Barcelona is a vibrant and colorful city that attracts thousands of tourists from Russia year after year. It has everything for a perfect vacation: warm sea, well-groomed beaches, a rich excursion program and a large number of restaurants and night clubs. The city is also the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia and has an ancient history. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, therefore it is considered an important tourist center not only in Spain, but throughout Europe.
More information about the city, its infrastructure and attractions is described in this article. Reviews of tourists about Barcelona will also be discussed below.
The main areas of the city
Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city, second only to Madrid in terms of population. About 1,600,000 people live here. Officially, the city is divided into 10 districts. But all tourism infrastructure is concentrated in only three of them. The historic center of Barcelona is considered the Old Town, which is also often called the Gothic Quarter. The Eixample district, where you can see the work of the famous architect Gaudi, is no less interesting for tourists. The development of the streets of Barcelona took place here in the second half of the 19th century. The Maujik district is another noteworthy place that attracts tourists, located on the hillsides, which bears the same name. And for art lovers, travelers recommend in their reviews to visit the Gracia district, where free artists and students live.
Where to stay in Barcelona? Tourists in their reviews are advised to focus on their own budget. If you do not plan to save on travel, then you can settle in a luxury hotel in the city center. Then you do not have to spend a lot of time daily on the road. If you are trying to save money, then choose a hotel in the port area or on the outskirts of the city. However, in the reviews, tourists note that, if you want, you can find an inexpensive hotel in the center of Barcelona.
Climate of Barcelona
The local climate is considered Mediterranean, so summer is warm and humid, and winter is mild and dry. The beach season in Barcelona begins in mid-May, although the sea of tourists will not please tourists until the beginning of June with hot weather. Air temperature varies from 20 to 25 degrees, and water - from 18 to 20. July and August are traditionally considered the most popular holiday time. It is noteworthy that in Barcelona at this time there are more tourists on the streets than local residents. The temperature rises to 30 degrees. The sea warms up to 25. However, travelers in the reviews do not recommend coming to Barcelona at the height of the swimming season. The beaches are crowded with vacationers, and the weather is completely unsuitable for excursions.
In reviews of Barcelona, tourists are advised to choose September to relax. Vacationers are getting smaller, trips are cheaper. The sea is still warm, its temperature is 25 degrees. At the same time, it becomes noticeably cooler in the evenings, so you can easily visit the sights or museums.
Early spring and late autumn are ideal times for a sightseeing trip. By the way, Spain is in a different time zone, so the time in Barcelona is different from Moscow. The difference is 1 hour.
Transport infrastructure
Barcelona is a big city, so tourists are advised to plan their routes in advance in reviews. They note that the transport infrastructure here is very well developed, and for visitors the government has prepared convenient incentives to save money.
Tourists can move around the city by city trains, buses, trams, taxis or metro. Judging by the reviews, the latter option is the most optimal and budget for travelers, since most of the attractions are in the center, so you can move between them on foot. The subway opens at 05:00 and closes at midnight. On Fridays, she works until 02:00. And on Saturday and does not close at night.
How much is the metro in Barcelona? One ticket will cost 2.15 euros (approximately 165 rubles). Tourists in the reviews note that it is much more profitable to purchase a ticket immediately for 10 trips, which will cost 10.30 euros (about 800 rubles). At the same time, it can be used to travel not only by metro, but also by buses, city trains and trams. Also, travel cards are popular with tourists, the validity of which is from 2 to 5 days. With their help, visitors can travel around the city an unlimited number of times by metro or bus. The cost of such a ticket starts from 14 euros (about 1050 rubles).
In addition, tourists can buy a ticket for a tourist bus. Its route includes the main attractions of Barcelona. In the reviews, travelers indicate that such a transport is ideal for those who are poorly oriented in unfamiliar places. In addition, tourists can always rent a bicycle or even a car.
Where to eat tasty and cheap in Barcelona?
There are a lot of catering establishments in Barcelona. There are also cheap cafes and restaurants marked by the famous Michelin star. All of them specialize in national, European and Asian cuisines. Tourists in reviews positively assess the quality of local services. They indicate that the best restaurants are always crowded with visitors. The line that has been seen is a good sign that indicates that the institution is worth a visit and the food is delicious.
If you do not know where to eat delicious and inexpensive in Barcelona, then choose small restaurants located in the city center. The cost of a full meal in them varies from 8 to 20 euros (about 600-1500 rubles). At the same time, the price also includes drinks. In the morning you can drink coffee or freshly squeezed juice, and in the afternoon or evening - beer or wine.
City Hotels
What do tourists say about Barcelona hotels in reviews? Firstly, there are a lot of them in the city. There are hotels in the center and on the outskirts. Secondly, tourists can easily rent a room in a luxurious and extremely budget hotel. There are hostels in Barcelona that offer guests only a bed and breakfast. And if the budget allows, you can even rent full-fledged apartments.
The best option, of course, is a hotel room in the center of Barcelona. Here, as a rule, you can find extremely respectable institutions that are located in buildings that are historical monuments. Most of these hotels are open near major attractions, for example, next to La Rambla. The average cost of a double room here is about 150 euros (about 11,000 rubles) per night.
In the reviews, tourists positively evaluate almost all the hotels in Barcelona, noting that even the cheapest of them offer a decent level of service. They liked the fact that there are inexpensive hotels in the city center, although they need to be booked in advance.
The cheapest thing is to stay in hotels located away from the tourist center. In addition, many hostels are open in Barcelona. At the same time, not only private owners, but also the state contain them. The cost of living in them is much cheaper. For the night you will have to pay only 10 euros (about 765 rubles). These hostels are open not only on the outskirts of the city, but also near the center.
Barcelona resorts and beaches
Barcelona is a city located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, tourists combine sightseeing here with a beach holiday. If you want to save money, then you can settle not in the city, but in the nearby resorts of Barcelona. You can always get to the capital of Catalonia on a high-speed train. The most popular resorts among tourists here are Tarragona, Sitges, Tossa de Mar and Calella.
However, for a good vacation at sea, it is not necessary to choose the resorts of Barcelona. Worthy sections of the coast are on the territory of the city itself. For example, in reviews, travelers especially praise the beaches of Barseloneta, Sant Sebastia, Nova Icaria and others. Small settlements can be advised to tourists who love nature and solitude.
Excursion program: museums and main attractions
First of all, Barcelona is famous for its amazing and colorful architecture, because it is not in vain that it is called an open-air museum. It was here that the famous architect Gaudi created, who created many masterpieces for the city. At the same time, most of the sights of Barcelona are located in the historical center. Tourists in the reviews note that this is quite convenient, since they do not have to spend a lot of time on the road.
The list of interesting places in Barcelona that are worth visiting can be listed for a very long time. Each building in the Old Quarter, for example, has its own history. But still there are significant sights that cannot be missed during the trip. In reviews, tourists are advised to visit the famous unfinished Sagrada Familia. Be sure to take a walk along the Gothic quarter, built up with buildings of the XIV-XV centuries. Nearby is Casa Batllo, built by Gaudi. In the center, it is worth walking along the pedestrian street of La Ramba and climbing the slope of Mount Mantjuic.
A huge number of museums are open in Barcelona. They are dedicated to the history of the city, the culture of Catalonia, science and even football. Some of them tell about the life of artists who lived and worked in Barcelona. So, the most popular museums are Pablo Picasso and Antonio Gaudi.
Sagrada Familia
Many tourists consider the unfinished Sagrada Familia Cathedral the most beautiful place in Barcelona. Its construction began at the end of the XIX century. According to the idea of the chief architect Antonio Gaudi, he was to become a unique original temple, unlike any other in the world. The cathedral was to consist of three facades. Gaudi wanted to decorate each of them with four towers up to 120 meters high. The architect considered the Sagrada Familia to be his main work. He worked on it for more than 40 years, and for some time even lived on its territory in a special cell.
However, the construction of the cathedral has not been completed so far. However, this does not prevent thousands of tourists from visiting it at any time of the year. Free of charge, they can admire its external design. But the entrance fee is charged. In the reviews, tourists are advised to pay an English-language audio guide at the entrance in order to better study the history and structure of this original cathedral. Sagrada Familia will be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The government of Barcelona plans to complete the cathedral by 2026, to coincide with its opening on the centenary of the death of Gaudi.
Casa Batllo
Not sure what to see in Barcelona on your own? Go to the Eixample district, where you can see the most original creations of Antonio Gaudi. For example, the house of Casa Batllo. It is also sometimes called the "House of Bones." It is noteworthy that the original building, built at the end of the 19th century for the Catalan magnate, looked a little different. It received a unique appearance only in 1906, when Gaudi took up its restructuring. At first they wanted to demolish the building, but the architect decided to keep it, redoing only two main facades. A unique feature of this house is the complete absence of straight lines in its design.
In the reviews, tourists indicate that this is one of the most original buildings in Barcelona, so you need to see it. Moreover, not only the external, but also the interior decoration is original. To visit, Casa Batllo is open daily. It works from 9:00 to 21:00, entrance for both children and adults is paid.
Pedestrian street La Ramba
Tourists who do not know what to see in Barcelona on their own can recommend a walk along La Rambla. It is considered not only the most popular street of the city, but also a tourist attraction throughout Spain. La Rambla stretched from the seaport to the very center of Barcelona - Plaza Catalunya. Its central part is considered pedestrian. Many cafes and restaurants, flower stalls and souvenir shops are open here. A lot of tourists always walk on the street. Visiting La Rambla, you will long remember the atmosphere of universal fun that reigns here. Tourists in reviews speak with admiration about the ancient buildings of the XVI-XVIII centuries, which are located here. Theaters and museums are open in them.
La Rambla itself is conditionally divided into 5 segments. Walking along it, you can also get to other streets of Barcelona. For example, tourists will be interested in the Rambla de Canaletes, where fans celebrate the victories of their native football club. And at the Rambla San Jose it is worth a glimpse to look at the famous tile, signed by the artist Joan Miró.
Gothic Quarter
It has already been said above that the Gothic Quarter is considered one of the main attractions of Barcelona. This is the historic city center, famous for the huge number of medieval buildings that have been perfectly preserved to this day. Judging by the reviews, tourists were pleased with the visit to this quarter. Most of all, they were impressed by the old Cathedral, built in the 13th century, and the central square, which is located on the site of the former Roman Forum. In addition, they liked that in the quarter there are not only cultural monuments, but also cozy restaurants and shops.
The main drawback is the huge number of tourists who want to get acquainted with the history of the city. Because of them, it is sometimes too crowded and crowded in the narrow streets of the quarter. It’s also worth a little time to visit the Barcelona History Museum.
Park Guell
Park Guell is another impressive creation by Antonio Gaudi, built on the outskirts of Barcelona. In the reviews, tourists enthusiastically describe this place, most of all they like its fantastic architecture. At the entrance to the park, you can see two huge gingerbread houses with white roofs resembling glaze. On the territory there are playgrounds, fountains, an ice rink, a bar and a bookstore. In reviews, tourists are advised to take time and visit the Gaudi Museum, open in the park. It has exhibits dedicated not only to the life of this great architect, but also to the history of the creation of Guell. And travelers recommend taking small children to the park with them - they will be delighted with what they see. Park Guell is open to visitors all year round. But the entrance to it is paid.
Montjuic Mount
Montjuic is a famous mountain located in the heart of the city. You can visit her parks for free, so in the summer in Barcelona it is especially popular with tourists. On its territory there are many attractions. The 1992 Olympic Games, as well as the 1929 World's Fair, were also held here.
What to see in the area? Tourists in their reviews indicate that the National Palace, the entrance to which is decorated with a futuristic fountain, is a must to visit. It is worth a look at the Museum of Art of Catalonia, which contains paintings and sculptures of famous creators of the city. Arriving in Barcelona with children, be sure to visit the Montjuic parks, which are famous for their unique flora and fauna. You can climb the mountain by bus, funicular or cable car.
Chocolate Museum in Barcelona
Together with the children, it is definitely worth a visit to the Chocolate Museum. Of greatest interest here is the exposition, where the architectural masterpieces of the city, made from different varieties of chocolate, are exhibited. In reviews of Barcelona, tourists also recommend visiting the museum’s coffee shop. It serves delicious desserts made of the finest chocolate. The museum is open from Monday to Saturday, Sunday is a day off. Tourists also appreciate the low cost of admission tickets. In addition, children under 7 years old can view the exhibits for free.
Pablo Picasso Museum
One of the main attractions of Barcelona is a museum dedicated to the life and art of Pablo Picasso. His collection contains about 3,500 works by an outstanding Spanish artist. The most valuable here is the Menin series, which includes 59 paintings by the late period of Picasso's work. In the reviews, tourists note that the museum itself is worthy of attention. A permanent exhibition is located in the palace, built in the XV century. The museum itself territorially covers 5 ancient mansions and occupies most of Moncada street.
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Judging by the reviews of tourists, time flies by in Barcelona unnoticed. Most of them really liked the city, so they would like to return here again. There are so many attractions here that a short vacation is not always enough to have time to explore all of them. In order to rationally distribute their time, tourists recommend purchasing an English-language guide with a map. They note that the Catalans are a very friendly and good-natured people, so do not be afraid to approach the locals to ask for directions. However, at night it is better not to approach strangers, especially if you are walking in the La Rambla area. Barcelona is considered a safe city, but sometimes tourists still get into unpleasant situations. If you nevertheless became a victim of a robber, then do not be afraid to go to the police. Tourists in the reviews say that she works here extremely efficiently.
Looking for free entertainment in Barcelona? Head to the city center and stroll along the Gothic Quarter or La Rambla. In addition, many museums offer tourists free admission, but only on certain days. Therefore, travelers are advised to familiarize themselves with their schedules in advance in order to save. You can also have free fun during mass holidays, when various entertainment events are held on the streets of Barcelona. For example, La Merce is the main holiday of the city, which is traditionally celebrated at the end of September.