The second city in Spain, as for size and number of inhabitants, Barcelona is also one of the most beautiful tourist places in Europe. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea with kilometers of white sandy beaches. Barcelona is famous for its night life, for the shows and entertainments. But it is also very important for its architecture and history making it really special, in the world. You will enjoy a holiday in Barcelona, and this is what you must know before you go.
When to go to Barcelona
Every month of the year is perfect for a trip to Barcelona. Maybe just avoid the rainy November and March/April period, but all seasons can be nice here. Sometimes summer is too hot, though the sea winds make the weather tolerable anyway. If you want to avoid crowds, plan your trip for early autumn.
How to get to Barcelona
You can get to Barcelona with every single means of transport. The European Route AP7 connects the city to France and the rest of Europe, while motorway A2 is the main road to connect it to the other regions of Spain. Four international bus terminals and three railway stations (França, Sants and Passeig de Gracia) welcome tourists from all over the continent.
Those who arrive by airplane will land at Barcelona-El Prat airport – 15 km away from the city. You can easily rent a car, at the airport, or use buses, taxis and even trains to get to the city. Barcelona has a specific subway line – L9 – connecting the city center to the airport. Private transfers also available. You can plan a nice trip to Barcelona even by sea: many European ships arrive every day at the local port.
How to move
Barcelona is well organized as for urban transport. You can get to every part of the metropolitan area by using buses, trains, subway and even the new touristic cableways. There are many taxis, both private and public, which are comfortable and not too expensive. Many people love to move by bike, riding along the flat streets of the city center and using the bike sharing system.
What to see
The first place to visit in Barcelona is the Barri Gotic, the gothic area. This is the part of the city where you can admire the most beautiful architectures which have become UN World Heritage – Casa Mila, Parco Guell, Palacio Guell, Hospital San Pau, the palace of Musica Catalana and many others.
Walk along the beautiful ramblas from the central Plaza Catalunya to the Old Port and admire more monuments and shops. You might like to visit the many museums, or visit Montjuic so to admire the city from above. Very interesting the Museum of Bulls and Corrida inside the spectacular building La Monumental. Do not miss the incredible Sagrada Familia, the “melting cathedral” planned by Antonio Gaudì. And of course you shall not miss the sea and the beaches.