In 2018, 4,4 million passengers I arrived in Barcelona on a cruise ship and, judging by the questions I have received over the years, around 2,6 million of them were stranded lost in Barcelona.
How to visit a world-class city in a short time?
The good news is that Barcelona cruise port it's close to the heart of the action. It won't take you more than 30 minutes to get to the center and start to awaken all your senses, but you still have to know how!
Let me put you on the right track.
IMPORTANT: Normally, cruise ship visitors have little time to waste, so it is very important to maximize time and see as much as possible. That is why I joined forces with Ticketbar to create the Port of Barcelona Day Pass.
You can plan your entire day in just a few clicks, including roundtrip port transport, a day on the tourist bus, entrance to the Sagrada Familia and a 20% reduction at almost all other attractions.
also can cut the tails at the entrance.
Where is the Barcelona cruise port located?
The port of Barcelona has a total of 9 terminals, of which 7 are used by cruise ships.
The main cruise ports are Attached dock (terminals A, B, C and D), World Trade Center (North, South, East) and Maremagnum Old Port.
The area around the port is very close to the bottom of the city's famous pedestrian boulevard, La Rambla. The street connects two of the main districts of the city, El Raval and the Gothic Quarter.
Most cruise lines arrive at Christopher Columbus statue on the Place du Portal de la Pau. From here there are several transportation options that I will discuss later.
Barcelona cruise terminal map
Here we see the three main cruise ports of Barcelona.
From the cruise port to the center
Muelle adosado (terminals A, B, C and D)
As you can see on the map in my terminal, don't try to walk downtown from here. The road is long and not very pleasant, especially if you have suitcases to carry and it is very hot.
Once you leave the ship, you will find a shuttle bus outside all terminals.
This ferry is called Cruise bus (or the Portbus T-3) and it will take you to the foot of Las Ramblas where you can start visiting the main attractions of Barcelona.
The bus does not operate on a fixed schedule. They coordinate with cruise ship arrivals. The Moll Adossat - Colón line is working at full capacity every 20-30 minutes. The 10 minute trip costs € 3,00 each way (€ 4,50 round trip).
The bus is suitable for people with disabilities.
Tickets for the cruise shuttle service are purchased directly on board the bus (cash only) or in advance online (less hassle and skip the line and fight for seats) through Ticketbar.
For taxis, expect to pay between € 6,00 and € 8,00 to get to the Columbus statue and € 15,00 for Plaça Catalunya.
World Trade Center (N, S, E)
If you are traveling light, you can reach La Rambla on foot from the cruise port in 10-15 minutes.
In total, you are a few minutes from the bus stop Tourist bus and about 10 minutes walk from La Rambla (and the statue of Columbus) and the Drassanes metro station (green line L3).
Maremagnum (M)
This cruise terminal is dedicated to small ships that mainly serve the Balearic Islands. It is the closest of all to the beach and getting to La Rambla from here takes about 10 minutes on foot.
Maremagnum is also one of the best shopping centers in Barcelona, and the only one that opens on Sundays!
From the airport to the Barcelona cruise port
For the 58% of you who start your cruise in Barcelona, you will have a few options from El Prat airport to the Barcelona cruise port and vice versa. Unfortunately, the only direct service is a taxi.
Airbus
This comfortable bus leaves every 5 minutes from terminals 1 and 2. A one-way ticket costs only 5,90€. You will have WiFi on board for last minute planning.
The bus takes you to Plaça Catalunya where you can catch the metro to Drassanes or you can take a taxi and get to the port for about € 10,00.
Taxi
The fixed taxi fare from Barcelona airport to the cruise port is 39,00€.
If you are traveling in a group, this is by far the best value for money. the black and yellow cabs standard operation on the meter, so you can't get ripped off. Overnight charges and large baggage charges are normal.
Hotels in the Barcelona cruise port
If you have read my list of the best places to stay, you will know that I recommend youavoid La Rambla for noise reasons: here are a few hotels chosen based on reader recommendations and ratings.
You can also consider hostels or vacation apartments.
Eurostars Grand Marina Gl
☆☆☆☆☆ | Neighborhood: Poble Sec | Barcelona Pier s / n | Subway: Shipyards
The advantage of this hotel is that it also practice that luxurious.
This building glass and marble one of a kind comes in the form of a transatlantic and merges with the surrounding cruise port. It was designed by the same architect who made the pyramidal entrance to the famous Louvre museum in Paris.
The many terraces overlooking the Mediterranean They are more than a positive point.
Port of Catalonia
☆☆☆☆ | Area: Gothic | Broad Street 1 | Metro: Shipyards
Ce jewel is famous for its elegant rooms with the wooden floors.
An advantage is that it is located after the Barcelona cruise terminal, just a 15 minute walk from the beach. A complete buffet breakfast and highly recommended.
The roof terrace and the pool are a pure moment of relaxation. A fabulous rating of 8.9 on Booking doesn't lie.
It is also a short walk from some of the best restaurants in Barcelona.
Hesperia Barcelona Barri Gotic
☆☆☆ | Area: Gothic | Width Street 31 | Metro: Shipyards
Just 100 meters from the cruise port, you can't go wrong with this hotel bright and modern.
Although he seems to be right in the chaos of the Gothic Quarter of this hotel calm. Readers have found it very clean and very well located: you are a few steps from La Rambla, the port and the city's beaches.
There is also an unusual service sympathetic by Spanish standards.
Cruise line itinerary: 6 hours in Barcelona
With my tour for cruise lines in Barcelona, all you need is the metro. So get a T family transport card- Sharable and includes 8 trips for € 10,00 anywhere in the Barcelona transport network.
These tickets can be purchased from the ticket machines in any metro station.
Expect each person to use 3 or 4 trips.
Stop n. 1: Gothic Quarter and Born - 2.5 hours
Let's start with Columbus statue, where the ferry from the port dropped us off.
We went up to La Rambla on foot through the beginning of a small artisan market and the tourist trap bars: Stay away! After about 10 minutes, turn right onto Royal Square, one of the most beautiful squares in the city.
Soak up your surroundings and contemplate the lanterns designed by none other than Antoni Gaudi.
From there we get lost in the labyrinthine streets and squares of the Gothic Quarter. It is home to some of the most important landmarks in the city, such as the Barcelona Cathedral.
Stop to discover the awesome and peaceful. Plaza Sant Felip Neri and its surprisingly violent history.
From there we take the widest street in the neighborhood, Via Laietana, to descend to the Born district, the other side of the old town that has become a lively neighborhood, full of restaurants and independent clothing stores.
Here we have to see Santa maria del mar, another of the most beloved churches in Barcelona. In and around this area, you'll want to stop for tapas: these small traditional Spanish dishes are a must.
I recommend Champagne (Carrer de Montcada 22), a delicious winery to taste a local cava (sparkling wine) with salami, cheese, anchovies, sausages and more. Expect to spend around € 25,00 on a decent meal.
Another great option of typical Catalan cuisine is Seed of Origins (Passeig del Born). They advocate the consumption of local products. Expect to pay around € 30,00 per person.
For more ideas, check out my list of the best restaurants in Barcelona.
Stop # 2: La Sagrada Familia - 1 hour
With a full stomach, we resume the trip to admire one of the most incredible sites in the world: the Sagrada Familia.
To get there, we go back to Via Laietana and take the metro to the station Jaume i (L4, direction Trinitat Nova) and we go down to Verdaguer. From there we take the blue line (L5) and get off at the Sagrada Familia stop.
If you bought your tickets online, great. If you haven't already, you will have to wait a long time, so make sure you have arranged ahead of time to really enjoy it. world class monument.
That said, even looking at things from the outside, it is an experience in itself.
Stop n. 3: Passeig de Gracia and Gaudi - 1.5 h
Take the blue line (L5) and get off at the Diagonal stop.
From there we went to Paseo de Gracia and descend the hill towards the sea We discover the origins of Catalan modernism and the two jewels in the city's crown: La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.
Typically you will need about 90 minutes to successfully visit any of these buildings, but you can get a pretty good picture of any of them by using about an hour of your time. First book online.
If you have not eaten yet, there is El Nacional (Passeig de Gracia 24), an elegant multi-restaurant dining room that covers all the kitchens of the Iberian Peninsula.
Stop # 4: Plaza de Catalunya and return - 1 hour
We end with a descent to Plaça Catalunya, La place unificatrice de la ville, the incontournable Plaza Cataluña.
If you're not too tired, you can walk back down La Rambla and after about 10 minutes you will find one of the best food markets in the world, La Boquería, on your right.
Take one of the delicious fruit smoothies at € 1,00 or try a sample of Serrano ham classic.
From there, you walk another 10 minutes downhill and return to the starting point, at the Columbus statue. You can take the shuttle to the cruise port.
If you're too tired to finish, simply take the green line (L3) of the metro from Plaça Catalunya to Drassanes.
Cruise line itinerary: 1 day in Barcelona
For this route, I recommend taking the 6-hour tour above and adding one or more of the following:
Additional stop # 1: Barceloneta - 1 hour
Why not start the day with a swim on the beaches of Barcelona?
Especially in summer, a walk on the beach and a quick snack in the coastal district of Barcelona is a must. Take the D20 bus from the Columbus statue to the Barceloneta Beach (Barceloneta Beach).
Here we walk along the promenade to take thefresh sea air. If you want a quick tan or a swim, I recommend heading to the sail tower (the W hotel) for cleaner waters, but hurry up!
From there, it is the return on the D20 at the foot of Via Laietana to begin the visit of the Born district.
Additional stop # 2: Guell Parc - 1.5 hrs
The surrealist and the fairy Parc Güell complete our tour of Gaudí's masterpieces.
A walk through nature takes us to the famous Lagarto Fountain, a strange temple with columns and a Huge terrace overlooking the city with its iconic mosaic benches made famous by films like Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
The view from here is amazing.
In my article about Park Güell you will find everything you need to know about the route, the history and even the design, but please: buy your tickets online. You don't want to be asked to come back for a later time.
Buying tickets online costs € 10,00 and will allow you to avoid the queues.
Remember that you have to walk a bit uphill from the bus or metro and people with reduced mobility may consider taking a taxi for this part of the trip. There is also the shuttle official departure from Alphons X station.
As the park closes late (at 21:30 p.m. in summer), I suggest you save this stop for the end of the visit, to fully enjoy the sunset.
You can add this stop after your return to Plaça Catalunya (on the 6 hour itinerary). From there take bus 24 or the green metro line (L3) to Vallcarca.
You'll probably be hungry after all that walking, right?
The ideal place to dine is the typical Gracia neighborhood, with its lively squares and a wide variety of bars. To get to Gracia, take the metro at Vallcarca and get off at Fontana.
If you are looking for traditional Catalan cuisine, go to Bilbaro (Carrer del Perill 33). Here you will find an old school elegance almost lost in Barcelona. Local couples go there for romantic evenings and waiters are dressed to perfection. Try the beef tenderloin! Expect to pay around € 35,00 with wine.
If, on the contrary, you fancy something a little more informal, I suggest tapas. One of my favorites in the area is Fontana chicken shop (Carrer de Sant Lluis 9), this restaurant was once a chicken shop.
Here are some great dishes to try (and share): grilled octopus, Russian potato salad with grilled tuna, and potato croquettes with ham, always recommended. The average price here with wine is around € 20.00-25.00.
Essential information for cruise passengers
bills
Make sure to buy your attraction tickets online in advance, as the lines can waste your time.
I also recommend it to regular visitors. You can save up to 20% about the ticket price and avoid queues like a VIP. For cruise ship passengers visiting for a limited time, this becomes essential.
Plans
One thing you should have on hand to save time is a map of the city.
If you have a European Union SIM card, you will be glad to know that you can run Google Maps At all times. As of June 2017, there are more costs Internet connection for European tourists.
Credit / debit cards vs. liquid
All European credit and debit cards should work fine. Other standard foreign Visa and Mastercard credit / debit cards should work too.
I still recommend that you have some cash with you just in case.
How to get around Barcelona?
Public transportation
Cruise passengers to Barcelona usually take the Drassanes metro station for quick access to Plaça Catalunya, Passeig de Gracia, Parc Guell and the surrounding area of Plaça Espanya.
If you prefer to take the bus, here you will find different lines. the D20 will take you to the beaches of Barceloneta, while the V13 It will take you to Plaça Universidad, where in 5 minutes you can reach Plaça Catalunya.
If you are staying more than a few hours, you should consider getting a discounted transportation card.
Tourist Bus (Tourist bus)
This tourist bus is the best option to see the city in a limited time.
Here you can taste the best attractions in town without worrying about getting lost and wasting time in transportation.
Remember that the Tourist Bus stop is at the World Trade Center cruise terminal. If you prefer to go straight, there is also one on the Drassanes metro. They are both on the red line.
There are a lot of people who want to get on board, so I suggest you buy your tickets in advance to avoid queuing to buy them. Buying online also allows you to get a 10% reductionwho doesn't want it?
Free now
Free Now is the Spanish taxi application similar to Uber but that uses the city's regulated taxis. This will allow you to move around the city with licensed drivers and drive modern cars.
Please note that you will need to download an app. Visitors from the EU should be able to do this easily, as roaming charges are a thing of the past.
The good thing about Free Now is that all the prices are known in advance. The driver literally cannot rip you off.
The flat rate for taxis from the cruise port to the airport (and vice versa) is € 39,00.
Moro in the comments
It is not easy to be a tourist in a new place, but trying to provide all the information about an old place is not easy either. ?
If I missed something and you have any questions about the Barcelona cruise port or anything else regarding your next vacation, feel free to contact me in the comments below.
Also, don't be afraid to join the discussion on my new Facebook group called "For City Lovers." Here you can ask questions, voice your complaints, chat with other travelers and more - anything goes!
