Barcelona Sightseeing And Local Tours
The charming character of Barcelona, the infinite mix of ancient and modern architecture, the excellence of museums and galleries are a sensorial feast that can easily be discovered on your own. Exploring Barcelona on foot is a joy Рbe it on a walk trough the nooks and crannies of the old city lined with modern shops, a stroll along wide boulevards with fashionable boutiques and renowned brands, contemplating the unique details of astonishing UNESCO listed buildings with mind-boggling facades or just people watching on a stylish caf̩.
Tour Kiosk in Barcelona
With so much to see and enjoy, Barcelona has an amazing array of independent tours available. Be it on a sightseeing hop-on-hop-off bus, a bicycle, scooter, van, limousine, rickshaw, electric car or convertible the variety of tours is almost endless. Activities like Catamaran Sailing, Jet Ski, Para-sailing, Para-gliding, Land Sailing or Balloon Flying are on offer and easy to access. The delicious local cuisine and famous gourmet chefs of the city’s restaurants are destinations for a good number of tours. And for those that wish to explore beyond the city, the coastal town of Sitges and the rocky peaks of Montserrat with its monastery are must-visit destinations.
Tourist Cards
Beyond The Top Attractions
For those that have been in the major touristic areas and visited the top highlights of Barcelona, there are many other places that are very seldom offered on cruise ship excursions. The neighborhood known as El Born has become a great place to visit on a leisurely walk.
Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona
Royal Caribbean Cruises Travel Tips
- A brand name that you know and can trust.
- Industry master, with over 50 years of experience and operation in the cruise line sector.
- They provide an incredible travel experience to all ages and have amazing amenities to help heighten your experience.
- Rock walls, surfing, and even waterparks to offer you something unique that you won’t find on any other cruise ship.
- Simply unpack and settle in once, then relax into your stateroom for the remainder of your trip.
- Our fast processes for embarkation and disembarkation give guests even more time to explore and allow for quicker access to the ship to reach anything you may need from us or your room.
- Incredible staterooms and suites to offer you the most relaxing experience while onboard.
- Incredible personalized experience designed to provide a family-like atmosphere.
- The industry’s most knowledgeable cruise managers and guides, providing you with the best guided experiences in the cruise market.
- Varied excursions available including everything from walking tours to guided biking tours, hikes, and more.
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Port Vell And Barceloneta
Also close to the Port, a stone’s trow from the Portbus T3 stop, the Port Vell is where one of the best Aquarium in Europe is located and a delight for those cruising with children. The entire area was redeveloped for the 1992 Olympic Games hosting a marina, the âMaremagnumâ shopping center, a park and seaside cafés. Farther along the coast, the Museu d’Història de Catalunya, housed in a waterside warehouse, is an invitation to travel trough the history of Catalanoia and the start of the old fishermenâs neighborhood known as Barceloneta. This is one of the best places to savor fresh fish in Barcelona with many good restaurants to choose from. Beyond the residential grid of narrow lanes, the beaches of Barceloneta are one of the best-kept secrets of the city and are perfect for pure relaxing time.
Hop On Hop Off Tourist Bus Has Several Stops Near The Cruise Terminals
| The Barcelona City Tour “hop on hop off” tourist bus has 2 stops near the Barcelona cruise terminals. |
Many tourists arriving on the cruises do not have much time to see the city and would like to go on a hop on hop off tourist bus to get a good overview of Barcelona’s main attractions. This is probably the quickest and most convenient way to see the city – especially if your visit is short.
There are 2 stops for the hop on hop off tourist bus near the cruise terminals which make it easy for a tourist to catch this bus service, one at the world trade centre and the other at the Christopher Columbus monument. You can purchase your tickets for the tourist bus online in advance of your trip and simply present the printed out voucher to the driver. We have written a detailed page on the hop on hop off tourist bus service and include details of exactly where the stops are in relation to the cruise port. Follow the link below to learn more.
Taxi
The other option is to simply catch a taxi from the port to the city centre which is cheap and quick .
Taxi fare: â¬20.00
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Basilica Of The Sagrada Familia
The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia is inevitably on top of any must-see list.
Sagrada Familia, Interior – Barcelona
The Basilica is under construction since 1882 , is located around 5 miles from the port and it will take around 30 minutes to get there by taxi. Allow at least a couple of hours to visit the church.Insider’s tip: it is highlight advisable to buy tickets online to get a fast entry.
Getting There By Train
Most trains — including the Spanish high-speed AVE and Renfe lines, as well as French SNCF — will arrive at the modern Barcelona Sants station in the north of the city. It’s about a 20-minute taxi ride to the cruise terminal. Regional trains can arrive at any of three other train stations in the center of town: Placa de Catalunya, Estacio Franca or Passeig de Gracia. A cab would be the best option to your ship from any of the train stations.
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Royal Caribbean Cruises Highlights
- An incredible company that has been in operation since 1969.
- A well-known name in the cruise line industry, with service standards that accompany their length of time in the industry.
- Winner of a plethora of service awards, including “Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean,””Best Cruise Line Overall,” and “Best Cruise Ship Symphony of the Seas.”
- Amazing rooms in various sizes available for all of your accommodation needs and party sizes.
- Breathtaking views, offering you uninterrupted views of the water, the shores, and all of the beautiful sights of each destination.
- Unmatched customer service to make your trip a relaxing and unforgettable experience.
- Knowledgeable tour guides to accompany you to places that you might have never heard of.
- Lots of space to explore and get to know the ship.
Directions To Barcelona Cruise Terminal
From the North : Take the E-15/AP-7 highway toward Barcelona and continue onto C-33. Exit toward Barcelona Rondes/AP-2/AP-7 and merge onto B-10. Take Exit 21 toward Ciutat Vella and park at the World Trade Center Barcelona.
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From the West : Take the AP-2 toll highway to AP-7 and continue onto B-23. Take Exit 5 to merge onto E-90 toward Barcelona. Take Exit 21 toward Ciutat Vella/Paral·lel and continue onto Passeig Josep Carner. Take a right onto Moll 18A Barcelona, the World Trade Center.
From the South : Take the E-15/AP-7 toll highway north toward Barcelona until you merge onto C-32. Take Exit 16B to merge onto Ronda Litoral/E-90/B-10 toward Barcelona/Port. Take Exit 21 toward Ciutat Vella/Paral·lel and continue onto Passeig Josep Carner. Take a right onto Moll 18A Barcelona, the World Trade Center.
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Where To Eat Or Shop Near The Barcelona Cruise Terminal
Because the cruise port is so big, it is separated from the city center, meaning that the immediate area is mostly industrial. Hop on a shuttle for a 10-minute ride to the bottom of La Rambla and wander around the vendors that line the waterfront. You’ll find some sellers of standard cheesy souvenirs and knockoff purses, but there will also be handmade leather goods, interesting crafts, antiques and other notable items. For a bite close by, find Ample Street , where a two-block stretch has a number of fantastic restaurants mixed in with small stores. The family-owned Safra 18 offers traditional Catalan cuisine with modern touches in a dining room with exposed stone walls. The Chicken Shop/Dirty Burger pairs creative cocktails with delicious rotisserie chicken. For dessert, stop by Papabubble , a candy shop founded here in 2004 that now sells sweets around the world. And, for a distinctive
gift, try Truffles and Wine Barcelona , which sells truffle-infused cheese, sausage and olive oil as well as wines by small local producers.
El Born And La Ribera
Farther east of the Barri Gòtic – in fact, just across Via Laietana, – what once was the main trading center and one of the richest neighborhoods of the city during the 13th and 14th centuries, El Born and the adjacent La Ribera neighborhood are both worth a visit. This is the area where the Picasso Museum is located but, at end of this narrow street, the Passeig del Born, the BasÃlica de Santa Maria del Mar, and the El Born Cultural Center are off-the-beaten-track landmarks to be discovered. For those with a sweet tooth, the Chocolate Museum is also close by.
Cascada Monumental, Parc de la Ciutadella
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Where Cruise Ships Dock In Barcelona
Port of Barcelona
Barcelona’s two cruise ports are ideally located to explore the city. The WTC Port has 3 piers around the World Trade Center building, it is located just under 1/2 a mile from the Plaça Colon and the start of La Rambla, but only small cruise ships can dock here.
- Port Vell and Barceloneta
Location Of Barcelonas Cruise Ship Terminals
Barcelonas cruise port comprises of 6 terminals located at the end of Barcelonas famous Ramblas boulevard.
Two of the cruise-ship piers are located next to the World Trade Centre on the Moll de Barcelona Wharf and can be easily reached by walking from La Rambla and the nearby Drassanes metro stop .
The World Trade Centre terminals are called the North and South terminal and are used by smaller cruise liners.
Larger ships dock at the Moll Adossat quay terminals . Terminal D is the farthest away of the four quays and is approximately four and a half km from La Rambla and the Columbus monument.
Finally, the Moll de Sant Bertran is a ferry terminal with routes to Spain, Morocco, Italy and the Balearic Islands.
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From The Cruise Ship Terminals By Bus
The Cruise Bus is a shuttle bus that runs between the Moll Adossat cruise ship terminals and the Columbus Monument at the end of the Ramblas.
The fare is 3 one way or 4 return and is paid in cash on the bus .
The buses dont have a set timetable. Instead, they are coordinated with the arrival and departure of the cruise liners.
In the mornings, when passengers disembark from the ships, buses depart every few minutes. Later in the day, the buses run less frequently, so you should check the schedule with the driver and plan your return trip accordingly.
The Cruise Bus is NOT covered by TMB tickets or travel cards such as the T-casual or Hola Barcelona Travel Card.
The journey from the cruise terminals to the Columbus monument takes about 10 minutes. From here you can start visiting Barcelona on foot since many of Barcelonas most famous sights such as the Ramblas, the Maritime Museum, the Gothic quarter and the historic Port Vell are close by.
Open top city tour buses stop at the Columbus monument and near the World Trade Centre terminals.
Its a short walk from the Cruise Bus stop to the Drassanes metro station, which is on line L3.
Carnival’s Helix Cruise Center Terminal
At the end of April 2017, the world’s largest cruise shipping company Carnival Corporation released renderings of its new cruise terminal at Barcelona Adossat. The facility was named “Helix Cruise Center” and inaugurated on May 5, 2018, as Europe’s newest passenger terminal.
- The new terminal is designed to handle Carnival’s largest ships, among which are the new class LNG-powered vessels.
- The facility is designed by Batlle I Roig Arquitectura, sized 12,500 m2 . Paired with an existing facility, it represents Europe’s largest passenger terminal.
- Building’s design company is “Battle I Roig”. The plans show a modern architectural style featuring straight lines, minimalistic concepts, a contemporary and comfortable environment.
- Construction works officially started in July 2016 and were completed in May 2018.
The new terminal is located at Adossat Wharf. Currently, this berthing is used by 8 of Carnival’s all 10 brand companies. The terminal is used as both destination and homeport . Carnival expects to handle here 1+ million passengers annually after the opening of the new terminal.
This terminal has its own pier-side parking facility dedicated to embarking passengers.
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Port Vell Cruise Terminal M
The Port Vell port complex includes a fishing port, 2 yacht marinas, 1 cruise ship terminal, ferry terminal. Terminal M is for both ferry and cruise vessels. It has 3 small piers – named “South Pier” , “North Pier” and “East Pier” . All terminals are designed to serve smaller ships. Their location is near the World Trade Center and the Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel.
The Maremagnum terminal is the port’s smallest and the most central as location. The terminal is a short walking distance from the old city. The walking distance from here to La Ramblas street is some 10 min. There is a tour bus stopping at Portal de la Pau .
The Port Vell area has the Maremagnum , the IMAX Port Vell and the famous Aquarium Barcelona .
Left Luggage And Baggage Transfer In Barcelona
If you will arrive in Barcelona at the end of your cruise and want to spend a few hours sightseeing before your flight home, you can have your luggage collected from the cruise port and transported directly to the airport for you. Find out more.
There are also left luggage storage facilities near to Plaça de Catalunya, Plaça dEspanya and at Barcelona Sants train station.
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From The Cruise Ship Terminals By Taxi
There are taxi ranks next to each of the cruise terminals, and you can be sure that there will be a long line of taxis ready and waiting when your cruise ship docks.
A taxi from your cruise ship to the city centre will cost around 15 depending on which terminal your ship arrives at and whereabouts in the city centre you want to go to.
All taxis in Barcelona are metered there is a 3.10 supplement for a cruise pier pick-up which will be added to the price which is displayed on the meter at the end of the journey. If you have a lot of luggage, there may also be an additional charge.
You can check the official tariffs here.
The distinctive yellow and black cabs also have a sticker displaying the prices on one of the rear windows.
Bring On The Wow Factor
Explore breathtaking destinations from Cannes to Naples and Florence to Mykonos. In between adventures onshore, fill each day at sea with fan favorites, like the Ultimate Abyss slide, twin FlowRider® surf simulators, and AquaTheater. Plus take your tastebuds on a world tour with countless options onboard Symphony of the Seas®.
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From The Cruise Port To Barcelona City Centre On Foot
Before you decide to walk from your cruise ship, you should check which terminal your ship docks at.
From the World Trade Center Terminals
The World Trade Center terminals are located on the Moll de Barcelona which is a short walk from the Columbus monument.
Walk straight ahead along the quay until you reach the large steel hoops of the Onades monument. Turn right and walk along the Moll de Drassanes until you arrive at the Christopher Columbus monument and the start of Las Ramblas.
From the Moll Adossat Terminals
If you decide to walk into Barcelona from the Moll Adossat quay, you should bear in mind that it takes between 25 and 45 minutes , and theres no shade from the sun.
Follow the road along the pier from the ships . After crossing the Porta dEuropa bridge, continue straight ahead along the pier until you reach a small roundabout. Turn right and continue past the Moll de Sant Bertran, the Onades monument and the Moll de Drassanes to the Columbus monument .
From here you can take the metro or bus to other parts of the city.
From Barcelona Cruise Port By Private Transfer
Although there will be plenty of taxis and buses waiting at the cruise terminal, when a large cruise ship docks and thousands of tourists disembark at the same time long queues do form.
You can avoid the queues by booking your transfer in advance.
A private transfer is more expensive than catching a taxi at the taxi rank but has the advantage that your driver will be there waiting for you as soon as you disembark from the ship.
Book your private transfer in advance online.
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Cruise Itineraries To And From Barcelona Spain
Follows a list of destinations visited by cruise ships leaving out of Barcelona:
- Mediterranean itineraries on cruises out of Barcelona port visit the largest ports of Italy, France, Greece, and Turkey. Feature destinations are also the French Riviera and the Italian Riviera .
- The most commonly operated are 7-day round-trips. One-way itineraries from Barcelona end up in Civitavecchia-Rome, Genoa, Piraeus-Athens, Venice, Istanbul.
- Most of the Canary Islands itineraries leaving roundtrip from Barcelona also visit North Africa and Funchal often combined with other ports in Spain and Portugal.
- Short-break from Barcelona to Genoa are 2-nights / 3-days long. They are operated by MSC Cruises ships and visit .
- Among the most visited Mediterranean island ports are Mallorca, Sicily, Corsica, Malta, Sardinia.
- World Cruises from Barcelona are offered mainly by Costa Cruises ships. The itineraries are usually eastbound and visit ports in Southeast Asia, South Pacific , South America.
Ship relocation voyages are one-way itineraries from Barcelona to the largest ports of the UK, Holland, Denmark, as well as to the Canary Islands. Eastbound routes may end up in ports in Asia and even in Australia on longer “around the world” itinerary segments.