A Day in Barcelona

So, like many cruise holidaymakers, you have a day to spend in Barcelona?  I used to guide excursions around the city, sometimes even having to direct the driver where to go, so I’m your man for advise as to where to go and what to do!

The tourist ‘hop on / hop off’ bus is useful, but you should always aim to walk the whole length of Las Ramblas if you can, from the column of Christopher Columbus right up to Placa Catalunya, or vice versa.  Make sure you stop off halfway up on the right hand side, where a small side street connects you with the beautiful Placa Reial.  Once you’ve navigated Las Ramblas, try sauntering just 1 block to the east, and you will find yourself in the midst of the Gothic Quarter, with the 13th-century cathedral as the main attraction.  This isn’t to be confused, though, with the Sagrada Familia, which is also a must-visit, but is more of a bus or metro ride away from the centre itself, unless you like a long walk….

If you have time, other points of interest would be the Camp Nou, where Barcelona football club is based, and the Olympic stadium, up on Montjuic, with great views of the city (if you’re as old as me, you’ll remember the outdoor diving platforms from 1992 with the amazing panorama).  Monjuic can either be accessed by the tourist bus, or by a cable car that runs from the port area.

Seen the city centre before?  Try the trendy beach area, close to the port; now renowned as one of the best city beaches in the world – I’ve been to Miami, Waikiki and Copacabana, and it’s up there alongside them (maybe not in winter time though!)

If your cruise starts at Barcelona, I definitely recommend having a hotel night beforehand, so you don’t miss out on anything!