Julia & Tim

Barcelona 101

Barcelona Airports

Barcelona International Airport (El Prat de Llobregat Aeropuerto) is situated 13 KM South West of the city centre. The airport abbreviation is (BCN).

Airport → Barcelona

Train
Renfe’s R2 Nord train line runs between the airport and Passeig de Graçia in central Barcelona and should take ~ 25 - 35 minutes. Tickets cost €4, starts at 6 am and ends at 11:30 pm daily.

Taxi
Taxis should take ~ 20 - 30 minutes into the city center and cost ~ €25 - €30.

Bus
The Aerobus is an express bus between the airport and city center and costs €6 for a one-way and €10 round trip. It runs between T1 and T2 terminals and Placa Espana or Placa de Catalunya.

Car Rental
Avis, Europcar, National/Atesa and Hertz have desks at El Prat airport and from the two train stations, Estació Sants and Estació del Nord.

Subway
Single tickets cost €2 and can be bought at Metro stations. A T10 ticket is available for 10 tickets for €10 within the city center / zone 1.

Hours: 5 am to 12 am Sunday to Thursday, from 5 am to 2 am on Friday, and 24 hours on Saturday

Taxis
Taxis are very easy to use. Look for Taxi stops to catch one. Please note, not all drivers accept credit cards and not all speak English.

Car Rental
Rental Locations in Barcelona city center include:
Avis (Carrer de Còrsega 293-295; Diagonal)
Europcar (Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 680)
Hertz (Carrer del Viriat 45; Estacion Sants)

Spanish food is amazing and there's nothing better to do in Spain than eat and drink. Some of the best restaurants in the world are here. We thought we would share a few spots that we love or want to try in Barcelona!

Tragaluz is 3 floors of hip gourmet heaven with an oyster bar on the main floor, modern delicious fare upstairs, and sofas and fireplaces on the third floor for lounging.
(Eixample)

Paco Meralgo is a cozy and lively tapas bar serving all the classic tapas and montaditos with great service.
(Eixample)

Boca Grande is another hip eatery serving Galician style seafood complete with an oyster bar. Don't miss their lush cocktail bar upstairs, Boca Chic, for their beautiful lounge and many variations of gin and tonics.
(Eixample)

Tapac 24 is a Carles Abellan tapas bar, that is small, economical, and definitely worth the short wait for a quick bite after a long day of shopping, right off Passeig De Gràcia.
(Eixample)

Cerveceria Catalana is a large, packed, and lively tapas bar. Get warmed up with montaditos, seafood, and cava in the front while you wait.
(Eixample)

La Bodegueta offers the authentic Spanish deal: It’s in an old wine cellar and has fair prices, great tapas and cava, a lively buzz and a kitchen that operates until late at night.
(Gràcia / North of Diagonal)

Hisop is a Spanish Bistro with 1 Michelin star serving avant-garde plates with minimal decor.
(Gràcia / North of Diagonal)

Café Viena, heralded by the NY Times as having one of the best ham sandwiches in the world, is worth visiting for their flauta d’ibérico d.o. jabugo.
(Las Ramblas)

Granja Viader has been serving Barcelona’s best mató, a traditional Catalan desert of soft cheese, honey and walnuts since 1870 - perfect for a sweet tooth.
(Las Ramblas / El Raval)

Quimet Quimet is lively bodega where you stand and order a selection of amazing montaditos. Smoked salmon, yogurt, and truffle honey is not to be missed.
(El Raval)

Arola is Sergi Arola's (disciple of Ferran Adria) Michelin starred restaurant in the Hotel Arts serving up modern tapas.
(Barceloneta)

L’Arros Arrosseria, which is a five-minute walk from the yellow line’s Barceloneta stop, serves up 36 delicious variations of Spain's signature dishes.
(Barceloneta)

Montiel Espai Gastronomic is in the alleyways of the Born, one of Barcelona’s best-kept secrets for incredible food in a quiet, romantic setting.
(El Born)

ABaC, one of Tim's favorites, has three Michelin stars and is located in the boutique ABaC hotel; serves up experimental and modern Spanish haute cuisine.
(North Barcelona / Tibidabo)

Rías de Galicia serves Galician style, upscale, ocean-to-table restaurant where lobster and scallop dishes are prepared using centuries-old recipes. Oddly connected to the next two restaurants so it must be good!
(El Raval / Montjüic border)

Tickets is an exciting dinner experience from the Adria brothers and creators behind El Bulli. No comments except get your reservations. NOW!!
(El Raval / Montjüic border)

El Celler de Can Roca, located in Girona just two hours from Barcelona, has been steadily climbing the worlds best restaurants to the number 2 spot. Worth a visit for foodies looking for a day trip.
(Girona)

Mercado de La Boqueria is full of treats from land and sea in a centuries-old farmer's market. Perfect for picnic shopping and take-home gourmet gifts. Swing by the famous Pinotxo Bar for a java jolt with tasty tapas. http://www.boqueria.barcelona/home

La Sagrada Familia, a large unfinished Roman Catholic church, is Gaudi's opus of architecture and design. Astounding and unmissable but be prepared to queue. Buy tickets in advance. https://sagradafamilia.org/en/home

Museu Picasso is a marvelous collection of paintings, sketches and collages by the prolific genius. The museum is housed in a series of medieval blocks in El Born. Free entry from 6pm Thursday and on the 1st Sunday of the month. Book ahead. http://www.museupicasso.bcn.cat/en

Context Tours are small group tours for travelers who love to learn. Learn directly from the experts - architects, art historians, ecologists, chefs, and more. All guides are scholars and specialists in their fields. www.contexttravel.com/cities/barcelona

Bike Rental Barcelona offers customized guided bicycle tours. Hotel drop-off and pick-up make this ultra convenient. www.bikerentalbarcelona.com/