A Visit to Barcelona
The modern, cosmopolitan city of Barcelona offers
just about everything for today's tourist - sights, culture, cuisine, history,
etc. With a population of 2 million, Barcelona is a major Mediterranean
port, nestled in the northeast corner of Spain, not far from the border
with France. Barcelona is the capital of the Catalonian region, as well
as a major cultural and business center - most major companies choose either
Madrid or Barcelona for their base of operations in Spain.
The area of Catalonia (Catalunya) today has some 6 million inhabitants, with Barcelona as the region's traditional capital since it came into being in the Middle Ages after the Frankish King, Charlemagne built up the area as a defense against invading Moors. This open area along the Mediterranean, east of the Pyrenees had been under Phoenician, Greek, Roman and Moorish control during its long history. The count of Catalunya joined forces with the Kingdom of Aragon in the early 12th century, while Aragon and Castilla were later joined into what is now Spain with the marriage of Fernando of Aragon to Isabel of Castilla in the 15th century - the same royal couple who later sent Columbus to "discover" America, and pushed the last of the Moors from the Iberian peninsula.
Getting there
- By air
- Barcelona's El Prat Airport was completely renovated for the 1992 Summer Olympics. It is situated about 12 km southwest of the city - and takes about 30 minutes in moderate traffic conditions, but can take much longer. A city bus service runs regularly between the airport and the Plaza de Catalunya with stops at Plaza de Espanya and Gran Via. There is also train service to the Sants train station from the airport.
- By train &: bus
- The city's major train station: Sants serves most major Spanish cities and is well linked to the underground Metro system. Train schedules and other information is available at RENFE (Spanish National Railway System) Web Site. The city's long-distance bus station is also located at Sants.
- By road
- Barcelona is well connected by good 4-lane highways with Madrid, Perpignan
(France) and the Mediterranean coast to the southwest:
- N-II Zaragoza-Madrid
- North A-7, E-15 Girona(Gerona)-Perpignan
- South A-7, E-15 Tarragona-Valencia-Almeria
Transportation
- The Barcelona Metro underground train system is the fastest, most economical way to get around town. It covers the city quite well.
- Bus: Barcelona also boasts an extensive bus network. Economical Metro and bus passes called "targetes" are available in several formats from Servi-Caixa ATM machines and other sources.
- Taxi: There are taxis stands and circulating taxis all over the city. Rates are reasonable, but not cheap.
Where to stay and what to do
Barcelona's mild Mediterranean climate makes things pretty comfortable all year 'round. The city's a tourist paradise with plenty to see and do, whatever interests one might have. Finding a place to stay is not usually a problem, the hotel infrastructure was greatly improved for the Olympic Games in '92. It's hard to say what's the best (that depends on individual interests) but there's sightseeing, museums, art galeries, restaurants, nightlife, local and regional festivals, vineyards, great beaches up and down the coast, golf, and lots more.
"Targetes" Links List: Barcelona
All about bus and Metro passes known as "targetes".About Barcelona
Guide to Barcelona and nearby towns with loads of information, itineraries, entertainment, hotels, restaurants and more.Barcelona Connect
Guide and travel services for Barcelona. Includes accomodation, restaurants, night life and more.Barcelona Metro
Finding your way on Barcelona's underground Metro system.Barcelona Podtours
MP3 guided audio tours in Barcelona.Barcelona Prestige Guide
A good Web stop before visiting Barcelona - includes tour information, restaurant and transportation guides, cultural data, and more.Barcelona: All About Spain Guide
Another fine Web guide for visitors to Barcelona with information on the city, sightseeing, restaurants, nightlife, and more.Barcelona: Cyberspain's Cities of Spain
Good overview with lots of general information about Barcelona.Barcelona: Time Out Guide
The UK "Time Out Guide to Barcelona" is one of the most complete, easy to use references for visitors to the city. It's excellent.Barcelona: Tourist Office of Spain
An excellent overview of the city of Barcelona - history, districts, culture, and more.Barcelona: What's Happening
"Time Out Guide to Barcelona" offers an up to date program of events: theater, entertainments, art shows, music and more.Climate
An up to date weather report for the Barcelona area. (USA Today)Festivals
Local festivals can be a real highlight - find out more here.Golf
There are some excellent golf courses in the Barcelona area.Hotels
A good place to look for an inxpensive hotel in and around Barcelona.Museums
Tourespaņa's list of Barcelona museums.Restaurants
Barcelona's a great place to dine - here's a place to help locate worthwhile spots.Travelcat
Catalonia Tourism Guide, an excellent guide with information about Barcelona and the region of Catalonia, with maps, sightseeing recommendations, etc.Vineyards
There are some superb wineries close to Barcelona, the world famous Torres winery is a good place to start.