BARCELONA GUIDE

INCLUDES A DAY TRIP TO CITY GUIDE

A compelling mixture of imposing Gothic and Art Nouveau style architecture, Spanish cuisine, sangria, sunshine, beaches and chilled vibe make Barcelona one of the greatest getaway cities at any time of year.

Summers here can be hot and humid, while winters very pleasant compared to much of Europe.

Money wise, Barcelona is still relatively affordable, however the main attractions such as the grand Casa Mila or a visit inside the Sagrada Familia, can set you back over €20 per person. BUGETING FOR There are so many things to see and do in Barcelona. Depending BARCELONA on your budget, you can spend an entire weekend doing fun things around the city. However, if you are on a tight budget, ATTRACTIONS select the attractions you definitely want to see and stick to those.

For example, both Gaudi apartments, Casa Mila (La Pedrera) and Casa Batllo are extremely expensive to visit. So maybe choose just one of them to go inside and admire the other from the outside.

From our own experience, Casa Batllo always has the longest queues. If you want to skip the line, you can purchase a ticket (plus FastPass) for €28.50 per person, otherwise it will cost you €23.50 for the regular line.

This Gaudi masterpiece is a joy to look at from the outside so if you are short on cash, you can always appreciate the exterior from the street level for free.

Casa Mila (La Pedrera) on the other hand, is an excellent choice for discovering the life and work of one of the greatest Catalan architects, Antoni Gaudi. Even though sometimes lengthy, the queueing is much faster than at Casa Batllo.

2 At €22 per person you get a sneak peek into the This delightful and slightly elevated zone will also amazing courtyard, the apartments, the attic and allow you to have a glimpse at the azure the fascinating rooftop maze. Mediterranean sea glimmering in the distance.

The panoramic views of the city and Sagrada Take your time to explore this fairy tale like Familia from the rooftop are fabulous. playground and absolutely bring your children here, they’ll love it. Otherwise, you can budget €34.00 per person for the spectacular night show after dark. Bear in mind that the access to the Monumental Zone of Park Güell is limited to 400 tickets Unless you are a massive Gaudi fan, think twice every half hour due to its size, so it’s best to whether you want to spend €15 for a wander purchase tickets online prior to your visit. inside the famous Sagrada Familia. It’s a time saver! Of course, it is an amazing piece of architecture, While visiting Barcelona, we highly recommend however, if I am completely honest, the inside taking a trip to Montserrat, a fascinating somehow doesn’t feel as grand as the exterior. monastery perched on top of the famous mountain But if you love stained glass windows and overlooking the city. complex constructions, go ahead. Though you will need to factor in additional cost Gaudi Park (Park Güell) is a fun place to visit. of around €22-32 per person for a round trip, it’s General ticket costs €7 per person and gives you truly worth it. access to one of the most charming and unusual But did you know that you can explore parks in the city. Barcelona smarter and skip the queues? You The park is overflowing with colourful details put can do it with Barcelona Pass. Save time and your together from broken tile shards and gingerbread hard earned pennies! like houses.

3 FREE THINGS TO DO IN BARCELONA

You will be hard pushed to be bored in Barcelona even with a limited budget. So don’t worry, there’s plenty free stuff to do and see and that is one of the reasons why Barcelona is such a great destination for a quick break.

Having said that, I can guarantee, you will want to stay here longer and leave the city wanting to come back here again and again. Now lets look at all the great free things to do and see in this loveable capital of Catalunya. Familia Sagrada at night. You will probably be reported to hang around here, but it’s generally a heading to look at the cathedral in the day time, pretty safe area. but remember to come back here later in the day and see how stunning it looks at night. Also, less As you wander through the Old Quarter, touristy, big bonus! visit Barcelona Cathedral, a wonderful Gothic style monument open for everyone. While Las Ramblas isn’t something to rave about too much, but it’s still a nice pedestrianised street The dimmed interior complete with shimmering to stroll through while hiding from the sun. gold chandeliers and a faded light coming through stained glass windows creates an eerie, Although, due to the high volume of visitors, the but rather enchanted atmosphere. stroll might be somewhat stressful. To escape the city center, head to the green But there’s something very amazing hiding just space of Parc de la Ciutadella on the across the road from Las Ramblas. northeastern edge of Ciutat Vella area.

It’s a hidden pot of wonderful smells and It’s a tranquil oasis from the hustle and bustle of tastes, La Boqueria, one of the best food the historic centre and has a lot to offer. markets in Europe. Enjoy the walk along flower beds and palm Pop in here to grab some refreshments or just for fringed promenades or hire a rowing boat if you a wander. The market is jam-packed with fresh have a few pennies to spare. and beautiful produce to suit everyone’s taste. Check out The Cascada on the northern side of Great photo opportunities too for those into food the park, sculptures and museums such as the photography. Natural History Museum of Barcelona.

Don’t miss the gorgeous Gothic Quarter and its For a chilled walk, head to Port de narrow charming streets, beautiful balconies and Barcelona and have a refreshing stroll along the windows with colourful shutters. waterfront.

For extra ambience come here early in the Explore the details of The Arc de Triomf located morning at sunrise to see the city waking up. in Passeig de Lluís Companys in the Ciutat Vella area. For a softer light in that picture-perfect snap, come back here at dusk, just before the sunset. It’s a 30 meter tall structure adorned with stone carvings, statues and beautiful ceramic tiles. The quarter is especially atmospheric in the darkness, so come here late and have a wander It’s not very often you get everything in one city, through the winding streets. the culture, great food, and the beach! Barcelona really has it all. Pack your swimwear, a little While the place is buzzing with visitors, make sure picnic and you have your afternoon sorted. you stay alert in the later hours, pickpockets are

5 Conveniently located just 10 minutes away from Hear the powerful ‘Barcelona’ by Freddie the city centre, Barceloneta Beach is great for a Mercury as you walk around and see the fun day out or a layzy sunset walk. Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo lighting the Olympic flame cauldron by a flaming arrow. A little further away from the centre, towards the Olympic Village, you will find the Icària Located in the Montjuïc neighborhood, the Magic and Marbella (nudist) Beaches. Fountains is a must see show and it’s free!

The Sitges Beach is located approximately 30 A wonderful setting with fantastic panoramic minutes outside Barcelona so you will need to views makes this place a highly visited spot in either rent a car or catch a . Barcelona.

Take your time to explore the Parc de But don’t fear, there’s plenty of space for Montjuïc and hold your breath while looking down everyone to watch the spectacular show of light, to the magnificent Plaza Espana framed with music and colour. the Torres Venecianas. The fabulous display takes place from Thursday to A spectacular view that will not cost you a penny! Sunday in the summer months and every Friday and Saturday during winter, but check the official The Olympic Park is a fun place to visit and relive website for exact timings and any changes, just in those emotions of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. case.

6 FOOD AND DRINK If you find yourself hungry in between visiting La Pedrera and Casa RECOMMENDATIONS Batllo, a few blocks away you will find Cerveseria Catalana (Carrer IN BARCELONA de Mallorca, 236, 08008 Barcelona). It’s a walk-in restaurant, but don’t be put off by the lengthy queue. Just leave your name and be patient, it will be worth it in the end!

We waited for around 20 minutes to get a table and I am so glad we did. Their patatas bravas here are to die for.

There is no queue for the bar, so if you just want a quick drink and some tapas, don’t hesitate. Although all seats were taken when we were there. But, a busy place means a good place, right?

Another great place and a favourite of ours was Euskal Etxea in the heart of El Born (Placeta de Montcada 1, 08003 Barcelona).

Definitely the best and very reasonably priced pintxos, great atmosphere and friendly staff. During our visit we found ourselves coming back there again and again.

For good times in the evening head to the H10 Montcada Boutique Hotel (Via Laietana, 24, 08003 Barcelona). Enjoy lovely panoramic views and a refreshing cocktail from their Sunset Lounge Bar. The bar is open from 12pm till midnight (April – October). 7 A DAY TRIP TO MONTSERRAT

If you are planning a visit to the famous city of Barcelona, you absolutely must include Montserrat in your itinerary.

We did it at the last minute and left the place in awe. The monastery perched at the top of the gorgeous peaked mountains is simply wonderful.

At 1,236 meters, the panoramic views across from the striking Montserrat rock formations are breathtaking. PLAN YOUR EPIC The first thing to take into consideration is timing. To fully explore DAY OUT AT all the sights that Montserrat has to offer, set aside a full day. Leave as early as possible, there are trails to be walked and sights MONTSERRAT to be discovered!

The place gets really crowded with visitors, especially during the summer months which can only mean one thing: long queues everywhere.

Unless you are driving, the overall journey, depending on the season, can take from 1.5 hours up to 2 hours from Barcelona, including waiting time at the station.

We suggest you take the earliest possible train from Espanya station in the city center. Driving should take you around 30 minutes or so depending on the traffic.

We will get into more details about buying your tickets and getting to Montserrat later, but first, lets see what is there to see and do in this enchanted part of Catalonia.

9 THE GLORIOUS Now that you are prepared for your day out, let’s explore this SIGHTS OF rugged mountain from top to bottom. MONTSERRAT But where should you start? What are you most interested in? Architectural monuments or landscapes?

You won’t be short of things to see and do here, there’s something for everyone, even the train geeks!

Here’s a quick list of sights on offer, check them out and and then decide where to start.

TOP TIP: Check the weather forecast before leaving. If it’s going to be an insanely hot day ahead of you, maybe do the walks first thing in the morning and then carry on visiting the Abbey and the museums to hide from the burning sun?

The Trails and Outdoor Sights for Landscape Fans

We promise you will not be disappointed with this part of the day. Start exploring by taking the trail leading to Sant Joan Chapel.

There is a slight climb up a 100 m long hill, but it’s easily done and will set the pace nicely for the rest of the walks.

10 As you pass the chapel and keep ascending the views, which as we learnt, you are never short of slope, look back to check out the incredible rocks in Montserrat! sticking out behind you. The zone holds not only cultural, but also a To reach the trail, take the Sant Joan religious value to this place of pilgrimage. railway and follow the signs pointing towards the trail. As we learnt while exploring, the legend has it, that an image of Virgin Mary appeared on the Next up, Sant Jeroni summit. At 1,236 m., Sant rock in the area so a chapel was built to mark the Jeroni is the highest point of Montserrat. spot.

The easiest way to reach the first base of the Since 1929 pilgrims have been making their way mountain is to take the vertical Sant Joan down on the funicular to visit this symbolic place. funicular railway up. Train geeks, listen up! There’s is an exhibition The railway by the way is insanely vertical! Our about the funicular railways around the world jaws dropped when we saw it from the distance! to be found in the lower Santa Cova station.

This is a longer, around a 2.5 hour trek if you use Told you, there’s something for everyone! the funicular railway. Sights for Culture Vultures Otherwise get ready for approx. 3.5 hours if you are hiking all the way up, depending on your For the ultimate experience in Montserrat, head fitness level. straight to the Benedictine Abbey to catch a glimpse at the Black Virgin of Montserrat. So don’t be shy and get trekking, the views are simply spectacular from the top! We won’t lie, we Also referred to as the Black Madonna, this took the railway, ha! Romanesque statue has a monumental significance in Montserrat. Outdoors lovers and Gaudi fans, you are in for a treat at the Rosari Monumental and the Cave It’s believed that this wooden world renowned Chapel! icon was carved in Jerusalem in the very early days of Christianity. The Santa Cova funicular railway will take you down to feast your eyes on some of the most It is also said that the entire Montserrat complex important modern Catalan sculptures by Antonio is built up around it. Gaudi amongst other famous artists. Unfortunately, there’s no way avoiding queues Apart from the significant monuments, the journey here, so leave enough time for your visit. down to the Rosary Monumental itself is a sight to You might need to queue for up to an hour or behold! even longer at times before you get to kiss Black This scenic winding ride will take your breath Madonna’s hand. away presenting you with even more panoramic

11 Take your time to explore the Santa Maria de departed relatives, to wish them peace on the Montserrat, it’s a truly stunning abbey. Pay close other side. attention to small details and relax. While I am not overly religious, I find it very It’s a perfect getaway from the buzzing outside soothing to light a candle for my friends and world. family or for everyone else for that matter.

As you walk outside the abbey, on your right History buffs, head to the Montserrat Museum. hand side you will find a magical passageway filled with flickering candles. It’s a good quality museum housing six permanent collections of more than 1,300 relics together with It’s customary amongst catholics to light a candle temporary displays. for their loved ones, wishing them well or for

12 WHAT SHOULD In all honesty, anything you feel comfortable in. YOU WEAR WHEN Remember that during the summer, it can get pretty hot so make VISITING sure you are well protected from the sun. MONTSERRAT Even though the trails are easily walkable and you will most likely get a funicular railway to get to the start of the trails, we recommend wearing comfortable footwear for travel.

It will allow you to enjoy the walks and the climb to the highest peak of Montserrat without issues.

The footpaths are well maintained and you can walk them in any footwear, but while you are exploring such a fabulous rocky place, you might as well be a little more adventurous and descend through the rocks rather than the footpath.

Make sure you stay safe though as it can be slippery in places. Always use caution!

Ladies, if you want to look pretty and love wearing dresses, please be our guest, it will keep you cool in the heat. However you should cover your shoulders when entering the Abbey, simply out of respect.

13 GETTING TO The glorious peaks of Montserrat are located around 30 miles (48 MONTSERRAT km) northwest of Barcelona and have good transport connections. This makes it an easy day out when visiting the region of FROM Catalonia. BARCELONA By car. The quickest way to access the monastery is by driving.

It’s easy to rent a car in Barcelona and the road to Montserrat is pretty straight forward.

Park your car at the free Monistrol Vila parking lot and off you go exploring. Conveniently, here you will also be able to buy your rack railway ticket for Montserrat.

By train. Getting to Montserrat by railway is one of the most popular hassle free options if you don’t drive.

Trains leave every hour from Plaza Espanya rail station. Once you’ve purchased your tickets for access to Montserrat, look for Line R5 and jump on the train going towards .

So, which ticket should you buy?

14 It’s all about time saving when going to While this option might not save you that much Montserrat so here is a little tip for you: don’t money, it will definitely save you time. queue at the ticket office, it only sells tour tickets, get your tickets at the ticket machines. And in our opinion, if you only have a day at a spectacular place like Montserrat, timing is Don’t be frightened by the machines, they do look absolutely crucial. a little scary with all the options available. With the Trans Montserrat ticket you will be able Don’t let them intimidate you, step away from to use the two main atop of these those big apparatus for a moment and have a beautiful mountains – Funicular de Sant Joan and think. What’s the best way for you to get to the Funicular de Santa Cova. top of the mountain? Otherwise, tickets for these have to be purchased Either, the Cable Car () or separately which means… queuing. Rack Railway (Cremallera de Montserrat) will take you on a spectacular journey across the valley. Like I mentioned earlier, this part in Montserrat can be very time consuming. If you are scared of heights, you will want to get to Montserrat via the funicular railway (rack Where to find the cable car and rack railway? railway) rather than the cable car. The train from Barcelona will drop you at the Also, take the railway if you are running late as bottom of the mountain at Montserrat AERI taking the cable can be time consuming with only station. 2 cars running. The cable car station is just round the corner from Now that you are prepared, it’s time to face the the train station, a 2 minute walk at the most. ticket machine. The Aeri de Montserrat is a little dated and quite Stay cool, it will present you 3 ticket options which small, but the journey is spectacular. will all look a little confusing, but no panic, we are It only takes around 5 minutes to get to the top of here to help! the mountain, but the queues can be very To take the hassle out of your day, we lengthy, especially during holidays. recommend purchasing the Trans Montserrat It can easily take up to 40 minutes before you can ticket – €31.80 per adult. board the car.

This combined ticket includes: In this instance, the overall journey from Barcelona to Montserrat will take more or less 90 • round trip train journey from Barcelona minutes. • round trip cable car/rack railway journey to TOP TIP: When boarding the train from Montserrat Barcelona, sit at the rear of the train so you are • unlimited funicular journeys in Montserrat closer to the exit when you reach the station for the cable car.

15 This will put you towards the front of the queue as From here, simply get on the Cremallera de long as you head straight to the cable car station Montserrat which will take you all the way to the from the train. Montserrat, easy!

If you decide to take the Cremallera de Have an amazing day out! Montserrat, get off at , one stop after Montserrat AERI.

16 ABOUT US We are Charlie and Kristina and we love travel so much we started MapTrotting to inspire others to travel more.

After some short trips to Hawaii and Cuba we were hooked and set off in early 2016 to create a travel focused lifestyle.

We are currently based on the sunny island of Malta.

Our lives are focused on making the most of the precious time we have through great experiences and quality adventures.

MapTrotting is about exploring the world slowly and finding real value in travel.

We share our knowledge and experience with our readers so they can learn from our highs and lows on the road.

Our aim is to inspire people to travel and experience more of the world through our blog.

Our target audience is people like us, 'flashpacker' couples who seek great value for their time and money when they travel. We also collaborate with leading travel blogs such as Goats on the Road, Travioor, The Planet D, Nomadasaurus and SEA Backpacker Magazine to help spread travel love to an even wider audience. 17 PHOTOGRAPHY TRAVEL RESOURCES

All the photos in this eBook are taken by us with We wanted to share some of the travel resources these two cameras: we use to help us travel, blog and make videos.

Canon EOS 1100D. Combined with the 50mm lens, We hope you’ll find them useful, just follow the link this camera takes amazingly detailed close up for more information. shots for our blog. It’s very reliable, ideal for anyone starting out. You can purchase it here or As we quickly found out, a little (and we mean via our resource page. little) advance travel planning can go a long way.

Sony RX100 III. Now our main travel camera. It takes the pressure off and usually means less Very powerful, yet nice and discreet when we poor snap decisions and frustrations. Follow the want to grab a shot but not the attention. The link to see the resources and useful apps. prefect compact. Check it out here or on our resources page.

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