Barcelona Area

One of the most vibrant cities in Spain, Barcelona is an exciting mix of culture, beautiful architecture, and just plain fun. Some of the most striking sites around town are many the buildings designed by the famous architect, Antoni Gaudi. Whether it's a trip to a museum, a stroll along the board-walk, or just a walk around town to hit some of the city's incredible restaurants, Barcelona has something for everyone.

Highlights of Barcelona

• L'Aquàrium
• La Sagrada Familia
• Museu Picasso
• Las Ramblas
• Parque de Attraciones

Historical Sites

La Sagrada Familia
This church, designed by Antoni Gaudi, is truly one-of-a-kind with it's striking, sculpture-encrusted spires and unusual structure. Considered to be Gaudi's masterwork, it appeared that it would never be completed when Gaudi unexpectedly died in 1926. Fortunately, his well laid-out plans allowed for the construction to continue and visitors can get a close-up look at this "work-in-progress" which is hoped to be completed sometime within the next 10 years.
For more information, please visit the following website: www.sagradafamilia.org.

La Pedrera
Another of Gaudi's masterpieces, La Pedrera (the quarry) was constructed between 1905 and 1910. The curvaceous and undulating walls of this building give it a unique and somewhat strange look. There is a modest museum showcasing some of Gaudi's work on the top floor and visitors can make their way up to the roof to enjoy breath-taking views of Barcelona. Please visit www.fundaciocaixacatalunya.es.

Plaza Espana and the Magic fountain
This beautiful Plaza is a great place to relax and watch the world go by. At night, the "Magic fountain" is lit-up and visitors can enjoy watching the water shoot up and move in sync to music.

Activities

L'Aquàrium
Since Barcelona is next to the ocean, a nice way to learn about its neighboring underwater life is to visit its stunning aquarium-said to house the world's best collection of Mediterranean marine life. Opened in 1995, the structure is ultra-modern and every attempt to enable visitors to interact with the sea-life has been made. The 80m-long shark tunnel is especially fun to walk through. Opening hours may be found at: www.aquariumbcn.com.

Museu Picasso
One of Barcelona's most visited museums, the Museu Picasso contains works by the artist from his early years, as well as later works which were strongly influenced by his travels. Each period of his life is clearly represented so that visitors can get an idea of what influences affected Picasso's work at a particular time. The museum's website may be found at: www.museupicasso.bcn.es.

Las Ramblas
Las Ramblas is a pedestrian mall linking the Christopher Columbus monument at Port Vell to the Plaça de Catalunya, a kilometer away. A great place to see a bit of street theatre, relax at a nearby café or shop at one of Barcelona's many market stalls, Las Ramblas is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. Unfortunately, due the the number of people that like to visit Las Ramblas, pickpockets are also quite common here. Therefore, while you enjoy the atmosphere, make sure you also keep an eye on your wallet!

Parque de Atracciones
If you're in the mood for some good old-fashioned fun, play a visit to Barcelona's Parque de Atracciones. This amusement park has an enormous Ferris Wheel with stunning views from its perch atop mount Tibidabo. The rides are a mix of old and new, and some have said that this park ranks among Europe's best. After all, it has been in existence for over 100 years! Additional information about this park may be found at the following site: www.tibidabo.es/eng/coneix.htm.

Fat Tire Bike Tours
Always a fun way to see a city, taking a bike tour allows the visitor to get up-close to sites that they might miss on a bus, and also enables them to get around a lot of territory while burning a few calories in the process! We recommend this bike tour. More information may be found by calling: 34 93 301 3612 or visiting: http://www.fattirebiketoursbarcelona.com. ISE Cardholders receive €2 off bike rental.

Places to Stay

Hostels
There are a wide variety of hostels in Barcelona. To search for hostels online with full descriptions, photos and availability information, please access the following link: http://reservations.bookhostels.com/isecard.com. The $2 reservation fee will be waived when booking through this site.

Places to Eat

There is no shortage of great places to eat in Barcelona. For those interested in dining while watching some Spanish Flamenco, try the Tablao Cordobes (www.tablaocordobes.com). ISE Cardholders who present their card will get their second drink free of charge.

For a complete listing of restaurants in Barcelona, please visit: www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/restaurants/restaurant-barcelona.html

Getting Around

Subway
The metro in Barcelona is probably the easiest way to get around the city. It is similar to most other subway systems in Europe: clean, efficient and cheap.

Bus
Renfre has a bus service that runs to and from the airport as well as to some towns in the outskirts of Barcelona. The name of the bus service is Rodalies or Cercanias (depending on who you ask). Most city routes are covered and buses run every few minutes. Ask about the tourist buses, which run past some of Barcelona's major sites.

Walking
Once you are in the city-center, Barcelona is a wonderful city for walkers. Las Ramblas and the Barri Gòtic part of town are particularly nice to wander around. The best bet is to pick an area you would like to explore, go there by bus or metro, and then walk around to your heart's content.

Taxi
If you don't feel comfortable using the bus or the metro, there are plenty of taxis to be had in Barcelona.

Bicycle
There are some great places to bike in Barcelona, but it would probably be best to join a bike tour as the city is quite large and traffic can be quite hectic-especially for those who don't know where they are going.

Car
Alamo Rent A Car offers special rates of 15% off to ISE Cardholders. Mention Code BY ID#: 706768 when reserving your car and don't forget to present your ISE Card. Call 34 93 305 61 53 if you would like to hire a car.

Moving On

Air
Flying in and out of Barcelona is a breeze. There are numerous direct flights from North America and most European cities, as well as indirect flights to just about anywhere you need to go. There is a departure tax on all tickets, but you do not have to pay it separately (it's already included when you pay for your airline ticket).

Bus
The main bus station in Barcelona is Estació del Nord.

Train
The train service to and from Barcelona is quite efficient and comfortable. Domestic and International routes are available at the main train station, Estació Sants.

Boat
There are ferries available from Barcelona to the Balearic Islands and Italy.