| As far as European cities go, Barcelona is a relatively | | | | and blue routes, you can visit all of the city's sights, |
| easy city to navigate. Its natural mountains and | | | | and have the added bonus of being over-ground as |
| seafront means that it has a gradual incline, and also | | | | you do it, so you actually see the whole of |
| is very compact. This does however mean that | | | | Barcelona, too. Obviously during the spring and |
| some of the city's sights are missed, as it's | | | | summer months it's great to be on the top with no |
| sometimes tiring walking uphill for half of the day, and | | | | roof and a nice breeze running through your hair while |
| downhill for the other half. The city's metro system is | | | | you take in the stunning architecture of Gaudi, the |
| a great way to get around quickly, but you miss out | | | | amazing Camp Nou football stadium, the magic |
| on actually seeing the city, and often are disoriented | | | | dancing fountains at Placa España, and many, |
| when you get back up to street level (everyone | | | | many more attractions. |
| does the same in rotating the map around a few | | | | Many people always head for Plaça Catalunya - |
| times to double-check where you are!). | | | | the city's main square - to start their bus route, but |
| So in steps the tourist bus which solves all the | | | | this is the most common mistake. As this is where |
| previous problems we've mentioned. There are 2 | | | | the blue and the red cross over, and it's also where |
| companies in Barcelona operating this service (both | | | | the Main tourist information office is, then there is |
| following the same routes) but the one I recommend | | | | the assumption that this is the starting place for the |
| is the Barcelona Bus Turistic, which is the one run by | | | | tourist bus - but the routes are just a loop, so it |
| the local council. This basically translates as there are | | | | doesn't matter where you start or stop. A tip is to |
| more buses driving around the city, so you don't | | | | go down to the Port, for example, where there are |
| have to wait as long at the bus stops. | | | | always fewer people waiting around. You can buy |
| The Barcelona Tourist bus has 3 routes, but I would | | | | the ticket on the bus, and also have the advantage |
| say only 2 are worthwhile - the red and the blue | | | | that human nature means that as the people who |
| route (North and South routes). The 3rd green route | | | | are already on the bus see the waterfront and the |
| only takes you to the forum building (conference | | | | port, they think it's a great place to get off (happens |
| centre which was a bit of a flop and cost the mayor | | | | every time) and loads of people will pile off, leaving |
| his job in 2004). So if you concentrate on the red | | | | many free spaces. |