“Allow me to state here how much I love Barcelona , an admirable city, a city full of life, intense, a port open to the past and future” – LE CORBUSIER
A weekend break in Barcelona is sure to fill you with memorable experiences, a city so full of life and history.
Let’s look at some of the top attractions to take in while you’re there and how to get around this majestic city!
Getting from the airport to Sants Estacio, Barcelona central station is quick and easy. The train, metro, public bus and tram service all can be used on the same ticket all in ticket.
A four day ticket is 24 euro per person and gives you unlimited journeys. The Metro system has many lines and takes a little time to get a handle on, however once you know which line you need it’s faultless. Metro trains run every 3 minutes so your never waiting long.
Keep your head up when walking in the tunnels as the locals will literally walk through you as they zoom around.
There is no need to pay for taxis in Barcelona, if you are in a city centre hotel there will be a metro stop near your hotel. I cannot emphasise how good the public transport system is.
The best way to see the city, to see where everything is, is to find a stop for the red open top double decker hop on off tour bus. This is not part of the public transport system.
There are two routes the east and west, the best time to get the bus is early morning as the ticket last for the full day and is 26 euro per person starting out from the Plaça Catalunya.
This is the nerve centre of the commercial city and the frontier between the old and the modern town. A full day is needed for the two routes allowing time for getting on and off at the many stops.
From Placa Catalunya to the Marina, the Olympic Port cable car , la Rambla, Montjuïc, the 1992 Olympic park & Jardí Botànic, the Camp Nou , there is so much to see and do.
The Gothic quarter which has many Gaudi buildings to Park Guell which was converted into a municipal garden, to , Gaudi’s house, “la Torre Rosa,” which contains many designs, but is access is only by paid ticket.
There is a double venue ticket available for those wishing to see both Park Güell and the Basílica de la Sagrada Família. The Metro line stops right outside but the queue will be round the back, it moves quickly, tickets which include Towers can often mean waiting around for to 90 minutes.
Food in Barcelona is all about tapas, tapas and more tapas. If you like a cup of tea, best pack a few tea bags and if your staying room only in the hotel, breakfast in coffee shops is a croissant and a coffee at best. In saying that in the many coffee shops in and around the city you will find many places that will serve a coffee and cake for 2.50 euro.
In the many streets off the Placa Catalunya you will find all you can each buffet style lunch menus for 10 euro per person. Night time eating down by the Marina and in the city can be pricey, can be good value, you can sit outside or inside, have tapas, have main courses. A lot of the tapas bars are also bars and you don’t really come across pubs as such. There are also a number of bustling cafés with terraces along Las Rambla.
If you like to shop and you love shoes, your’re in heaven as the number of shoe shops in the maze of streets of La Rambla has to be seen to be believed. From the nine floors of el corte ingles to shops from every top brand to local products Barcelona has something for all wallet sizes.
Lionel Messi, the greatest footballer ever seen (?) plays for Barca at the Camp Nou, the greatest team we have ever seen (?)
His face , his club are the first thing that greet you in the arrivals at terminal 2 at Barcelona Airport off the red eye from Dublin with Aer Lingus. If you need FC Barcelona tie pins, mugs and shirts you can buy them everywhere around the city in the numerous official FCB shops.
Tickets for a match at Camp Nou are readily available (as long as its not El Classico). Don’t go for stadium tour on a match day as the number of exhibits on show is significantly reduced and at 23 euro for the tour, it’s best to get value for money. The megastore is best avoided and instead buy from the smaller shops around the city.
So what about your experiences on your weekend break in Barcelona? What hidden treasures did you find on your travels? Any pitfalls you’d like to pass on to fellow travellers?
