Well what a fabulous few days we have just had in Barcelona, this has to be one of my favourite Spanish cities. I got so many messages asking me to write a blog post for you, so here it is.
Where to start? Lets start with travel.
When you arrive at the airport in Barcelona there are 3 options to get into the city.
The cheapest is the train. This is €4.90 and runs every 30 minutes. The journey takes about 25 mins and you can get off at Barcelona Sants, Passeig de Gràcia or Clot where you can change to the metro system. If you are arriving into Terminal 1, a shuttle bus will take you from outside of the terminal to the train station entrance. If you purchase a T10 ticket you can travel on the metro without paying an additional charge.
The next option is the Aerobus. The Aerobus service is an express bus service that links Barcelona airport to the city centre. This service normally runs every 5 and 10 minutes. It’s air conditioned and has free wifi. You can catch the Aerobus from outside both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The Aerobus will then take you to the city centre where you can get off either at Plaça España or Plaça de Catalunya.
Single Ticket: €5.90
Return Ticket: €10.20
Return Ticket Valid: 15 days
Finally, the option we chose to take, is a taxi. There was luggage and kids, we were short for time and so thought this would be the best choice. You will find a taxi rank outside any of the main terminal exits Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. The taxis operate all night and there are several hundred of them so you don’t have to worry about not being able to catch a cab. The journey to the city centre will take you between 20 to 30 minutes. If you are travelling from Terminal 1 rather than Terminal 2, this will add an extra 4 km to your journey and take approximately 5 minutes more. The cost will be between €30 and €40.
A tip I would give is to get the taxi app, mytaxi as like an uber, you can order a taxi in the city and it will be with you within 5 minutes. You will need to have cash as most taxi’s don’t take cards.
I also want to add here that Free WiFi is widely available in Barcelona. In 2011 the city council launched Barcelona WIFI and installed antennas throughout the city. You can also get online for free in shopping centres, bars & restaurants and at the airport.
Tickets for individual journeys on the Barcelona Metro are €2.40, (only children under 4 are free) so if you intend on taking more than five journeys I would definitely recommend the T10 ticket. A T10 ticket costs €10.30 and can be purchased at the entrance to any metro station. The card entitles you to 10 journeys on the metro, bus, FGC (train line) and trams. These tickets can be purchased for any of the six zones, however I recommend buying for Zone 1 as this covers all of the main city areas and attractions. If like us you have children with you you have to put the ticket through for each person, so for us it was 4 times.
Ok next. Where to stay.
We wanted to stay in a neighbourhood with more locals than tourists, where we would feel safe with the kids. So after much searching decided on the Gracia neighbourhood. An old village that, although annexed into Barcelona in 1897, still maintains a very small-town feel. Sixty-five percent of its inhabitants are from Catalonia. It was definitely the right decision for us. We loved Gracia.
With its narrow streets and leafy squares, Gracia has a village feel. Unlike the busy centre, it’s uncrowded. The local population is a diverse mix of cool hipsters, young families, and the elderly. Traffic is minimal, so the neighbourhood feels quiet and relaxed, perfect for wandering. Many of Gracia’s streets are pedestrian-only, and it’s a very walkable neighbourhood with lots of backstreets to get lost in and pretty squares to stop for a rest on your wanders. It is a very alternative and artsy area.
It’s also very accessible for the rest of the city and is easy to take the metro, we always jumped on at The Joanic station. Another bonus to Gracia is that it is very near to Park Guell. It is only a 10-15 minute walk, but it is all uphill. Definitely worth it though.
We loved the Gothic Quarter and discussed staying there next time we visit, but I actually think for us, Gracia is the right place. Probably the most well-known neighborhood of Barcelona, the Gothic Quarter easily earns its status. This area stretches from Las Ramblas to Via Laietana. It’s a labyrinth of narrow, cobble-stoned streets and buildings from medieval and even Roman times. Mostly pedestrian, the Gothic Quarter is filled with bars, cafes and restaurants scattered in and around its many squares. There are also many famous monuments like the Gothic cathedral and the government and city halls. Nightlife here is amazing! You’ll find most of it in and around Plaça Reial. There are lots trendy bars and clubs.
The other area we loved was El Born. El Born is sandwiched between Via Laietana and Barceloneta. Las Ramblas and the centre of the city are a pleasant 10 minute walk away and the beach is also just a 10 minute walk away, so you can have both a beach holiday and a city break in one. It’s a picturesque and trendy neighbourhood which we stumbled upon whilst wandering from the Gothic Quarter.
As this post has ended up being quite long, I will write a separate post on our favourite places to eat and visit.
Shelley x
See my post on places to visit in Barcelona here. See my places to eat and drink in Barcelona here.
