Safety
Before I even set foot on the plane to Barcelona I was warned by numerous family members and friends about the pickpockets in Barcelona. Horror stories were told to me about bags being snatched, purses stolen as well as bags being cut by the straps by desperate thieves. The reality? I was perfectly fine and had no trouble with anyone let alone pickpockets, you make yourself a victim of theft and pick pocketing when you put your guard down and leave your valuables unprotected. It's lovely to have an expensive camera but thieves love it even more when they know the worth of it, I saw hundreds of unsuspecting tourists get out their professional cameras and take pictures of the city. As much as we all love checking our social media to see if we got anymore likes on our status or Instagram pictures, don't get out your phone unless you need to. Unfortunately I have seen many people get their phone snatched out of their hands by people on mopeds, not just in Barcelona but everywhere.
This doesn't just apply to being on the streets, in cafes and restaurants many tourists had left their bag hanging off the side of their chair. I was on the edge of my chair for these people, anyone could come along and snatch their bag at a moments notice and worst of all they would be none the wiser as this usually happens unnoticed. When at a cafe or restaurant, put your bag on your lap - not on the floor or on the side of a chair since it will become the perfect opportunity for a pickpocket. The most valuable item I had was my purse which had my travel debit card as well as my spending money, when out on the streets I'd make sure I was up against a wall before getting money out of my purse so no one could dip into my bag while it was open. Another handy tip I learnt was to put my spare change into a small plastic bag in the front of my bag - if anyone wanted to steal €2.23 they were more than welcome to - hopefully it would buy them a snack since they must be hungry from all the pick pocketing they had done. The same applied for waiting for a train at metro stations, I would wait until the train had come and the doors had opened to then get onto the train. If you are standing near the platform edge you could become victim to a pick pocketing scam involving two people where one person blocks you from getting onto the metro while the other goes through your pockets. Following these steps I had no problems whatsoever and sadly had to say I spent most of my money on food rather than it being stolen.
Another important tip is that Spanish law requires citizens and tourists in the country to have a form of identification on them at all times - this being a citizen card for Spanish citizens and a passport for tourists. Since my passport is valuable and does help me getting in and out of the country smoothly, I took some precautions before heading to Barcelona as well as taking some while out there. I made three photocopies of my passport - one was left with my parents back in the UK so they could fax it over if it was ever needed by the police. The second copy was taken out with me during the day, while I left my actual passport in the safe at the hotel, which was stamped by the hotel to prove it was my legitimate passport. The third copy was to make sure I had an extra one in case I had lost the second copy while I was out during the day or if my bag had been stolen.
Stating the obvious here there are some important tips such as not travelling by yourself late at night, as much as Barcelona is full of vibrant nightlife and people walking around late at night - being a victim of theft could happen to anyone but it would be less likely if you are in a group or with someone else. Another obvious tip was to turn my bag backwards in the sense that the zips were facing me, so if anyone tried to get my bag they'd have to touch my stomach - something I definitely would feel rather than feeling my bag empty if my valuables had been stolen. Another obvious tip would be to not accept water from people selling it on the streets/outside of attractions since you don't know if it has been tampered with (if anyone has put anything in the drink) plus it is super expensive with people selling bottles of water for €3 that could buy you about 6 bottles of water in a supermarket.
The main places for pickpockets would be crowded areas and the trains going to and from the airport, a pick pockets heaven: unsuspecting tourists. Places such as Sagrada Familia and Las Ramblas were very crowded since they are the places tourists would like to visit the most - which makes people dipping into pockets even worse since it is so busy people wouldn't notice if they are being shoved or pick pocketed. When I travelled there it was so busy that I could barely move and had to wait in long queues to get to and from the metro station.
When travelling around Barcelona I saw many people selling roses and other cheap items such as fans. I know you may be thinking, Emily how can that possibly be a bad thing? Well as much as I love getting a rose, I don't like it when it's forced into my hand and then I'm told to pay them €1. The worst part is when people open their purse and these people selling these items pretend to "help" but the only help they are doing is helping themselves to the money in the purse. I have heard stories from tourists saying they had €20 taken from them without even noticing - these people are a master at what they do while some tourists are so unaware that this would happen right in front of their eyes.
All of that being said, Barcelona is a very beautiful place boasting elegance and historic beauty but sadly is home to many pickpockets and crooks. As much as I don't want to scare anyone, this had to be said for anyone who is travelling to Barcelona and wants to return with all their belongings. But as I had said before, this happens regularly by people who are skilled at pickpocketing and who do this for a living - they can be sneaky and devious.
This doesn't just apply to being on the streets, in cafes and restaurants many tourists had left their bag hanging off the side of their chair. I was on the edge of my chair for these people, anyone could come along and snatch their bag at a moments notice and worst of all they would be none the wiser as this usually happens unnoticed. When at a cafe or restaurant, put your bag on your lap - not on the floor or on the side of a chair since it will become the perfect opportunity for a pickpocket. The most valuable item I had was my purse which had my travel debit card as well as my spending money, when out on the streets I'd make sure I was up against a wall before getting money out of my purse so no one could dip into my bag while it was open. Another handy tip I learnt was to put my spare change into a small plastic bag in the front of my bag - if anyone wanted to steal €2.23 they were more than welcome to - hopefully it would buy them a snack since they must be hungry from all the pick pocketing they had done. The same applied for waiting for a train at metro stations, I would wait until the train had come and the doors had opened to then get onto the train. If you are standing near the platform edge you could become victim to a pick pocketing scam involving two people where one person blocks you from getting onto the metro while the other goes through your pockets. Following these steps I had no problems whatsoever and sadly had to say I spent most of my money on food rather than it being stolen.
Another important tip is that Spanish law requires citizens and tourists in the country to have a form of identification on them at all times - this being a citizen card for Spanish citizens and a passport for tourists. Since my passport is valuable and does help me getting in and out of the country smoothly, I took some precautions before heading to Barcelona as well as taking some while out there. I made three photocopies of my passport - one was left with my parents back in the UK so they could fax it over if it was ever needed by the police. The second copy was taken out with me during the day, while I left my actual passport in the safe at the hotel, which was stamped by the hotel to prove it was my legitimate passport. The third copy was to make sure I had an extra one in case I had lost the second copy while I was out during the day or if my bag had been stolen.
Stating the obvious here there are some important tips such as not travelling by yourself late at night, as much as Barcelona is full of vibrant nightlife and people walking around late at night - being a victim of theft could happen to anyone but it would be less likely if you are in a group or with someone else. Another obvious tip was to turn my bag backwards in the sense that the zips were facing me, so if anyone tried to get my bag they'd have to touch my stomach - something I definitely would feel rather than feeling my bag empty if my valuables had been stolen. Another obvious tip would be to not accept water from people selling it on the streets/outside of attractions since you don't know if it has been tampered with (if anyone has put anything in the drink) plus it is super expensive with people selling bottles of water for €3 that could buy you about 6 bottles of water in a supermarket.
The main places for pickpockets would be crowded areas and the trains going to and from the airport, a pick pockets heaven: unsuspecting tourists. Places such as Sagrada Familia and Las Ramblas were very crowded since they are the places tourists would like to visit the most - which makes people dipping into pockets even worse since it is so busy people wouldn't notice if they are being shoved or pick pocketed. When I travelled there it was so busy that I could barely move and had to wait in long queues to get to and from the metro station.
When travelling around Barcelona I saw many people selling roses and other cheap items such as fans. I know you may be thinking, Emily how can that possibly be a bad thing? Well as much as I love getting a rose, I don't like it when it's forced into my hand and then I'm told to pay them €1. The worst part is when people open their purse and these people selling these items pretend to "help" but the only help they are doing is helping themselves to the money in the purse. I have heard stories from tourists saying they had €20 taken from them without even noticing - these people are a master at what they do while some tourists are so unaware that this would happen right in front of their eyes.
All of that being said, Barcelona is a very beautiful place boasting elegance and historic beauty but sadly is home to many pickpockets and crooks. As much as I don't want to scare anyone, this had to be said for anyone who is travelling to Barcelona and wants to return with all their belongings. But as I had said before, this happens regularly by people who are skilled at pickpocketing and who do this for a living - they can be sneaky and devious.
Accommodation
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Barcelona is an overwhelming city with lots to do and see, which makes figuring out where to stay even harder. There are hundreds of hotels, hostels and apartments around the different neighborhoods which each have a unique feature yet many have a hefty price tag on them because of their central location and star rating. For this trip I stayed in Aparthotel Silver which was located near Fontana metro station, picking this hotel made my trip a lot easier with the metro station being next door as well as it being a very quiet and safe neighborhood. Fontana metro station is on Line 3 (the Green Line) which had most of the main attractions being only a few stops away such as attractions in Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia.
This hotel prided itself on its safety, in which made me feel a lot more comfortable during my stay, in more ways than one. When checking into the hotel I nearly walked into what I thought was an automatic door, the hotel has two doors in which one is controlled by the person on the reception. This making sure not just anyone can walk into the hotel, which put me at ease when I could hear people stumbling through the streets after taking advantage of the nightlife Barcelona offers. Another safety precaution was the hotel keeping the keys to my room each time I went out, so if I had lost my bag or had it stolen then at least the thieves wouldn't be able to get access to what's left of my belongings in my hotel room. The hotel itself was basic but clean with all the essentials such as a comfy bed, a fridge, a safe as well as air conditioning. There was also a small table area next to a kitchen area that had a fridge, microwave and a hob with pots, pans and cutlery included. This saved me even more money with supermarkets being only minutes away so instead of spending €9 on breakfast (which was an option provided for by the hotel) I was able to make mine for even less than €1 each day as well as being able to have a wide variety of options. The fridge was big enough so I could keep a litre bottle of water in there as well as smaller bottles for bringing out with me during the day. When I went on a day trip to Girona I was able to make myself a packed lunch, fond memories of my primary school days, which saved me buying food in the cafes around the city. Supermarkets such as Dia, which is the UK equivalent of Lidl or Tesco, had everything I needed for my stay in Barcelona. In total it cost me €15 to get food and drink that lasted me for 5 days as well as saving me even more when I was out and about. The hotel was €340 (£310 approximately) for 4 nights, which between me and my friend came to about €170, which left us paying around €42.50 a night each. Considering the location in a quiet neighborhood just a few stops away from central Barcelona as well as it being a 3* hotel, this makes this it very good value for money. Some hotels in central Barcelona will start at around €80 a night (on average, per person) as well as having the constant reminder from the noise outside that you are staying in the centre of Barcelona. The hotel also provides helpful and useful information about getting to and from the airport as well as the different services they provide. |
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Where to visit & What to do
Before travelling to Barcelona me and my friend had already planned what we were going to do as well as having already paid for certain attractions and tours. By doing this we were able to skip the queues as well as being able to save a bit of money since when we traveled there the only thing we had left to buy was food and generic tourist souvenirs for our family and friends.
Sangrada Familia
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Nearest Metro Station: Sangrada Familia (L2 & L5)
Ticket Prices: €15 - http://www.sagradafamilia.org/en/tiquets/ - there are discounts for certain people (students, under 30's & seniors) I didn't book up tickets for this since I merely did not have enough time to appreciate the time and dedication put into this temple. However, a view from outside astounded me with all the small details creating a breathtaking view as well as the sea of phones and selfie sticks flooding my vision as far as the eye could see. There is more than enough history about this temple let alone the renowned work done inside, so if I did go I would dedicate at least half a day to going inside and walking around. I would also consider buying an audio guide along with tickets that skipped the queue since people flood towards this landmark from across the globe. In this heat no one wants to be queuing for ages with bundles of people squashed up against them. I visited it at 2pm and it was full of tourists and guided tours, in all honestly I didn't know if I was coming or going. It would be best to get there before it opens just to have more time to walk around as well as being able to enjoy it in peace and quiet before the floods of tourists join. |
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Las Ramblas
Nearest Metro Station: Catalunya (L1, L3, L6 & L7), Liceu (L3) & Drassanes (L3)
Ticket Prices: N/A - Las Ramblas is a famous boulevard that is free to all members of the public with many street artists and shops that sell tourist souvenirs.
When walking down Las Ramblas there are two important things to remember. The first is that you do not have déjà vu, there are many shops selling the same magnets, key rings and souvenirs. The second most important thing to remember is that this is a hot spot for thieves, I would not recommend eating along Las Ramblas since I saw people being approached while at their tables with people trying to sell roses in groups (this to distract them while other members of the group steal their bags or money from their purses). People would often come up to me asking if I wanted to buy hand fans after they had been laying on the street, I politely declined and was bothered about it no more. However my déjà vu happened again when the same thing happened but with another person trying to sell me another hand fan.
The first part of Las Ramblas (if you get off at Catalunya metro station) is mainly shops and restaurants with well known shops being on the outskirts such as Adidas and a food market called La Boqueria. The second part of Las Ramblas (if you get off at Liceu metro station) poses human statues and people presenting beautiful artwork as well as people making decorative drawings of names and caricatures. Further down Las Ramblas there is a port where boat tours are held as well as a shopping centre being located just behind it (the nearest metro station is Drassanes).
Ticket Prices: N/A - Las Ramblas is a famous boulevard that is free to all members of the public with many street artists and shops that sell tourist souvenirs.
When walking down Las Ramblas there are two important things to remember. The first is that you do not have déjà vu, there are many shops selling the same magnets, key rings and souvenirs. The second most important thing to remember is that this is a hot spot for thieves, I would not recommend eating along Las Ramblas since I saw people being approached while at their tables with people trying to sell roses in groups (this to distract them while other members of the group steal their bags or money from their purses). People would often come up to me asking if I wanted to buy hand fans after they had been laying on the street, I politely declined and was bothered about it no more. However my déjà vu happened again when the same thing happened but with another person trying to sell me another hand fan.
The first part of Las Ramblas (if you get off at Catalunya metro station) is mainly shops and restaurants with well known shops being on the outskirts such as Adidas and a food market called La Boqueria. The second part of Las Ramblas (if you get off at Liceu metro station) poses human statues and people presenting beautiful artwork as well as people making decorative drawings of names and caricatures. Further down Las Ramblas there is a port where boat tours are held as well as a shopping centre being located just behind it (the nearest metro station is Drassanes).
La Boqueria
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Nearest Metro Station: Liceu (L3)
Ticket Prices: N/A - La Boqueria is a famous indoor market that is vibrant with colour and flavours since it is home to foods from around the world. The official website for the market is helpful in showing what there is as well as providing a map of the market since it is pretty big (http://www.boqueria.barcelona/stands-market). Uploading the image on the left to my blog reminded me of the t-shirts that say "My sister went to Barcelona and all she got me was this stupid t-shirt". In other words "Emily went all the way to an indoor market with foods from around the world and vibrant culture and all she took a picture of was some sweets". The market itself served a range of street food as well as having places to sit down and eat while enjoying the sights. This is the best place to get freshly cooked and traditional food from a place I can only describe as the heart of Spanish cuisine. The different flavours and foods were a constant reminder of how the market as well as the flavours remained traditional yet have evolved with the times dynamically. |
MNAC: Museu Nacional d'Art De Catalunya
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Nearest Metro Station: Pl. Espanya (L1, L3 & L8)
Ticket Prices: €12 general admission or €20 for MNAC & Poble Espanyol - https://tickets.poble-espanyol.com/site/PobleEspanyol/ (Free Admission is available on Saturdays after 3pm as well as the first Sunday in every month. Free entry is also available to under 16's and over 65's) As much as this museum prides itself in beautiful and varied artwork, there is a very steep climb to get to the top. Luckily there are escalators that help with the journey all the way to the top but the rest of the climb nearly left me crawling up the last leg of it. Regardless the spectacular views of the city early morning left me breathless (mainly because I had just walked up Mount Everest) but I could see the whole of the city, it seemed so quiet and peaceful in a city with people always on their feet. One thing I would recommend is bringing your own drinks, people were selling bottles of water at the top for €2 as well as the cafe next to the museum selling cans of soft drinks for €3.90 when they can be bought in the supermarket for less than sixty-five cents. This is since people, including me, were sweating already from the walk up and were dying for a drink. The museum is split up into three parts on the ground floor: Medieval - Romanesque Art, Medieval - Gothic Art and Renaissance and Baroque. The ground floor focuses more on a depiction of religion and the different ways it is portrayed through different artists. The first floor is home to two sections of modern art as well as a room for Numismatics (the study and collection of coins). The ground floor alone took me around 3 hours since there was so much to see as well as the captions being translated from Spanish to English meaning I was able to read them. There is a variety of different art mediums with most being paintings but some being statues and mural paintings. If these forms of art interests you I would recommend getting an audio guide for €4, with it being available in 7 languages (Catalan, Spanish, English, French, Russian, Italian and Japanese). On the first floor the collection of modern art shows a contrast and succession of styles throughout the times with the more recent displays representing connections of the Catalan artists as well as the movements going on at the time. This floor also included wooden pieces who were carved by Gaudi as well as information regarding his work of Catalan Modernism. The pictures I had took around the museum gave no justice to the real works of art around the museum and the intricate details on each painting or sculpture. The artwork is well preserved considering some pieces were created over 800 years ago but still hold their vibrant colour and still depict the same message they were intended to at the time of creation. I got to the museum as soon as it opened but let the floods of people go into the museum first, after about 5 minutes I went in with no queues. I would recommend getting to the museum early as when I went (on a public holiday) it closed at 3pm. However, during May to September, from Tuesday to Saturday it is open from 10am to 8pm at night. This giving more of a detailed experience rather than being rushed to try and see it all in such a short amount of time. |
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Poble Espanyol
Nearest Metro Station: Pl. Espanya (L1, L3 & L8)
Ticket Prices: €12.60 online (https://www.poble-espanyol.com/en/) & €14 on the door (there are reduced rates of admission for children, seniors and students)
Poble Espanyol is a unique town that was constructed to recreate the 117 buildings of architectural heritage from the many regions of Spain. Throughout the town there are many talented artists who do their trade inside the village, giving Poble Espanyol an edge on being a shopping venue that highlights the talents and gifts that are handmade. However, this town does not only pride itself in being a unique shopping venue but prides itself in the contemporary art that is found all around the town. Work done by Picasso and Dali are some features of contemporary Spanish art that highlight the distinction of art and culture compared to other pieces. The town also provides a sense of diversity and wealth of Spain since this shows a different side to Spain with each section of the town being dedicated to a different region. The entrance to Poble Espanyol promotes the customs and traditions of the Centre of Spain yet the East of the town promotes the South of Spain as well as their customs and traditions. In this way there is a visual distinction between the different regions of Spain and the history behind them.
This town has an interesting history with it being founded during the 1920's and from there it has been the centre of attention from being applauded for their cultural and recreational parties to being caught up in the Civil War. This entirely changed the intent and nature of Poble Espanyol as it was then changed into a camp for prisoners as well as being under threat since they had promoted anti-Catalan messages. Poble Espanyol was then completely refurbished in which up to now it's now called the rebirth, with more focus on the demands from visitors as it's become more popular in recent times.
Ticket Prices: €12.60 online (https://www.poble-espanyol.com/en/) & €14 on the door (there are reduced rates of admission for children, seniors and students)
Poble Espanyol is a unique town that was constructed to recreate the 117 buildings of architectural heritage from the many regions of Spain. Throughout the town there are many talented artists who do their trade inside the village, giving Poble Espanyol an edge on being a shopping venue that highlights the talents and gifts that are handmade. However, this town does not only pride itself in being a unique shopping venue but prides itself in the contemporary art that is found all around the town. Work done by Picasso and Dali are some features of contemporary Spanish art that highlight the distinction of art and culture compared to other pieces. The town also provides a sense of diversity and wealth of Spain since this shows a different side to Spain with each section of the town being dedicated to a different region. The entrance to Poble Espanyol promotes the customs and traditions of the Centre of Spain yet the East of the town promotes the South of Spain as well as their customs and traditions. In this way there is a visual distinction between the different regions of Spain and the history behind them.
This town has an interesting history with it being founded during the 1920's and from there it has been the centre of attention from being applauded for their cultural and recreational parties to being caught up in the Civil War. This entirely changed the intent and nature of Poble Espanyol as it was then changed into a camp for prisoners as well as being under threat since they had promoted anti-Catalan messages. Poble Espanyol was then completely refurbished in which up to now it's now called the rebirth, with more focus on the demands from visitors as it's become more popular in recent times.
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Barcelona Port Traditional Boat Tour
Nearest Metro Station: Drassanes (L3)
Ticket Prices: €7.81 - https://www.getyourguide.com/barcelona-l45/barcelona-port-traditional-boat-tour-t110905/
For the price I was astounded to find out that this boat ride was 40 minutes long, mainly because of the fact that I could feel the breeze in my hair and felt cooler after walking around all day in the sun but it allowed me to see all the sights around Barcelona's port. I was also available to download an app, which is available in 7 languages, which gave information regarding what we would be seeing and the history behind it. Sights included Castell Montjuic, Magremagnum shopping centre, the W Trade Centre as well as Puerta de Europa Bridge. The only downside to this boat ride was that after a while it became very tedious with waiting to leave the port as well as coming back, this left us sitting directly in the sun for around 20 minutes before the boat had even left the port. Regardless, it was enjoyable and a different activity which gave us time to relax and rest after walking around all day by seeing the sights of Barcelona.
Ticket Prices: €7.81 - https://www.getyourguide.com/barcelona-l45/barcelona-port-traditional-boat-tour-t110905/
For the price I was astounded to find out that this boat ride was 40 minutes long, mainly because of the fact that I could feel the breeze in my hair and felt cooler after walking around all day in the sun but it allowed me to see all the sights around Barcelona's port. I was also available to download an app, which is available in 7 languages, which gave information regarding what we would be seeing and the history behind it. Sights included Castell Montjuic, Magremagnum shopping centre, the W Trade Centre as well as Puerta de Europa Bridge. The only downside to this boat ride was that after a while it became very tedious with waiting to leave the port as well as coming back, this left us sitting directly in the sun for around 20 minutes before the boat had even left the port. Regardless, it was enjoyable and a different activity which gave us time to relax and rest after walking around all day by seeing the sights of Barcelona.
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Egyptian Museum
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Nearest Metro Station: Passeig de Gracia (L2, L3 & L4)
Ticket Prices: €12 for general admission & audio guide - https://shop.museuegipci.com/en/tickets/ This museum was a hidden gem of history tucked away behind a busy street, the atmosphere inside also reflected this since it was very peaceful and quiet. Many people would not think to visit a museum all about Egyptian history yet this was full of interesting information regarding all aspects of life which is shown through the different artifacts on show. The only downside was that some of the captions next to some artifacts were not translated into English but this was only a small selection of the temporary exhibitions. This museum was very small with it only having three floors yet it was very modern and everything was organised in a way which told a story. The museum was home to items such as organ jars and mummies yet it still had smaller items such as jewellery and make up pots. The most interesting exhibit I found at the museum was an x-ray underneath an actual mummified body to show how the body was arranged. These artifacts are very well preserved and have been looked after very carefully since some date back to more than 1500 BC. The sizing of the museum makes it very easy to get around with the artifacts being close together which made an easier way to get around each floor. I would recommend just over an hour to see everything in detail, the museum is not very busy so visiting at any time of the day would be recommended. You could walk around at your own pace without being interrupted or having to wait to see any artifacts. A lot of schools do visit here but they will only focus on a section at a time and quickly move on. |
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Montjuïc Cable Car
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Nearest Metro Station: Paral·lel (L2 & L3) - then getting the Funicular railway to Montjuic
Ticket Prices: €12.88 - https://www.tmb.cat/en/about-tmb/transport-tmb/barcelona-montjuic-cable-car (Return Ticket) Montjuic is a hill that overlooks Barcelona, which isn't just a tourist hot spot to take photogenic pictures, it was a key part in the defense for Barcelona because of the elevation of it. The cable car can transport you up to the top where Montjuic Castle is, which explains more in depth about the history behind it, which includes it being used for a military fortress. The cable car ride is quiet and peaceful, with no information given to you through any speakers in the cable cart it meant I could enjoy the breathtaking views of Barcelona. The cable cars come very frequently (every 10 seconds or so) which meant I didn't have to wait in a queue as well as being lucky enough to get my own private cable car. When reaching the top of Montjuic I was informed by the women working there that Montjuic Castle was located just a few minutes away as well as there being views of the Port of Barcelona. I decided not to go into the Castle based purely on the fact that I had too much planned for the day already but I would have gone if I had more time. I walked past the Castle and down towards the edge where I was greeted by the beautiful sight, shown in the picture on the right, of the Port of Barcelona. This location seemed very private since the only people I saw around this area were joggers, I envy them for the magnificent views they get to see everyday, no wonder they are so motivated. Overall, the Montjuic cable car takes less than 10 minutes each way, so if you just wanted to stay on the cable car and get a return journey it would take you about 20 minutes. If you wanted to travel up and get off and explore Montjuic Castle as well as the return journey it may take less than 2 hours depending on the speed and depth of detail you want to explore the castle in. Returning back to Paral·lel station, the Funicular railway came every 7 minutes and from there it took around 2 minutes to get back down. This journey has limited seats as well as there being a lot of steps at Montjuic so if you have a pram or a wheelchair I would advise getting on at the top for step free access at Montjuic as well as being next to the exit. |
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Day Tour to Girona
Nearest Metro Station: N/A - Each tour has different meeting points.
Ticket Prices: €35.50 - https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/barcelona-l45/from-barcelona-5-hour-girona-express-tour-t139517/ (Including private transport & a guided tour)
When booking this trip I was excited to see where some scenes of Game of Thrones were filmed as well as being able to explore Girona. As much as I love Barcelona this trip was a break from the busy streets to a quiet retreat into a small city with a population less than 100,000. For this tour we had to meet our guide at the Hard Rock Cafe in Plaça de Catalunya. At 8am sharp we set off for Girona, with about three energy drinks in my system I was wide away and was like a little kid by looking out of the window for the entirety of the journey. The journey took around an hour and a half since we avoided the traffic by travelling out of Barcelona rather than travelling into it. Nearly 100km later and a lot of questions asking if we were there yet we finally arrived in Girona. The tour was set into three bits, the first would be information regarding Girona: the history behind it as well as legends passed down during time, the second tour was related to the TV show Game of Thrones and the last part was us being able to explore Girona by myself for a few hours before returning back to Barcelona.
The first part of our tour started at a statue of a lion's butt. Yes. You read that correctly a lion's butt. When visiting Girona people who want good luck should kiss the lion's butt, as much as this legend sounds hilariously funny, many people took these seriously and still do. As much as I love a bit of fun, I got my picture of me touching a lion's butt, I wish every time I touched a butt I got good luck (a girl can dream). We then went deeper into the city where we was shown a statue of a woman standing horizontally on a building with her mouth open. The legend behind the statue was that this woman hated everything religious so she insulted the Cathedral every time she walked past as well as throwing stones at it. One day she threw rocks at the Cathedral and a voice said to her "You throw rocks so you shall become rock" in which she did and was hoisted onto the side of the Cathedral. I then learnt that she was facing towards the ground so she could never face the sky again, my interpretation of this is that she is facing away from heaven and towards hell for throwing rocks towards a religious monument. We were then taken towards the Red Steel Bridge which has much historical significance since it was engineered by Gustave Eiffel (the man who then engineered the Eiffel Tower in Paris). The bridge gets you from one side of the bridge (from the Old Town) to the other side (the Placa Del Independence). We then moved on towards the Jewish Quarter, which is one of the largest and best preserved in the whole of Europe which has narrow streets that is filled with cobblestones as well as stone steps.
The next part of the tour was short but was filled with information and facts about where Game of Thrones was filmed. In season six Arya Stark is blinded and has to then live with her blindness, she is thrown in at the deep end by having to fight someone with a stick who has their sight. This was filmed on the Gothic Side of Girona near Saint Mary's Cathedral. The ending of season 6 showed the Girona Cathedral blown to bits, with CGI of course, which is more commonly known as The Great Sept of Baelor. Another famous scene that was filmed at Girona Cathedral was where Queen Margaery's Atonement in which Jamie Lannister and his troops as well as House Tyrell marched all the way there to prevent it.
We were then allowed to spend just under two hours to explore whatever we wanted, I wandered through the streets in astonishment at the pieces of art people had created from scratch and by hand. Shops lined the narrow streets with works of art that included paintings and jewellery as well as beautiful pieces of clothing. I decided to wander around and look more into the legends surrounding Girona in which I found myself rubbing a foot. Now don't worry, it wasn't a strangers food, it apparently brings good luck to whoever rubs it. So in just a few hours I had rubbed a foot and a butt, my day was going brilliantly so far.
Ticket Prices: €35.50 - https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/barcelona-l45/from-barcelona-5-hour-girona-express-tour-t139517/ (Including private transport & a guided tour)
When booking this trip I was excited to see where some scenes of Game of Thrones were filmed as well as being able to explore Girona. As much as I love Barcelona this trip was a break from the busy streets to a quiet retreat into a small city with a population less than 100,000. For this tour we had to meet our guide at the Hard Rock Cafe in Plaça de Catalunya. At 8am sharp we set off for Girona, with about three energy drinks in my system I was wide away and was like a little kid by looking out of the window for the entirety of the journey. The journey took around an hour and a half since we avoided the traffic by travelling out of Barcelona rather than travelling into it. Nearly 100km later and a lot of questions asking if we were there yet we finally arrived in Girona. The tour was set into three bits, the first would be information regarding Girona: the history behind it as well as legends passed down during time, the second tour was related to the TV show Game of Thrones and the last part was us being able to explore Girona by myself for a few hours before returning back to Barcelona.
The first part of our tour started at a statue of a lion's butt. Yes. You read that correctly a lion's butt. When visiting Girona people who want good luck should kiss the lion's butt, as much as this legend sounds hilariously funny, many people took these seriously and still do. As much as I love a bit of fun, I got my picture of me touching a lion's butt, I wish every time I touched a butt I got good luck (a girl can dream). We then went deeper into the city where we was shown a statue of a woman standing horizontally on a building with her mouth open. The legend behind the statue was that this woman hated everything religious so she insulted the Cathedral every time she walked past as well as throwing stones at it. One day she threw rocks at the Cathedral and a voice said to her "You throw rocks so you shall become rock" in which she did and was hoisted onto the side of the Cathedral. I then learnt that she was facing towards the ground so she could never face the sky again, my interpretation of this is that she is facing away from heaven and towards hell for throwing rocks towards a religious monument. We were then taken towards the Red Steel Bridge which has much historical significance since it was engineered by Gustave Eiffel (the man who then engineered the Eiffel Tower in Paris). The bridge gets you from one side of the bridge (from the Old Town) to the other side (the Placa Del Independence). We then moved on towards the Jewish Quarter, which is one of the largest and best preserved in the whole of Europe which has narrow streets that is filled with cobblestones as well as stone steps.
The next part of the tour was short but was filled with information and facts about where Game of Thrones was filmed. In season six Arya Stark is blinded and has to then live with her blindness, she is thrown in at the deep end by having to fight someone with a stick who has their sight. This was filmed on the Gothic Side of Girona near Saint Mary's Cathedral. The ending of season 6 showed the Girona Cathedral blown to bits, with CGI of course, which is more commonly known as The Great Sept of Baelor. Another famous scene that was filmed at Girona Cathedral was where Queen Margaery's Atonement in which Jamie Lannister and his troops as well as House Tyrell marched all the way there to prevent it.
We were then allowed to spend just under two hours to explore whatever we wanted, I wandered through the streets in astonishment at the pieces of art people had created from scratch and by hand. Shops lined the narrow streets with works of art that included paintings and jewellery as well as beautiful pieces of clothing. I decided to wander around and look more into the legends surrounding Girona in which I found myself rubbing a foot. Now don't worry, it wasn't a strangers food, it apparently brings good luck to whoever rubs it. So in just a few hours I had rubbed a foot and a butt, my day was going brilliantly so far.
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Travel
The Metro
Before even travelling to Barcelona I did my research into what I would need while out there. After booking my hotel, which was closest to Fontana metro station (L3), I then researched the different types of metro passes that I could buy.
This is the list of the metro passes available - https://www.tmb.cat/en/barcelona/fares-metro-bus:
Since I was in Barcelona for 5 days I invested €35 into a 5 Day Hola BCN card which included all forms of transport on the metro as well as access to the airport. It also could be used on the bus, the urban railway and tram, which makes it useful for everything you could need no matter where you're going. This card was useful since I booked it up online and was then available to be picked up at the airport when I arrived in Barcelona or it could be picked up around the many tourist information points around the city. Throughout the 5 days I was in Barcelona I'm sure I used the metro over 30 times - meaning if I had bought a single ticket each time it would have cost me at least €66 as well as the extra effort it would have cost me for each time I would've to go to a machine and buy a ticket.
This is the list of the metro passes available - https://www.tmb.cat/en/barcelona/fares-metro-bus:
- Single Tickets - €2.20
- Single Tickets (Including Access to the Airport) - €4.20
- Barcelona Travel Cards (2, 3, 4 or 5 Day Passes) - these range from €15 to €35 (with 10% discount applied when buying them online)
Since I was in Barcelona for 5 days I invested €35 into a 5 Day Hola BCN card which included all forms of transport on the metro as well as access to the airport. It also could be used on the bus, the urban railway and tram, which makes it useful for everything you could need no matter where you're going. This card was useful since I booked it up online and was then available to be picked up at the airport when I arrived in Barcelona or it could be picked up around the many tourist information points around the city. Throughout the 5 days I was in Barcelona I'm sure I used the metro over 30 times - meaning if I had bought a single ticket each time it would have cost me at least €66 as well as the extra effort it would have cost me for each time I would've to go to a machine and buy a ticket.
Transfers to and from the Airport
Travelling to and from the airport can a tedious thing when not planned properly. There are many options of getting to and from the airport to your hotel or accomodation:
- Barcelona Airport Taxis - These taxis are a moderately expensive with transport being between €30-40 as well as having to wait at the airport for one. If you are in no rush then it would be a good idea to get these if you want a private taxi since the queues were very long when I got out of the airport.
- Aerobus - These are a shared form of buses in which they take you from the airport to the city centre. These are a cheaper option with the return ticket being around €10 - with constant buses going to and from the airport. The only problem with these are that if you are stuck in traffic you may miss your flight if you are pushed for time. Regardless, this can be avoided if you allow extra time for anything such as traffic or the bus having to stop/breaking down.
- Welcome Pickups - These are a private taxi service which is customised for the user (how much luggage they have and how many people are travelling in the taxi). In Barcelona I used this to get to and from the airport with the return fare being €80 - which was split between me and my friend making it €40 - which made it €20 each way.
- TMB Bus - A cheaper option than the Aerobus but with less luggage space and more stops, which may make the journey longer and more uncomfortable but comes at a cheaper price. This being around half the price for a return ticket than the Aerobus at just under €6, which makes it one of the cheapest forms of transport to get to and from the airport from the city centre.
- Metro - Another cheap option would include getting the metro from the airport, but depending on where you are staying it may make the journey very quick or very long. It would take 22 minutes to get from the airport to Zona Universitaria, which then connects to L3 and L9 as well as 3 tram lines: T1, T2 & T3.
Apps to Download
Barcelona Metro
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This app is essential if using the metro in Barcelona, it shows you what stations connect to different lines as well as allowing you to plan your journey out. The best thing I like about the app is the simplicity of it, all you have to do is type in what location you want to go to and if you turn your location on you'd be able to see the nearest metro station available to you. You can decide what route you want to take such as the one with the fastest route or the one that is simple.
Considering this app is free, with adverts being enabled, it is very useful if you are spending a few days in Barcelona and want to save using your data. This app can be used on airplane mode which would also save your battery if you are out during the day. |
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GetYourGuide
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During my trip in Barcelona this was the app I used the most. I had booked everything up with this app such as a Day Tour to Girona as well as tickets for a Boat Tour. This app has everything in one place as well as giving information as to what can be bought for certain days, meaning if you have a spare day in which you are doing nothing, you can book something up easily and quickly. The best part about this app is that tickets can be shown from your mobile rather than having to print them out, the only thing I needed to print was the tickets for the travel card I had bought so that I could exchange them.
If you do buy tickets through this app make sure you carry a portable charger around with you or make sure your battery is fully charged before going out for the day. |
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Learn Spanish Phrases
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Even though the majority of people in Barcelona speak English, i encountered some problems with translation but this app helped me to overcome some simple words that I didn't know how to translate.
This app has useful phrases translated from English to Spanish such as "Can you help me?" and "I've lost my passport". These phrases would be handy in a situation as from the app it has a speaker option so you can play the phrase out loud. The app also has two options for speed: being at a normal rate or speaking slowly. This has saved many locals from hearing me speaking Spanish terribly and saved me from being embarrassed for the rest of the day. The best thing about this app is that it is completely ad free as well as costing nothing. |
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