Departure: 9.00 am
Duration: 6 hours
Language: English
Price : 76€ adults / 42€ children
The ideal tour for people on a short visit: the only way to see everything, covering the distances and avoiding the queues. Visit all the best sites in Barcelona: Gaudí’s famous buildings – Park Güell, Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera – the Waterfront with Columbus Monument and Old Port, and Montjüic Hill with its panoramic views over the city.
Tour Description:
GAUDI’S BUILDINGS:
Passeig de Gràcia: This broad elegant avenue was built for and by the wealthy Barcelonians and they have never left; luxury and design shops line the street along with major banks and the stock exchange. Architectural details include modernist lampposts and Gaudí’s tiles for pavements and a myriad of grand buildings including two of Gaudí’s houses:
Casa Batlló, and Casa Milà (façade).
Park Güell guided tour: Demonstration of how far ahead of his time Gaudí was, this residential suburb was financed by Eusebi Güell and meticulously planned by Gaudí with intertwining roads and footpaths, water catchment, market place and square, gardens and lodges. Only two houses were sold and eventually the Güell family sold it for a symbolic amount to the city as a park and allowing us all to benefit from this beautiful, world heritage site.
Sagrada Familia guided tour: The jewel in the crown of Gaudí’s works, the temple is a synthesis of his overall conception of architecture. The richness of detail and its significance need explaining in order to appreciate this fascinating and extraordinary building in full.
Gaudí wished the temple, which is still being built, to be financed by the people, not by taxes or funding, and that’s just what your entrance fees do (included in our tour price): finance the completion of the building started in 1882.
WATERFRONT:
Olympic Village: A run down and industrial area of Barcelona was completely reconverted into the 1992 Olympic Village. Right on the waterfront, it has become an attractive, landscaped residential area.
Olympic Port: Flanked by two of the tallest buildings in the city, the Arts Hotel and the Mapfre Tower, the port is a good example of contemporary architecture. Here you can see the copper sculpture Fish by Frank O. Ghery, spectacular in the sunshine.
Old Port: Separated from the Olympic port by long beaches and the old fisherman’s quarter, Barceloneta, the Old Port has been remodelled to extend the city centre down the Rambla into the harbour. Attractive, popular area with restaurants, shops, nightclubs and frequent open-air entertainment.
Columbus Monument: built in his honour in 1888, it is at the foot of the famous Rambla.
World Trade Center: original imposing building by Henry N. Cobb whose aesthetic features are highlighted by the building being surrounded by water.
MONTJUÏC HILL:
Mirador de l’Alcalde (the Mayor’s Lookout) stop: This terrace is a balcony over the Mediterranean with spectacular views over the harbour and the whole city. The bus will stop here to let you walk around and get the best viewpoints.
Olympic Ring: Central sports facilities of the ’92 Olympic Games, the complex includes the Stadium, the St Jordi sports pavilion by architect Arata Isozaki, the INEF by architect Ricardo Bofill and the Calatrava Communications Tower.
Spanish Village guided tour: Final place on the tour so people who so wish can stay for as long as they like. Built for the 1929 Exhibition, you can see replicas of streets, squares, monuments and buildings from around the country. There is an open air museum with many artists and craftsmen you can watch at work, synthesizing traditional crafts with modern design: glass, ceramics, jewellery, fabrics etc. There are also many bars and restaurants, you will have free time for lunch and we will give you a voucher valid for 10% discount in one of the restaurants you choose.
After lunch, the tour will return to Plaça Catalunya and link with the Montserrat Tour for those who wish to see this special monastery and mountain.
Inclusions:
- Entrance and guided tour of Sagrada Familia.
- Guided tour of Park Güell.
- Entrance to Spanish Village and 10% discount voucher for its restaurants.
- Panoramic view of the city.
- Professional licensed guides with excellent English.
- Comfortable air-conditioned buses.
Exclusions:
- Entrances to other monuments mentioned during the tour.
- Hotel pick up and drop off.
- Lunch.
