Barcelona Cruise Guide

Since bursting onto the world stage as the host of the 1992 Olympic Games Barcelona has rocketed through the ranks of European tourism and firmly established itself as one of the continent's leading cruise destinations. Barcelona treats cruise passengers to a rich medley of architecture, with the signature parabolic arches of its most famous son, modernist architect Antoni Gaudi, stamped across the city.

A city where artistic talent is write large Barcelona's buildings also showcase the work of Lluis Domènech i Montaner and Josep Puig i Cadafalch, while its museums pay homage to the likes of Joan Miró and Picasso. Back outside, the world-famous La Rambla (Mediterranean cruises dock at its eastern end) buzzes with the chatter from pavement cafes and quirky street performers entertain the tourist throngs. With a raft of shops selling everything from tourist memorabilia to exclusive fashion designs and an eclectic and seemingly infinite number of bars and restaurants, Barcelona really does have something for everyone.

Framed by the Mediterranean to the east and the hills of Montjuïc and Tibidabo on two of its other flanks, Barcelona strikes an impressive pose. The heart of the city is neatly dissected by La Rambla, which tumbles from Plaça de Catalunya southeast towards the Mediterranean and the trendy districts of Port Vell (Old Port) and La Ribera (The Waterfront).

North of La Rambla the atmospheric Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) is the charming heart of the old city, embracing the Catedral de la Seu and Museu Picasso (Picasso Museum) amid narrow streets and hidden squares. Plaça de Catalunya divides the old town from the Eixample (a grid of streets laid out in the 19th century) in which much of the city's finest Modernist architecture is to be found, including the celebrated Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family), an unfinished marvel of design by Antoní Gaudi.

The Montjuïc mountainside meanwhile boats the remaining Olympic installations, a clutch of noteworthy museums and spectacular views of the city.

Highlights
• Parc Güell (Güell Park)
• Fundació Joan Miró (Joan Miró Foundation)
• Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (National Museum of Catalonian Art)
• Plaça del Rei (King's Square)
• Palau de la Música Catalana (Palace of Catalan Music)
• Gaudi's Casa Batlló and Casa Milà
• Mercat de la Boqueria (Boqueria market)

Centre d'Informació Turisme de Barcelona
Plaça de Catalunya 17-S, Barcelona, Spain
Tel: +34 932 853 834.
Website: www.barcelonaturisme.com  

Shopping is one of Barcelona's greatest attractions, with a bountiful 5-km (3-mile) shopping strip, all the way from the water's edge at Port Vell right up La Rambla to Avinguda Diagonal.

International chains, designer shops and department stores are located around Plaça de Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia and along Avinguda Diagonal. La Rambla and the Barri Gòtic are good for souvenirs.

Where? La Rambla, Plaça de Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia and Avinguda Diagonal.
What? Clothes, antiques and curios, food, souvenirs, Catalan black pottery, Barcelona lace, hand-woven baskets and local designer labels.

Barcelona has restaurants to match any budget from fast food to fine dining. One of the best ways to sample Spanish food is to try tapas (snacks), which are served at any time of day in local bars. These range from cheese and olives to squid or meat delicacies.

Barcelona specialities
• Paella (rice cooked with meat or seafood).
• Butifarra (sausage stewed with beans).
• Roast meats, particularly lamb, beef, veal and suckling pig.
• Perelada and Cava (sparkling wine).
• Crema Catalana (sweet dessert resembling a crème brulee).

Barcelona basks in a balmy climate year round. Its Mediterranean location means that it doesn't get too steamily hot in summer and has few genuinely cold days in winter. Rain is possible at any time of year.

Barcelona is awash with hotels. Even in prime locations like La Rambla (and the streets that branch off it) it is possible to get a good rate with hotel categories generally ranging from two to five star. As a rule of thumb the further from La Rambla you are prepared to stay the cheaper the room.

Port de Barcelona
Moll de Barcelona Quay
Website: www.apb.es

Estació Central-Sants
Plaça del Països Catalans, Barcelona
Website: www.renfe.es

Barcelona Airport (BCN)
Prat de Llobregat s/n 08820
Website: www.aena.es

Barcelona.

2km (1.2 miles).

5 minutes.

Shuttle bus available to city centre.

Spain

GMT + 1.

Euro (€) = 100 cents.

Catalan and Castilian Spanish.

Catalunya (Catalonia), northeast Spain.

1,673,075 (city); 3,161,081 (metropolitan area).

Parliamentary monarchy since 1978.

Majority Roman Catholic.

Barcelona is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city yet respect remains central to the local way of life with hospitality, chivalry and courtesy of paramount importance. A handshake is the customary form of greeting between men, while women to whom one has already been introduced may be greeted with a fleeting kiss to either cheek. When visiting someone's home a small gift is always appreciated. Bars and restaurants must declare whether they permit or prohibit smoking. The vast majority have opted for the former.

Tipping: Some restaurants include service in the bill. Tipping is discretionary - up to 10% in city restaurants where service has not already been charged. Locals often leave a small tip for bar staff.