Barcelona Full Day Exploration Sightseeing Excursion

Description

• Air-conditioned motor coach transportation from your excursion meeting point!
  
• English-speaking certified guides!
  
• See four of Gaudi's UNESCO World Heritage Sites!
  
• Free time to explore the Spanish Village!
  
• Walking orientation of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter!
  
• An exterior visit to Sagrada Familia
  
• Guided visit to Park Guell

A great mix of the best highlights of Barcelona plus, explore 4 of Antoni Gaudi's UNESCO World Heritage Sites! A full-day excursion full of history and culture.

Your meeting point is a 20-minute taxi ride from your Barcelona cruise pier where you will be greeted by your guide staff, and board the air-conditioned transport. Along the way, the informative, English-speaking guide will give you insights and the history of the sites.

Setting out from the center of town on your air-conditioned coach, you will drive up Passeig de Gracia to see the exteriors only of Antoni Gaudi's La Pedrera (Casa Mila) and Casa Batllo (Bone House), two of the seven Gaudi buildings on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

From here, a 20-minute drive across town will bring you to the site of the Olympic Village and Olympic Port, built for the games in 1992. They are now living and entertainment venues. You will then continue west along the harbor passing the Barceloneta, Port Vell, and the Plaza de Colon with its famous Columbus monument. This plaza anchors one end of the famous La Rambla pedestrian street.

Next, you will board a cable car for a ten-minute ride to Montjuic Mountain offering panoramic views of the city in all directions. The bus will pick you up at the last cable car station and continue the route up the mountain passing by the sports facilities for the Olympic Games, the Fundacio Joan Miro museum, and stops at the Spanish Village also known as Poble Espanyol. You will have approximately 45 minutes on your own to visit this charming collection of traditional buildings from all over Spain, and a demonstration of a selection of handcrafts made in this country. This excursion is full of photo opportunities!

Departing Montjuic, you will pass the Palau Nacional, from the 1929 International Exhibition, the Venetian Towers, Montjuic fountains and the Las Arenas mall, rebuilt from the ancient Plaza de Toros. Arriving at Plaza de Catalunya approximately 30 minutes later, you will set out on a guided walking excursion of some of the highlights of the Gothic quarter, including the exterior of the Gothic Cathedral. The walking portion of your Barcelona highlights excursion is approximately 40 minutes, ending back at the Plaza at approximately 01:30 PM. 

You will have approximately 90 minutes to have lunch on your own. The Plaza area has everything from fast food, to Tapas to sit-down restaurants. Your guide will make suggestions if you need them. This excursion is also available with lunch included - Barcelona Full Day with Lunch Excursion

Your afternoon exploration begins with a ten-minute drive to Sagrada Familia Basilica. The famous architect, Antoni Gaudi designed the church in a Latin cross plan with five aisles. The vaults reach a height of 230 feet and every little nook seems to be filled with extremely rich ornamentation and symbolism. You will also visit the Sagrada Familia museum, where you will see drawings, plaster models, and pictures about the history and development of this basilica from its early beginnings to the present day. The total time at the basilica is approximately 45 minutes. 

Next, you will hop aboard the air-conditioned transport and join the Best of Gaudi group for a 20-minute drive to Parc Guell, located on a hillside overlooking the city. Started in 1900, this urban housing development is a perfect example of Gaudi's Catalan modernism during its nature phase. Unfortunately, due to finances and a lack of interest by the public, the development was never finished. 

No Gaudi excursion would be complete without seeing two of his most creative works. Casa Mila, (La Pedrera or The Quarry) is an apartment complex of two buildings designed in a constant curve. There are very few right angles inside or out. An exterior visit is made before walking down the street to Casa Batllo, the Bone House. This unique building is full of iridescent colors and unusual shapes especially the roof which seems to take on the shape of a dragon. See for yourself!

The excursion ends at Casa Batllo (Passeig de Gracia #43). From here, it is a leisurely 10-minute walk to Placa Catalunya, six blocks away or you can catch a taxi or subway to another area of town. Both Casa Mila and Casa Batllo close at 08:00 PM and your excursion will end at approximately 07:30 PM. 30 minutes is not enough time to see either interior. We suggest you make plans to see it when you have a minimum of 60 minutes for Batllo or 90 minutes for Mila. You may return to your cruise ship at your leisure and own expense.

PLEASE NOTE: The cable car does not operate from approximately January 25 to about Feb. 14 (dates may vary). Transportation to Montjuic will be by coach in both directions. During this period, the cable car ride will be replaced with a sampling of tapas.

Additional note: The order of the attractions may vary.

What is included?

• Air-conditioned motor coach transportation from your shore excursion meeting point
  
• All fees and taxes included
  
• English and Spanish-speaking and trained Barcelona shore excursion guides
  
• See four of Gaudi's UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  
• Free time to explore the Spanish Village
  
• Walking orientation of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter
  
• An exterior visit to Sagrada Familia
  
• Guided visit to Park Guell
  

Excursion Notes

• Excursion prices shown are quoted in US dollars.
  
• Taxi fare to and from the excursion starting/ending location is not included. Taxi fare is approximately 16 Euros per taxi (1-4 guests), each way, based on traffic. Not all taxis have a credit card reader. Some do take Visa, and sometimes Mastercard. Taxis do not take American Express or any other cards. Very few taxis will take any currency besides the Euro.
• As you may be visiting a religious or memorial site, shoulders and knees must be covered on men and women.
• We suggest you have cash (Euros) on hand for refreshments, taxi cost, excursion staff gratuities, shopping, etc.
• Sensible, rubber-soled walking shoes are highly recommended along with sun protection.
• Please pay attention to the restrictions and requirements for this excursion, no refund will be granted if the requirements are not met.
• Not available on Sundays

Where we meet

For this Barcelona Full Day Exploration Excursion, you will meet your local shore excursion guide at Plaza de Catalunya, a 20-minute taxi ride from your cruise pier area. All necessary details will be printed on your Electronic Shore Excursion Ticket. Taxi fare is not included in your excursion cost.

Excursion Restrictions

• This excursion is not wheelchair accessible.
• Guests must be able to step on and off the coach.
• Guests must be able to walk on paved, gravel, and cobblestone surfaces, some on inclines.
• There are steps required to enter several of the sites as well as some steep curbs.
• Pregnant women up to 12 weeks should check with their doctor before booking this excursion. Pregnant women 12 weeks or more should not participate.
• This Barcelona Full Day Exploration Sightseeing Excursion may involve risks. We suggest you check with your elected person of choice to see if these possible risks might affect you.

Excursion FAQ

Cancellation

• Your ship arrives into port late and you cannot make it in time to the meeting location (we will verify with the tour operator).
• Your ship skips/misses the port.
• Weather conditions or equipment failure prevents the operator from running the excursion.
• A medical problem prevents you from safely participating in the excursion (we will verify with the excursion operator and the guest may send doctor's note). This applies to individuals only and not the remainder of the group.
  
• Cancellations/deposit refund requests that do not comply with the above may not be subject to refund.
• Refunds may be subject to a service charge fee as determined by the payment processor, please refer to Terms and Conditions for more information.