Nothing beats sailing from Barcelona. Barcelona’s strategic location on the Mediterranean Sea makes cruising to the Spanish coast, the Balearic Islands, France, and Italy very accessible.
Cruise port in Barcelona bustles with lively street life. Among the many attractions are world-known art museums, centuries-old artisan stores, and the famous Gothic Quarter.
Before your departure, make sure you’ve already taken a photo of the colourful palms over sun-soaked beaches, the views of the Mediterranean, striking building facades, vivid mosaics, famous art and architecture by Gaudi and Picasso. These are the memories that you want to cherish forever!
Explore the best cruises from Barcelona, things to know and top excursions of the city. You’ll quickly fall in love with the city’s friendly people, the abundance of natural sites, and sensational Spanish food.
What You Need to Know Cruises From Barcelona
Port
The port is very close to the city centre. It is located at the intersection of Paseo de Gracia and Gran Vía. The area around the dock has excellent restaurants, shops, and museums.
Budget
You will not have to worry about a tight budget when cruising in Barcelona as the prices are pretty low for a cruise in Europe. You can cruise for two days or four days on a budget of USD 1000 per person, but if you want to go further than Spain, you should be prepared with at least USD 2000 per person.
Best Way to Get Around in Barcelona
The best way to get around Barcelona is by taking the metro, tram, or bus. The city’s public transport can be accessed quite easily from the port.
Language
Spanish is the most commonly spoken language, with Catalan, French, Italian, and English are also widely understood.
Famous For
From a historical perspective, Barcelona has always been a well-known destination for travelers. However, in recent years it has also become an important business center. It is home to one of the world’s leading technology and design companies.
Currency
The currency in Spain is the Euro (€).
Barcelona’s Top Excursions
There’s no shortage of things to see and do in Barcelona, even if you’re just in town for the day. The city is small enough that it generally doesn’t take more than 30 minutes to go somewhere, either by foot, cab or public transit, yet it is large enough where you feel like there’s so much to take in.
There are many activities around the cruise port, whether you choose to walk or use the metro. A few minutes away from the port lies one of the world’s most renowned streets.
La Rambla, famous for its quirky street entertainers and diverse shops. This street begins at sea, near the ship docks, and continues up to Plaza Catalunya. Although it takes 25 minutes to walk from one end to the other, it’s a must place to explore at least once during your stay.
Here are exciting sites and areas to visit even if you have a few hours or days to spare in Barcelona.
Basílica de Santa Maria Del Mar
Barely a hundred meters from the port is the famous Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar, standing since 1701. This church is one of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks.
It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984 and was declared a Spanish national monument of historical and artistic importance in 1918. Furthermore, it has been an important centre of religious devotion ever since 1811. The basilica is located on an island connected to the city by three bridges:
- El Portal Nou (to the right as you draw near), which leads to Placa dels Àngels.
- La Rambla (throught La Rambla)
- La Dalmatia
Museu Picasso
MUSEU PICASSO is one of Barcelona’s most famous art museums. This place showcases the art and life of Pablo Picasso. Some collections here include paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and documents from his youth until his death.
You will also find contemporary artwork by artists influenced by Picasso and other relevant exhibitions that show insight into the life and work of this world-renowned artist. Additionally, the museum has a café that provides various drinks and light snacks for visitors to enjoy while touring through the museum.
Even if it’s a little further from the cruise port than some of the other options, it’s still just a short cab ride or a leisure walk if it’s the only thing on your travel list. This place is also near the heart of Born, which provides excellent shopping and eating places.
Passeig Del Born
Passeig del Born is a street in Barcelona, Spain. It’s located in the Born-Ribera District of the Ciutat Vella and is known for being home to well-renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. This street is also known for its many cafes and restaurants, including Agua de Mar, Granja Viader, Els Quatre Gats.
Passeig del Born is worth visiting because of the street’s restaurants, cafes and cultural significance. In addition, it’s a great place to explore more of the small streets in Barcelona.
Park Güell
The Park Güell was designed by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. It is one of Barcelona’s most popular tourist attractions.
Furthermore, it was announced as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 and considered a National Historic-Artistic Monument in 1999 due to its historical and artistic importance. One of the main reasons why many people visit the park is to admire its architecture, making this park unique compared to other parks surrounding Barcelona.
Other things that visitors can enjoy are strolling through the paths, admiring Gaudí’s design work, playing games like ping pong or checkers at one of the tables near Casa Figueras or Casa dels Àngels.
The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc is a spectacular event. It’s an ongoing spectacle that takes place every night and is best seen from the ‘Montjuïc’.
It’s one of Barcelona’s most popular tourist attractions, and it offers live music, water fountains, choreographed lights, laser beams, and fireworks set to music.
This fountain is especially great for children because it has a park with playgrounds located nearby and features many colourful lights against the unique backdrop of Barcelona’s cityscape.
If you want to learn a different culture and bask in the beauty of more than 2,000 years’ worth of history, then Barcelona is your destination. Barcelona is also the beach escape that everyone needs in their life. It’s a world-class destination that never disappoints.
There are a plethora of beautiful things to experience in Barcelona, which makes it so difficult to decide what sites and attractions should you visit first. We advise that if you have a few days in Barcelona, visit UNESCO World Heritage Site for a worthwhile experience.
Looking for more guides that will make you feel relaxed and give you a glimpse of the most stunning views as you go? We’ve got you covered! Your thirst for exploring the world will be quenched by these incredible guides.
Christian Petzold is a successful touristic entrepreneur, experiential traveller and round-the-world backpacker. He holds an academic degree in tourism management.
His touristic expertise has been covered in radio, newspaper and television.