Barcelona
Overview
Fill your first trip with the flamboyant architecture of La Sagrada Família cathedral, tapas snacks in La Ribera and seaside fun at La Barceloneta. If you're back for more, discover the mosaic gardens at Gaudi-designed Parc Güell and Barcelona's captivating museums. The cutting-edge bar scene of El Born and shopper's paradise along Passeig de Gràcia also make good stops on your return visit to Barcelona.
Background
Broad, tree-lined La Rambla leads down to the port, flanked by once working-class El Raval and the winding medieval streets of the Ciutat Vella (Old City). Leave La Rambla to delve into Barri Gòtic's intriguing alleyways surrounding the Gothic Barcelona Cathedral, then dip into La Ribera further north. Barcelona's wealthy merchants lived here in medieval times and nowadays it's home to the unmissable Picasso Museum. Stroll east to trend-setting El Born, the seafront promenades at La Barceloneta and Port Olímpic, packed with lively bars and restaurants. North of Plaça Catalunya discover the astonishing moderniste (Catalan form of Art Nouveau) architecture of L'Eixample, and Gràcia's neighbourhood bars and squares.
First-time visit
Make an early start at Gaudi's unfinished cathedral of La Sagrada Família then lose yourself in the Ciutat Vella's labyrinth of winding streets. Use the Gothic Cathedral as your guide, with its lovely chapels and cloister inhabited by friendly geese. Stroll down La Rambla to the port, then saunter over to the marina at La Barceloneta and admire the yachts. When night falls, make your way to La Ribera for Spanish specialities tapas and cava in a romantic candle-lit bar.
Return visit
Immerse yourself in Barcelona's rich medieval and maritime history at museums in the Ciutat Vella - and brush up on Pablo at the Picasso Museum. Indulge your love of Antoní Gaudí's sensuously tactile architecture with the dragon-like Casa Battló and undulating La Pedrera building in L'Eixample. Wander through mosaic-lined grottoes in Parc Güell and visit hilltop Montjuïc or Tibidabo at dusk for twinkling views over Barcelona.
airports
Barcelona Airport
Essentials
Barcelona Airport is one of Spain's busiest, transporting around 33 million passengers a year from three terminals (a fourth is under construction). Just 16 km (10 miles) from the city centre, the cheap and convenient Aerobús takes you to there in a speedy 15-25 minutes.
Airport Facts
- Airport code
- BCN
- Airport website
- Spanish Airports (for Barcelona Airport) website
- Airport tel
- +34 932 983 838
- No. of terminals
- Three (a fourth is due to open in 2009)
- Distance from city centre
- 10 miles (16km) southwest of Barcelona.
- Transport between terminals
- The entrances to Terminals A, B and C are adjacent to each other and connected by an outside pedestrian walkway. Allow 10 minutes to walk from Terminal A to C. The Aerobús stops at each terminal on its way to and from the city centre. Once in departures all the terminals are accessible to travellers.
- Airport parking
- There is ample long- and short-stay parking. Two covered car parks are connected to Terminal A and Terminal C via elevated walkways. Ground-level, uncovered parking is located directly in front of all the terminals. Secure VIP parking offers a vehicle collection service from the meeting points in front of Terminals A, B and C (+34 932 971 381).
- Time zone
- GMT +1
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