Although it’s pretty easy to drive to Barcelona and to Park at the beginning of the Ramblas (Passeig de Colom just after the Columbus statue), it’s also possible to visit Barcelona by train from Sitges. Here you find the instructions:
Visit Barcelona by train:
A lot of trains depart from Sitges to Barcelona every 7 min. in rush hours and every 10-15 min. the rest of the day. All the trains stop in Sants station and later in Passeig de Gracia station, which is in the city centre.
You have 2 trains, one goes direction Sant Vicenç de Calders through Sitges. The trip is about 40-45 min, depending on the train.
For more information about public transport see www.renfe.com
Las Ramblas in Barcelona is approximately 1.2 kilometres long with Port Vell (near the cruise port terminal) at the Southern most end and Plaça Catalunya at the northern most end.
If you have your back to Port Vell and you are looking up towards Catalunya along the Ramblas on your left hand side is the Raval area and on your right-hand side is the Barri Gotic (or Gothic Quarter).
Barcelona Las Ramblas can also be roughly divided into seedy and non-seedy areas. This distinction between seedy and non-seedy becomes a lot clearer during the night time when the Southern most end of the Ramblas becomes something of a red light district and is frequented by night women (prostitutes).
La Rambla is primarily pedestrianised with only two narrow one-way traffic roads which run on either side of the central Ramblas Boulevard.
Barcelona city council have restricted traffic flow through this region and you have the overwhelming feeling that pedestrians rule in this area (which makes a welcome change). Unlike other cities that have huge roads running through the middle Barcelona has chosen to structure the road system such that the heart of the city centre is primarily pedestrianised with larger roads that service the periphery.
Montserrat is a spectacularly beautiful Benedictine monk mountain retreat about one hour North West from Barcelona by train.
Not only is Montserrat Monastery of significant religious importance but the natural beauty surrounding the monastery is simply breathtaking.
If you enjoy walking there are also some interesting walks through the mountains where you will experience magnificent views of some of the most unusual rock formations in the whole of Catalonia. You can take a funicular to the top of the mountain and from there you can choose a number of different walks, all with amazing views of the Catalonian countryside.
Tapas is a typical Spanish dish. It comes in several varieties. The Basque version are called ‘pinchos’. Pinchos are generally bite-sized portions served on slices of baguette. In Barcelona and Sitges you will find Pinchos restaurants as well. These restaurants are filled with these delicious snacks. When you’re fed up with all the wining and dining, or you’re just looking for some fast food after a day at the beach, we really can recommend this. In Sitges you will one at C/ San Pablo and C/Nou it’s the first street just before the church from the beach up hill.
El Born is a big, popular district of Barcelona. It lays nearby the Ramblas and the harbour. El Born has several small streets with small squares. You will find lots of small clothing stores, boutiques special shops, restaurants and cafés. See link for more information
Mountain Montjuic is located at the side of Barcelona near the harbor. From the harbor you can go by an (very old) cable line (‘Transbordador Aeri del Port) to hotel Mirador, the Olympic stadium of Barcelona. It’s not for the faint hearted(If you are afraid of highs, don’t do it!). From the cabin you have stunning views over Barcelona. On top of the mountain you can take go to restaurants, the old stadium, a castle, or go to the Costa i Llobera Gardens. From the mountain you can go back either by taxi or the cable line to the center or harbor of Barcelona See link.
The aquarium of Barcelona is one of the biggest in Europe. It has a tunnel where you can walk under the sharks. It also has a lot of interactive facilities which are appealing for children, see link. You will find the aquarium in the middle of the harbour of Barcelona. Nearby you will find the W-hotel and the entrance of the cable-line to the “Mirador”.
A fun way to discover Barcelona is to go by bike. We don’t have experience with it, but since the ‘hot spots’ are not far from each other, traveling by bike in the sunny weather can certainly be a good option. Of course is walking arround a good option if you don’t want to the hussle for renting a bike. And if you go by foot and you’re tired of walking, remember that taxi’s in Barcelona are always available and pretty cheap by the way! See for more information about biking this link or this link.
When you go by train to Barcelona, you can stop at the train station at the Passeig de Gracia, this is in the center of Barcelona. It is a big avenue with a lot of mainstream shops, and you will see some famous Gaudi houses. If you follow the Passeig de Gracia towards the coast it will end at the place de Cataluña. Afterwards you will find a little bit right the famous ‘La Rambla’. But don’t waste too much time at the Ramblas, there is so much more to see in Barcelona! At the left of the Rambla is situated the Barri Gotic area, or Gothic Quarter. This is the area in which the old town of Barcelona is situated. It’s generally characterized by narrow cobbled streets with tall old buildings. Picasso lived and worked in Barri Gotic from 1895 to 1904 and Joan Miró was born and lived here during his youth. So you will find museums from Picasso and Miró in this area.
