A Review of the Barcelona Bus Turistic
Barcelona Sightseeing Tours on the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
Apr 26, 2009
Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing buses are a feature of most major European cities. The Barcelona Bus Turistic offers a better than average service at a reasonable price. It’s a great way to get an overview of what Barcelona has to offer, and a smart way to get to the most popular sights.
Fares on the Barcelona Bus Turistic
The current (April 2009) adult fare is 21 Euros for a full 24 hours from the time the ticket is first stamped. As the buses run from 9 am till 8 or 9 at night, there is ample time to extract full value from the ticket price. In addition, a (consecutive) 2-day ticket is a bargain at 27 Euro. Some family-oriented tourists may resent the fact that the child concession price of 13 Euros is only applicable up to 12 years of age.
The Barcelona Bus Turistic Service
The bus company offers 3 connecting routes, color-coded on the free map which comes with the ticket. Buses are very frequent: the official statement says every 5 to 25 minutes throughout the day. However, the author never had to wait more than 5 minutes, and often one bus was pulliing in as another was just leaving the bus stop.
Barcelona Bus Commentary
The traveler is issued with a personal earphone set, which is carried from bus to bus at interchanges. The phones plug into a system mounted on the seatbacks, which allows the easy selection of one of ten languages. The English commentary is clear and precise, well-presented, and perfectly timed to match the special sights along the route. The commentary is informative and interesting.
The Barcelona Hop On Hop Off Bus Routes
Over three routes, there are some 44 stops in all, covering the major points of interest and scenic spots around Barcelona.
The Red Route takes in most of the famous Gaudi architectural delights, including the Sagrada Familia Church and the Park Guell. The tour also stops at the home grounds of the celebrated Barcelona Football Club, where sidewalk vendors sell sweaters, T-shirts and trinkets in the Barcelona Club colors.
The Blue Route concentrates on the dazzling waterfront and the charming Gothic quarter of the old town. It also makes a loop up to Montjuic (and its cablecar), the Poble Espagnol and the 1992 Olympic Stadium. Another bulge in the loop along the waterfront covers the Museum of Catalunya and the zoo.
The Green Route, at 40 minutes, is the shortest and, in the author’s opinion, of least interest of the three. It does access some fine beaches, the ex-Olympic athletes village, and the Poblenou, a modern residential area built on the site of cleared slums and warehouses. If touring time is limited, the Green Route is missable.
Tips to Make the Most of the Barcelona Bus Tour
Buses are frequent, so there are no lengthy waits if the visitor wants to get off and on at various landmarks. However, buses are frequently full to capacity, especially the favored open-top upper deck. Consequently, if the visitor manages a great seat up top at the start of the journey, it may pay to retain it and complete the full 2-hour circuit of the red or blue route. This also has the advantage of providing a good overview of what Barcelona has to offer. Specific interests can be chalked up for a later visit, perhaps on the second day of a 2-day ticket.
If the visitor’s schedule permits, the bus tour is best avoided on rainy days. Even light or intermittent rain makes the top deck seats wet and unpleasant. Consequently, the bottom deck is always crowded and windows sometimes fog up. It’s not conducive to photo-snapping, which is one of the great pleasures of riding in the open top on a sunny day.
Study the bus route map and choose hop-off points that will allow an interchange from one route to another. It is possible to spend 4 -5 hours just sightseeing from the bus and listening to the commentary, without leaving the bus to visit sites. The famous square, Playa de Catalunya at the top of Las Ramblas, the popular broad avenue that runs down to the sea, is a good hop-off point to grab a coffee or lunch.
Barcelona is a beautiful city with fascinating and varied architecture, a relaxed and friendly population, and excitement in the air. The breezy top of an open bus is a great way to experience this fun city.
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