Barcelona, Spain — Activities
Barcelona Culture
Barcelona's reputation as a world center for art, architecture and design is growing yearly, with a plethora of cultural activities on offer.
The Guía del Ocio booklet (www.guiadelocio.com/barcelona), available from newsagents and news stands, provides information on cultural events in the city. Alternatively, there is a cultural information desk at Palau de la Virreina, La Rambla 99 (tel: (93) 316 1000; www.bcn.cat/virreinacenterdelaimatge). Caixa Catalunya run the central ticket agency Entrada (tel: 902 101 212; www.telentrada.com).
Music
Gran Teatre del Liceu
Barcelona's opera house is the stunning Gran Teatre del Liceu, rebuilt in 1999. It hosts a mix of in-house productions and co-productions with leading international opera houses.
La Rambla 51-59
Tel: (93) 485 9900.
Website: www.liceubarcelona.com
L'Auditori
L'Auditori is one of Barcelona's major classical music venues, home to the Orquesta Sinfónica de Barcelona y Nacional de Catalunya.
Carrer Lepant 150
Tel: (93) 247 9300.
Website: www.auditori.org
Palau de la Música Catalana
The main concert hall in Barcelona is the Palau de la Música Catalana, a UNESCO World Heritage building and one of the most extravagant music venues in the world. Sunday concerts here are a Barcelona institution. It was designed by modernist architect Domènech i Montaner, as a showcase for the Catalan renaissance.
Carrer Palau de la Música 4-6
Tel: 902 442 882.
Website: www.palaumusica.org
Theater and Dance
L'Espai de Dansa I Música de la Generalitat de Catalunya
The city's main venue for ballet and contemporary dance is L'Espai de Dansa I Música de la Generalitat de Catalunya (referred to simply as L'Espai). A more relaxed atmosphere is in evidence on Sunday mornings, in the square in front of Catedral de la Seu, Plaça de la Seu, when locals flock to watch and participate in the local dance - the sardana.
Travessera de Gràcia 63
Tel: (93) 414 3133.
Teatre Lliure
Barcelona's theater scene does not enjoy the same international reputation as Madrid, but what it lacks in literary authority, it makes up for in the visual and audio spectacle of its performances. The theater scene in the city is lively and well attended, including work by regional and international playwrights. Popular venues include Teatre Lliure which hosts an adventurous array of theater and dance that occasionally spills on to the square outside.
Plaça Margarida Xirgu 1, Montjuïc
Tel: (93) 228 9747 or 902 101 212 for tickets.
Website: www.teatrelliure.com
Teatre Nacional de Catalunya (TNC)
A varied program of drama, music and dance is on offer at the spectacular Teatre Nacional de Catalunya. The theater, designed by Ricardo Bofill, has three performance spaces, where a good mix of contemporary and classical pieces as well as a fine contemporary dance program are staged.
Plaça de les Arts 1
Tel: (93) 306 5700.
Website: www.tnc.cat
Barcelona Tours
Walking tours
‘La Ruta del Modernisme' (Barcelona Modernisme Route) is an itinerary that takes you through the Barcelona of Gaudí, Domènech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch, the architects who made Barcelona the world capital of Modernisme. The self-guided walking tour departs from outside Palau Güell, Carrer Nou de la Rambla 3-5 and links 115 key art nouveau buildings in and around the city, including La Sagrada Família and sites not usually open to the general public. You'll find details of the route in the Ruta del Modernisme book, available from large bookshops and Modernisme centers. Other walking tours include the themed Barcelona Walks, run by the tourist office, which offer a choice of four guided walking tours: ‘Modernisme', ‘Gourmet', ‘Gòtic' and ‘Picasso'.
La Ruta del Modernisme
Tel: (93) 317 7652.
Website: www.rutadelmodernisme.com
Barcelona Walks
Tel: (93) 285 3832.
Website: www.barcelonaturisme.com
Bus tours
For the first-time visitor who wants to combine transport with independent sightseeing, the best option is the Barcelona Bus Turístic, which allows visitors to hop on and off designated tourist buses at the sites of their choice. The buses ply three routes. The first buses for each route leave Plaça de Catalunya at 0900. Recommended companies who run other sightseeing bus tours of the city are Julià Travel and Pullmantur. Their morning tours concentrate on the Gothic Quarter and Montjuïc, while the afternoon tours include visits to key examples of Barcelona's architectural heritage and the Picasso Museum.
Barcelona Bus Turístic
Tel: (93) 328 9252.
Website: www.barcelonabusturistic.cat
Julià Travel
Tel: (93) 317 6454.
Website: www.juliatravel.com
Pullmantur
Tel: (93) 318 0241.
Website: www.pullmanturcruises.com
Boat tours
Several boat trips around the harbor and along the coast are offered by Golondrinas. These depart regularly from the Port Olímpic, Monday to Friday 1145-1600 and Saturday to Sunday 1145-1700 (October to March); Monday to Friday 1100-1800 and Saturday to Sunday 1145-1900 (April to June); daily 1145-1930 (July to September). A round trip of the harbor takes approximately 35 minutes. Energetic visitors can opt for a one-way ticket and then walk the 4km (2 miles) back to Barceloneta from the breakwater.
Tel: (93) 442 3106.
Website: www.lasgolondrinas.com
