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Barcelona

GETTING THERE

AIRPORTS

Barcelona Airport (BCN)
Tel: 902 404 704.
 www.aena.es

El Prat El Prat de Llobregat is the main Barcelona's airport, situated  just 18km (11 miles) southwest of the city.
From the airport a bus service (tel: (93) 415 6020; www.emt-amb.com) runs to Plaça de Catalunya and Gran Via from Monday to Saturday (journey time - 15-30 minutes). Bus 46 operates a service from the airport to Plaça Espanya every 30 minutes. Nightbus N17 runs from the airport to Plaça de Catalunya.

Car hire is available from Avis, Europcar, Hertz, National Atesa and Sol-Mar.

Girona Airport (GRO) is also an important option for people flying to Barcelona. It is located quiet far  from the city; there is a bus service running to the city centre and it takes one hour and a quarter from Girona Airport (GRO) to Barcelona.

LOW COST FLIGHTS
from and to Barcelona airport:

Aer Lingus
airberlin.com
clickair
www.vueling.com
air transat
smartwings
estonian air
blue1
tuifly.com
www.easyjet.com
www.germanwings.com
Meridiana
air italy
air baltic
atlas blue
www.wizzair.com
air auropa

From and to Girona Airport:

www.ryanair.com
www.centralwings.com
www.wizzair.com
www.jetairfly.com
www.transavia.com
www.thomsonfly.com




CAR RENTAL

Alamo Barcelona
www.alamo.com

Budget Barcelona
rent.drivebudget.com

Europcar Barcelona
www.europcar.com

National Barcelona
www.nationalcar.com

SIXT Location de Voiture Barcelone Aeropot
www.sixt.fr


PORT

It is possible to reach Barcelona by water:the port of the city is located just a short walk from the centre (tel: (93) 298 6000; www.portdebarcelona.es) and has six terminals.
The TMB (tel: (93) 318 7074; www.tmb.net) metro links the port to the centre of Barcelona.

TRAINS
The RENFE (tel: 902 320 320; www.renfe.es) represents Barcelona rail service, with a wide network which links all the main Spanish cities: Madrid, Siviglia, Valencia, Cordoba and so on.

Estació Central-Sants, Plaça del Països Catalans, is the city's major railway station, serving national and international destinations as well as suburban routes. The second important station is Estació de França, Avinguda Marqués de l'Argentera, which allows southbound regional services.

MOTORWAYS

Two are the major motorways crossing Barcelona.
The A7 runs from France to Barcelona, following the coast. The A2 goes inland towards Madrid and Zaragoza.
Speed limits are 120kph (74mph) on motorways, 100kph (62mph) on dual carriageways, 90kph (56mph) on roads outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) within towns, unless otherwise stated.

TRANSPORTS

The metro is the easiest way to move from one site to another in Barcelona. There are 5 lines and the FCG (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya), which reaches also small towns nearby.
There is also a bus service, with a wide network in the city.

ATTRACTIONS

CHURCHES

La Sagrada Família
It is Antoni Gaudi's masterpiece and the city landmark. The magnificent spires of the unfinished cathedral stand up toward the sky. The astonishing and original Nativity façade and the Crypt of La Sagrada Familia are UNESCO World Heritage.
Carrer de Mallorca 401
Tel: (93) 208 0414.
 www.sagradafamilia.cat

Basílica Santa Maria del Mar
It is a true example of Mediterranean Gothic architecture, located in the Gothic district.
Plaça de Santa Maria
Tel: (93) 310 2390.
 http://santamariadelmar.es

Catedral de Barcelona / Catedral de la Seu
Barcelona Cathedral was built between the 13th and the 15th centuries and was dedicated to Barcelona's patron, Santa Eulalia. It contains the Capella de Lepanto (Lepanto Chapel) and beautiful quiet cloisters.
Plaça de la Seu
Tel: (93) 342 8260.
 www.catedralbcn.org

MONUMENTS

Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter)
It represents the very historic heart of the city, between Plaça de Catalunya and the sea, along the famous Ramblas. The Gothic District has a plenty of wonderful examples of gothic buildings, dating back from Catalonia's Golden Age, in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Plaça Sant Jaume is the landmark of this district and the Palau Real on Plaça del Rei is one of the treasures hidden in the tangle of strees.

La Rambla
It is not a real monument but the very life and spirit of Barcelona, where the vibrant nightlife takes place. It is Barcelona's most famous avenue, a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard running from Plaça de Catalunya to the Monument to Colom. It is lined with a plenty of bars, cafés and restaurants where tasting the typical "tapas".
La Boqueria, Barcelona's colourful and famous food market is just nearby.

Casa Milá / La Pedrera
One of the most famous works of the visionary architect Antoni Gaudì, landmark of Barcelona. It is is an undulating apartment block on the corner of Passeig de Gràcia, inspired by the sea waves. The roof terrace is the masterpiece, with its sentry-like chimneys, like medieval knigths, and its breathtaking view of the city up to the Sagrada Familia.
Passeig de Gràcia 92 / Carrer Provenca 261-265
Tel: 902 400 973.
 www.lapedreraeducacio.org   

Casa Battlò
It represents another wonderful example of the genius and the originality of Antoni Gaudì. This house appears like an underwater grotto, with tiles on the façade, frogs on the balconies and a roof characterized by an enormous green reptile.
Passeig de Grácia 43
 www.rutadelmodernisme.com


MUSEUMS

Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA)
It is located in the Ravel district, in the city centre, and houses a permanent collection of post 1940s international artists.
Plaça del Angels 1
Tel: (93) 412 0810.
www.macba.cat

Museu Picasso
The Picasso Museum represents one of the most important Barcelona's artistic attractions, with a wide permanent collection of the artist's fisrt works, including paintings from the Blue Period and from the Pink Period.
Carrer Montcada 15-23
Tel: (93) 256 3000.
 www.museupicasso.bcn.es

Parc Güell
Parc Guell is a breathtaking work of Antoni Gaudì, melting natural elements and fantasy architectural influences. This iconic park develops on a hill on the north of the city.
Carrer d'Olot
Tel: (93) 213 0488.

Fundació Joan Miró
It is located on Montjuic and it houses the widest permanent collection of Mirò's paintings, sculptures and graphics.
Parc de Montjuïc
Tel: (93) 443 9470.  
www.fundaciomiro-bcn.org

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC)
The Palau Nacional on Montjuic houses the National Museum of Calalonian Art, with a wide collection of medieval, gothic and Romanesque paintings and works.
Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc
Tel: (93) 622 0376.
 www.mnac.cat

FC Barcelona Museum and Nou Camp
It is one of the best known football museums of the world.
Avinguda Aristides Maillol
Tel: 902 189 900.
 www.fcbarcelona.cat

OTHER ATTRACTIONS:

Aquarium
The Aquarium of Barcelona is one of the bigger in all Europe. It has Mediterranean fauna and flora and a wonderful tropical ambient.

Moll d'Espanya del Port Vell

www.aquariumbcn.com/AQUARIUM/index.php


IMAX Barcelona
It consists of a 3-dimensional visual and sound experience to enjoy films.
Moll d'Espanya, Port Vell
www.imaxintegral.com


SHOPPING

Barcelona offers a lot of different opportunities for shopping, in a  trendy, smart or cheaper way.
There are some important shopping areas, particularly near Plaça de Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia: here tourists can find shops for all needs. In Plaça de Catalunya there is the most famous mall, named El Corte Inglés one of the bigger department stores of the country.
Close to Las Ramblas and the Barrio Gotico tourists can find typical souvenirs shops.
Barcelona also offers typical markets; among all, you cannot absolutely miss La boqueria, the colourful and famous food market along Las Ramblas.


RESTAURANTS

The essence of Catalan food lies in its typical "tapas" made of meat and fish and entrepans/bocadillos (filled rolls). Many bars and  cafes offer delicious Catalan cuisine so it is very easy in Barcelona enjoy snacks or have lunch or dinner.
Alkimia

Alkimia is one of the most famous and expensive Barcelona's restaurants, offering traditional Catalan cuisine with creative touches: it has a Michelin star.
Carrer Indústria 79
Tel: (93) 207 6115.
www.alkimia.cat

Jean-Luc Figueras
The restaurant is located where previously was the atelier of fashion design Balenciaga. Jean-Luc Figueras offers original dishes with a combination of Spanish flavours and International influences.
Carrer Santa Teresa 10
Tel: (93) 415 2877.

Arc Café
It serves Catalan cuisine with Mediterranean, Caribbean and Asian influences.
Carrer Carabassa 19
Tel: (93) 302 5204.
 www.arccafe.com

La Fonda
Catalan traditional cooking in a cozy ambience.
Carrer Escudellers 10
Tel: (93) 301 7515.
www.lafonda-restaurant.com



NIGHTLIFE

Barcelona is world famous for its vibrant nightlife. The area around Las Ramblas and Barrio Gotico represents the very heart of the touristic night attractions. Bars, cafes, clubs and discotheques abound in the vicinity south of Avenida Diagonal between Calle Pau Claris and Calle Aribau.
But even Port Olímpic is particularly buzzing on summer nights, as is Port Vell.
The Gracia district recently became one of the cores of citizens' nightlife, with a plenty of small outdoor cafés and bars.

Among the most famous and the trendiest bars:

El Quatre Gats
The original menu was designed from Picasso.
Carrer Montsió 3
Tel: (93) 302 4140.
www.4gats.com

El Xampanyet
Carrer Montcada 22
Tel: (93) 319 7003.

For live music:

Centre Artesà Tradicionarius
To enjoy traditional Catalonian music
Travessera de Sant Antoni 6-8
Tel: (93) 218 4485.
www.tradicionarius.com

Jamboree
Live jazz, Latin music and blues.
Plaça Reial 17
Tel: (93) 319 1789.
 www.masimas.com/jamboree;

Los Tarantos
Offers traditional flamenco performances
www.masimas.com/tarantos