, Barcelona

History Museum of Barcelona (MUHBA)

Plaça del Rei, s / n 08002, Barcelona

Frederic Mares Museum (MFM)

Plaça de Sant Iu, 5-6 08002, Barcelona

Shoe Museum

Placa Sant Felip Neri, 5 08002, Barcelona

Town Hall

Plaça Sant Jaume, s / n
08002, Barcelona

Old Jewish quarter

C / del Call, 1
08002, Barcelona

Archdeacon's House

Santa Llúcia, 1
08002, Barcelona
Tf Tel. 93 318 11 95

College of Architecture

Plaça Nova, 5
08002, Barcelona
Tel 93 306 78 10

Sculpture of Barcino

Plaça Nova, 1 (Davant Cathedral)
08002, Barcelona

Source Portaferrissa

Cucurulla, 4
08002, Barcelona

Catalunya Generalitat Palace

Plaça Sant Jaume,
08002, Barcelona

Roman Temple of Augustus

C / Paradis, 10
08002, Barcelona

Sepulchral Via Plaza Villa de Madrid

Plaza Villa de Madrid
08002, Barcelona

Barcelona Churches

Santa Lucia Chapel

C / Santa Lucia, 1 08002, Barcelona

Iglesia Mayor de Santa Anna

Plaça Ramon Amadeu 08002, Barcelona

San Felip Neri Parish

Plaça Sant Felip Neri 08002, Barcelona

Santa Maria del Pi

Casañas Cardinal, 16 08002, Barcelona

St. James Parish

Ferran, 28 08002, Barcelona

Barcelona Beaches

Barceloneta Beach

Is the nearest to the city centre and consequently is usually the busiest.

Metro stop 'Barceloneta' Yellow Line, L4 Approximately 10 minute stroll or take the slightly longer walk from the Columbus monument (La Rambla and enjoy the sites, about 20 minutes

Barcelona Restaurants

Barcelona has a fast array of very good restaurants.

For a snack have a tapas in one of the many Tapas Bar. If you are new to taps then check that the bar has a counter display of the tapas selection then it is easy to choose one or two that you fancy. Tapas are usually served with bread.

Barcelona Shopping

Barcelona is a shoppers dream with all the latest fashions in clothing , headwear & footwear for Ladies, men and children.

Main Shopping Streets & Areas

Passeig de Gràcia i Rambla de Catalunya
Gran de Gràcia
Poblenou
El Cor d'Horta
Sants - Creu Coberta
Sarrià
Sant Gervasi
Raval
Barna Centre. A group of shops grouped together to promote there area which they named the Barna Centre and it is located in the Gothic Quarter
Nou Barris *
GraciNova
Cor Eixample
Maragall
Sant Andreu
La Rambla - Sant Antoni Centre Comercial - BCN de Palau a Palau
Sant Martí
Sants - Les Corts

Barcelona Official Tourist Information Offices

Main Tourist Office

Address: 17 Placa de Catalunya

Open: 09:00 to 21:00

Closed: Christmas Day and New Year Day

The office is located underground under Catalunya Square near the fountains. Look for the Large pillars with ' i ' on them.

Metro Catalunya: Green Line, L3 and Red Line, L1

Airport

Tourist information is located in arrivals at Terminals A and B

Catalonia Tourist Office

Pg de Gràcia, 105, 08008 Barcelona

Barcelona Post Offices (Correos)

Main Post Office

The main Central Post Office (Correos)

Plaça del Antonio López, 1

Metro: Jaume I or Barceloneta

Open: Monday to Friday 8.30am-9.30pm. Saturday 8.30am-2.30pm.

Sub Post Offices

There are almost forty sub post offices located throughout the City

Barcelona Transport

Barcelona has excellent public transport systems. Car hire and driving are not recommended because of heavy traffic and poor parking facilities.

The easiest way of getting around the city of Barcelona, and unfortunately the least scenic is the

Barcelona El Prat airport

Very frequent train service and bus service between Airport & Barcelona City

Full details of the Barcelona El Prat Airport & transport

Click to book Airport Transfers Barcelona Airport - Barcelona Hotels & Apartments

Metro underground or subway system

The underground lines 1, 2, 3 etc are colour coded and depicted

Metro tickets are the same price as bus tickets and the multi journey tickets can be used on either

Barcelona Multi Journey tickets available

10 journey T ticket approx €6 for 1 zone
2 day approx €8-€9
3 day approx €12
4 and 5 day tickets are also available

Railway Stations

The main railway stations - followed by the Metro underground station name are:

Sants - Metro: Sants Estació - Barcelonas Main Station - Trains to the Airport & to the South
Arc de Triomf - Metro: Arc de Triom
El Clot-Arago - Metro: Clot
Estacio de França - Metro: Barceloneta - Trains to France & the Continent
Passeig de Gràcia - Metro: Passeig de Gràcia
Plaça de Catalunya - Metro: Catalunya
Sant Andreu Arenal - Metro: Fabra i Puig
Sant Andreu Comtal - Metro: Sant Andreu
Torre del Baro - Metro: Torre Baró-Vallbona

Barcelona Buses

This method of travel allows you to see where you are going, but is subject to traffic holdups. Luckily there are exclusive bus / taxi lanes to help speed your journey.

Route maps are displayed at bus stops and buses run from around 5:30 am to 11:30 pm.
Multi journey tickets are much cheaper than buying single fares.

Hop on - Hop off Barcelona Tourist Bus (Bus Touristic)

Routes

There are 2 Bus Touristic routes. Your ticket allows you to use buses on either route changing routes if required at the 3 central common stops

This bus runs roughly every 25 minutes around the tourist sightseeing attractions, the complete journey takes approximately 2 hours per route. A one day ticket that can be purchased on the bus costs around €15.00, a two days' ticket is only a few euros more.

You can get off the bus to walk around the attraction and catch a later one to continue your journey.

Ruta Norte-Roja. The Red route North

Ruta Sur-Azur. The Blue route South

Barcelona Taxis

Taxis are plentiful, can use the exclusive bus / taxi lanes, thus helping them through traffic congestion

Taxi Costs

Costs are reasonable, and are metered. Make sure the meter is on. Current fares are posted inside the cabs.

Extra charges and minimum fares:

Day minimum fare around €1.20, night €1.35 (2004 prices)
Airport supplement €2.10, with a minimum fare of €11.15
Port supplement €1.85
Oversized luggage supplement €0.85

Barcelona tours & Activities

A wide variety of Barcelona Tours & Activities in or from Barcelona are available

Sample Tours

Barcelona Half Day or Full Day City Sightseeing - Visit the Sagrada Familia and many more Barcelona top Attractions
Barcelona Hop-On Hop-Off Pass - One or two day pass for the hop on hop off the open topped tourist bus

Current Weather in Barcelona

Barcelona Bars and Nightlife

Barcelona is a large city with an amazing array of nightlife to suit all tastes

Barcelona Flamenco Show

Seeing a Flamenco Show is a must when in Spain, click the banner below for details of the Barcelona Flamenco Show at the Tablao de Carmen Located in Avda. Marqués de Comillas s/n. Poble Espanyol de Montjuïc

The location is in the Andalusian quarter (Barrio Andaluz), up the mountain is in the specially built village of Poble Espanyol, which has building styles from all of the different areas of Spain known as "autonomous communities". I recommend that you arrive early so you can wander around the village. The price of the show usually includes entrance to the village.

The closest Metro and Bus stop is Espanya
By bus nº 50 & 13 - stop at "Plaça Espanya"
By Metro line 1 & 3 - stop at "Espanya".

The walk is not too far but it is up a steep hill, or get a Taxi

Barcelona guides and Barcelona Maps

"Time Out" Guide to Barcelona

Providing the visitor with in-depth, authoritative coverage of the Catalan capital, this guide contains information on where to stay and eat and includes details on restaurants, bars, museums, art galleries and nightlife. It is researched and written by Barcelona residents themselves.

The Rough Guide to Barcelona

The Rough Guide to Barcelona Map

Packed with information, this double-sided map is printed on waterproof paper. The colours used for mapping have been chosen after research into what works best in different light conditions, so the map should be as easy to read under street lamps as it is in daylight. The main area of the city is covered, with an enlarged downtown city centre street map on the reverse. A comprehensive street index and clearly marked one-way streets and pedestrianized areas should make this map ideal for use on foot, driving, or using public transport.

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