A Weekend Getaway Guide to Barcelona
Which city in Spain comes to mind when you think of soccer, stunning coastline, and beautiful architecture? There can only be one unique city – Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia. With its relaxed vibes, delicious food and vibrant nightlife, Barcelona will never fail in offering an amazing city break experience. No wonder then that is one of the most visited cities in Europe! Travelers of all sorts will find plenty of things to fill their time in the city.
click on a section in the list to jump down the page.
- Which Barcelona airport should you fly into?
- How to get to downtown from the airport?
- Best way to get around Barcelona
- Things to do in Barcelona
- Other places to visit in Barcelona
Which Barcelona airport should you fly into?
When you search for flights to Barcelona, there is only one airport you should consider: Barcelona El-Prat International Airport, which is 12km outside of the city center. Its code is BCN and it’s also known as Barcelona El Prat. There are two more major Airports in the region of Catalonia: Girona Costa Brava (GRO) and Reus (REU), but both of them are approximately 100km from Barcelona.
How to get to downtown from the airport?
I took the shuttle bus Aerobús which runs every 5-10 minutes outside both Terminal 1 (Line A1) and Terminal 2 (Line A2). The bus has comfy seats and offers free Wi-Fi. It takes about 35 minutes depending on the traffic and it stops at Pl Espanya, Gran Via Urgell, and Pl Universitat. Pl Catalonia is the final stop of the bus route.
You can buy your ticket from the bus driver if you have small change, from the ticket machine at the station or online. A single ticket costs €5,90 and a return ticket cost €10,20. The shuttle operates every day of the year from 05:35 to 01:10 (terminal 1) and From 05:35 to 01:00 (Terminal 2). If you arrive later than this, you will need a private taxi transfer to your hotel. A taxi from Barcelona airport to town costs about €35.
Other options for getting from the airport to Barcelona city center is to take the bus or the train, they are also cheaper and have more stops than the Aerobus.
Bus:
● TMB Airport day bus N 46: this bus operates from 04:50 to 23:50 from terminal 1 and terminal 2.
● Airport Night Bus: It operates from 23:55 to 04:45. N17 stops at terminal 1 and N°16 at Terminal 2.
A single ticket costs €2.20
Train:
The RENFE train runs every 30 minutes to and from Barcelona airport to the city center, and it takes about 25 minutes. A single ticket costs €4.60. If traveling from the airport, you can get off at Sants,
Best way to get around Barcelona
The best way to explore the city center of Barcelona is on foot. However, you will need to use public transport to visit some landmarks that are located outside the main city center area. The subway is the fastest way to travel around the city. A single ticket costs €2.2, however, I highly recommend buying a T10 ticket that will entitle you to 10 journeys on the subway, buses, and tram of the city center area. You can also use it to go to and from the airport.
Our Barcelona city break,
or how to spend your weekend in Catalonia’s capital
Since I only had 48 hours in which to see as much of this beautiful city as possible, I had to prioritize my time. I decided not to rush from one tourist attraction to another and leave some places for another time. You may want to consider a similar strategy if you want to unwind and enjoy your time. Here are some of the places I visited during my weekend in Barcelona.
Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia was my starting point. I guess no visit to Barcelona would be complete without seeing this architectural masterpiece. In fact, this giant Basilica is one of the most iconic and recognizable images associated with Barcelona. When you visit the building you will notice the contrast between its front and back, and that’s mainly because it has been under construction since 1882. Entry isn’t cheap but if you want to see this
Visit + audioguide: book online tickets here
Visit only: book your online ticket here
Sagrada Familia is located about 2.7 km from the heart of the city center, so you can either walk (about 30 min walk) or take the subway L2.
Passeig de Gràcia Avenue
Passeing de Gràcia is an elegant avenue. It’s a great place for window shopping as it’s lined with many boutiques. Here you will find also some extremely eye-catching and photo-worthy buildings, and of course, Casa Batlló is one of them. This building is also one of the most emblematic and visited sites in Barcelona.
You can stroll through Passeing de Gràcia on your way back from Sagrada Familia.
Las Ramblas
Alright, so you cannot visit Barcelona and not stroll through Las Ramblas, the shady and vibrant boulevard that stretches across the heart of the city from Plaça de Catalunya down to Port Vell. This is where you will find La Boqueria, the most famous market in Barcelona. Take in the atmosphere, grab a drink or a snack and then continue your stroll along the boulevard.
Barri Gòtic
Barri Gòtic is a short walk away from Las Ramblas and Plaça Catalunya, but it is a world away in terms of architecture. It’s another must-visit place in Barcelona. Walk through the beautiful alleys and you will discover a different side of the town. Here you will have the opportunity to grab something to eat or drink, buy a souvenir and shop handcrafted goods.
See Barcelona from above
Every time I travel, I visit an elevated place that overlooks the city. In Barcelona, I had to choose between a few places such as Park Güell, Castell Montjuic, and Bunker del Carmel. Since Park Güell and Bunker del Carmel are not really far from each other, you can go to both of them if you have another day, however, you will have to walk uphill.
I decided to go to Bunker del Carmel as it covers a 360° view. It’s easily one of the most amazing places to see all of Barcelona.
To go there I took the subway L4 from
Arc de Trimof
Many European cities have their Triumphal Arch and Barcelona is one them. Built as the entrance to Barcelona’s 1888 World Fair, this Arc has become one of the city’s iconic landmarks.
Arc de Trimof is Located at the Passeing Lluis and is easily accessible by using the subway (L1).
Other things to do in Barcelona
Casa Mila: also known as La Pedrera. it’s only a short walk from Casa Battló. This house is another famous Gaudi designed building,
The Magic Fountain: enjoy the music, light, and colors show at the Magic Fountain of Montjuic, close to Plaça Espanya
The Palau de la Música Catalana: another impressive architectural treasure, this building is also listed as UNESCO world heritage site.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my Barcelona Weekend Getaway!
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