Barcelona Tour

[CSSPELL]

We are a group of 6 and are staying 2 and 1/2 days prior to sailing in Barcelona at the 5 rooms B&B. We are looking for a recommendation for a 1/2 day tour of Barcelona. Any suggestions?

[Packing Light]

We spent 2 days pre-cruise and 1 day post-cruise in Barcelona. We took the hop on hop off Bus Turistic which has 3 different routes. I wouldn't waste a great amount of money on a guided tour. This bus was 18 Euros for one day (I believe it was 22 Euros) for 2 days. There was a guide who explained the sights and you can get off and view what you like and get back on the next buss. They run about every 15 minutes. 2 of the routes take about 2 hours each (without getting off bus) and the third route takes about 1 hour (without getting off). The bus goes to virtually every area of Barcelona and they also provide a pretty good map with key sights along with the purchase.

[bappo]

I agree with the previous poster, we were 2 and 1/2 days in Barcelona before and after the cruise. Did the bus touristo thing as well, it was very good. Be sure to get off at the Sagrada Famalia and Park Guell. They were really quite impressive. There were 4 of us and if you are looking for a great restaurant, we highly recommend AGUA. It is in Port Olympic just down the promenade from the Casino and the Hotel Arts. We had our wedding anniversary dinner there. It was beautiful, on the terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. Can't get much better than that! Barcelona is a great city, with wonderful people, we will definitely go back!

[kruzin']

:) doing 1 day in Barcelona on our Liberty cruise in Sept. and since we are not into Gaudi or Picasso we were thinking of a day trip to Monseratt but nowthat I read your post I am undecided.One ? about the hop on hop off bus does the one fee 18Euros cover all three routes or must you pick the route before you pay?

We spent 2 days pre-cruise and 1 day post-cruise in Barcelona. We took the hop on hop off Bus Turistic which has 3 different routes. I wouldn't waste a great amount of money on a guided tour. This bus was 18 Euros for one day (I believe it was 22 Euros) for 2 days. There was a guide who explained the sights and you can get off and view what you like and get back on the next buss. They run about every 15 minutes. 2 of the routes take about 2 hours each (without getting off bus) and the third route takes about 1 hour (without getting off). The bus goes to virtually every area of Barcelona and they also provide a pretty good map with key sights along with the purchase.

[keela1eva2]

Any suggestion please

[NAS-KARR]

We had a two day pre-cruise in BCN also and the Touristic (hop-on-hop-off) bus is the way to go. You can ride all three of them for a very full days touring and then if there's other time left in ur pre-cruise do the cab/walking bit.

 

Happy Med.cruise......... &

 

Ciao,

[Packing Light]

The pass for the Bus Turistic is for all day and you can hit all 3 routes. For about5 Euros more you cab get a 2 day pass but we were able to see everything we wanted to using the 1 day pass for about 18 Euros.

[mdeane]

I am a bit different in opinion from the others on the thread. We will have 3 days in Barcelona post cruise and we do not like to waste time trying to find out way every where with the language barrier as well, so we have hired a guide who will design our tours for us to see what we like.

 

We will be using Barcelona Experience and think we can cover many more sites with a driver at our side. If you are interested their website is

http://www.Barcelonaexperience.com and the email is:mytrip@barcelonaexperience.com

 

Have a great trip what ever you do.

[Cruising Retired Army SGM]

:) doing 1 day in Barcelona on our Liberty cruise in Sept. and since we are not into Gaudi or Picasso we were thinking of a day trip to Monseratt but nowthat I read your post I am undecided.One ? about the hop on hop off bus does the one fee 18Euros cover all three routes or must you pick the route before you pay?

 

We were a party of 6 and on the Liberty and on our stop at Barcellona on Jun 9. 2006 we were planning on taking the on and off bus, till we found out they have 3 different lines. When we got off the shuttle bus from the port there were about 4 large 6 passenger taxi't at the same location. An individual came over and asked if we would like to hire a taxi for 4 hours 140 Euros which was a better deal then the on and off bus. We got to go to all the sights and had free time for photo op's at all stops. Just look for the large taxi's at the shuttle bus stop.

[Packing Light]

The Bus Turistic runs from morning until evening so your all day pass is good for the whole day. I believe it starts about 9:00 am and ends about 8:00 pm. There is a guide on each bus who speaks English and was very knowledgeable about the sights in Barcelona. The fact that there are 3 routes does not present a problem since you can catch the routes at Playa Catalunya where each route starts and ends. Spend as much time as you like on one route. Get on and off if desired or just stay on the bus (2 routes are about 2 hours each with not hopping off and the last route is less than an hour without hopping off). We did the 2 longer routes and decided against the 3rd route since the major areas to see are on the longer routes. Along with the bus ride they provide a small guidebook with pictures of major attractions on the tour explaining (also in English as well as Spanish, German, etc) the irems seen on the various routes. It is a nice tour and for the price really can't be beat and also allows you to see everything you would want to (architecture, Montjuic, Olympic Village, Bari Gotic, Seaport area, etc, etc). I recommend it.

[Maryandi]

From the ship, did you take a shuttle or does the HO&O bus go near the ship? Or do you take a taxi to some place to pick up the bus?

[Packing Light]

The main location to pick up the bus is at Placa de Catalunya. It is a very central location (a beautiful plaza with fountains and loads of pigeons across from the huge E Cortes Ingles Department Store which also must be seen. You can spend hours in that great department store just browsing.). There are many other stops along the routes and one route does go to the port area but to answer your question we picked up the bus at Placa de Catalunya where you can pay for your pass and select the route you wish to take first. I do not think you can pick up the bus at other stops but I am not certain. We stayed at the Apsis Atrium Palace Hotel which was only a couple blocks from the Plaza so we just walked over to it and picked up the bus.

 

The web site for Bus Turistic is: http://www.barcelona-on-line.es/eng/reserves/bus_turistic.htm. They give info on prices and the North and South route sites which are each 2 hours in length. The 3rd route is much shorter (Forum Route) and I don't believe they give much info on that route. You can also contact them by using the "Contact" tab in the upper right of their website. Go to the website and I think you will get most of your questions answered. Any other info, I'll be happy to tell you what I know.

[Parrot Mom]

After recommendations by other tourists we hired Auriello ofBarcelona Taxi Van <info@barcelonataxivan.com> we saw more of Barcelona in one day than most tourists see in two or three...I wasn't thriled by the Familia either.. but at one spot we had stopped to admire something and I looked across the street to a low building with an incredible mural on it... I was told it was a Picasso Nativity Scene...,life like.. it was a hidden jewel.. and I'm not a big Picasso fan do not hesitate to write him now as he books with cruisers very early.. tell him the lady with the luggage,,, Parrot Mom recommended him.. he's still laughing over all the luggage we had for a 17 day cruise....he'llnever be the same.

[Suzy Q]

Parrot Mom--

I emailed your guide on Tuesday but no response. Is this usual?

Thnx.

SQ