City Tour and Boat Trip in Barcelona

If you happen to be in Barcelona for just a few days and would like to see the most popular attractions without losing time using different modes of transport, thanks to this tour on land and sea, you'll be able to get an overall view of the city and its coastline. You can explore the city at your own rhythm with the Hop on Hop off bus which will enable you to get on and off as and when you choose so that you can visit plenty of different attractions.  After you have finished touring the city by bus, you'll be able to round off your tour with a wonderful boat trip from Port Vell so that you can admire the beauty of this landscape as you look inland from the sea.

  What's included in the Tour 

How does the Tour on land and sea actually work? 

This tour on land and sea will enable you to get a great overview of the city as it covers a sightseeing tour of the main attractions on a modern double-decker bus plus a boat trip that sets off from Port Vell.  You will be able to see the city at your own pace and you can choose where to get off and how many times you want to hop off the bus.  When you board the bus, you will be given a map of the city which shows the different bus routes and a description of each stop.  The Hop on Hop off Tourist bus can offer customers two different routes which will enable you to see the entire city: these are the green route and the orange route.  Each trip takes around two hours and you can get on and off at any one of the 35 stops. The frequency of the buses does depend on the time of year but generally, there is a bus every 7 to 25 minutes.  The service starts from 09:00 and the last trip in summer time is at 20:00 whereas in winter, the last trip would be at 19:00 hours.  The tour has audio guides available in 15 languages.  Once you are on board the bus, not only do you get a map but you will also be given a book of discount coupons which you will be able to use in restaurants, shops, on different modes of transport and at many other points of interest.     

The Green Route:

The Green Route starts off from Plaça Catalunya and will take you to the Arco del Triomf  first of all and then on to the wonderful neighborhood of El Born via the green lungs of the city which is the famous Parc de la Ciudadella and its Zoo. You will then travel along the Passèig de Colom until you arrive at Barcelona's World Trade Center. From here, you will continue inland and will be able to see the Joan Miró foundation where you can decide if you wish to get off to see the art works of this famous Catalan artist or whether you wish to carry on with your trip.   The route carries on towards the Olympic Ring, the park that was built for the Olympic Games in 1992.  The bus then heads towards the Museo Nacional de arte de Cataluña (MNAC) (The National Art Museum of Catalonia) and the majestic fountain that's in front of the building.  At this spot, you will find yourselves right on the top of Monjuic and will carry on from here to the Poble Espanyol which is a reconstruction of Spain in miniature.  This is followed by the CaixaForum which is the cultural center founded by Barcelona's most famous bank and the Mies Van Der Rohe pavilion.  When you arrive at the Plaza Espanya the bus will then travel on to the spectacular Camp Nou, Barcelona's world famous football stadium.  The subsequent stops are: Plaça de Pius XII, the Royal Palace of Pedralbes, the Güell Pavilion and the medieval monastery of Pedralbes. In fact, this takes you along the Diagonal towards the Plaza Catalunya and then along the Passèig de Gràcia where you will be able to see, or hop off and visit La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.  

The Orange Route: 

The Orange Route also starts off from Plaça Catalunya and will initially take you to visit the Gothic Quarter where you can get off and visit the interior of the imposing Cathedral.  You will then travel down to the famous Port Vell (which is where the boat trip departs from) and after that, to the Museum of Catalan History.  The bus tour then carries on to the neighborhood of Barceloneta and from here you will go on to the Olympic Port and the beaches of Bogatell and Nova Mar Bella. The following stop will be in the neighborhood of Glòries where you will be able to admire the spectacular Torre Agbar. Also unmissable are the stops at the Sagrada Familia, the modernist Sant Pau Centrer and the famous Park Güell. To finish off, the bus will arrive at the oldest amusement park in Barcelona, Tibidabo. As you come back towards the Plaça Catalunya again, you will pass in front of two of the world renowned architect Antoni Gaudí's most famous buidings, La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.

Information about the boat trip

Near the bus stop on the orange route, in front of the statue of Columbus, you will find the stop belonging to BCNavaltours from whence you can embark on a fantastic tour of Barcelona's coast line.  You can look forward to a relaxing trip lasting around 40 minutes which will provide you with stunning views of the city and you'll be able to relax with a drink - you can choose from Cava, Sangria, beer or a non-alcoholic drink.  Let yourself be transported by the beauty of the coast around Barcelona and by the stunning views that will take your breath away.  The boat does trips daily from 11:20 to 19:30 hours from April to October and from 11:20 to 17:30 hours in the period from November to March.  You can choose the time that suits you best.  And if you are a lover of sunsets or are on a romantic trip with your other half, this could be a great opportunity to spend some precious time together on a relaxing boat trip, sipping a delicious drink and enjoying the romantic view of the golden sunset reflected on the water and over the splendid city of Barcelona! 

Prices and schedules for the tour of land and sea 

Price of a ticket valid for 2 days: adults €52.00; children €32.00 and pensioners (over 65) €48.00.

Timetable for the Hop on Hop Off bus: daily from 09:00 hours to 20:00 hours during the summer and from 09:00 to 19:00 hours during the winter.  The buses run every 7 to 25 minutes, depending on the time of day / season.

Timetable for the boat trip: daily from 11:20 to 19:30 during the summer and from 11:20 to 17:30 hours during the winter. The boats depart every 30 to 60 minutes depending on the time of year.