By Barcelona not only has elegant modernist buildings, but it has many green spaces that offer visitors a tranquil setting in contact with nature. After a day of on the streets, nothing is more comforting than breathe the pure air of the city in parks and on beaches.
Ciutadella Park
Built for the Universal Exhibition of 1888, the Ciudadela Park was for many years the only public park in Barcelona.
Joan Brossa Garden
Located on the site of the former amusement park of Montjuic, Joan Brossa Garden offers a unique look that combines the charm of a city with the exuberance of a forest park.
The garden has an area of 5.2 hectares of land planted with trees and is filled with bronze sculptures of different artists and assorted characters. The panoramic views offered in the old city make the visit worthwhile.
Mirador del Migdia
Located in the area of Montjuic, Mirador del Migdia is one of the best places to see Barcelona from above. Composed by winding paths and lush vegetation full of native species, this park is the ideal place to take refuge during the hottest days of the year.
Jardins de Joan Maragall
Located near the Olympic Stadium, Joan Maragall Gardens are the elegant spaces composed of large lawns, beautiful tree-lined avenues, fountains and sculptures. These classic gardens and Frenchified character created for royalty still retain their stately allowing visitors to be transported back in time to the date on which the central building, the Mansion Albéniz, was inhabited by royalty.
Parc de Cervantes
Also known as ‘La Rosaleda’, thanks to its more than 10,000 roses of more than 200 different species, the Cervantes Park has an area of about 9 hectares of which more than half is occupied by all kinds of roses. The park has lush vegetation that creates many shaded spaces that make up a true oasis during the hot summer days.
Beaches in Barcelona
Although until the late twentieth century the beaches of Barcelona could hardly be called beaches; it was from 90s when they began to clean the water and sand to give them a healthier and more appealing state.
Although Barcelona cannot be considered a beach destination, there are millions of people who annually flock to sunbathe and swim in its waters. Throughout the entire Barcelona coastline a promenade runs all the beaches.
All the beaches of Barcelona are well communicated, maintained and equipped with all amenities. By proximity, the most popular are Barceloneta, Sant Miquel and Sant Sebastia. Since all the beaches of Barcelona are very similar. A few notable ones are mentioned below;
- Barceloneta Beach
- Somorrostro Beach
- Playa de Sant Miquel
- Playa Sant Sebastia
- Playa Nova Icària
- Bogatell beach
- Playa Mar Bella
- Nova Mar Bella beach
- Playa Llevant
To reach these beaches, there are two options as car and if you don’t have one, you can rent one or take a train.
As a major tourist destination and business center, Barcelona is very well-connected both with the rest of Spain and one can reach to Barcelona using various means of transport such as with the car, plane, train and ship, the most common ways to reach to the city.
Getting to Barcelona by Car
Barcelona is located at a distance of 620 kilometers from Madrid, 350 km from Valencia and 300 kilometers from Zaragoza. To organize the trip it is best to make the route planner with the help of Google Maps or any other source you find more helpful.
Getting to Barcelona by Train
Barcelona Sants Station is one of the busiest in Spain, being only surpassed in volume of passengers at Atocha station in Madrid.
High-speed trains allow travel from Madrid to Barcelona in two hours, and from Zaragoza in 90 minutes. Although the rates are not very economical, they are very comfortable and fast trains. A cheaper option is the regional trains, although the duration and comfort are not comparable to the previous ones.
Getting to Barcelona by Plane
Even for travelers to go by train, the airlines are often a much more affordable option as compared to trains on numerous occasions. For booking well in advance, it is not uncommon to find flights for just over €30.
Low cost airlines for flying to Barcelona are as follows;
Vueling
From Almeria, Asturias, Bilbao, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Madrid, Seville and Vigo.
Ryanair
From Asturias, Bilbao, Gran Canaria, Jerez, Lanzarote, Malaga, Palma, Santander, Sevilla, Tenerife and Valladolid.
To learn more about the airport and how to get from there to the city center, you can visit the official website of Barcelona Airport (BCN). The Prat Barcelona Airport is the second busiest airport in Spain.
Ship
The tourists also have the option to get to Barcelona by sea, and it is a very attractive option especially for those who want to take their car with them.
Bus
While commuting time makes it unappetizing, sometimes the bus is the cheapest way to get to Barcelona. To get an idea, the journey from Madrid lasts 8 hours and 10 hours from Santander. On the official websites, you can find information about the various routes and prices.
Along with the trepanation options, you also have to pay special attention to find the best area to stay in Barcelona so that you can have a memorable experience.
