33404SPA
*** Pickpockets and bag snatchings are sadly very common these days in Barce-lona. Please warn your group that they should be particularly careful with their belongings EVERYWHERE (even in hotels – lobbies and at breakfast)***
TRANSPORT
Metro: Single ticket price: €2.55
T-familiar: €10,70 (can be shared by multiple users)
Hola BCN 2-day unlimited travel on bus, metro and tram: €17,50
Lines identified by number and colour. Direction indicated by end station.
Open Mon-Thurs 05.00-00.00, Fri-Sat 05.00-02.00, Sun 05.00-00.00
The Teleferico of Montjuic (the train, NOT the cable car) is also included in the metro network.
Buses: Reach areas metro doesn’t (for example, Parc Guell – bus 24 from Plaza Ca-taluyna). Same price as metro.
Taxis: €8 – €10more or less in the center- hard to get on Las Ramblas – go to either end and you will find taxi ranks.
CHURCH SERVICES
Gothic Cathedral. 10.30, 12.00, 18.00
For mass times around Barcelona (particularly around Semana Santa or other holi-days!) www.misas.org
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Tourist Info – Plaza de Catalunya (underground on the corner in front of El Corte In-ges & Puerta de Angel) & Plaza Sant Jaume – just at the start of Carrer Ciutat.
There are also offices at Sants railway station and the airport. Online information: www.barcelonaturisme.com (tourist itineraries, list of museums, agenda of events etc.) www.disfrutabarcelona.com (opening hours and prices
for major attractions)
Useful Publication: Guia de Ocio & Time Out
Money Exchange: There are a few exchange places along Las Ramblas but check the rates as they can be misleading in the window. Rates will always be better with-drawing direct from ATM from their home accounts
MAJOR SIGHTS
Sagrada Familia Basilica
Begun in 1882 by Gaudi, probably his most famous work, most itineraries will include this on the sightseeing.
Casa Batillo and La Pedrera
Both entrances are very expensive but excellent visits.
Gaudi Houses on the Paseo de Gracia – La Pedrera (also known as Casa Mila) has a great exhibition in the attic with films of what Barcelona looked like at the time of its construction and how Gaudi designed his buildings – in particular La Sagrada Famil-ia) Nice views from the Terrace. Groups enjoy this visit
Casa Batllo – also possible to visit inside and has recently opened the attic space – This house is owned by the Chupa Chups company
Ciutat Vella
Gothic Quarter
Ancient Synagogue of Barcelona – (Old Jewish Quarter). Carrer Marlet, 5. VERY SMALL not for groups!!!/FREE TIME ONLY. It has been described as one of the oldest synagogues in Europe. After many centuries of use for other purposes, the building re-opened as a synagogue and museum in 2002. No congregation prays regularly at the Sinagoga Major, but it is used for festive occasions. English explana-tions. Entry: 2,50 EUR
El Born
Trendy area. Lots of trendy boutiques and tapas places too and outdoor cafes. Area also houses the Church Santa Maria del Mar – the subject of the book: The Cathedral of the Sea by Idefonoso Falcones (a Netflix series based on the book came out in late 2018).
Many of the buildings date from late Medieval times. It was a well-to-do quarter dur-ing 13th–15th centuries, when it really was by the seashore, and the area that today is named Barceloneta was still an island. Notable buildings are the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar and the palaces along Carrer de Montcada, including the Museu Picas-so, the Museu Barbier-Mueller d’Art Precolombí, Museum of World Cultures.
Palau de la Música Catalana – (B.1905>1908) beautiful modernist building built by Lluis Domenech i Muntaner – tours in English all day long – grp should get tickets early to avoid disappointment – tour last 55 minutes. Great café (excellent place to take group leaders for arrival briefing if you are staying at Montblanc) and places to eat nearby: Via Laietana / Carrer Comtal / Pza Urquinaona.
The Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar – (B.1329 >1383) architecturally stunning Pure Catalan Gothic basilica at the end of Carrer Argenteria. Great for photos. Classi-cal music concerts in the evening.
Opening times: Monday – Sunday: de 9 AM -8.30 PM
EL Born CC – re-purposed building of the Born Market (built in 1876), opened in 2013 as EL Born CC (El Born Centre Cultural).
It recalls a hard period of the history of Barcelona: The War of the Spanish Succes-sion from 1701 to 1714.
FREE ENTRY for archaeological remains only. There are additional exhibitions for which you have to pay. More information: http://elbornculturaimemoria.barcelona.cat/
There are free restrooms inside the building – mention it to the group when you give them free time around Born.
Columbus Monument
Panoramic views of the city and the port from the top of the monument – which is 60 meters tall! Take the lift inside the column to the viewing gallery at the top.
Open 8:30AM to 2:30PM. Entry fee: €9,00 adults and €5.40 – children (4-12 years old, younger children for free)/senior citizens.
Olympic village and beach area
Completed for 1992 Olympic Games. Reached by 59 bus and Metro yellow line to Villa Olympica. Has a Marina with restaurants and cafes – the beaches to the left of the Olimpic Marina – Platja Nova Icaria and beyond – tend to be cleaner and less crowded.
Ramblas
Street leading from the Plaza Catalunya to the Port. Bird and flower stalls, outdoor cafés and lots of atmosphere. BEWARE PICKPOCKETS and overpriced / bad tourist food!
La Boqueria – Barcelona’s world-famous food market – great place for groups to look around and do food challenges. Please note that on the weekends La Boquería cannot be visited by groups larger than 9 people – split the group up before coming in.
Plaza Reial –The Three Graces fountain in the middle and the 2 famous Gaudi’s Lamp posts. Walking up Las Ramblas from the sea front, Placa Reial can be found through an alleyway on your right-hand side, about one third of the way up Las Ramblas.
Pueblo Espanyol
A ‘village’ built to represent towns from all over Spain. It was created for the 1929 International exhibition. Nowadays houses artisans who sell their wares. Restaurant choices too, VERY touristy. Adults 13,50€/ children 10.50€. https://poble-espanyol.com/
MUSEUMS
Most museums close on Mondays and Sunday afternoons, but are free the first Sunday of every month and are opened only until 3 PM only.
Picasso Museum, Calle Montcada 15
This museum concentrates on Picasso’s early work and also contains versions of “Las Meninas”. THEY ARE VERY STRICT WITH GROUPS. GROUP RESERVATION MUST BE DONE IN ADVANCE!! Group rates available.
Museum of the History of the City (MUHBA), Plaza del Rei (Barri Gòtic) – on three floors in the Palau Clarina Padellàs. The Palau Padellàs, a Gothic palace, moved in 1931 stone by stone from Carrer de Mercaders to the Plaça del Rei, because of construction of a road. At the palace’s new location, excavations unveiled remains of Barcino, as Barcelona was called in Roman times. Ticket price includes 7 clearly
marked venues to visit ( the biggest and most impressive is the one mentioned above.)
Miró Foundation, Montjuic hill – late night openings in the summer.
Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art- MACBA, Plaça dels Àngels. Mod-ern/contemporary art museum with both an impressive permanent collection and a range of temporary exhibitions. Built in 1991-95) is the work of North American artist Richard Meier.
CosmoCaixa Barcelona, Carrer d’Isaac Newton, 26 – very popular interactive sci-ence museum, featuring a mini rainforest and a planetarium.
Museu Blau, Carrer de Leonardo Da Vinci, 4 – new natural history museum, with outdoor space.
Antonio Tapies Foundation, Calle Arago – cultural centre and museum dedicated to the life and work of the famous Art Informel Catalan painter.
Caixa Forum, Av. Marquès de Comillas, 6-8 – housed in an old textile factory, this art and cultural centre has a wonderful array of art exhibitions and workshops, con-certs, children’s cinema and family shows.
Archaeological Museum of Barcelona, Pg. de Santa Madrona, at the foot of Montjuic – museum showing the ancient history of Catalunya with artifacts from pre-historic to medieval times.
Catalan Art Museum (MNAC) – Situated on Montjuïc hill at the end of Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, near Pl. Espanya, the museum has a collection covering periods from Romanesque to mid-XX century. Housed in the Palau Nacional, a huge, Italian-style building dating to 1929.
Museo Banksy – Carrer Trafalgar. Immersive Bansky experience!
PARKS AND GARDENS
Parc Guell (B. 1900-1914)
Most groups now have this included on the sightseeing, if it isn’t bookings need to be made in advance online www.parcguellonline.cat Individual entrance 10€ group entrances are available on this webpage for discounted rates.
Ciutadella Park. Free. Fountain, music stand and small pond. Good for picnics. Also houses the city zoo and the Parliament of Catalunya.
Montjuic Park
Houses Joan Miro Museum as well the fortified castle that was a safe haven for many of those escaping the Nationalists during the Civil War.
Tibidabo, Amusement Park
Old-fashioned fun fair with great views.
MARKETS
La Boqueria – see above
Santa Caterina – just across Via Laietana from the Cathedral – halfway between Gothic Quarter and Picasso Museum. It is the latest food market built in Barcelona, with a mosaic roof that looks like a giant quilted blanket.
Totally renovated in 2005 by the architects Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue of EMBT. Great place to buy picnic ingredients.
Opening times: MON-WED-SAT: 7 AM-3:30 PM //TUE-TH-FR: 7 AM- 20:30 PM
Mercat de la Barceloneta – great market for food if you’re near the Barceloneta waterfront.
Flea Market, MERCAT DELS ENCANTS. Plaza de les Glories. Metro: Glòries (Line 1). Open 8am-5pm Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat.
CHURROS & CHOCOLATE
Chocolatería VALOR -For churros con chocolate, right next to the Cathedral paral-lel to Via Laietana. Carrer Tapinería, 10.
Churrería Manuel San Román – Typical traditional churrería. Take-away churros ONLY. Carrer dels Banys Nous, 8. Opening times: 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Granja La Pallaressa – Traditional place for churros con chocolate. Carrer de Petri-txol, 11. Opening times: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm //4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Granja Dulcinea – Traditional place for churros con chocolate. Carrer de Petritxol,2. Opening times: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm // 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
SHOPPING
Las Ramblas for cheap souvenirs
The Gothic Quarter for nice souvenir items, clothes and designer items.
Corte Inglés Department Stores
Portal del Angel – runs from Cathedral up to Plaza Catalunya and the side streets – where locals shop. Carrer Portaferrissa
Passeig de Gràcia
Maremagnum
Carrer Ferran – good for souvenirs and swords from Toledo
EVENING ACTIVITIES
Take group for a stroll up the Paseo de Gracia to see Modernist architecture and Gaudi’s houses illuminated (Casa Batllò, Casa Amatller, Casa Lleó-Morera, Casa Milà) and to the Ramblas to see street performers.
A walk around the Gothic Quarter in the evening is a great pre- or post-dinner activi-ty. You could encourage your group to take contrasting day and night-time pictures.
Magic Fountains at Montjuic – FREE. see Guia del Ocio for timings, as these change seasonally. Metro Plaza Espanya. BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETS!!
After the show the ice-cream shops in the bullring-made-shopping centre on Pl. Es-panya should still be open, and you can take them to the top of the shopping centre for views (use the escalators inside the mall rather than the lift on the outside, for which you have to pay).
Flamenco
El Cordobés in Las Ramblas is the most accessible depending on your hotel and one of the best in Barcelona Ramblas, 35 across from Plaza Reial.
Evening Classical Music/Spanish guitar concerts: Palau de la Música, Santa Maria del Pi, Santa Anna Church, Santa Maria del Mar.
See Guia de Ocio for listings of discos, theatre, special activities or talk to hotel re-ception.
Sitges
Facts and Free time
One of the main attractions of Sitges is the lovely beaches – the most convenient and one of the best is the main town beach. Be aware that some of the harder to reach beaches are gay or nude.
TRANSPORT
Train station, Plaça de Manstany
Buses stop in front of the train station
MUSEUMS
Museu Cau Ferrat. Art gallery and former home to artist Rusinyol.
Museu Romàntic. Carrer Sant Gaudenci,1. Museum showing the lifestyle of a rich family in 18th and 19th centuries. Guided tours every hour.
EVENING ACTIVITIES
The main hub of activity is on Calle 1er de mayo and Marqués de Montroig – both pedestrianized streets.
Cinema Casino Prado calle Francesc Gumá, 4.