 |
dancing lessons from god |
Home
|
unusual travel arrangements for independent travellers
|
|
BarcelonaBarcelona'''Barcelona''' is the capital of the region of Catalonia in Spain. It is also a magical city of fanciful buildings, neverending nightlife and home to tasty tapas. ==Districts== Barcelona has many quarters, but the most important and interesting for the visitors are: *Barcelona/Ciutat Vella|Ciutat Vella -- Barcelona's old town, including the medieval Barri Gotic. *Barcelona/Eixample|Eixample -- Modernist quarter, noted for its ''art nouveau'' buildings *Barcelona/Grācia|Grācia -- Historically a working class neighborhood, now rather gentrified, and very lively *Barcelona/Barceloneta|Barceloneta -- Historically a fisherman's quarter ==Understand== ===When to come=== *'''Festes de la Mercè''' Around the 24th of September, the main celebrations in the city. Live music during all the day and night, theatre, life in the streets, ''castellers'', and most of it for free! *'''Festes de Grācia''' Around the 15th of August, the celebrations from the Grācia quarter. Many streets are decorated by the neighbours, live music, food in the street, party all night long. *'''Festes de Sants''' Similar to Gracia's ones, but smaller and a bit later in August. If you can't go to the Gracia's, try these! ===Language=== Barcelona's first language is Catalan phrasebook|Catalan, not Spanish phrasebook|Spanish, or Castellano, as most Catalan people prefer to say! Most signs are indicated both in Catalan and in Spanish. Every inhabitant speaks Spanish though - and some speak English or French. ===Stay Informed=== [http://www.vilaweb.com vilaweb.com] it is the main local online newspaper. There is a [http://www.nosaltres.com/www/english?p_idint=10 section] in english with a guide of city website in english If you read Spanish, you can visit [http://www.salirenbarcelona.com/castellano/home/home.asp "salir en Barcelona"], with info about the local events. If you want more information about nightlife in Barcelona visit [http://www.bcn-nightlife.com "Barcelona Nightlife Guide"]. Discounts can be obtained by buying a discount card. There are few available although the main discount card for nightlife discounts is the BCN-Nightlife card. Also, you can buy in all newsstands a magazine called [http://www.guiadelociobcn.es/index1.asp ''Guía del ocio''], with weekly information about; festivals, music, restaurants, cinema, theater, night, arts, kids, tv... A lot of useful information with timetables and prices. ==Get in== ===By plane=== [http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?pagename=Estandar%2FPage%2FAeropuerto&MO=0&SMO=-1&SiteName=BCN&c=Page&cid=1045569607459&lang=EN_GB Barcelona's airport], called ''el Prat'', is about 10 km from the city center. Once there, you can go to the center by train (every 30 minutes, stopping at ''Sants'' and ''Plaça Catalunya''), by bus A1 (''Aerobus'') that stops at ''Plaça D'Espanya'', ''Plaça de la Universitat'' and ''Plaça de Catalunya'' with the same frequencies. The bus is the more expensive option at €3.60, with the added possibility of finding traffic jams. Both services run until 11 PM. There is quite a good taxi service, the only way to reach the center if you arrive at night. The fare is about 12 euros if you go to the center, but this can change depending of the time of the day and, of course, the part of the city you want to reach. Alternatively, you can rent cars and there is a big car park, though quite expensive if you leave your car there for more than a couple of hours. The ''el Prat'' airport is served by a number of airlines, including EasyJet and Virgin Air, one of many scheduled flight companies. The ''VILOBÍ D'ONYAR'' (tel 972 186600 / 972 186708) regional airport at Girona (around 110km north of Barcelona) is an increasingly popular option for visitors to Barcelona, particularly budget travellers. Girona airport formerly catered largely to charter flights serving the nearby Costa Brava, but lately budget carrier RyanAir added a number of routes to Girona from its existing European hubs. RyanAir's partner Barcelonabus (web: www.barcelonabus.com tel: 902 361 550) runs a non-stop bus directly from Girona Airport to metropolitan Barcelona, arriving at the [http://www.barcelonanord.com/ Barcelona Nord] Bus Terminal (just beside the Arc de Trionf and the Arc de Trionf Metro Station) in around 90 minutes. Busses back to Girona Airport leave from across the street. Tickets (a return trip costs 19 Euros) can be bought at a kiosk inside Girona Airport or at the Estasiō de Nord n°12 box (There's no on board ticket selling, so you must buy it before getting on). The busses are scheduled to pick up arriving travellers 30 minutes after each RyanAir arrival, and to take outbound passengers to Girona Airport in adequate time for each scheduled RyanAir departure. The busses have a "RyanAir Girona Airport - Barcelona" sign in the window ([http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/dests.php?loc=GRO RyanAir Gerona Info)] and [http://www.sagales.com/index.asp?docId=87&MenuID=87&seccio=2 Bus Timetable]. Then there is an hourly bus from the airport to Girona rail station. Girona is well worth a visit, and has regular rail links to Barcelona (about 6 euro and 1 hour). A taxi trip from Girona Airport to Barcelona will cost over 100 euros (with unscrupulous taxi drivers willing to illegally charge unwitting tourists even more). Some online agencies offer a door-to-door shuttle service, but this must be prebooked well in advance (and is unlikely to be cost-competitive with the Barcelonabus shuttle). ===By train=== The main train station in Barcelona is called ''Estació de Sants'', but the most central ones are ''Catalunya'' (only regional trains) and ''Passeig de Gràcia'' (serving some long-distance lines). The Spanish train company is called [http://www.renfe.es/ingles/index.html RENFE]. Barcelona is very well connected by train with Madrid, Valencia (City)|Valencia, Zaragoza and the Basque Country. Inside Catalonia, there are frequent trains from the other three provincial capitals (Lleida, Tarragona and Girona). A few trains travel across the Pyrenees, but it's possible to reach the eastern part using the train to Tour de Carol (France). Going by train to the Costa Daurada beaches is the best choice, using the line to Tarragona. Costa Brava isn't well connected by train. ===By bus=== Buses connect Barcelona to many destinations, and they are the only mode of transportation to reach many places in Catalonia. The most important bus stations are: * '''Estació de Sants''', serves mainly international routes, and is located next to the train station. * '''[http://www.barcelonanord.com/eng/servicios/bcnCOMP.asp Estació del Nord]''', is the main bus station for medium and long routes, and is located next to ''Passeig de Sant Joan''. The routes within Catalonia are served by different bus companies. Every town is usually served by a single company. To find which bus company serves which route, ask at an information point, or try this [http://www.mobilitat.net/cat/html/int_trv.htm site] (although in Catalan, it is quite easy to use: enter your origin on the left, your destination on the right, and it will tell you the name of the bus company and its telephone number). ===By hiking=== Spanish people don't take hikers often, so make sure you get a direct ride to Barcelona if you come from France (March 2004 the border control is restored and the border is thus a great place to get a hike). To get out to France you can take a train to Sils and walk to the place where cars coming from the Costa Brava take the paying highway to go north. ==Get Around== * The [http://www.tmb.net/en_US/turistes/busturistic/busturistic.jsp Bus Turistíc] links all of the Barcelona tourist sites you could possibly want to visit. It has three routes, including a northbound and a southbound line which leave from opposite sides of the ''Plaça de Catalunya''. You can buy one day (€17) or two day (€21) tickets. * The metro can take you to many places. A one jouney ticket cost 1,15 euro, so it's probably best to buy a multiperson 10-ride ticket for 6,3 euros or a personal 50-ride monthly ticket for 25 euros. These tickets are also valid in the buses. [http://www.tmb.net/en_US/home.jsp More information] ==Do== * Stroll on ''Les Rambles'' (a tile-covered tree-lined pedestrian walkway), ''La Plaįa Catalunya'' (emotional center of Barcelona) i ''El Portal de l'Āngel'' (a commercial pedestrian road). * Stroll along miles of '''beachfront boardwalk''' starting from Barceloneta or get a tan on the beach. * Wander the '''Barri Gotic''', the largely intact medieval center of the city. * Enjoy the '''nightlife''' in the city's 200 or so squats. * Walk in '''Born''', a very popular area with great restaurants and places to have a drink or two... or three... ==See== * '''Gaudi architecture''', including the '''Parc Güell''', the still unfinished '''Sagrada Família''' and the houses; '''La Pedrera/Casa Milā''' and '''La Casa Batllķ'''. * '''La Rambla''' is the most famous boulevard in Barcelona. * '''The Gothic Quarter''' , with the Cathedral and Santa Maria del Mar Church. * '''Olympic stadium''' and village on Montjuïc hill, including the Montjuic Castle with his beatifull sightseeing. * '''Tibidabo''' is located on the mountains of Barcelona and offers a spectacular view of the city. * '''Olympic Port'''. It has a large number of restaurants, bars and other establishments which have made Barcelona's nightlife even more intense. * '''Camp Nou Stadium'''. If you're a football freak then you can't miss this place. Campnou is the home ground for FCBarcelona. This stadium is the biggest in Europe with capacity of 98,600 people, it also has shops and a museum of the history of FCBarcelona. * [http://www.zoobarcelona.com/ZOO_Barcelona/English/English.asp '''Zoo-Barcelona'''] It is located in Parc de la Ciudadella. This zoo was famous for its white gorilla "Snowflake". Unfortunately he passed away. But still this zoo has many other features including a science museum inside the zoo. * '''[http://www.poble-espanyol.com/ Poble Espanyol]''' A village that let you see almost all typical architecture of spanish houses. The village hosts the Fondation Fran Daurel, where you can enjoy an intresting Modern Art collection boasting Mirķ, Picasso, Tapičs and other, mostly Spanish and Catalan, nowaday's artists. * '''[http://www.palaumusica.org/ Palau de la Música Catalana]''' Modernist desing by Lluís Domčnech i Montaner is in the UNESCO World Heritage since 1997, a masterpiece of Catalan's Modernist Architecture. ===Museums=== * '''MNAC''' (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya) in the Palau Nacional has the single best collection of Romanesque art in the world, and a fine Gothic collection as well. Includes the ''Pantocrator'' from the Taüll Romanesque church. *'''The Museum of the City of Barcelona''' includes access to underground Roman ruins and a complex of historic buildings in the center of the Barri Gōtic (Gothic Quarter), as well as being a reasonably good historical museum. * '''MACBA''' Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art. * '''CCCB''' Centre de Cultura Contemporānia de Barcelona. * The '''Picasso Museum''' has a lot of art from his first period, before the cubism. * '''Caixa Fōrum''' located at Plaįa Espanya, this place hosts great exhibitions (at the time of writing: ''Dalí - Culture for the masses'') and entrance is free! * '''Fundaciķ Antoni Tāpies''' This abstract artist has a great Museum close to ''Passeig de Grācia''. It is a good size, has great architecture and good international exhibits. Not to mention the Tapies! * '''Joan Mirķ Museum''' This museum is on the Montjuīc accessible by the metro (L3 Paralˇlel and then the funicular). It is a great treasure,maybe the best museum about Joan Mirķ. It always has interesting temporary expositions. * The '''Museum de l'Erōtica de Barcelona''' on Les Rambles, just in front of the market IS a deep tourist trap. The tour isn't worth it, unless you wish to see old paints of kamasutra. The only interest is the huge phallus in the hallway, makes funny pictures! ==Eat== Barcelona has some of the best restaurants and cafes in Europe. For starters, you might try any of the large cafes that line the Passeig de Gracia and the Rambla de Catalunya, just north of the Plaça de Catalunya: nearly all offer a variety of excellent tapas (appetizers), although a bit expensive. You can get food from any part of the world in Barcelona, but make sure you try some specifically Catalan food. The great Catalan staple is ''pa amb tomaquet'': toasted bread, covered in olive oil, then smeared with garlic and tomato. The selection of seafood is consistently great, although not a lot of it is local (this part of the Mediterranean is pretty well fished-out). The most popular quarter for the Barcelona's citizens is Barcelona/Barceloneta|Barceloneta, where you can try fish based dishes, such as ''Paella'' or, the real dish from Barcelona ''arròs negre'' (''Black Rice''), that takes its colour because is made using squid ink. It's a very good place to eat ''tapas'' as well. * '''El Glop''' (four locations) offers excellent Catalan meals at a price within most budgets. Allow about 20 per person, although you could get out of there for half of that if you let the price dictate your choice of dishes. * '''Grupo Tragaluz'''have more restaurants in Barcelona. The type of meal that they offer is creative and mediterranean. You can visit the website and decide what restaurant do you prefer http://www.grupotragaluz.com. Comer y no Bombas (location variable) shares free vegan food. If you are looking for a cheap lunch: * '''La Boqueria''' market: it's on the Rambla, and there you can find food at low prices, the only problem is that all that food is mostly raw food! Some stall sells stuff for you such as many kinds of well cooked ready to eat pasta, fresh fruit already sliced, ... [http://www.boqueria.info/Eng/ La Boqueria] * '''Supermarket's Gastronomy''': in several supermarket you can find a wide Gastronomy stall, with ready to eat dishes in a great selection. Differently from other countries you can have a two courses lunch with less than 5 euros. ==Drink== * '''La Paloma''' is a very popular night club. In the evening they have shows, but late night it turns to the most crowded party place packed with young people. * '''Catwalk''' is one of the most visited nightclub. Gets busy at around 2 am. They offer 2 different floors with R&B and hip-hop styles mixed with House or Techno. * '''Shoko''' is -just like Catwalk- also down at the beachfront. Shoko offers you a true Feng Shui experience. Depending on the night they play house or Hip Hop music. One of the nicest decorated nightclubs in Barcelona. For an extensive list of club and bars you can visit either [http://www.bcn-nightlife.com "Barcelona nightlife Guide"] (English and Spanish) or [http://www.salirenbarcelona.com "salir en Barcelona"] (Spanish Only). ==Buy== *'''[http://www.lagauchedivine.com La Gauche Divine]''', an incredible multiconcept store near las Ramblas. An example of the catalan design is the decoration of the shop with an exclusive combination of furniture from the sixties and paintings and sculptures all around. The shop includes a little corner where you can have a drink while watching the latest trend publications and an inner patio with plants and sculptures They have a lot of clothes and accessories for men and women, the most original pieces you can find in Barcelona Don't miss the courreges mini dresses brought from Japan and the catwalks and special events they organize every month. * '''[http://www.elcorteingles.es/ El Corte Inglés]''' It's an "Harrod's Like" store, multiple buildings, several floors, you can find anything in a wide range and stocks. It sell almost everything, from gastronomy to pneumatics. ==Sleep== Barcelona offers a great arrangement of accommodations, from cheap, decent "hostel" rooms with the bathroom down the hall to five-star hotels. Here are some that are notable in their price range: * '''Hotel Cuatro Naciones''', La Rambla 40, Barcelona 08002 , Tel: (+34) 93 317-36-24. Hotel ** on the Barcelona's most characteristic avenue (La Rambla), the nerve centre of the city. This historic area is very close to the Cathedral, the Gothic quarter and the harbor, as well as Barcelona's best shopping streets. Rooms varying from single to Quad size. Prices are very modest - starting at 80 for a double. http://www.h4n.com * '''Hotel Catalonia Albinoni''', Avd Portal De L'Angel 17, Tel. (+34) 93 23 60 00. Central, on a pedestrian street just south of Plaįa Catalunya. Rooms of varying sized, but quiet, well maintained and in an excellent location in the Barri Gòtic. About 130/night for a double room with ensuite bathroom. * '''Hotel Gran Via''', Gran Via Corts Catalanes 642, Tel. (+34) 933 181 900. Very central, and originally a palace, the public spaces of the hotel live up to that history. The rooms are large, but otherwise relatively modest. About 80 per night for a double room with bath. * '''Pensión Norma''', up 3 flights of stairs at C. Gran de Grācia, 87, Tel. (+34) 237 44 78. Modest rooms, some with bath, in the relative quiet of Grācia, about a kilometer north of the center of town. About 25 per night. ===Hotel, Hostal, or Pension?=== There are three different names given to hotel-like accommodation in Barcelona they are Hotel, Hostal and Pension. It is important not to confuse a Hostal with a Hostel. A hostel offers backpacker-type accommodation with shared rooms. However a hostal is very similar to guest house and is generally cheaper than a hotel. ===Holiday Apartments=== As the price of hotels rise in Barcelona a lot of people are turning to the alternative of tourist holiday apartments. Holiday apartments are a refreshing change to the hotel scene. For one thing they are 25 - 30 % cheaper. But the real reason is the convenience and privacy. All tourist apartments have a kitchen and refrigerator which means breakfast, snacks and meals and diners with great wine can be organized at the fraction of the cost of a restaurant. Apartments are generally more comfortable and larger than hotels too. Hotels, sensing a threat to their business, have complained and City Hall has duly complied with new regulation, so you may find that the apartments that were formerly rented are now closed. Below are a few agencies to book online with good selections: * '''[http://www.barcelonapoint.com Barcelona Point]''' c\Dolors Masferrer 9 Nice selection of apartments for all budgets. The website's guide is ok but the section on arriving and history are good. * [http://www.happyapartments.com ''' Happy Apartments Barcelona ''' ] c\Nou de la Rambla 10 Great selection of holiday apartments in Barcelona, with only very well located apartments near tourist points of interest. Ideal for big group and family travel. * [http://www.oh-barcelona.com/en/all_accom/accommodation_studio/''' Oh-Barcelona ''' ] just off Placa Catalunya and with a wide range of centrally located Barcelona Apartments, view photos, descriptions and client reviews online. * [http://www.rentals-barcelona.com''' Rentals-Barcelona ''' ] Comfortable Barcelona apartments for short term rentals on good locations for tourism or business trips. Recently refurbished and good price-quality relation. ===Hostels=== * [http://www.residenciaustralia.com/ '''Residencia Australia'''] and [http://www.hostels.com/en/availability.php/HostelNumber.2948 '''Hostal Central'''] are located on different floors of Ronda Universitat No 11. Clean, friendly and good value, just off the ''Plaça de Catalunya''. En-suite double rooms for around €60. Some travellers may wish to be warned that part of Residencia Australia's accommodation is a block nearer ''Les Rambles'', next door to a sex shop. ==Contact== *'''Infoespai''', Plaįa del Sol. A free Internet cafe, and social center. [http://infoespai.org/view.php?idz=e Infoespai] is in the Grācia quarter. ==Stay safe== Barcelona is a very friendly city. Maybe this is the reason that many tourists become less careful and get pickpocketed in Barcelona. Crowded places and metro/busses and areas such as Raval and the famous "Les Rambles" are still the most likely places to get pickpocketed. Take particularly care of your backpack and handbags. Other places in the city are less secure than the average: Plaįa Real and Barrio Xino( the triangle from Colom Monoument to Calle Nou de la Rambla) above the others. Strictly avoid these places at night. == Get out == Day trips from Barcelona include: * Figueres home of the impressive Salvador Dali museum * Montserrat - visit the monastery nestled high on the mountain to see the Black Madonna or hike to the peak to earn a fantastic view of the surroundings. * '''Sitges''' a traditional beachside destination for the locals. ==External links== *[http://www.bcn.es/english/ihome.htm The official web page from the City Hall] *[http://www.fgc.net Catalonian railways] *[http://www.renfe.es Spanish railways] WikiPedia:Barcelona fr:Barcelone ro:Barcelona First page | Prev | Next | Last page |
if you like cool drinks you may be interested in:
Hope you enjoyed reading about Barcelona |
|
