In recent years, more and more people have decided to spend their holidays on a cruise that departs, stops or finishes in Barcelona.. One of the appeals of take a cruise is that you only have to unpack once, so you can take it all easier, enjoy your time and relax. There are lots of people who love cruises, for both short and long trips, in couple, family, etc, and that’s why this is becoming a huge industry.
Barcelona is one of the most beautiful and vibrant places in the world, a huge city full of active people with lots of things to do, a traveler’s paradise. It nurtured such artistic talented people as Picaso, Dalí, Miró, Casas and Gaudí.
The Barcelona Cruise Port (Port Vell) is at the Southern most end of Las Ramblas. To get from the seaport terminal to there, you just have to walk by the sea for about 15 minutes. You can also take a shuttle bus (blue line, Bus Turístic) from the cruise area to the Columbus monument, which is placed in the end of Las Ramblas (a single ticket costs about 2€ and a return one 3€). There you can take the metro (L3 Green Line- Drassanes station), the Bus Turístic (red line) or start your tour walking along Las Ramblas.
Even though Barcelona has got a busy traffic, its neighbourhoods are very walkable, particularly in the old district, and easily accessible by metro, bus or even foot. This is why we strongly recommend to wear comfortable shoes, and to buy a one-day or two-days metro ticket, in order to get everywhere faster. If you’re going to stay one day, you can buy a one day travel T-dia, a ticket which costs 7’25€ and allows you to do unlimited journeys on Barcelona’s public transport (metro, bus and rail), and if you’re going to stay for two days you can get the ticket ‘Hola BCN!’ for 13’40€ with the same conditions (if you buy it online you’ll get 10% off).
Things to do if you visit Barcelona for one or two days:
Day 1
Las Ramblas
Now that you know how to get to Las Ramblas from the seaport, you can enjoy a delightful morning walking along this world famous shopping district, alive and colourful, crowed people from all over the world.
Barri Gòtic (gothic quarter)
Walking up Las Ramblas, If you turn right (for example in Carrer de Ferran) you will be in Gothic district, probably the most beautiful area of the Old district, where some buildings date back to medieval.
Picasso Museum
If you keep walking forward, you can get to the PicassoMuseum, one of the most visited museums in the world, with a permanent collection of more than 4,000 works that reveal a deep relationship of Picasso with Barcelona.
Hours:
Monday: closed
Tue-Sun: 10-20h
Also closed on 1st Jan, 1st May, 24th June, 25th and 26th Dec.
Passeig de Gràcia
After visiting the PicassoMuseum, you can take the Metro in Jaume I station (yellow line, L4) towards Passeig de Gràcia, and get off there to do some shopping in the most impressive boutiques, and enjoy the sights of Gaudí buildings, la Casa Batlló, La pedrera…
Passeig de Gràcia is the smartest avenue in Barcelona, a great street and your time will run out faster than you think. To return to the seaport, you just have to take the Metro in either in Diagonal (L3), Passeig de Gracia (L3) or Plaza Catalunya (L3) and get off in Drassanes (L3).
Day 2
La Barceloneta
Barcelona beaches are fantastic to go for a morning walk and have a mediterranean breakfast. You can walk for example, by the sea until some yellow Metro Station (Barceloneta or Jaume I).
Sagrada Família
This is the most famous work of Antoni Gaudí, an unique architect who changed Barcelona with his modern and different buildings, and it’s now a symbol of the city.
The fastest way to get here is to take the metro (yellow line L4, Barceloneta or Jaume I station) towards Verdaguer, and get of there to take another metro to Sagrada Família (blue line L5, Sagrada Família station), or just walk for 10 minutes to get there.
The tickets cost between around 15-20€, and it’s free for children up to 10.
We suggest you also to buy it online.
Opening hours:
– Basilica: 9-20h
– Crypt:
Mon-Fri: 9-10h and 18-21h
Sat, Sun, Holidays: 9-14h and 18-21h
Park Güell
The Park Güell, also designed by Antoni Gaudí, is one of the most beautiful icons of the city. It is located in the upper side of Barcelona, where you will enjoy a great green walk surrounded by modernist works while you have a fantastic view of the city.
To get to the Park Güell you need to take the metro (L3 Green Line) and get off in Vallarca (L3), from there just walk for 5-10 minutes. You can go from Sagrada Familia in two steps: take the metro (Blue line L5) until Diagonal station (two stops) and then take another metro (green line L3) towards Vallcarca station.
The tickets cost 7€ (adult), 4’90€ (children from 7-12 and people over 65) if you buy them online, and they are free for children under 7. If you buy the tickets at the offices or ATM, they are plus 1€.
Timetable:
– 25th Oct-23rd March: 8:30-18h
– 24th March- 19th Oct: 8:-21:30h
To return just take the metro in Vallcarca (L3) and get of in Drassanes (L3).
After seeing the Park Güell, you will find that you’re out of time and that you have to return to the ship, so we hope you have enjoyed your trip!