Visit Barcelona by public transport in just three days

The historical and maritime Barcelona

You’ve just arrived in the city and want to start with its history and its beaches. To get around easily and quickly, you’ll do well to download the free TMB app.

Start in the nerve centre, Plaça de Catalunya, and stroll along the Rambla until you get to the port, where the monument to Christopher Columbus awaits you. Few people know that the kings of Castile received the admiral in Barcelona after the discovery of the Americas in 1492. The meeting took place a year after that feat, and the monarchs were amazed when they saw the gold, parrots, spices, food and even natives from those unknown lands. If you want to delve deeper into maritime history, visit the Maritime Museum of Barcelona, located in the impressive Royal Shipyard.

To see the port from a bird’s eye view, you can go up to the top of the Columbus statute, which offers a magnificent 360ª view.

Barcelona from Montjuïc

To get to Plaça d’Espanya and to the mountain of Montjuïc, take the bus or metro; there are many possible combinations—check how to get around in public transport.  Another option is the Montjuïc cable car, from which you’ll enjoy a unique panoramic view of the city.

In the same square you’ll find the Arenas shopping centre, an old neo-Mudejar style bullfighting ring that was remodelled in 2011 to reconvert its use. The Venetian towers will give you an elegant welcome and will show you the way up to Montjuïc towards the Magic Fountain, the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya or the Fundació Joan Miró.

Lose yourself on its paths and you’ll discover its secret spots such as the Teatre Grec and the gardens of the Mirador del Alcalde. Rest here and enjoy the view of the port and the Barcelona coastline. You can even imagine you are in Ávila or somewhere in Andalusia if you go into the Poble Espanyol, an enclosed area that replicates the architecture of the most representative places in Spain.

The modernist Barcelona

One place you won’t get lost in is the Eixample. The grid designed by Ildefons Cerdà in 1860 makes it very easy to get your bearings. As you walk around it, you’ll understand the importance of the visionary urban planning that has made the city famous. The Passeig de Gràcia, the Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, the Casa Ametller or the Casa de Les Punxes show you the beauty of Catalan modernism and transport you to the glittering era of the Catalan bourgeoisie. If you plan on visiting the modernist Sant Pau enclosure or the Sagrada Familia, it’s advisable to book the visits in advance. To get around this wide area of Barcelona we recommend the Hola Barcelona Travel Card pass. You can buy it online with a 10% discount.

The Barcelona of the mountains: Park Güell

During your visit you’ll discover that the work of Antoni Gaudí permeates many places, even in the highest part of Barcelona. Above the Gràcia neighbourhood is Park Güell, designed by the modernist architect. If you’re visiting the city with children, you owe them a trip to the Tibidabo amusement park. Save a day for this activity and you’ll be able to enjoy unlimited rides and the views of the city the park offers.

The Barcelona of the neighbourhoods that used to be towns

The Barcelona Bus Turístic takes you near Park Güell and also takes you to two emblematic neighbourhoods: Gràcia and Sarrià. Check the stops on your route and you’ll arrive very comfortably. You can get on and off the bus as many times as you like to visit the places that interest you most. On board you’ll enjoy audio guide service, Wi-Fi and tourist information.

Both neighbourhoods are former municipalities that were annexed to the city towards the end of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. A walk around Sarrià will transport you to another Barcelona, one that is less touristic and more of a neighbourhood, more contained, with small and interesting shops and popular bars.

Gràcia is different. It’s known for its yearly celebration in August, when the streets are decked out and in each corner neighbourhood dinners and summer orchestras are set up. Along the Verdi and Asturias streets you’ll discover small artisan shops, bars with the widest gastronomic offer you can imagine and terraces on small squares.

The sportiest Barcelona

If what you like is football, get to the Futbol Club Barcelona stadium comfortably. You can arrive by metro or by bus. Barça’s fame crosses borders. Its stadium and museum are two of the most visited places in the city. Feel the excitement of the Blaugrana spirit. The blue route of the Barcelona Bus Turístic has a stop at the Barça stadium and with the red route you can visit the Olympic Ring located on the mountain of Montjuïc, where part of the 1992 Olympic Games were held, and where you can find the Lluís Companys stadium, the Palau Sant Jordi, designed by Arata Isozaki, and the Santiago Calatrava telecommunications tower. Delve into the history of sports by visiting the Olympic and Sports Museum Joan Antoni Samaranch.

The Barcelona that’s full of gardens

If your trip is in spring and you’re a nature lover, you deserve a visit to the Pedralbes gardens, a former royal residence where you can go for a stately walk and experience how kings and counts used to live in the city. The Botanical Garden, located on the mountain of Montjuïc, is another of the special spots for the locals. A great variety of species, landscapes and wonderful spots await you there, making it a great place to rest.

Other visits

With the Catalunya Bus Turístic you can choose between several routes outside Barcelona and get to know other emblematic places in Catalonia. In a single day you can discover culture, gastronomy, or go shopping. All of these trips start in Barcelona, and nowadays you can visit the mountain of Montserrat, the city of Gerona, or the Dalí Theatre and Museum in Figueres. You can book our private tours too!