Galloping around Barcelona in 5 days. Everything and everything.
Once again, when choosing a country and a city for planning a vacation, I chose Barcelona. Why? Yes, I just wanted to go there after viewing the photos and stories of relatives. Beauty drives beauty on beauty. It's one thing to just see occasionally flashing photos on the Internet, and it's quite another thing to see it all with your own eyes. Moreover, a rather mild climate with sunny days, a still moderate number of tourists, because the season really starts in May, and a fairly affordable price has done its job. Let's go!
The story is built on the basis of information collected by parts from the depths of the Internet, as well as on the basis of their own experience and observations.
AIRPORT
There are only two terminals. The first new one, according to information deducted from Russia, only Aeroflot flies there, and all charters and low-cost airlines are accepted by terminal 2, where we landed safely.
There are a lot of options to get to the city, for every taste, wallet and temporary supply: taxi, transfer from the host tour operator, airbus, city buses, train and metro. Free shuttles run between terminals 1 and 2 every 5-7 minutes, it takes about 20 minutes to get from terminal to terminal.
Checking passports and luggage is generally a separate fairy tale. The Spaniards are in no hurry. Several flights arrive, 4 checkpoints work. If in Russia people will be brought up to clear the blockage, then in Barcelona you can not count on it. There were four and there will be four, wait, not gentlemen))) And in general, on an abstract topic, if they say "in 5 minutes", then they mean "Spanish 5 minutes", you can safely add another 15 in translation into ours))) It's good that it's not "manyana"))
Scheme of airport terminals
Shuttle between terminals
TRANSFER
By the way, if you expect, when flying from a tour operator, that the transfer will be included in the price, then nothing like that. The transfer was canceled not so long ago, because there are many hotels, the city is small, and if you collect everyone, deliver and settle, then a lot of time will be lost. Agree, it's stupid to wait for people to settle in front of you when your hotel is a 10-minute walk from someone else's. The transfer can be ordered separately, it is not cheap, it will turn out even cheaper by taxi, as they told us at the travel agency when booking the ticket. Moreover, I read somewhere that the transfer that you ordered for yourself may turn out to be for several other people, minivans transport people.
TAXI
We read about a taxi, we were going to order it, but then, having studied the information in more detail, we decided to get there ourselves and not overpay. They deducted that they carry strictly according to the meter, they don’t roll around the city in circles for cheating, like the Arabs. Their price is fixed.
Taxi drivers stand in line. If you do not need a car with extra comfort, then you should sit first in line. I cannot and will not confirm this, I myself read it on the Internet.
AEROBUS
The transfer from both Barcelona airport and to the airport is carried out by buses of several companies. Aerobus buses are shuttles that provide transfers from the airport to the center of Barcelona and back. Airbuses go to both T1 and T2. Outwardly, they differ from the usual TMB buses of the city of Barcelona, painted in light and dark blue colors with the inscription "Aerobus" on the board.
Aerobus shuttle
The main bus stops in the center of Barcelona are at Plaç a Catalunya and Plaç a Espanya, which are major transfer hubs. At Barcelona Airport, stops are located next to each of the terminals. Both terminals are served by different Aerobus buses.
Thus, when boarding an Aerobus bus at a stop in the city center, make sure that this Aerobus goes to the terminal you need. If in doubt, check with the driver. If you don't, you may end up in the wrong terminal and have to spend up to 30 minutes on an additional transfer from one terminal to another.
In Plaç a Catalunya Bus stops of various carriers are located in various places in the square. You need a stop located in front of the exit of El Corte Inglé s department store. The department store will be on your right if you enter the square from the Ramblas. This is the busiest stop for the Aerobus and you can easily make the wrong choice of bus if you don't know exactly which one you need. During rush hours, a representative of the Aerobus company is on duty at the stops. Just tell him which airline you are flying with and he will tell you which Airbus you need.
You will probably notice that the Aerobus (A1) to Terminal 1 and the Aerobus (A2) to Terminal 2 board in two separate queues.
The line to get on the Aerobus to T1 is closer to the front of the stop if you are facing the Ramblas. The queue for the Aerobus bus to T2 is right behind it. This can cause a bit of confusion if you don't know that there are two types of Aerobus. However, if you are aware of this, just look carefully at the signs and you will immediately understand where the Aerobus bus you need stops.
Plaç a Catalunya is quite large, but at the same time, El Corte Inglé s department store is a good landmark, which is perfectly visible from anywhere in the square. So you just need to move towards the main entrance of the department store, where there are two Aerobus stops.
El Corte Inglé s department store in Plaza Catalunya
Airbus stop scheme
If you are going to Placa Espanya from Avenida Paral. lel (Prospekt Parallel) the airport express bus stop will be second on the right. Aerobus buses (Airbus), going to both T1 and T2, stop here. Since buses constantly alternate, check with the driver which terminal the bus goes to.
From Barcelona Airport Aerobuses to T1 leave from the stop in front of the building. The Aerobus that serves Terminal T2 stops at Terminals T2B and T2C. It is not difficult to find an Aerobus bus stop - there is a bus ticket terminal at each of the stops (see photo below). Almost always at the stop in front of the terminal there is an Aerobus bus waiting for passengers. If there is no bus, then the waiting time will be no more than 12 minutes, depending on the time of day.
Tickets for the Aerobuscan be purchased on the bus itself or at the automatic ticket machines located in terminals T1 and T2 at the bus stops. Aerobus ticket vending machines are not always open, so be prepared to purchase bus tickets from the driver with cash. If you buy your Aerobus ticket directly on the bus, please note that any type of plastic card is not accepted when paying for the fare. Have cash ready.
Some drivers refuse to sell a ticket if the denomination of the banknote you submit is significantly more than the fare. You don't have to give the exact amount, however the drivers do not accept banknotes over €20.00. Therefore, if you have large banknotes, try to change them before boarding the bus. There are Aerobus ticket terminals in both T1 and T2 terminals.
They are located next to the Aerobus bus stops, are blue in color and are quite large. The machines accept cash and plastic cards.
Available ticket machine menu languages:
It is possible to purchase several tickets for one payment.
airbus ticket terminal
The travel time from Plaç a Catalunya to Barcelona Airport is approximately 35 minutes. Travel time from Plaç a Espanya to Barcelona Airport is approximately 25 minutes. Travel time from Barcelona Airport to Plaç a Espanya is approximately 25 minutes. Travel time from Barcelona Airport to Plaç a Catalunya is approximately 35 minutes, depending on traffic.
Free Wi-Fi is now available on Aerobus buses. USB charging for smartphones and tablets is also available.
(I don’t know how things are with Wi-Fi, but it’s generally bad in the city)
If your flight arrives or departs at night, please be aware that Aerobus buses do not run at night.
BUS TMV №46
A cheaper, but perhaps less comfortable way to get to the city is TMV city buses No. 46 - daytime, No. 16 and 17 - night. Good for those who live closer to the center or with a mandatory transfer to their own metro line in the center (we lived far from the center and went the other way).
T10 transport cards can be used to pay for city buses. The T10 pass can be used on several modes of transport, while the trip will be charged as one if the total travel time on several modes of transport is no more than 1 hour and 15 minutes.
You can switch to different branches in the metro (without leaving the metro), and then, after leaving the metro, transfer to the bus, or vice versa, despite the fact that the whole journey will take no more than 1 hour and 15 minutes. Keep in mind that you cannot re-enter the subway once you have exited it, it will be counted as a separate trip. Such a pass can be bought at any metro station.
Bus №46 goes to Barcelona Airport and departs from Plaza Españ a (Plaç a Espanya). The bus stop will be the first on the right if you go to Plaza de Españ a (Plaç a Espanya) along Parallel Avenue (Avenida Parallel). It first stops outside Terminal T2A at the stop to the left of the Aerobus stop when facing the airport. The next stop is located outside the T2C Terminal. The last stop is in front of Terminal T1.
The first bus No. 46 leaves from Plaza Españ a and Terminal T1 at 04:50 and the last one at 23:50. Buses run every 20 minutes. The travel time of the bus depends on traffic conditions, so allow approximately 40 minutes for the journey to Terminal T2 and 55 minutes to Terminal T1. If the roads are free, then the bus reaches T2 in 25 minutes, and to T1 in 35 minutes.
You can only buy a ticket from the driver for one trip - drivers don't sell passes, they don't sell them in the first terminal either. In order to save money and ride this bus already on the T10 pass, you need to go the following way:
- Arriving at terminal 1, you need to get out of it and take the shuttle bus connecting the terminals (there is a large “Shuttle” written on it, and T1 - T2 is indicated on the sign in front). This is a free bus that will take you to Terminal 2.
The second terminal is impossible to miss - it looks like a very elongated building, where the bus stops twice (although if no one gets out, then less). You can get off at any stop, but the last one is best.
- leaving the shuttle, you need to go into the building of terminal 2, turn left and go to the end - where there will be an escalator leading up. You need to climb it and go further along the corridor quite far, but it’s impossible to confuse it, since there is only one way there, and, in addition, the direction is indicated by arrows with the signature “Renfe” (first, having risen on the escalator, you cross the road along the crossing, and then again going down). At the very end there will be a small hall with the entrance to Renfe's Aeroport railway station. In front of the right entrance, there are ticket vending machines where you can buy a T10 pass.
An employee is on duty in front of these machines, who helps everyone to buy a ticket.
- then you need to make your way back to the exit of terminal 2, take bus 46 and go to Barcelona. This is the cheapest way (along with the train) to get from the airport to Barcelona.
Escalator to trains in terminal 2, where to go to buy T10
scheme of bus stops 46
NIGHT BUSES TMV No. 16 and 17
The only way to get to the airport by public transport at night is by night busN16 or N17. The N17 bus runs between Plaza Catalunya and Terminal 1, and the N16 runs between Plaza Catalunya and Terminal 2. For the N16 bus, the airport is not the final stop, so you need to carefully follow the announcements. At bus N17, the airport is the final stop. The journey takes about an hour.
On the night bus, you can use the T10 card, with which one trip costs a little less than one euro. In Barcelona, the terminus is on Ronda de la Universitat, near Plaza Catalunya (Plaç a de Catalunya).
scheme of bus stops 17
scheme of bus stops 16
ELECTRIC TRAIL
Aeroport Station Renfe is located in Terminal 2, which can be reached by a free shuttle from Terminal 1. Aeroport is the first station on the R2 line.
The entrance to the railway station is located in the T2B building. The same escalators lead to the entrance to the railway station as to the departure hall. To get to the RENFE train station, follow the signs: cross the highway on a covered footbridge. The train station is on the other side, at the bottom of the steps.
Since the airport is located in the second zone, you need to purchase a ticket for two zones to travel to the center of Barcelona. Or you can immediately buy a ticket for 10 trips T10.
The first train leaves the airport at 05:42, the last one at 23:38.
The first train from Estacio Sants towards the airport leaves at 5:13, the last at 23:14 (19 minutes to the airport).
The first train from Passeig de Grà cia towards the airport leaves at 5:08, the last one at 23:07 (25 minutes).
Trains run every half hour.
train stops
Due to Because Passeig de Grà cia is a very large train station, it is easy to get lost in it. If you are planning to go to the airport with Passeig de Grà cia, allow enough time for the possible need to find the platform of the train going to the airport.
Estacio Sants (Sants station) is a large train station located at the beginning of Avenida Roma (Rome Avenue). It has many platforms and ticket offices. Therefore, it is recommended to arrive early in order to so that you have enough time to find the platform you need.
Make sure you are on the correct train. The R2 Nord train runs to/from Barcelona Airport Terminal 2B (terminus), while the R2 train (no Nord in the name) does not go to Barcelona Airport. If you accidentally boarded the wrong train, then you will need to get off at El Prat de Llobregat (El Prat de Llobregat) station and transfer to the R2 Nord train, which, having traveled one stop, will take you to the airport.
Ticket terminalsboth at the airport station and at stations in Barcelona. There are five ticket terminals at Barcelona Airport.
If you have any difficulties with buying a ticket, please contact an employee in a reflective jacket. Typically, such jackets are worn by personnel responsible for maintaining these machines. A staff member will help you buy a ticket.
Payment terminals accept both cash (coins and banknotes of € 5.00; € 10.00; € 20.00 and € 50.00), as well as debit and credit cards.
Available ticket machine menu languages:
It is possible to purchase several tickets for one payment.
METRO
I will immediately give a link to the scheme, for the first time you can print it out so as not to go blindly to Barcelona http://www. barcelona airport. en/transport-i-parkovka/metro/
scheme of the red line L9 from the airport to the city
scheme of the red line L9 from the airport to the city
The metro station from terminal T2 is located behind the entrance to Renfe station, there will be a downward sign. There is also an information point opposite the terminals. Speak English. There you can ask for a city map, a metro map, free of charge. And also we immediately bought there tickets for a tourist bus around the city of Bas Turistik. It was not possible to buy T10 travel cards for 10 trips, the function did not work. So if you don't understand something, don't hesitate to ask.
The final metro station from the airport is the University Zone, where we made a transfer to our branch line, it was so much more convenient for us than through the center. There were very few people. When we switched from the red branch to our green one, and it is the final one on both lines, we see that the train is standing, people are getting out, the cars are asked to leave in Spanish and English. And nobody. Whatever you want, then do it. And the train stops.
They stood in indecision until people began to get into the car. Usually, if they ask us to free the wagons, then, logically, the train goes to the depot. But we didn’t want to go to the depot, we wanted to see the city)) As a result, we see how a woman in uniform got out of one end of the train, locked the driver’s cab and moved to the cab at the other end of the train. So if the train is standing - feel free to sit down. during this time, the driver changes and the train travels in the opposite direction.
To be frank, the metro is the scariest thing I've ever seen in Barcelona, and indeed the scariest metro in my lifetime. The first impression is that these are former coal mines that were dug by "magic gnomes", and as they please. The Barcelona metro is a worthy setting for a horror movie or the world after the apocalypse.
In addition to black stations with clumsy windows, or rather holes, in the walls of various shapes there are permanent stairs, paths, transitions, up and down, up and down. With suitcases, this is just a mockery, especially if there is no escalator or the elevator does not work. The horror has caught up, but such horror does not concern all stations, but only the old ones. In the center, some large stations are more or less ennobled, the branch from the airport to the city is generally new and equipped with amenities, but there are those that, alas, ah.
After the "train to the depot" turmoil, the following immediately followed - HOW TO GET OUT?? ?
Again, the complete absence of people in the subway played a cruel joke on us. I drag my suitcase up the stairs following the exit sign...and what do I see???
And I see turnstiles through which people pass towards me. All the arrows on the turnstiles point to the entrance, that is, to me. I stood in a stupor until, from my side, the woman EXIT THROUGH THE SHREDDED IRON GATE!! ! It's so simple and easy, but I have such a scar! Never would have thought. that you have to go through them. There was a thought that this was some kind of old system. New turnstiles were installed, but these were not dismantled. As they say, grief from the mind, It should be easier! In the photo, by the way, it turned out better than in life.
EXIT FROM THE DUNGEON!
There are many places where they write so that people do not get confused when passing through turnstiles. exits are on the unusual right side of the turnstile, but the turnstiles are slow, so don’t panic, especially since they have exit arrows, you won’t be mistaken. The ticket goes through one hole and comes out the other.
It happens that it does not work, it means it is not working. Pass through another, the trip does not gobble up.
TRAVES
Single trip ticket
You can buy metro tickets for €2.15 (valid for one trip only). But, if you are in Barcelona for more than one day and intend to ride the metro or buses more than 5 times, then it is better to buy a T10 ticket.
T-Dia
Pass for 1 day. Unlimited number of trips on any type of transport.
what does one of the types of travel cards look like
T-10 ticket
The T-10 ticket is an integrated ticket that allows you to travel around Barcelona on all types of public transport: buses, metro, FGC (another type of metro), trains and trams. The T-10 is designed for 10 trips, hence its name.
Moreover, if the trip by various modes of transport in total does not exceed 1 hour, 15 minutes one way, then this will be considered as one trip! If you spend more than the specified time, you will have to pay again. Not many people know that within 1 hour 15 minutes you can change transport 3 times, but you will not be able to use the same trip to travel on the bus under the same number or enter the same metro station again. Therefore, do not try to cheat: one way means one way.
The ticket is valid for one year from the date of activation.
Another advantage of the T-10 ticket is that several people can use it at once. To do this, you must insert the card into the turnstile and then pull it out of the machine for verification. This action will open the turnstile doors. Let a friend pass ahead and keep the ticket for yourself. After that, insert the travel card again and go through yourself.
Each time someone in your group uses a T-10 ticket to enter the subway, it counts as a separate journey and is stamped on the back of the ticket. The turnstile screen displays the number of trips you have left.
The T-10 ticket costs €9.95 (Zone 1) and in our opinion is the best option for those who visit Barcelona for several days and do not intend to travel outside the city. Zone 1 covers almost all of Barcelona. Here are all the most famous sights.
Barcelona transport map
Hola BCN! - Barcelona transport card for 1.2, 3.4 and 5 days, allowing you to ride an unlimited number of times on any type of public transport. Unlike the T-10 ticket, this pass can only be used by one person, and the countdown of days starts from the moment the card is activated.
It should be noted that the city is small, and due to constant traffic jams during the day, as well as constant jumps up and down the underground passages, one or two metro stations or ground transport stops can already be walked if the legs allow . Save time for sure.
BUS TOURS IN BARCELONA
Since we have never been to Barcelona and it is very difficult to start navigating the city right away, it was decided to take a bus tour of the city's sights on the first day, as they say "for shooting". Time is short, but I want to see everything at once, and more, more)))
Between the companies City Tour and Bas Touristik, they chose the second one. It has three routes, not two.
Therefore, the coverage of territories is greater. Moreover, one of the stops on his route was located near our hotel.
The design of buses has changed for both companies. Bas Touristik's eye symbol has changed to diamonds.
view of the bus and the general design of the bass tourist 2017
one of the bus stops
At each stop there is a route map with transfers and the time when the first and last bus arrive at this stop, excluding traffic jams of course.
You can BUY TICKETS everywhere, not only at special ticket offices, they are also sold on the bus itself when boarding, and when boarding, vouchers for tickets purchased online are exchanged for real tickets. You saw it yourself.
The tickets are issued with maps of the city with routes, the same as those hanging at each stop.
Plus, discount books are issued with discounts on tickets to various museums, restaurants, funiculars. They may be helpful. When presented from the back cover, a barcode is read for a discount.
On the bus, you are also given headphones. Now the Russian channel is 6A. Connect and listen. They tell not only about the sights that we pass, but also give out some useful information - for example, at which stop you can transfer to another line of this route. But where this stop is located is better to ask in English from the guide accompanying the bus or from the driver. On the windshields of buses there are signs in the color of the bus route. New buses run along the green line, it is better to check at the transfer station near Port Olympic.
PLUS - in a couple of days you can superficially see the city up and down, choose places for more thorough research and walks.
MINUSES - buses have one-way traffic, so if you pass a stop, then the whole circle will return to it. On the other hand, this is a plus - you will not get confused and will not get lost.
Of course, traffic jams poison life, and they start already from 11 am. During the day, it is generally problematic to drive through the center by any type of transport, even in the subway there is a crush.
Another disadvantage is that the exact location of the attraction is not shown on the map. If the stop is called Park Guell, then this does not mean that you will be driven to the gate, you will still be sawing before them. Mostly stops nearby. but there are also misses. For this very reason, I did not get to the Poblenou cemetery, whose sculptures are considered monuments of art.
I saw him only on the way back, when you won’t get out anymore, and it’s reluctant to go there specially and it’s far away.
It is also a disadvantage that if you do not show signs of life, intending to get off at the next stop, and the rest of the bus is not interested in this stop, and at the very stop there are no people who want to get on the bus, then the driver can pass it without stopping . We once got so fucked up, then we went there on our own. At the same time, the record says that you should not get up from your seats until the bus has come to a complete stop. Conclusion - law-abiding does not always lead to good))
Queue lines form at popular top-floor stops. If it’s not important for you to waste time on this, and there are no people who want to take empty seats downstairs, then bypass the line and say “downsteaz”, that is, downstairs and sit down.
During our stay, the weather was changeable from +20 to +8 during the day, strong wind, almost squally at sea. Therefore, we did not chase the seats on the top floor, sat downstairs and in the warmth through the glass watched the blue and shrunken people from the cold, staunchly waiting for the seats upstairs in the next bus. To see Barcelona and die from the cold is not for us, but, as they say, to each his own.
Below is a map with routes and stops for Bas Turistik
3 Bas Turistik routes on the map, 2017
The green route, the least numerous in terms of tourists and sights
Red route
Blue Route
Stops by routes and cost, 2017
Having traveled along all routes, along the blue and red ones, repeatedly, since we took Bas Turistik for 2 days, which is much more profitable, we formed our opinion about the city.
Below are the comments on the stops.
GREEN ROUTE
It starts from a red-green transfer stop Olympic Port, there are two towers, there is a heavy wind from the sea, so we didn’t go to the sea here. You get to this stop on the red route, disembark, and right before the red stop there is a stop on the green route. For me personally, there is not much to do there.
funny "face" opposite)
Bogatell Beach and Poblenou Cemetery. In April there is not much to do there, you know, the media came to look at the sea. The cemetery was not found, but it was necessary to go inland perpendicular to the sea, it is behind a rather high wall.
I wanted to see with my own eyes the famous sculpture Kiss of Death.
Kiss of Death
Of all the other stops on the green route, only the modern Diagonal Mar park was of interest, again located far from the stop. There is still a long way to go, but there is no one to really ask, the area is deserted. They caught a local elderly woman who prompted and showed. Thanks her.
Diagonal Mar Parkis one of the youngest architectural structures in Barcelona. Nevertheless, today it is also the most discussed park in the city, because it is worth recognizing that this park is unlike any other.
A huge number of reviews about him makes even more confusion: some of them are extremely enthusiastic and convey admiration, while some are diametrically opposed.
In Spain, it is called the pinnacle of innovative architecture. This name is determined by an interesting architectural find: tubular structures of various shapes and configurations hover over the park everywhere, causing genuine interest. In their idea, these intriguing structures symbolize the life paths of different people who meet, intersect and diverge in a completely bizarre way, forming a kind of “tree” born from the sea, where the path of each person is a small twig.
Diagonal Mar Park
Not to say that I died of delight, but you can look and walk, it's quiet and there is almost no wind. Opposite the park in the mall there is a supermarket Al Campo, Spanish Auchan. Of course, we went there and bought an inexpensive, very tasty Sangria in a plastic bottle, as well as a local sweet - turrons. It is there in different forms, there is a small compartment, it turned out cheaper than on the pedestrian la Rambla, for example.
There is one museum along this route. We were not interested in it, we specialize more in architecture and landscapes. But maybe someone is interested.
The Museu Blau (The Blue Museum)is a modern museum of natural history and science that Barcelona is very proud of.
The 9.000 square meters contain permanent and temporary exhibitions, a small Mediterranean garden, lecture halls, workshops for young visitors and a “Scientific Nest” for children from birth to 6 years old. Some expositions are located in open courtyards, in each of which you can listen to the sounds of nature from the museum's collection.
The impressive building of the museum was originally designed by the renowned architects Herzog & DeMeuron for the World Cultural Forum in 2004, and a few years later the same architects designed the interior of the museum.
BLUE ROUTE
Much more interesting than green, but there are more people on it, intersects with red.
Stop Diagonal Les Corts - is not remarkable in anything, except that we lived next to it))
Square Francesco Macia - well, the square, well, beautiful. It is useful because there, around the corner, you can change to the red line of the route. And the stop of the red route is notable for the fact that there is a Lidl supermarket next to it. In other countries, we bought goods in it, but we didn’t even go into this one. There is, and it may be useful to someone.
Francesco Macia Square
Stop at Eixample
Perhaps this stop will seem interesting to someone. The description of this area mentions the Sagrada Familia, Park Gü ell, the houses of Mila and Batllo, etc. I just don’t see the point of getting out on it, if all the above bus stops are already passing nearby. except for Park Gü ell, which is sooo far from the Eixample stop.
There are several architectural structures nearby, but I can't name the exact location
House of Lleo Morera
The House of Amatliè re adjoins the House of Batllo
Terrades House seen from the bus window
House with spikes
Barcelona Museum of Modern Art (MASVA) brings together a large collection of art from the last fifty years and displays various works from this collection throughout the year. The museum hosts an extensive program of temporary exhibitions and events related to contemporary art and culture.
Didn't go, but someone will be interested
MAKVA - Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona
Plaza Catalunya- the holy of holies, the heart of the city, a major interchange hub. It has a transfer from the red line to the blue.
There are a lot of cafes and shops nearby, the Rambla pedestrian street, Via Laietana leading to the Gothic Quarter, the large shopping center El Corts Inglé s, and so on and so forth. There is nothing much to do on the square itself, a lot of people and a flock of pigeons that you can feed. Nothing special. Very noisy place. There are better places in Barcelona.
Casa Batllo - Gaudi's house, very unusual, attracts many tourists.
If you do not want to stand in queues, buy tickets in advance online or from travel agencies. Inside the house is empty, there are three chairs-chairs, a bathtub made of furniture. There is a souvenir shop on one of the floors. There are a lot of people, they give out an audio guide, but it only interferes, because there are a lot of people, you can not adjust. Everyone slows down at the entrance. They spat on the audio guide, just went and looked. There is access to the patio, to the roof. There is a small balcony with a camera installed. You go in, the door is closed behind you. click, and at the exit from the house you can buy your photo. To be honest, I expected more, but I still liked it. In the photo on the Internet, everything looks much clearer than in life, so there is a certain degree of disappointment.
Casa Mila or la Pedrerais another unusual building with access to the roof. They were not inside.
Sagrada Familia is yet another Gaudí masterpiece still under construction. It doesn't even fit in the lens. Very beautiful, great. There are a lot of people, as always. This time they didn't hit. You have to leave something for the second time)))
district Gracia - not interested. Probably more suitable for shopping
Gracia Avenue or Paseo de Gracia is one of the most important streets in Barcelona and almost the most contrasting. Here the desire to buy and interest in art, the most expensive brands and affordable goods collide.
Park Gü ell - well, no comment here, small but remote. There is a queue not only for a certain day by appointment, but also for a certain time. If you are 15 minutes late, your ticket will be cancelled. Of course there are fewer people in the morning. I had to get up at 5 am because of him) Then we were glad that we went early, at the exit from the park we saw crowds of Chinese tourists, and that's all. Complete occupation of the park, what kind of photos are there, only solid nerves.
The park is surrounded by a large green area (free of charge), it has many entrances.
The territory of the paid park itself is small. The gingerbread houses and the lizard fountain were a delight. Maybe I'm being picky, but it's still a bit pricey. But definitely worth a visit.
We arrived half an hour ahead of schedule, we thought that we would have to wait, and the weather was non-flying, light rain, but we were let in earlier, apparently, there were few people on the territory, so it was possible. If you accidentally leave the territory of the paid zone, then you will not get back on your ticket. If you expect to get up early from the morning and go there to the ticket office, then it’s not a fact that there will be tickets for that day at all. Or they can give it in the middle of the day or in the evening, and hang out until the evening where and how you want, and then drag yourself there again. We took tickets again through a travel agency. The barcode from the tickets is read both at the entrance and at the exit.
As I wrote earlier, the tourist bus stop is not near the entrance, there is still sawing and sawing, and everything is uphill.
We went there from the metro Joanic by bus 11.5 stops, not 6, as they say. The sixth is still an extra gesture. Everything is clear from the signs. Exit through the same entrance. Bus 24 stops next to this exit and goes to Plaç a Catalunya. We went early, so there were almost no traffic jams.
The next stop is the Blue Tram to the funicular that goes up Mount Tibidabo. Heard, saw, but did not go. You can't cover everything in 5 full days. By the way, the city pass does not work on it.
Sarria Quarter - Barcelona's Sarria is a residential area located in the high part of the city (Zona Alta in Spanish).
Sarria is the most expensive area and perhaps the most prestigious among the prestigious areas of Barcelona. There are private mansions with their own gardens and swimming pools. Very nice, green, quiet and cozy. By the way, according to the old tradition, the most expensive areas in Spain are not by the sea, but in the mountains. Most likely, genetic memory works.
Were there in passing and quickly left. It would be necessary to wander there, look, I can’t really advise anything about this place.
Sarria
Pedralbes Monastery was founded by Queen Elisenda de Moncada. The Pedralbes area (from the Spanish petras albas - "white stones") was chosen for privacy, but at the same time a small distance from Barcelona.
We went out at the monastery, but did not buy a ticket inside. In the book Bas Touristik there is a discount for visiting it.
Beautiful quiet secluded place, deserves attention.
Palau Real or Pavilions Gü ellis the place for museum lovers. There are two museums here - ceramics and applied arts, furniture in general. We didn’t go to museums, there is also a discount according to the book Bas Touristik. Clicked against the backdrop of an unusual gate, the initiator of which was who ? ? Why, Gaudi, of course! Previously, the dragon on the gate moved with the help of a mechanism, opened and closed its mouth.
Camp Nou Stadiumis the home stadium of FC Barcelona.
We are far from football fans, but we went down and looked, it’s still interesting. But we were, we saw, we know.
RED ROUTE
I will write about those stops that did not intersect with the blue one, so as not to be repeated.
Station Estasio de Sants. Well, he is the station and the station in Africa.
Crew Cobert. The area is not particularly remarkable. There are malls and souvenir shops.
Plaza de Españ a is a beautiful interesting place with beautiful interesting views.
Next to the square is the Arena shopping center in a former bullfighting building, which is now banned. Good views open from the shopping center, more precisely from the observation circular platform located on the roof. An external elevator raises there or you can climb inside the Arena and go to the roof. Personally, I liked much more than Plaza Catalunya.
I recommend!
Mies van der Rohe Pavilion - This is a museum of the work of the artist Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and hosts various award ceremonies, exhibitions, conferences, symposia and congresses designed to help understand the topics of urban planning and modern architecture.
Not interested...
Spanish village - Poble Espanyol - most of them are old houses, temples, monasteries, palaces and castles - life-size copies of famous architectural masterpieces. But there are also smaller counterparts.
Entrance fee. By the way, evening excursions with dinner are offered there. They say it's beautiful.
We didn't go inside, we clicked at the entrance, maybe next time...
MNAC - National Art Museum of Catalonia - very beautiful both near and far. Looks good from the Plaza de Españ a. From all sides is good. Didn't go inside.
The museum is located in a magnificent palace near magical fountains. Here are works of Romanesque, Catalan, Greek and Renaissance art. The MNAC features all art forms (sculpture, painting, drawings, engravings, posters, photographs and numismatics) that tell a detailed history of Catalan art, from the Romanesque period to the middle of the 20th century. The museum's collection also includes works by such famous artists as El Greco, Zurbaran, Velasquez, Cranach, Rubens and even early works by Dali and Picasso.
Anella Olimpika- the Olympic ring.
In 1992, the Olympic Games were held in Barcelona. For this grand event, the central part of the Montjuic mountain was completely built up with sports infrastructure. In addition to the stadium, a number of other Olympic facilities were created. The most significant of them were included in the so-called Olympic Ring of Barcelona.
From the category were-seen.
Calatrava TV Tower
Museum Joan Miro - fans of his work. We watched from the bus window,
Funicular to Montjuic. Stopbus stop next to him. We drove on our own early in the morning. Near the exit of the metro station Parallel. We took tickets up to the fortress. Again, according to the book Bas Touristik - a discount.
Honestly, the summit of Montjuic did not impress. We didn’t go to the fortress itself, there is a museum there, the entrance is paid. We walked around, looked at the panorama. I liked the panorama from the monument to Columbus much more.
Mossen Costa and Llobera Botanical Gardens -
Now the gardens have a large number of species of cacti and succulents, about 800, but at the very beginning, cacti did not take root well on the rocky soil of the mountain.
Therefore, at one time the cactus park was closed for reconstruction, the land was renewed in it, a huge number of new cacti were brought. Now then the park has begun to live a new life, now it is under the protection of the municipality of Barcelona and is the property of the city.
We were not impressed with the description of the gardens, there are more interesting places.
Next stop is the World Trade Center. They also took pictures from behind the glass. Nothing particularly remarkable.
But the Columbus monument is very interesting and worth climbing. It offers an excellent panorama of the promenade and pedestrian La Rambla. The lift costs 6 euros. Tickets can be bought inside the monument, there is a bar and shops. The observation deck is small, it is difficult to push through. Elevator with an accompanying worker. When you want to go down, you press the button.
I recommend!
Port Vell - didn't see anyone get out there. It's still cold to walk there, however.
Port "Vell" in Catalan means "Old Port" and is one of the oldest areas of Barcelona. Perhaps the most interesting place in this port, which has become a motive for numerous local souvenirs, is the Rambla de Mar suspension footbridge system, which continues the line of the Rambla, but already by the sea. The bridges are elegantly decorated with steel channels, curved in the form of waves, emphasizing the marine affiliation of the building.
It is noteworthy that the bridges are drawbridges and are regularly raised to pass yachts moored in the port.
Museum of the History of Catalonia. Let's go...
After the next stop Port Olympic, (transfer to the green line), stop Zoo. Didn't go, but the kids will probably be interested.
Park La Ciutadella - I liked the park. Quiet, cozy, beautiful, everything is green. Pond with ducks, where they ride on a boat. Quietly walk and take a walk - a pleasure. Recommend!
We went to the park ourselves, on our own. We walked through the park and eventually reached the Arc de Triomphe.
triumphal arch
View of Akbar Tower
One stop left, Barrio Gotico, the Gothic Quarter, a historic, gloomy but interesting place. At this stop, we did not get off, but started the walk from the other side, which I will write about below.
We walked around the Gothic Quarter on our own. We didn’t see everything we wanted to, because it was terribly cold, fortunately, without rain.
We started our journey from Via Laietana on the side of Plaç a Catalunya.
Bank
The first stop was the famous art cabaret "4 Cats", where Gaudí and Picasso liked to sit. From Via Laietana, I had to turn right and walk along a narrow street to a picturesque house in which the cabaret was located.
After passing the cabaret, we exit onto a busy street with cafes and shops, which leads us to the New Square, with the Barcino monument and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Eulalia.
On Thursdays, there is a flea market on the square, which of course we stopped by.
The next well-known landmark is the Last Breath Bridge, formerly the Kissing Bridge.
And after the bridge, the bright colors of the souvenir shop with all sorts of things catch your eye
. While we learned that it was impossible to take pictures, we clicked from the bottom of our hearts. The second floor in it is not so interesting, but no one is watching you there at all. Photos are banned, allegedly due to the fact that the flash spoils the product. Well, then you hang signs or something.
After the shop, we go to Jaume Square with the Palace of the Government.
Frozen already, after the square you have to retreat to the Rambla, closer to the metro, home and dinner, clicking interesting houses and shop windows along the way.
The sights of Barcelona do not end with a tour of the Gothic Quarter. There are still a lot of interesting places that are not included in the Bus Touristik route.
LA RAMBLA AND SOUVENIRS
First of all, it is worth noting the pedestrian La Rambla, stretching from Plaza Catalunya to the Columbus Monument. Of course, it’s worth taking a walk along it, and it won’t hurt to get gifts for relatives and friends. Judging where it is more profitable to take something is hard. For example, I was looking for a cat figurine in the style of Gaudí . I bought it on the Rambla, and later I saw the same one cheaper near the Sagrada Familia. In outdoor tents, everything is definitely cheaper than under a roof, renting a room probably affects. We thought that they were selling Chinese junk, although what's the difference, but they have all the goods with bar codes, and everywhere excises and labels - made in Spain, which we were pleasantly surprised by.
Guides do not recommend buying any souvenirs and things from Arabs and blacks who lay out goods on sheets. They are said to be of poor quality. And secondly, they can thunder for illegal trade, and you will pay for the purchase of illegal goods.
La Rambla
flower shops
flower shops
Merlin Monroe invites you to the Erotic Museum
Next to the pedestrian street there is an equally famous and interesting place - the Boqueria market. Even if you are not going to take anything - just go to gawk and take pictures. The place is beautiful. And whoever thinks not only about aesthetics and new experiences, may well stock up on fresh products and, again, delicious gifts.
As our guide said on the tour - the Spaniards rarely deceive about quality, so be bold!
Not far from the market there is another interesting, but for some reason little-known attraction. I found out about it by chance, from someone else's review.
More precisely, about him, since this is none other than the Ravalsky cat or the Botero cat , imposingly strolling along the Rambla del Raval - the local Red Light District. The place is green, the contingent is still the same, but the cat is simply gorgeous, I say, like an ardent cat lady ! ! I liked! Recommend!
Another of the city's sights that are worth a visit, you can certainly note Tibidabo Mountain. We looked at her every day from the window of the room, but there was no time to go up. Children will definitely be interested there, because the oldest amusement park is located on the mountain.
The mountain is picturesque in itself. Evergreen shrubs, pines, exotic plants bend their branches over a shallow network of paths and sandy roads.
Today, the face of Tibidabo has changed. Lined up here:
There is another place in Barcelona that is not so well known to the general public, but no less beautiful and interesting for tourists - Labyrinth de Orta Park. I found out about it by chance from a tourist brochure. I got interested, I decided to find it on the map ...but it is not on the tourist map.
It is located near the subway, but very far from the center. On the last evening of our stay, we managed to get out there, which we do not regret at all. This park is notable for the fact that well-known scenes from the movie "Perfumer" were filmed in it!
Horta Labyrinth Park is a historical park. Which is listed in the Red Book. It is located on the site where the estate of the famous and revered Desvalls family used to be. The park is divided into two parts. This is a garden of the 18th century, where neoclassical style is used, so amazing and unique. And a 19th-century garden, where such an exciting and charming romantic style was used.
You can get to the park by metro Mundat, green metro line L3. This is at the top of the subway map. I found the place only on the Internet through Google, this place did not fit on tourist maps. I sketched the road by hand. Landmark - you need to go uphill, Landmarks, a huge letter A, punctuation marks on the grass, a velodrome, which is located closer to the road and to the right of the entrance to the park. Entrance to the territory of the Labyrinth Park is paid. There are few tourists. Silence and beauty.
punctuation marks
Letter A
velodrome
As for field trips from Barcelona, we were lucky enough to get to Montserrat, walk around the territory of the monastery, listen to the boys' choir, which, frankly, did not impress and climb the funicular to explore the scenery.
Montserrat is a mountain that has a very bizarre shape, located fifty kilometers from the capital of Catalonia - Barcelona - halfway to the Pyrenees. In Catalan, Montserrat means jagged or cut mountains. Millions of years ago, on the site of modern Catalonia, there was a sea, which then reared up, turning into a mountain range. After the glacier came down and the formation of the Pyrenees occurred. But Mount Montserrat broke away from the main ridge and was left to stand alone.
There is a Benedictine monastery on the mountain of Montserrat, which can be reached in a couple of hours from the Llobregat river valley along a mountain path. This place has long attracted tourists and pilgrims, so in 1892 a funicular was built from the monastery to a place called Monistrol de Montserrat. Then it was replaced with a rope.
The main object of pilgrimage is the statue of the Black Madonna (La Moreneta) kept in the monastery. The legend says that St. Luke carved it, and then St. Peter brought it to Spain. In 718, the statue was hidden in the mountains of Montserrat to save the Saracens, and then it was lost. In 890, shepherds miraculously discovered the Black Madonna in a cave, where they came under the influence of angelic singing and mysterious radiance. A chapel was built in this place, and the cave became known as Santa Cova.
The statue that pilgrims and tourists now visit dates back to the 12th century. There are different theories that explain the black color of the Child and the Madonna. By the way, none of them has a plausible justification. Perhaps it has darkened from the many candles that have been burning around it for centuries.
Some of the legends about Mount Montserrat have already been mentioned above. It is so unusual in its appearance that it causes real awe and delight.
The mountain is formed by large bald rocks, similar to idols. Narrow channels look like fancy patterns. And gloomy caves give a special mystery to the whole local appearance.
Many stories and legends are associated with Montserrat. One of these legends tells that at one fine moment angels descended to the top. They were bored with the surrounding landscape, and they decided to cut the mountain into two equal parts, decorating it with various figures. Since that time, it has become known as Montserrat - sawn mountain. And the stone formations of a bizarre shape received such names as the Head of an Elephant, God's Finger, Camel, Face of the Holy Virgin.
To get to the mountain you need different modes of transport. The foothills of Montserrat can be reached by bus or car on the motorway, or by the outgoing train from Plaza de Españ a in Barcelona.
Then the climb up the mountain can be done in three ways: by mountain train (kremalier), on foot or by cable car. And the highest point of the mountain can be reached by funicular. From there, there are three hiking trails. And in total, about ten hiking trails for tourists operate to climb Montserrat and pass along its slopes.
IMPRESSIONS and TIPS
Since we have already visited the monasteries of Meteora in Greece, we did not think that this place would amaze us with something, but it struck us with unusual landscapes and beautiful views. Walk there and walk, and enjoy the clean mountain air. The guides tell about the boys' choir, who sing two songs in the cathedral for 5-7 minutes exactly at one o'clock in the afternoon. To be honest, calling 6 children a choir somehow doesn’t turn the tongue, so I advise you not to waste time and it’s better to devote precious minutes to going up the funicular to the mountain or to the cave to visit the Black Virgin Mary, who cares.
Lots of people, as always. To listen to the same boys, you need to take a seat ahead of time. Standing and then hard to find. We stood before the start of the performance for 20 minutes, and left without waiting for the end to take a queue for the funicular, and, as it turned out, we did the right thing. After the chorus, the people poured up the mountain. In addition to walking and breathing there, you can stock up on delicious cheeses, honey, date cakes, casseroles, etc. , etc. Everyone is allowed to try. It's just embarrassing to say no later. Therefore, they tried what they were going to take for sure. And in general, as my sister, who has already been to Barcelona three times, said: "They let you try everything. " And then she quietly added: "Only then they force you to buy ... "))))
In general, we were impressed by the trip, we liked everything, the weather did not let us down, we bought delicious natural gifts. The tour was a success!
SAINT GEORGE'S DAY
One of the most ancient local holidays. The streets are filled with tents with roses, as well as book stalls. This is a celebration of love and friendship. Men (boys, old people) give women (girls, grandmothers) roses tied with a ribbon in the color of the Catalan flag, and they in return give the male sex a book as a sign of friendship and love. Books signed by the author are especially valued. The holiday has no age restrictions. In short, the men, as always, got off lightly. I bought a rose and I'm free. And the female half defends in queues for signing books, and for the price, the book is clearly worth more than a flower. There is discrimination! ))))
ABOUT DAILY BREAD
Lyrics-lyrics, but you always want to eat. We went to the apartments without food, that is, we cooked ourselves in the kitchenette. What to say about shops. In the shopping centers of El Cort Ingles, grocery stores are large, but a little expensive. Auchan - Al Campo saw only one and that one on the edge of the city, you won’t go on purpose. Lidl was also seen. but it was far from us. The best option is Mercadona. A network of inexpensive supermarkets, where the bulk of the population buys its goods. It's really cheap and delicious. From there, too, they took home delicious delicacies. You can find them on google maps for example. One store is located on the lower floor of the Arena shopping center, which is in Plaza Españ a.
CONS
Beauty is beauty, but there are disadvantages, as elsewhere.
Perhaps, the biggest disadvantage is still pandemonium and endless queues, queues, queues, wherever you go. The ticket line sucks, then the museum line sucks. TOTAL SUCK! I had to buy everything with an overpayment at a travel agency, so as not to waste precious time standing in lines. And it's still not really the beginning of the season. What happens to them in the summer - it's scary to imagine !!! ! If you are definitely planning any excursions and visits to museums - if possible, buy in advance online. Convinced by my own experience.
Secondly, the weather. According to forecasts, +20 was promised, as a result, +20 turned into +8. It's just a cap. It was often colder in the hotel room than in the sun outside or in the mall. We went to warm ourselves - in the end, we died like dogs! Heating at the hotel did not work, the season is probably over. Constant heavy wind.
The local people are familiar and hot, they also ventilated. The window frame is thin, siphon around the entire perimeter. In short, the room was a minimum of time, ate and slept. Returned home - sick! Take warm clothes with you and don't really trust the forecast for more than 2 days in advance, it sometimes changes during the day.
Third corks. Traffic jams cause a lot of trouble everywhere. In Moscow, there is an excellent remedy against traffic jams - to take a walk. But walking around the center of Barcelona from the middle of the day until the evening is not an easy task. Unless you like to ride in the Moscow metro during rush hour and walk, pushing through the crowd, periodically pushing people with your elbows. In short, this is not a pleasure walk, but a complete hassle. We got there a couple of times in the evening, looked at this matter, and didn’t walk around the center in the afternoon.
Another disadvantage is unsanitary conditions.
I had read before that the Spaniards do not wear interchangeable shoes at home, they laugh at our slippers as if they were a stupid fad, they don’t wash their hands after the street and before eating. They sit both on the ground and on the pavement, firmly believing that it is clean there. Like, that's the mentality. In general, the guide also said: “Come back from a walk - wash your hands thoroughly, there is enough infection here. ” You yourself saw how they put their bags on the floor in the subway cars, put umbrellas on the floor, clutching between their legs, children wallow on the asphalt and the ground , do not just lie, but ride, and then, of course, they also lie in these clothes at home on the couch or bed. Seen it often. This happens to us as an exception. Yes, and putting an umbrella on a dirty floor, few of ours would come to mind. So wash your hands, cleanliness is the key to health.
By the way, fruits and vegetables are also recommended to be washed thoroughly. After joining the European Union, Spain was obliged to spray products with chemicals.
You won’t get hurt, but it won’t add health either.
It is also not recommended for visitors to drink water from the tap, it is better to buy drinking water. But we boiled the kettle from the tap, and our weak stomachs did not fail.
About behavior. They seem to have respect for their elders, you can see it. But at the same time, no one ever gives way to anyone in transport, only with rare exceptions, even the elderly. But, getting up to go out, the young offer the old people to sit down. Looks like a mockery. Everyone hurts each other, backpacks are not removed from their shoulders, while they do not always apologize. In general, I don’t understand something in this life ...
In conclusion, I want to say that everyone has their own taste, their own priorities, and so on. Whether you like Barcelona or not is also an individual question. It's still better to see it for yourself than to read a thousand reviews.
I tried to present as much information as possible for comfortable movement and planning a vacation. And the rest - think sakmi, decide for yourself ...
Interesting trips, good mood and new vivid impressions to all!
