Team Five’s guide to Barcelona
Barcelona is a massive city, and the heart of Catalunya. It’s full of character, charm, modern vibes and authentic old town but if you’re not careful it can chew you up and spit you out. It has everything from the world famous Barcelona Cathedral - named the Sagrada Familia, the Camp Nou, the amazing St Josep food market and some of the best shopping on offer.
Make sure you read to the end for a tip on a little bar tucked away - many miss it but it’s full of locals, donkeys years old and serves great cocktails.
Stained glass window Sagrada Familia - find out more about it in our YouTube video
The Port
How do you get to and from Barcelona Port?
If you’re arriving into Barcelona to pick up a cruise, then it’s likely you’ll be coming here from the airport. Barcelona El Prat Airport is around 15km from the port. You can get to the port via a private transfer - probably the quickest and most comfortable way, take a taxi or use the Metro.
If you’re looking to book a private transfer you can do so by using our Viator link. Just type Barcelona in the destination, add in your dates then select Transfers from left hadn't drop down menu.
How do you get to Barcelona city centre from the cruise port?
When we disembarked the buses were right outside the door - if you’re on a select fare with P & O Cruises then the busses are included in your cruise - if not, it’s £5 per person, each way (at the time off writing).
Barcelona is not a port that’s walkable from the terminal so you need to take the bus.
The journey takes no more than 10 mins and you do get to pass all the other ships along the way. It will drop you off outside of the world trade centre and from there you can make your way into Barcelona.
P & O’ Cruises’ Arvia docked in Barcelona.
What will be your first port of call?
That depends on what you want to do and how happy you are to use public transport around a big city. From the World Trade Centre you can get the Barcelona tourist bus or walk to the bottom of La Rambla and get the Metro.
If you’ve not been to Barcelona before and you’re not confident on a metro system/ public transport abroad, then we recommend you take the Tourist Bus. It is well established in Barcelona - in fact there’s more than one. You have a choice of Grey Line and Barcelona Tourist Bus. You can book both of those using our Team Five Viator link.
The routes for the tourist buses are as follows:
1) Often set as the Red route - Port, Passeig de Gracia (Shops & Gaudi), Placa D’Espanya, Montjuic.
2) Often set as the Blue route - Placa De Catalunya (Main Station), Passeig de Gracia, Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Camp Nou (Nou Camp).
There is some crossover of routes around Placa de Catalunya.
Consider this - if you’ve only got 6 -8 hours in port, with stops for lunch or snacks and to get out of the heat, you aren’t going to cover everything in one day, unless you don’t get off of course. Our top tip for using the Tourist Bus - pick a route that takes in what you want to see and stick to it.
The Barcelona Metro
The Barcelona metro system is well established, since 1924, and covers every corner of the city you will need on a visit. Prices start from a couple of euros and you can get around easily. If you have mobility issues then most stations do have lifts and are accessible to wheelchairs - about 3/4 of the whole network is accessible but please check this link to the TMB website for up to date info.
The closest metro station to the world trade centre bus stop is Drassanes which is around a 5 - 7 minute walk (we walk quickly so add a little time if you don’t). To find Drassanes, head to the Christopher Columbus statue and cross the road to the bottom of La Rambla, just next to the Naval headquarters.
From here you can get on the L3 and head to your next stop. If you want to see a bit more of La Rambla first then carry on up the Main Street towards Liceu.
See our YouTube video for directions to La Sagrada Familia using the Metro system.
ALL CHANGE
L3 Liceu to L5 Sagrada Familia.
Eateries
Stopping for lunch - well this depends on whether you’re in Barcelona a few days of only on a port stop with no overnight. If it’s the latter like we were then we’d recommend something quick that you can get in and out of or eat on the go.
During our cruise stop, we chose to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe, just off the top of La Rambla and on Plaza de Catalunya (The Main stop for the tourist buses by the way).
We had one large steak burger to share, some nachos, shrimp and drinks for 81 euros including tip. Service was good, food tasty and just what we needed. However, we have been to Barcelona 6 times so can definitely say there are many more authentic eats if you’re after a more cultural stop. But being on a cruise with limited time, go for the option that suits you.
If you want something more authentic there’s plenty to choose from but in that case we’d advise to stay away from the main streets - how about the food market?
La Sagrada Familia & other Gaudi works
La Sagrada Familia - still under construction but estimated to be finished by 2026 - see our YouTube video for the best place to take pictures.
La Sagrada Familia is arguably one of the most iconic churches in the entire world. Its famous back story is that of Antoni Gaudi, the now infamous architect who stepped back to admire his work from the road and was knocked over. Initially taken to the lower class hospital as they didn’t recognise him - once recognised an offer to move him was refused by Gaudi and he later died. His work on the Sagrada Familia would be taken over by many architects across the years to come - hence the constantly adapting style as the building nears completion.
La Sagrada Familia is definitely worth going and arguably the number 1 site to see, but you need to book tickets online. One option to purchase tickets for the entry to the Sagrada Familia and other sites is using our Viator link .
Palau Guell - One of Saudi's first works for the Guell family - See more about this in our YouTube video.
Another one of Gaudi’s works you can visit is Palau Guell - we think it’s one of his most underrated works - the structure of the building is so clever. If you want to see more on this check out our YouTube video on Barcelona - it will be released soon but you can watch other videos from our P & O Arvia 2024 series, using this link to our YouTube channel.
Lastly on the Gaudi front is one of our favourites - Parc Guell - it’s a vast open space fronted by two small but epically designed houses at the entrance (bottom left picture of the 4 below) as well as the famous lizard mosaic. It is far out of the main centre though - you can’t walk here - we tried on one visit to Barcelona but eventually jumped in a taxi. So, tourist bus, taxi or metro required.
Shopping
You can shop til you drop in Barcelona if you wish and there’s something for every budget.
If you’re starting from the port area then you’ll hit La Rambla first - market stalls, Starbucks, the St Josep food market. As you go further up towards the Plaza de Catalunya you have shops like Zara and the one that’s everywhere - Primark - it has 7 floors!
In the Plaza de Catalunya you’ll find everything from restaurants, the main Tourist Bus start and stop for both routes and If you like a department store then El Corte Ingles is for you. Founded by a tailor in Madrid in 1940 and supposedly after named after ‘the English cut’ It has everything you need in here across multiple floors.
The expensive boutiques are on the Passeig de Gracia - just off the Plaza de Catalunya - you’ll find all the designer brands here as well as Gaudi’s House of Bones and the Apartments (La Pedrera) so you could take in both the sites and shops.
The Oldest and world renowned cocktail bar in Barcelona.
Hidden Gem - Boadas Cocktails
Boadas Cocktails has been in Barcelona since 1933 - Founded by Miguel Boadas who brought experience from serving daiquiris in El Floridita (the famous Hemingway haunt in Havana), the bar has quite an understated entrance but inside is an old fashioned, cosy cocktail bar, steeped in history, full of locals and regulars.
We’ve been here a few times and it’s always a great experience. The waiters / bar staff are in black tie and the drinks are hand crafted - the bar is famous for martinis and of course a daiquiri or two.
Opening times vary but if you’re here later in the day or overnight be sure to check it out! Find it just off the top of Lar Rambla, near Pans & Co - if you’re at the top of La Rambla looking down, it’s on the right. if you’re walking from the port toward the Placa de Catalunya it's on the left hand side of the street.
Weather and more
What’s the weather like in Barcelona?
We visited Barcelona in the summer this year and it was hot - late twenties (degrees C) nudging 30. However, we have been before and it was closer to 23 / 24 so it can vary in Summer. We’ve also been in winter and it was cold! That may seem obvious but it was colder than expected. Ideally, May - June would be the best time to visit - not too hot and less tourists but you can’t have everything.
Other sites and places - as said we’ve been to Barca many times and other sites that are well worth a look are the Palau de la Musica Catalana (Music Palace) - it was absolutely stunning and the acoustics are amazing.
Staying on the arts theme the Picasso museum in the gothic quarter is worth a visit if art is your thing - and the gothic 1/4 is full of character and has some fantastic buildings. If Picasso is not your style what about Miro? A famous local artist - museum is up on Montjuic - served by the cable car and the tourist bus routes. You can get the cable car from the port and it does offer fantastic views of the city - we just didn’t do it this time.
Top tips & Final thoughts
It’s a big city - you’re going to walk a lot! To get around many of the sites in one cruise stop you need to use public transport or the tourist bus. Otherwise you’ll waste time ambling around and just seeing one famous street - La Rambla. And that would be a real shame as Barcelona has so much more to offer.
We haven’t even mentioned the Camp Nou for football fans as at the time of our visit it was undergoing extensive renovations that were due to complete in November 2024. Speaking from previous visits to the Camp Nou and if the plans are anything to go by, this should be one of your priorities if football is your passion,
You could get a taxi in Barcelona - they’re easy to spot as they are all bright yellow and given the nickname ‘fievre amarillo’ or ‘yellow fever’. Just make sure you get a price first before you get in.
Our number one top tip is to plan exactly what you want to see and how you are going to get around, especially if you are there in peak season, like we were. It’s very busy with tourists and of course some dodge characters, so come and explore Barcelona but be vigilant along the way.
We hope you found this guide to Barcelona useful and if so, like and follow our YouTube channel for more. If you’re looking to book a trip to Barcelona, Wayne can book this for you through our Travel Agency, Team Five Holidays, guiding you through where to stay and how to maximise your time in the city. Visit Team Five Holidays Facebook Page or email teamfiveholidays@gmail.com with your dates and requirements.