Beaches – from mid spring to mid autumn, the best way to combat the high temperatures is to go to the beach, and in Barcelona this as easy as taking the metro. Click here for more [...]]]> The strategic location of Barcelona offers a large range of activities and places to visit, here are some of them:

Beaches – from mid spring to mid autumn, the best way to combat the high temperatures is to go to the beach, and in Barcelona this as easy as taking the metro. Click here for more details.

However, if you feel that Barcelona beaches are overcrowded, you can take the train or the car and go all along the Catalonia coast where you will find the marvellous beaches of Tarragona, Mataró and specially over the Costa Brava (Girona).

Pyrenees – highly recommended for winter activities (skiing, snowboarding, trekking, …) and only two and a half hours from Barcelona. At these impressive mountains there are some of the best ski resorts in Europe. Both the Catalan and French side of the pyrenees as well as Andorra are specially prepared for winter activities and receive large amounts of tourists every year, not just during the winter.

Barcelona has over 4km of sandy beaches which are always crowded with people sunbathing and swimming in the sea during summer time.

Although F.C.Barcelona has several professional and amateur sports teams (football, basketball, handball, futsal and roller hockey, rugby, athletics, baseball, …), it is best know for its football team. Founded in 1899 by Joan Gamper, it currently has [...]]]> Futbol Club Barcelona, normally known as Barça, is one of the best teams (if not the best) in Europe.

Although F.C.Barcelona has several professional and amateur sports teams (football, basketball, handball, futsal and roller hockey, rugby, athletics, baseball, …), it is best know for its football team. Founded in 1899 by Joan Gamper, it currently has more than 150.000 members.

Current champion of the Spanish League (la Liga) and the UEFA Champions League.

The Camp Nou is FCBarcelona’s main stadium, with a capacity of 98.000 it is one of the biggest and best stadiums in Europe.

Unfortunately that is not enough to allocate all its members, therefore it is quite difficult for newer members to get season tickets although they have preference over non-members when trying to get tickets.

Ticket price

Price depens on the team playing against and the location of the seats:

Teams are divided into different categories (C, D, A, A+). GENERAL are the cheapest seats as they are the highest seats, although there is a decent view. GOAL seats are located behind the goals. Finally LATERAL and TRIBUNA are side stands (no difference at all between them on terms of view) however TRIBUNA is where the president seats so it si more expensive.

Tickets can be obtained at ticket offices at the Nou Camp, or by calling 902 1899 00, at the ServiCaixa ATMs or on the internet at the F.C.B web page.

FCB Museum

It is one of Barcelona’s main atractions, named after the former president Josep Lluis Nuñez, it is the most visited museum in Catalunya with over 1.160.000 visits last year. The price of the museum is €7, or €11 including the Camp Nou which I strongly recommend.

The FCB Museum including the Camp Nou tour is highly recommended, I would describe it as “must see”.

Click here for a list of sport events in Barcelona.

Tags: F.C. Barcelona, FCB, Futbol Club Barcelona

Barcelona Zoo Founded in 1892, it has more than 7500 animales of 400 different specifies from all around the world. It is situated in the Parc de la Ciutadella. Barcelona zoo is famous for its albino gorilla Floquet [...]]]> Here are some nice places to go specially if you travel with children although adults will also enjoy it.

Barcelona Zoo
Founded in 1892, it has more than 7500 animales of 400 different specifies from all around the world. It is situated in the Parc de la Ciutadella. Barcelona zoo is famous for its albino gorilla Floquet de Neu (Snowflake). He was the first know albino gorilla. Arrived in Barcelona the 1st of November 1966 and died on the 24th of November 2003 as a result of skin cancer.

Other highlights include dolphin and killer whale show.

Hours: 10-17h daily (Jan, Feb, Nov and Dec), 10-18h daily (Mar – May and Oct), 10-19h (Jun-Sep)
Admission: €14.50 adults; €8.75 ages 3-12; €11.30 groups of adults (twenty or more); €7.70 pensioners; €64 anual family memberships.
Directions: Parc de la Ciutadella s/n. Metro Barceloneta (L4 – Yellow) or Arc de Triomf (L1 – Red). Click here for further details

The Aquarium
It has already been visited by 14 million people since opened on the 8th of September 1995. With 35 tanks, 11.000 animals, 450 different specifies and an 80 metre long underwater tunnel it is the largest aquarium in Europe.

The Aquarium is highly recommended, I would describe it as “must see”.

Hours: 9:30 – 21h Monday to Friday (Jan – May and Oct – Dec), 9:30 – 21:30 Weekend, public holidays and daily (Jun and Sep). 9:30 – 23h August.
Admission: €15 adults; €10 children ages 4-12; €12 pensioners. Tickets can also be bought online at the Aquarium webpage.
Directions: Moll d’Espanya del Port Vell, s/n. Metro Barceloneta (L4 – Yellow), Drassanes (L3 – Green). Touristic Bus (blue south route).

Parc Güell
Designed by Antonio Gaudí, it is one of the most beautiful places in Barcelona. It is the perfect place to spend a lovely day as it allows enjoying Gaudi´s architecture, and it offers amazing views of Barcelona.

How to get there: The easiest way is to take the public bus number 24 at the starting point in front of El Corte Inglés at the Plaça Catalunya. Bus 24 will drop you just in front of Parc Güell. Free entrance.

Parc de la Ciutadella
This 75 acre park is one of the most beautiful places in Barcelona. Located in the Barri Gotic, just behind the Arc de Triomf.

Very popular for both tourists and locals, it is the perfect place to spend a sunny day and just walk around enjoying the beauty of the park. For those of you who like taking pictures, just empty your memory card before getting into the park as you will take lots of pictures.

I would recommend having a sandwich there although don’t buy it at the food stands inside the park as they are a little bit pricy so just get it anywhere outside the park.

Inside the park there is also a life-size status of a Mammoth, which will allow you to understand how big these creatures were. Kids will love it.

Main attractions in the park are the zoo (see details above), Zoological and Geological museums and the art museum. The zoological museum is located at the magnificent Castell dels Tres Dragons (Three Dragons Castle) which was designed by Domènech i Montaner.

My favourite part of the park is probably the waterfall and the lake where you can rent rowboats. The plaza in front of the lake is often used for concerts and shows or fairs.

Click here for a list of places to visit in Barcelona.

However, there are some that should never be missed:

The Ramblas is probably Barcelona´s most popular street. It runs from Plaça Catalunya down to the [...]]]> Barcelona has many nice places to visit, starting from the Tibidabo mountain, the old town, City Center, Las Ramblas, the Olimpic port, the beaches, the stadiums, El Borne market, Gracia, Montjuïc, …

However, there are some that should never be missed:

The Ramblas is probably Barcelona´s most popular street. It runs from Plaça Catalunya down to the statue of Columbus. The Ramblas is split into different sections as you walk down, each section has a different name (Rambla de Santa Mònica, Rambla del Centre, Rambla de les Flors, Rambla de Canaletes and Rambla de les Flors).
It is famous for its flowers and is always crowded and there you can find people of all types. Along Las Ramblas you will find human statues that will only move when you give them some coins, street entertainers, street artists doing drawings and caricatures (some of them are really good).

Tip: I would recommended just to stop in any of the cafés and bars to have a quick coffee and just watch the people walking up and down the Ramblas.

There are also several interesting buildings, such as the Mercat de la Boqueria and El Liceu theatre.Las Ramblas is the perfect place to go for a walk as it has plenty of things to do. It is always packed with people. However, be aware of pickpockets in Barcelona, specially in city centre so do not keep your wallet in your back pocket, zip up your bags and hold them close to you when it is crowded so be extra careful.

Montjuïc

Montjuïc hill is located just beside the port so visitors have an impressive views of the city.

It is also possible to visit the sport facilities used during the 1992 Olympic Games. The most important ones are the Olympic Stadium and the Palau Sant Jordi.

The Olympic Stadium, where the opening ceremony of the 1992 Olympic Games took place. It was rebuilt in 1929 and rebuilt for the 1992 Olympic Games. It can stage sport competitions, musical performances and other events. It is currently home ground of RCD Espanyol)

The impressive Palau Sant Jordi, it was designed by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. It can stage a large number of sports such as basketball, tennis, motorbike (both cross and trial), ice skating, swimming, … .It can also stage concerts and celebrations.

Also in Montjuïc, it is possible to visit the Botanical Garden, the Magic Fountain, Joan Miró Foundation, el Pueblo Español (an authentic traditional Spanish village) and the enclosure of exhibitions of Barcelona (Fira de Barcelona).

Modernisme in Barcelona

Barcelona is probably the world capital of the Modernisme (Art Nouveau). Antoni Gaudí is its greatest figure, his works are famous all over the world and attract millions of visitors every year. The majority of his work is located in Catalonia, and more exactly in Barcelona. Gaudí died in 1926 run over by a tramway.

The Sagrada Familia is the most famous work of Antoni Gaudí. It was started in 1881 and it is still under construction.
Located on Mallorca street. The nearest metro station is Sagrada Familia (L5 and L2). It is open from 9 am to 8 pm all days (April – Sept.) and from 9 am to 6 pm (Oct – March). Ticket is 8 € and to take the lift until 65 meters up, on the Passion Facade is 2 €. For more information call on 93 207 30 31.



La Pedrera (Milà house) – located on Paseo de Gracia 92 / Provenza Street, 261. The nearest metro station is Paseo de Gracia (L4 – yellow line). It is open from Mondays to Sundays from 10 am to 8pm and the ticket is 7€. Guided visits in English at 4pm from Mondays to Fridays. For more information call on 93 484 59 00.

Casa Batlló – located on Paseo de Gracia 43, the nearest metro station is the same as for La Pedrera (Paseo de Gracia, L4) as they are both very handy to visit and right by the city center. For more information call on 93 216 03 06.

The Parc Güell was designed by Antoni Gaudí as per request of the count of Güell who dreamed about aristocratic city-garden with single-family residences. Built from 1900 to 1914. The project did not succeed and the park became property of the Barcelona city council who transformed it in a public park in 1923. Free entrance.
How to get there: The easiest way is to take the public bus number 24 at the starting point in front of El Corte Inglés at the Plaça Catalunya. Bus 24 will drop you just in front of Parc Güell.

The Nou Camp is the home ground of F.C. Barcelona. Inaugurated on the 24th of September 1957 and extended several times, has a capacity of 98.787 which makes it the largest football stadiums in Europe.

It is also recommended visiting the museum which also includes includes a tour of the stadium itself. It is the most visited museum in Catalonia received more than 1.160.100 every year.

Nou Camp is located at Avenida Arístides Maillol (nearest metro nearest metro stations are Maria Cristina L3 or Collblanc L5).

Opening hours:
Mon to Sat from 10:00 to 18:30 – Tour Camp Nou until 17:30.
Sundays and Bank holidays: 10:00 to 14:00 – Tour Camp Nou until 13:30.

Museum entrance is €7. Museum and Nou Camp tour is €11.

Barcelona [...]]]> The easiest way to know Barcelona is to take the Bus Touristic as it allows to get on and off as many times as you wish for a reasonable price: €18 for a 1 day adult ticket (€22 for 2 days) and €11 for a 1 day under 12 child (€14 for 2 days).

Barcelona Touristic Bus

The ‘Bus Touristic’ has 44 stops along its 3 routes (North, South and Forum) although North and South are the most interesting ones so I wouldn´t bother using the Forum one.

Once we are more familiar with the city taking the metro and the buses are a much better option as they allow going everywhere. Buses are slower than metro however they allow sightseeing so they are hugely recommended. Every bus stop contains the schedule of all the buses that go through this stop.

Click here for all transport options in Barcelona.

Another interesting option, although this is more touristic, is taking the Montjuïc cablecar which offers incredible views of the city. Expect an hour queue before getting in. However, it is highly recommended.

The Tramvia Blau (tram) climbs to the mountain of Tibidabo. It is highly recommended as it offers impressive views of the city. The fare is €3,30 and has to be paid to the driver.

The most original and healthy option is cycling, although it is not recommended during rush hours. Barcelona does not have a deep bycicle culture as many other european cities and not many streets have a line for bycicles, so just be extra careful when cycling. However it is a very pleasant experience specially when the weather is nice which luckyly is most of the times .