All of Barcelona in 4 days.
This review was written only two months after our return from the capital of Catalonia. But the impressions remained so vivid that I didn’t have to remember anything, as if only yesterday...... we flew to Barcelona. We managed to buy tickets two months before the trip at a very nice price from the WIZZAIR low-cost airline. The distance from Girona, where the plane arrives, to Barcelona is about 110 km. Travel time 1.15 - 1.30 hours. Bus tickets are sold right there at the box office, when you exit the airport. In one direction - 16 Euro, in both directions - 25 Euro. The bus in Barcelona arrives at the central bus station estacion del nort. You can then get to the hotel by metro. The metro in the city is divided into zones, each has its own cost. For a tourist route, the first zone is enough, the cost of a day pass is 7 Euro, one trip is 2 Euro. If you plan to travel a lot on the subway, take a travel pass, it comes out cheaper. The Sunotel Junior2* hotel was well worth its 250 euros for 4 nights for a double room without breakfast. The hotel is located in the Eixample district, 7 minutes from the blue line metro (Hospital Clinic stop). We deliberately did not take breakfast (11 euros / person), because. on the first day we found a very pleasant cafe just around the corner of our hotel - El Fornet. A network of coffee shops around the city, everything is very fresh, the staff speaks English, they cook quickly, they serve politely. Breakfast for two in a couple of double "tapas" (any appetizer in Spain) - sandwiches with cheese, jamon, greens in different versions, a bowl of the freshest vegetable salad, coffee and pastries costs 13-17 euros here. The hotel itself consists of a very small room and bathroom. Minimalism is everywhere. Of the minuses, it is also worth noting that the windows overlook a very noisy, busy highway. We couldn't sleep with the window open. But with the window closed and the accumulated fatigue during the day, you almost don’t feel the noise. In any case, we came to see the city, and not sit in the hotel : ) Day one. Inspection of Barcelona is best to start with the tourist bus route - Bus Turistik. There are three such routes - red, blue, green. Two main and the third is not very popular. The cost of a day ticket for one route is 24 Euro, for two days - 31 Euro, but if you book in advance on the Internet and print an electronic ticket, it turns out cheaper. In addition, you will now have discounts on almost all entrance tickets to the main attractions of the city, as well as some catering places, which will be indicated in a special brochure. Next, very briefly, let's start with the great creations of Gaudi: Casa Batlló - a kind of house with skulls - it's beautiful outside, we didn't go inside, the entrance is more than 20 Euros. House Mila (Casa Milà ) - the house is very interesting from the inside, a whole floor has been preserved, where rich people lived with household items and various utensils. Here you will sit on a chair that the great Maestro “sculpted” specially from the sitter’s bare bottom - the chair will “sit” on you like a glove : ) And of course, go up to the roof to take a couple of pictures with tall warrior columns. Entrance to the building 16.50 Euro. Park Guell - entrance to the park is free, and you can spend the whole day there. The park is very interesting for its sculptures - these are "gingerbread" houses at the entrance, and mosaic benches, on which it is convenient to sit / lie down, and unique "trees" - roots, branches, undulating tunnels - the hand of the great master is felt in everything. If you climb the mountain, you can see the center of Barcelona with its surroundings. Mount Tibidabo (Tibidabo) - you can climb the mountain by funicular, and get to it - by bus or an old tram that runs on certain days. Climbing the mountain costs about 5 Euros Tibidabo is the highest point in Barcelona, if only for this reason it deserves special attention, and the view in front of you will be unusually beautiful. On the mountain there are rides, cafes and a large beautiful church, which is crowned with a statue of Jesus with open arms to everyone. It seems that this church is visible from anywhere in the city. Very nice. Second day. Spanish village (Poble Espanyol). The entrance to the village is about 11 Euro. It is a part of the ancient city with old medieval streets, cafes and shops. In principle, nothing unusual, but very colorful. In addition, modern art is also presented here in the form of unimaginable sculptures, which, if not impressive, then certainly will not leave you indifferent. Climbing Mount Montjuic by cable car - costs 16.50 Euro. The cabins float smoothly, a little scary, but the view of the city, the port and the sea is worth it. There is frankly nothing to do on the mountain itself, there is an old fortress with cannons and other medieval paraphernalia, so after taking a few photos, you can immediately go back. Port, embankment and statue of Columbus. Enough to walk around to take a couple of pictures. The port is beautiful - yachts, seagulls, turquoise sea and numerous fish restaurants. There is an elevator inside the statue itself, if you wish, you can go up there. Barceloneta beach. In order to understand what Spanish beaches are, we left our route and headed towards the sea. And not in vain. The sand is soft, and the beach strip is so wide that it seems easy to fit a small football field on it. After lunch and warming up on the sand, we moved on. Ciutadella Park. The entrance is free. The park is very nice, small, neat. In the center of the park there is a very beautiful, fabulous fountain and a pond with palm trees, ducks and flowers. Photos are very bright. And here parrots jump right on the ground. Such, green, well, those that sit in our cages. Central Cathedral (Catedral de la Santa Creu). It looks majestic and somehow very strict. It struck me that they don't light candles in churches. Instead, you throw a coin into a special hole - and in response, a flashlight, designed in the form of a candle, lights up. Come down and see for yourself. And in the inner courtyard of the cathedral there is a pond with geese. This pond has its own history and a large number of tourists. Day three. Club Barcelona (Camp Nou). Entrance to the stadium costs 21.8 Euros. Even small fans of football and the Barç a team in particular, I recommend getting here. The club has a very interesting exposition of awards and trophies of a famous team, you can also go almost to the field and touch the grass, sit on the podium, go up to the commentator's booth and buy all kinds of souvenirs with the club's attributes. As elsewhere in the city, the prices here are not small, for example, for a ball with the inscription of your favorite team, you will have to pay 30 euros. Rambla (The Rambles). It is worth walking along the famous boulevard, if only because it is the most touristy part of the city with its own color, living statues, numerous shops, crowds of tourists, onlookers and local pickpockets. This is where it is advised to be most careful. Aquarium (L'Aquarium de Barcelona). By paying an entrance fee of 17.50 Euros, you enter the magical underwater world. The aquarium is good, here there is a transparent tunnel with sharks and stingrays swimming overhead, and beautiful expositions from different climatic zones and much more. If you are not indifferent to marine life, be sure to visit. Temple of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia). And finally, we left the most important creation of a brilliant architect, the Church of the Holy Family. Surprisingly, this creation is the least like a church. It is a stunning, fantastic piece of stone, glass, religion and craftsmanship. It cannot be described, it must only be seen. Entrance to this creation costs 13.5 Euros. We celebrated the end of our day in a good restaurant with local wine and paella - here it is, Catalan cuisine! And, of course, we didn’t miss the performance at the singing fountains – a large crowd of tourists flock here on certain days in the evening to look at this miracle of water, music and light. And going up the steps to the medieval palace, which now houses the Museum of Catalan Painting, you can look at the city already shimmering in the lights of the night, and embracing each one, think about his own... The next day, before flying back to our homeland, we just wandered through the streets of Barcelona, we had a very tasty lunch at the Origens restaurant, which is recommended and represents the classic cuisine of Catalonia, looked at the Boquerí a market with its variety of seafood, fruits, vegetables, and everything your heart desires, and skimped at the supermarket to bring friends delicious jamon, Sangria and local sweets - turron. In conclusion, it is worth adding that the city will surprise you not only with its sights, a mixture of styles, peoples and moods, but also with high prices for its hospitality. . Perhaps this is worth considering. Have a nice meeting with Barcelona!
