Barcelona is a beautiful city full of attractions. From the seafront to the movida, passing Gaudi's buildings, it would take a week to see it all, but even in half a day something can be done. If, for example, you are planning a cruise that stops in Barcelona, take a look at our half-day itineraries dedicated specifically to the Catalan city. but seeing it all in half a day is really difficult.
Do-it-yourself cruise itinerary: 10 things to see
Barcelona is really full of interesting things to see. To help you on your way we'll point out 10 of them, but it's up to you to decide which one to see depending on the time you have available.
La Rambla: is the tourist centre of Barcelona, home to important sites such as the Liceu Theatre. Its 1.4 km long and dotted with venues popular with tourists and non-tourists alike, it connects the old port with Plaça de Catalunya. It is 1 km and a 10-minute walk from the WTC Pier - Get directions
Sagrada Familia: designed by Gaudi in 1882, it is Barcelona's most famous church and the undisputed symbol of the city
It is 5.7 km and 20 minutes by taxi from the WTC Pier (Get directions), also accessible by Metro (L2, L5 - stop Sagrada Família) - Priority ticket from €36.50 per person.Mercado de la Boqueria: Barcelona's most famous food market, full of shops offering typical food.
It is 1.5 km, 15 minutes by taxi and 20 minutes walk from the WTC Pier (Get directions)Barceloneta: is Barcelona's most famous beach, best known for its lively nightlife.
It is 2.4 km, 13 minutes by taxi and 25 minutes walk from the WTC Pier (Get directions)Parc Guell: created as a garden, the park is home to the works of artist Antoni Gaudi.
It is 5.9 km and 35 minutes by taxi from the WTC Pier (Get directions), also accessible by Metro (L3 - Lesseps or Vallarca stops) - Entrance ticket from €10.75 per person.Camp Nou: Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe, with a capacity of almost 99,400 spectators. It is 5.7 km, 22 min by taxi and 42 min walk from the WTC Pier (Get directions), also accessible by metro (L3, L5 - stops Palau Reial, Les Cortes, Badal) - 4-hour private tour of Camp Nou
Plaça Reial (Gothic Quarter): is the heart of Barcelona's nightlife, located in the heart of the Gothic Quarter.
It is 1.5 km and a 15-minute walk from the WTC Pier (Get directions).Casa Batllo: is one of Gaudi's most famous buildings.
It is 3.0 km, 14 minutes by taxi and 35 minutes walk from the WTC Pier (Get directions), also accessible by metro (L2,L3,L4 - stop Passeig de Gracia) - Ticket + audio guide from €25.00 per person.Santa Maria del Mar: Built between 1329 and 1383, it is one of the best examples of Catalan Gothic art.
It is 2.3 km, 10 min by taxi and 20 min walk from the WTC Pier (Get directions) - Cathedral of the Sea tour from €14.00 per person.Parc de la Ciutadella: Built within the old city fortress, the park is modelled on the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris.
It is 2.3 km, 9 min by taxi and 18 min walk from the WTC Pier (Get directions), also accessible by metro (L4 - stop Ciutadella Villa Olìmpica).
Recommended itinerary: what to see in half a day
First stop: La Rambla, Plaça de Catalunya, Casa Batllò
From the port, you will easily reach the statue of Christopher Columbus, our starting point. From here, proceeding in the direction of the city, you will immediately be on La Rambla, the tourist center of Barcelona, home to important sites such as the Liceu Theatre. Its 1.4 km long and dotted with venues popular with tourists and non-tourists alike, it connects the old port with Plaça de Catalunya. It is 1 km and a 10-minute walk from the WTC Pier. If you're planning a trip to Barcelona, be sure to check out the IBIS Barcelona Centro Hotel, which is located in the heart of the city and is an excellent choice for both leisure and business travelers. With comfortable rooms, modern amenities, and a prime location, the IBIS Barcelona Centro Hotel is the perfect base for exploring all that Barcelona has to offer. Click here to book your stay at the IBIS Barcelona Centro Hotel.
Second stop: La Sagrada Familia, Parc de la Ciutadella, Passeig del Born
From Casa Battlò you can reach the Sagrada Familia by taking the L2 metro line to the stop of the same name. After admiring the Gaudi-designed church, continue south along Carrer de Sardenya until you reach Parc de la Ciutadella, Barcelona's green lung, with its monumental waterfall. Only a five-minute walk separates the park from Passeig del Born, one of the city's oldest quarters.
Third stop: Santa Maria del Mar, Plaça Reial (Gothic Quarter)
A stone's throw from the Born is the church of Santa Maria del Mar, protagonist of best-selling novels. After this short diversions we return to the Born to visit the last stop, Plaça Reial, the square of the Gothic quarter and characterised by its central fountain, surrounded by palm trees and lampposts made by Gaudi himself. From the square you can take La Rambla, a few metres away, and return to the statue of Christopher Columbus.
At a glance:
Places visited: La Rambla (free), Plaça de Catalunya (free), Casa Battlò (€25.00), Sagrada Familia (from €17.00 online), Parc de la Cuitadella (free), Passeig del Born (free), Santa Maria del Mar (€3.00 to visit the choir), Plaça Reial (free)
Card, tickets and recommended tours: photo tour of the old town 4-hour Vespa tour of the city Segway tour for small groups
Where to eat: quick meal at l'Enrique Tomas, a stone's throw from the Sagrada Familia (Get directions). Prices around €10.00. A more traditional place for a full meal is La Llavor dels Origens, Passeig del Born area (Get directions). Traditional km 0 dishes, average price €30.00 per person.
Tours and excursions for cruise passengers
Tourist bus Barcelona: Cost, route and stops
Barcelona offers 3 different tourist bus lines: red, blue and green.
Red Line - The full route takes 2 hours. Stops are: the Olympic stadiums, Montjuïc museums, Plaça d'Espanya, Casa Milá, Casa Battló, Plaça Catalunya, Port Olímpic, Port Vell.
Blue Line - The complete journey takes 2 hours. The stops are: Plaça Catalunya, MACBA contemporary art museum, Camp Nou stadium, Tibidabo basilica, Parc Güell, Sagrada Família and Gaudí houses).
Green Line - The complete journey takes 40 minutes. Stops are near the beaches of Barcelona, from Port Olímpic to the Forum. This line only operates from 27 March to 1 November.
Cost: Adults €35.00. Reduced for children from 1 to 12 years old €18.90, for seniors over 65 €31.60. Free for children aged 0 to 3 years. Access to the bus is also arranged for the disabled, who will also receive a discount if their disability is greater than 33%.
Useful tips
It is best to buy tickets for tourist attractions online, perhaps choosing tickets with priority access.
Purchasing the Barcelona City Pass allows you to visit some attractions such as the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell free of charge, and get a 20% discount for access to other attractions and guided tours of the city
Public transport is very efficient, but given the limited time it is still worthwhile to walk between the nearest attractions.
A good option for visiting even distant places is the taxi, while for those closer you can opt for the segway or bicycle hire.
If you have little time available, it is better to concentrate on open-air sights such as squares and monuments
For a quick lunch, street food is preferable
Organising your itinerary in advance is the main thing for visiting Barcelona in half a day.
Where the ships dock and how to get to the centre from the port
The port of Barcelona has 7 terminals dedicated to cruise ships, these can be grouped into 2 different areas depending on where they dock:
1 - Adossat Quay
It includes terminals A, B, C and D, those where cruise lines such as MSC or Costa generally dock. They are a little further from the centre.
Distance fromthe centre: Terminal D (the furthest), is 4.4 km from the Columbus statue (beginning of the Rambla) and 4.6 km from the Line 3 Drassanes Metro Station.
How to get to the centre: Walking is not recommended. Better to take the Cruise Bus (ex T3 Port bus) to reach the Columbus Statue in 10 minutes. Bus timetables are coordinated with ship arrivals and departures, the price is €3.00 for a single ride or €4.00 A+R (ticket can be purchased in cash on board). Alternatively, you can travel by taxi. It costs less than €8.00 to get to the Columbus statue and a maximum of €15.00 to get to Plaça de Catalunya.
2 - World Trade Centre Pier
Includes the 3 terminals North, South, East, the closest to the centre. Also near the WTC pier is the San Bertrand terminal, which handles ferries travelling between Barcelona and the Balearic Islands.
Distance from the centre: 800 m from the Columbus Statue and 1 km from the Line 3 Drassanes Metro Station.
How toget to the centre: We recommend walking to La Rambla (10 min - Get directions) or the Metro Drassanes L3 for getting anywhere else in the city (13 min - Get directions).
Getting around
The best way to get around the city is to use Barcelona's metro network to travel between areas, and to walk the short distances between attractions in the same area.