Barcelona City Tour Bus Tour Routes

The Plaça de Catalunya is one of Barcelona's most important spots, acting as the meeting point between the old part of the city and the Ensanche. The plaza is one of Spain's largest, with a surface area of 30,000 square metres, and marks the starting point for some of the city's main thoroughfares, like the Ramblas, Paseo de Gracia and Rambla Catalunya.

At the end of Passeig Sant Joan is the Arc de Triomf, a monument designed by Josep Vilaseca y Casanovas built as the entrance to the site of the Universal Exhibition of 1888, the first event of its kind held on Spanish territory. The exhibition, which received more than one and a half million visitors, made it possible to project Barcelona as a city of industry and progress. Very near the Arc de Triomf is the Estació del Nord, one of the city’s main bus stations, and the Palau de Justicia, built in 1908 as the courthouse for the city.

The Port first artificial was remodeled for the 1992 Olympic Games, when it became a Marina for recreational vessels. At the end of the old port you can see the Rambla de Mar,which is a continuation of the popular Ramblas of Barcelona. This avenue give usaccess to a large entertainment area known as the Maremagnum, an island thathas been reclaimed from the sea and converted in to a leisure space with cinemas,restaurants, shops and various recreational areas. Here you will find Barcelona’sAquarium which takes you on an unmissable and fascinating journey to the bottom of the sea. You will see for yourselves that walking through the clear glass tunnel below the shark’s pool is a magical experience. Visit the Imax, the first Imax Integral movie in the world.

The Palau de Mar or Sea Palace is the only building that remains of the old portof Barcelona, where the old general trade stores of the port were situated. Thelate 19th century buildings were restored before the Olympic Games, becominga diversified space with several restaurants on the ground floor, below theCatalonian History Museum (Museu d’Història de Catalunya). This museuminvites visitors on an interactive journey to the history of Catalunya, from thepre historic times to the present day. From this stop you can also visit the Riberadistrict and El Born district where you can find The Santa Maria del Mar Church,Picasso Museum, The Chocolate Museum, among other interesting places.

Barceloneta land reclaimed from the sea. The neighbourhood was constructed according to specificcriteria, with uniform and ordered streets and houses that were mainly occupied byfishermen and sailors. The Paseo Marítimo is a long seafront promenade that connectsBarceloneta with the Olympic Port. It was design and built during the first part of the20th century and extended as a part of the Olympic organization. This promenadeforms a balcony over the beach and is the main connection between the city and itswaterfront. This is the ideal location for those who enjoy eating traditional seafood,paella and shellfish. You can experience these traditional dishes in any of the restaurantsalong this promenade.

The hosting of the 25th Olympic Games in 1992 meant a great urban transformation for Barcelona.The construction of the Olympic Village or Villa Olímpica wasthe most radical transformation, since it converted a former manufacturingdistrict of the city – Pueblonuevo – into a residential area for athletes and,subsequently, private housing. This major change was accompanied by the recovery of part of the coastline, with the addition of more beaches for thecity and the creation of a new marina, the Olympic Port.This port has over 700 berths and is equipped with a dock – the Muelle de laMarina – for longer vessels. Nearby is a large area of restaurants and two of the most significant buildings of Olympic Barcelona – The Mapfre Tower and the Hotel Arts – which, thanks to their size and meaning, have become two iconsof modern-day Barcelona.

Poblenou was the most important working class district in the 19th century and exposed brick factory chimneys are still visible there, preserved as a memento of the area’s industrial and manufacturing past. A good part of this area was redesigned in connection with the 1992 Olympic Games as a residential district for housing athletes and sportspeople. When the games ended, the accommodation went on sale to the public and it became a new district known as the Vila Olímpica. Very nearby is one of the entrances to Barcelona Zoo.

The National Theatre of Catalunya is a large glass building that looks like a GreekTemple. It was inaugurated in 1997 and designed by the famous architect Ricardo Bofill,also famous for other buildings in Barcelona such as the Vela Hotel in La Barceloneta’sdistrict. This building has many classical characteristics; the monumental entrancehall contains 26 columns which evolve the style of a Greek Temple.The Auditorium of Barcelona, next to this building, was designed by the architectRafael Moneo and was inaugurated in 1999. The building was designed as a learningcentre as well as a place to enjoy the music. The origins of the Encants BCN market date back to the 14th century, making it one of Europe's oldest markets. It is visited by around 100,000 people a week, eager to find bargains amongst its antique furniture, second-hand clothes, books and old records, or collectors' items.

The Glòries Tower is one of the most iconic buildings in the city's skyline. It was designed by the famous French architect Jean Nouvel, who was inspired by the Montserrat Mountains, the great waterfalls and the blue colour of the Mediterranean Sea.
The building has a surprising facility that can be visited, the Torre Glòries viewpoint. The visit, which begins with an exhibition that will help you understand the city, will take you to a spectacular viewpoint with 360° panoramic views of the city, at a height of 125 metres. The building also has spectacular night-time lighting with 16 million LED bulbs in 40 different colours.

The Temple of the Sagrada Familia is the most popular of Gaudi’s works. He devoted himself exclusively to this project until his death; unfortunately he was only able to construct a small part of it: the apse and the Façade of the Nativity. This project is still under construction following the plans and models that Gaudi left and thanks to the donations that are collected. Fervently religious, Gaudi considered La Sagrada Familia as his greatest work, synthesis of all that he had done and a test bench for all that was left to learnand experience. In the coming years, work will focus on the roofing and on the construction of six towers that will crown the temple, making it the tallest building in Barcelona.

The modernist Sant Pau Centre, built between 1905 and 1930, was designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner as a city-garden for the sick. After being used as a public hospital for a century, its remodelled pavilions now shine in all their splendour. Visiting this exceptional architectural complex is a unique experience.

This park was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, thanks to a commission by textiles entrepreneur and patron to Gaudi: Count Güell. This work is intimately linked to the life of the architect, since he lived in one of the houses – the showhome - that has now been converted into the Gaudi Museum House. Güell himself also lived there until his death in 1918. The design shows Gaudi´s inspiration and respect for nature: it is tailored to the natural environment,with sinuous forms and shapes that are combined with original architectural ideas. The proposed development did not take off, but helped the city to acquire it in 1923, to convert it into a public park. In 1969, it was officially declared a National Monument, and since 1984 it has been a World Heritagesite protected by UNESCO.

Tibidabo is the highest part of the mountain ranged of Collserola, a greenarea that forms a natural boundary to Barcelona’s growth and worksas a lung allowing air to regenerate in the city. In Tibidabo Avenue the avenue was served by the famous Blue Tram, originally designed forthe transportation of the developments residence, it is now used by touriststo access the Mirablau viewpoint, which offers superb panoramic views ofthe city. At these viewpoints there is a cable car that climbs to the top ofTibidabo Mountain, where there is an early 20th century Temple dedicatedto the Sacred Heart and an amusement park that dates back over a hundredyears but which has been remodeled and now houses many attractions fromthe past and present.A world of fantasy for all ages.

Casa Milá, known as La Pedrera for its stony appearance, was created by Antonio Gaudí between 1906 and 1912, when he was in his creative prime. This spectacular modernist building is located in Barcelona's centrally-located Paseo de Gracia.

With its roof of colored ceramic scales, Casa Batlló or Batlló House is one of the most charismatic buildings in the “Eixample” District and one of Gaudi’s most characteristic works.The highly original façade is topped by ceramic tiles reminiscent of fish scales, in a rhythmicsequence that is set to resemble the backbone of a dragon. The circle Block of Discord is formed by Casa Batlló by Antoni Gaudí, Casa Amatller by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Casa Lleó I Morera by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which stands on the corner and it is crownedby an arbor. Nearby, you’ll find the Godia, housed in a magnificent building, the Museu del Modernisme Català, which showcases one of the finest collections of furniture, painting and sculpture from this period, and the Fundació Antoni Tàpies, an example of the early modernista architecture.

The Plaça de Catalunya is one of Barcelona's most important spots, acting as the meeting point between the old part of the city and the Ensanche. The plaza is one of Spain's largest, with a surface area of 30,000 square metres, and marks the starting point for some of the city's main thoroughfares, like the Ramblas, Paseo de Gracia and Rambla Catalunya.

At the end of Passeig Sant Joan is the Arc de Triomf, a monument designed by Josep Vilaseca y Casanovas built as the entrance to the site of the Universal Exhibition of 1888, the first event of its kind held on Spanish territory. The exhibition, which received more than one and a half million visitors, made it possible to project Barcelona as a city of industry and progress. Very near the Arc de Triomf is the Estació del Nord, one of the city’s main bus stations, and the Palau de Justicia, built in 1908 as the courthouse for the city.

The old Born Market contains 8,000 m2 of archaeological remains of the city from the beginning of the 18th century, which can be seen from the viewing balcony of El Born Cultural Centre. Very nearby is Ciutadella Park, one of the city’s main open spaces laid out on the site of an old military fortress. Here stands the Parliament of Catalonia and the Monumental Waterfall designed by Josep Fontserè in 1875. His assistant was the architect Antoni Gaudí. In the park is one of the entrances to Barcelona Zoo, one of the most outstanding in Europe.

Paseo Colón was the first attempt to connect, through a large boulevard, the city with the sea and it was inaugurated on the occasion of the Universal Exposition of 1888. The celebration of the Olympic Games in 1992 recovered the seafront with new beaches and renewed the city's maritime façade. This renovation involved the extension of the boulevard to the new Olympic port and the construction of the Muelle de la Fusta, a pleasant promenade with palm trees. At the end of the Ramblas of Barcelona and following the promenade, you will find the Columbus monument, an iron structure with a height of 50 meters that has a circular viewpoint. Take the opportunity to stroll along the harbor and admire the skyline of Barcelona aboard an ecological catamaran!

Barcelona is now the number one port for Mediterranean cruise ships thank to the construction of new moorings at the renowned World Trade Center atthe end of the Barcelona Docks. This large urban complex, evoking the shape of a boat is a major business center in the city, housing a large number of offices, a conference and convention center, restaurants and a luxury hotel. Upon entering the dock, there is a tall iron tower. The tower of Jaime II, which is a station for the cable car, opened for the 1929 World fare to link the port and Barcelona with the mountain of Montjuïc.

The Miramar Gardens area an integral part of the Botanical Gardensof Montjuïc and are lay out on a large terrace with a long balustradeoverlooking the port, from where you can see a beautiful panoramic view ofthe coastline. Overlooking theMediterranean on the south-eastern slope of Montjuïc is the magnificentCosta Llobera Garden. Named after the poet from Majorca, it contains cactiand other plants from subtropical climates. Its location enjoys a specialmicroclimate all its own, which means that species not usually found in theMediterranean area, can grow freely. Some of the cacti are almost 200 yearsold and come from exotic locations such as the American deserts, Andes andSouth Africa.

The Fundació Joan Miró is located in Montjuïc Park. It's the best place to admire and learn more about the work of one of the greatest surrealist artists of all time. The grounds of the foundation are home to more than 104,000 pieces including paintings, sculptures, textiles and ceramics. The documentary collection is a highlight, where you'll find up to 10,000 resources including preliminary drawings, workbooks, annotations and sketches by the famous Catalan painter. There's no doubt about it - if you want to learn about all the different stages of the artist's career, this is the place. There's no surprise it's one of Barcelona's most popular museums. And before you plan your visit, remember it's closed on Mondays!

The Olympic area of Montjuïc was the focal point and main sporting area of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. In this area, which is interconnected by means of squares and stairs we find the two main sports facilities: theOlympic Stadium and the Palau Sant Jordi, nearby are the Bernat PicornellOlympic swimming pools, where the swimming and water polo events wereheld. The Olympic Stadium is a restored building that originally dated back to 1929 and which only the façade remains, but the interior being fullyrefurnished. The Stadium was home of the opening and closing ceremonies. The athletic events also took place there. The Palau Sant Jordi which was design by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, was the venue for gymnasticsand volley ball among other Olympic events. Nearby, we find the Calatrava Tower, which was designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava

MNAC stands for Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Located in the National Palace, this is a must-see landmark in the city. Visit it and enjoy the extensive and valuable collection. Wonder at the privileged views. Discover works that range from the 11th to the 20th century. Admire its wide collection of Romanesque art, one of the most complete ones in the world. Learn about Catalan modernism. See works by Velázquez, Picasso, Fortuny, Gaudí, Dalí... When you finish your visit, take a stroll down to Plaza de España to continue your trip.

Located in one of the most emblematic areas of Barcelona, Poble Espanyol is architecture, it is art, it is crafts, it is open air and it is also a unique space to enjoy family activities, concerts and exhibitions. In short, Poble is a large area where history meets culture and leisure through a calm and pleasant stroll in a natural environment. In short, Poble is a large area where history meets culture and leisure 365 days a year through a calm and pleasant stroll in a natural environment.

Poble Espanyol was established within the framework of the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition, with the aim of representing the architecture and culture of Spanish towns.

Over 40,000 m2 of open air space, Poble Espanyol is a precinct that is home to 117 full-
scale constructions, an important representation of artisan workshops, a wide variety of bars, restaurants, terraces and shops where you can enjoy local products, audiovisual facilities and the Fran Daurel Museum, which boasts works by key figures in contemporary Spanish art.


● Contact email: info@poble-espanyol.com
● Opening hours: Monday from 10am to 8pm / Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to midnight
● Opening dates: 365 days a year

The Mies van der Rohe Pavilion is an emblematic work by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and a benchmark in 20th-centuryarchitecture. The so-called German Pavilion was originally designed in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exhibition. Its innovative architectural structure represented a radical change in the layout of space, and it had great influence on the development of modernarchitecture. It houses de Barcelona Chair, wich Mies van der Rohe created exclusively for the pavilion. CaixaForum is housed in a former textile mill built in 1911 and designed by the modernista architect Puig I Cadafalch. It now host a wide variety of interesting cultural activities and exhibitions and also showcases an exhibition of work’s fron the Foudation contemporary art collection.

Plaza España, where the Venetian towers are situated, was the entrance to the enclosure of the 1929 World Fair. One of the most popular symbols of the exhibition, combining light, water with sound is known as the Magic Fountain, designed by Carles Buigas. Arenas de Barcelona is one of the main axes of the city that uniquely combines the conservation of the facade of 1900’s Neomudéjar bullring. The forefront of architectural design is complemented by its great dome that is 27 m in height. The best and original fashion brands are represented in the complex as well as a variety offer of cultural and gastronomic attractions.

Here you will find the central station of the railway network of Barcelona and is where you can also find one of the city’s bus station and the Ave highspeed train. Next to it is the Spanish Industrial Park, which dates back to the manufacturing past of the district of Sants. In fact, the Park was built on the site of one of the main textile factories of the 19th century which was knownas “El Vapor Nuevo” (The new Steam) or “La España Industrial”. Constructed in 1846, this factory once employed people from all over Spain. Also we can see one interesting urban-desing intervention of the mid-eighties: The Plaça dels Països Catalans, the city’s first “hard square”.

Futbol Club Barcelona was founded in 1899, and is popularly known as Barça. The Camp Nou project dates back to 1954 although it wasn’t inaugurated until 1957 substituting the old Les Corts Stadium, which dated back to 1922. Within the installation of the stadium you will find a Museum that boasts to having over one million visitors a year which allows you to discover the secrets and titles of the club, also you will find the FCBotiga Megastore, where you will find all kinds of memorabilia and official merchandise. Why not take the tour of the museum and stadium and discover all the secrets of the Camp Nou Stadium: the dressing rooms, the director’s box, the pitch, etc.!

Avenida Diagonal is a large avenue that crosses the entire city from east to west. Along this stretch, at the beginning of Avenida Pedralbes Avenue, we cansee the park of the Royal Palace of Pedralbes, where the royal residence wasformerly located.The park consists of a large garden in which the vegetation, fountains andwatery steps create an atmosphere of tranquillity and harmony. The building iscurrently occupied by the museum of ceramics and decorative arts, althoughsome of the lofty halls of the palace have been preserved. Nearby are the Pavellons de la Finca Güell de Gaudí and the MUHBA Monestir de Pedralbes.

Avenida Diagonal is home to a concentration of office buildings, hospitals and shopping centers, among them L’Illa Diagonal, built in the 1990s by the architects Rafael Moneo i Manuel de Solà-Morales. The rationalist-style building has become one of the most characteristic images of the Diagonal area. As well as a big commercial centre with more than 170 shops and restaurants, L'illa Diagonal complex includes two four star hotels, two schools, a sports centre, dance hall and a conference centre. Near the complex, we can see the Francesc Macià square, the president of the Catalan government at the beginning of the 20th century, and the Turó Park, with a statue of Pau Casals, the world’s best know Catalan musician, stands at the entrance.

Avenida Diagonal is one of the widest avenues in the city, along with the Gran Vía de las Corts Catalanes thoroughfare. Designed in the mid 19th century by Cerdà, it crosses the entire city diagonally until it reaches the sea. The original project by the creator of the “Ensanche” proposed that the avenue wouldreach the sea, and this was finally carried out in 2004. The celebration of theUniversal Fòrum of Cultures was the main motive for its completion. The most famous international brands have their boutiques on this part of the Diagonal, which is part of the city’s shopping line.

Casa Milá, known as La Pedrera for its stony appearance, was created by Antonio Gaudí between 1906 and 1912, when he was in his creative prime. This spectacular modernist building is located in Barcelona's centrally-located Paseo de Gracia.

With its roof of colored ceramic scales, Casa Batlló or Batlló House is one of the most charismatic buildings in the “Eixample” District and one of Gaudi’s most characteristic works.The highly original façade is topped by ceramic tiles reminiscent of fish scales, in a rhythmicsequence that is set to resemble the backbone of a dragon. The circle Block of Discord is formed by Casa Batlló by Antoni Gaudí, Casa Amatller by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Casa Lleó I Morera by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which stands on the corner and it is crownedby an arbor. Nearby, you’ll find the Godia, housed in a magnificent building, the Museu del Modernisme Català, which showcases one of the finest collections of furniture, painting and sculpture from this period, and the Fundació Antoni Tàpies, an example of the early modernista architecture.