BarcelonaMainland Spain · Spain

All About Barcelona

Barcelona is a global city in Spain with solid cultural roots dating back 2000 years and a long history stretching back to the Middle Ages. It is a largely industrial city that has been turned into a bastion of all that is beautiful. Alongside this, there has been a resurgence in regional pride, expressing itself in the use of the Catalan dialect of Spanish and a plethora of international events. Book ferry tickets to Barcelona and discover architectural gems from Catalan Modernism, a movement from the late 19th-century and early 20th century that unleashes shapes and colors and whose highest representative is Antoni Gaudí.

Whether it’s a pleasant year-round climate, historic sights, beaches, or artistic delights, this city has got you covered. Stretching along a stunning length of the Mediterranean coast, it also hosts one of Europe’s busiest passenger ports. Taking a ferry to Barcelona is easy, just use Ferryscanner to compare ferry companies and book ferry tickets. Your trip is bound to be memorable with the city’s range of attractions and tourist sites. It’s a melting pot of culture, cuisine, history, sports, and modern living.
 

Routes and Ferries to Barcelona

The main routes and ferries that dock at Barcelona’s wharves are those that cross the Mediterranean in a southeasterly direction towards the Balearic Islands. Of five different ferry routes that head to the islands, the shortest one is to the town of Ciutadella on Menorca. Sailings for this journey last approximately 4.5 hours, and operate with up to eight services per week, meaning you’ll never have to wait long for the next departure time to arrive. Like all the regular services between Barcelona and the Balearics, this ferry is operated by the Balearia ferry line. Adult passengers on foot are able to find crossings for around €67-71.

It takes another 1.5 hours to reach the neighboring island of Mallorca, which is the largest of the island chain. There is a service to Alcudia on Mallorca six times per week, with a price range of €57-66. Alternatively, it’s also possible to reach Mallorca by way of Palma, although this crossing lasts seven and three-quarter hours. On the plus side, there is one sailing per day in either direction, and tickets can be got for as little as €39.

Elsewhere in the same chain of islands, it’s just 15 minutes more to reach either Formentera or Ibiza from Barcelona, via different routes, both of which are operated by Balearia. There are six departures per week to both islands, with the journey to Ibiza costing around €57, and that to Formentera €77.

Outside of mainland Spain, the ferry companies that operate out of Barcelona also maintain routes to Italy. More specifically, Grimaldi Lines runs some of its ships to both Civitavecchia on the Italian Peninsula, and to Porto Torres on the Italian-owned island of Sardinia. Civitavecchia lies just 60 kilometers from Rome and can be reached by ship in 20 hours. A popular route running roughly west to east across the Mediterranean, it’s possible to get ferry tickets to Barcelona from Civitavecchia, and vice versa, for €44-55 on one of the six departures that take place weekly.

There is an average of four sailings in either direction between Barcelona and Porto Torres on Sardinia. You don’t need to be a lover of the sea to enjoy this sailing, since it lasts a little over 12 hours, giving you just enough time to get comfortable and into the vacation spirit before docking at your destination. Fares on this route for an adult foot passenger are as low as €33 and rarely rise above €40. Using the Ferryscanner website you can easily compare prices or ferry companies and book ferry tickets to Barcelona.

Barcelona El Prat Airport is located roughly 18 kilometers from the heart of the city. The second-largest in Spain, it is a significant hub for Ryanair, Vueling, Iberia, and Air Europa, ensuring a steady stream of flights to destinations all over Europe, as well as the Middle East and Asia.
 

Port of Barcelona

The main port in the city is called Port de Barcelona. It’s located next to La Barceloneta neighborhood and its development began in the 14th century. Nevertheless, the port industry in the city started long before, during the Roman era, specifically in the 1st century BC.

Nowadays, the port has an extension of 828.9 hectares, with 35 terminals that receive ferries and cruises as well as goods and transports. Next to the main port, is a leisure area called Port Vell, which has been given a new lease of life as an entertainment district containing a mall, IMAX cinema, and Aquarium Barcelona. Ferries to Barcelona arrive and depart from wharfs close to the old port, placing passengers in the center of the city in minutes.

Inside the port, there is a shuttle bus called Cruise Bus that goes from some terminals of cruises and ferries and it arrives at the Columbus Monument, next to La Rambla. This way, you can link with seven different bus lines. Furthermore, aside it’s the metro stop Drassanes, which directly connects with Paseo de Gràcia and Diagonal. In addition, there are a few bus stops in the surrounding areas.

The port is a 12-minute drive from the city center. Taxis are readily available at ferry arrival times, and you can also take the Metro, but it takes longer.
 

Best Beaches

You don’t have to head far from the historic center of Barcelona to enjoy a few hours on the beach. They range from lively stretches of sand popular with resident teens to quieter areas primarily used by serious swimmers. Below is our pick of the best beaches in Barcelona.

Playa de la Barceloneta

Located on the northeastern side of the old port, Barceloneta beach is a favorite with locals. The soft sand arcs around a beautiful coastline and boasts lifeguards as well as facilities including WiFi.

Platja El Prat

Platja El Prat couldn’t be more different from Barceloneta Beach, since it is located on the western side of the city close to the airport. But you don’t have to be a plane spotter to enjoy the beachfront here. More natural than beaches on the other side of the city, it’s also popular with windsurfers when conditions are right.

Bogatell Beach

Bogatell beach is one of the longest beaches in Barcelona. Renovated in the ’90s, there is a host of recreational activities like table tennis, volleyball, basketball, and beach soccer. Take the H16 bus from the city center to reach Bogatell beach in 32 minutes. It’s specially adapted to be more accessible to public transport. The designated bathing area is complemented by all the facilities associated with swimming, like showers and lockers.

Sitges Beach

Approximately 40 kilometers from Barcelona on the far side of the Parc del Garraf, Sitges Beach is well worth the extra journey. Offering some of the cleanest sands of any beach in the region, it’s here that locals come to escape the city for a day or two. It’s not hard to discover why!
 

Places to Visit

Barcelona is ripe with activities and places to visit. There are attractions of all sorts, from historical sites to sports arenas. Barcelona truly has something for all interests.

La Rambla

Running through the heart of Barcelona, La Rambla is a wide tree-lined boulevard with a fun atmosphere at any time of day. Lined with shops and architectural wonders, other sights include the 60-meter-high Columbus Monument and Boqueria Market.

Sagrada Familia

Perhaps the most famous work by Barcelona-born architect Antoni Gaudi, the magnificent cathedral of Sagrada Familia is so complex in design it remains unfinished 130 years after it was begun. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a triumph of the art nouveau style and unlike any other church that you’ll encounter in Europe.

Barcelona Aquarium

Located in the old port, Aquarium Barcelona has a total capacity of 5 million liters of water, which provide homes for some 11,000 individual creatures of 450 species in 35 different main tanks. The star of the show has to be the ocean tank, whose sharks and rays can be seen from the 80-meter underwater tunnel.
 

Things to Do

A thriving hub for the arts, reducing the best things to do in Barcelona to a list of three or four attractions is a difficult task. That said, if you have just a few hours in the city, these are what not to miss.

Explore Sagrada Família

Sagrada Família is a true marvel in the making. It has a remarkable history since construction started back in 1883 and continues even today following the plans of the legendary architect, Gaudí. It took him 40 years to design the church, so it’s fitting he’s buried under the nave. In Sagrada Familia, you can ask for an audio tour guide that explains all the symbols, meanings, and small details about the entirety of the church.

You can hop on the D50 bus from the city center to reach Sagrada Família in just 15 minutes.

Visit Camp Nou

Home of the renowned FC Barcelona, Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe. It’s a magnificent sight to behold, even when it’s not hosting a match. You can experience the history of the football club in the in-house museum.

If football is not your thing, the Palau Blaugrana sports hall offers basketball, handball, roller hockey, and indoor football, where the club teams train and play.

Stroll Around Jardí Botanic Garden

Jardí Botanic Garden is home to a diverse collection of plants and botanic rarities. Although the garden shifted to a more scientific approach to account for sustainability, there are still plant varieties worldwide.

It’s a picturesque walk through the garden that overlooks the city from some spots. Some ponds add further personality to the garden.

Have Fun at Tibidabo Amusement Park

You can take an adrenaline-filled bird’s eye view of Barcelona from one of the thrilling rides over at Tibidabo Amusement Park. Situated in the city’s calmer parts, it takes around 1 hour and 12 minutes to reach the city center from here with public transport.

It’s the oldest amusement park of its type with over a century of history. However, it is constantly evolving with time.

See the Magic Fountains

Almost every major attraction in Barcelona is exotic and historical, and the Magic Fountain is no exception. They were initially built back in 1929 and later reconstructed in 2010 with sustainability as a high priority.

The magic of the fountain comes alive at night when sound and light shows are presented on a schedule. You can take the night tour bus to experience the magic firsthand.
 

Transportation Around Barcelona

Getting around Barcelona is easy. You can take the underground metro, hop on a bus, ride on the tram or take a taxi. The regular tourist bus service can take you around the city, giving you a ride through the city’s inspiring architecture.

Since Barcelona is well connected by a huge public transport network, that’s typically the best option for getting from one place to another. In this city, there are 11 metro lines, apart from the cable car of Montjuïc. The metro is open from 5:00 to 00:00 (except for the 24th of December, when it closes at 23:00).

Additionally, there are a lot of bus lines, and some of them run all throughout the night. The simple ticket for public transport costs 2.4€, and the ticket for 10 trips for moving inside the city has a price of 11.35€. The tour bus tickets start from €20, which lets you board the bus as many times as you like. You can also go for the Hola Barcelona Travel Card, which covers all the public transport modes.

Almost all of the beaches in Barcelona have rental bicycles available which will help you get to the further metro stations and bus stops while riding alongside the sea.