Useful Tips

Find some travel tips below to help make the best of your travel to Barcelona:

Chocolatería Valor (Rambla de Catalunya 46).

Long running establishment and the best place to try a very typical Spanish breakfast (or snack): Churros con chocolate, which are fried-dough pastry-based snacks, sometimes made from potato dough dipped in very thick rich chocolate.
Transport in Barcelona.

Many of the best sites are concentrated in the city centre so you may choose to do a large part of your exploration on foot. For this reason, it’s not really necessary to buy a one-day-travelcard. A better option may be the T10-ticket, (especially if travelling with another person), which gives you 10 trips on either the metro or bus for the price of 7,70 € (can be used by multiple people, price December 2009).
Sunbathing and swimming in Barcelona.

Catalonia has a 580km long coastline and offers everything from tiny secluded coves to long, sandy beaches. Also Barcelona has its fair share of Mediterranean beaches. Since the massive clean-up operation of the beach and nearby Olympic marina and village undertaken for the 1992 Olympics, this area has become a magnet for Barcelonans and visitors alike. A lot of effort goes into maintaining the cleanliness of both sand and sea, which is tested daily, and all beaches have disabled access, lifeguards (in season), sun beds and showers.

On a total of eight kilometers divided into four beaches where you can take a refreshing swim before or after your sightseeing. If the city beaches are too busy for your taste just take a train to the south (Castelldefels, Garraf, Sitges) or north (Masnou, Ocata) to find the right stretch for you.
Pickpockets.

Barcelona has seen a huge growth in tourism in recent years. Subsequently petty crime has risen enormously. Please leave all the valuables that you don’t need for the day in your hotel. Don’t get paranoid but be conscious about potential attempts to take your bag or purse!
Viewpoints.

Montjuic: This landmark hill at almost 200 metres overlooks the city and offers superb views, for instance at Mirador del Alcalde. It’s a very popular place for locals to escape the city, go running or walk. It is also home to some fine art galleries, leisure attractions, soothing parks and the main group of 1992 Olympic sites. Approach the area from Plaça d'Espanya or via the funicular at Parallel.
Tibidabo: At 542m Tibidabo is the highest hill in the wooded range of Collserola that forms the backdrop to Barcelona. It is known as the lung of Barcelona and the surrounding metropolitan area. Unspoiled air, a place where all you hear is birdsong and the gentle murmur of small brooks, all a mere fifteen minutes from the centre of Barcelona. Within lies the protected park area spread out over close to 8.000 hectares. If the air's clear, it's a great place for views over the city. Apart from natural wealth it’s also a great place of human activity: families love to come with their kids to the great amusement park, other visitors enjoy fine views from Norman Fosters telecommunications tower or visit the Temple del Sagrat Cor, Barcelona's answer to Paris' Sacré Coeur.
Harbour Cable Car: The 1450 metre long harbour aerial tramway with red cars connects Montjuic and Barceloneta. It starts in Barceloneta on the top of the 78 metre tall Torre San Sebastian tower, which also has a restaurant on its top accessible by an elevator. It has an intermediate stop at Torre Jaume I tower (close Columbus monument), which can be reached by an elevator from the ground--107 metre tall tower, the second tallest aerial tramway support tower in the world. The final point of the tramway is Montjuic.
Columbus monument: 60m high and located at the lower end of Les Rambles facing the Old Port. It was built for the Universal exhibition that took place in 1888 and serves as a reminder that Barcelona is where Christopher Columbus reported to Queen Isabella and Ferdinand after Columbus' most famous first journey. Visitors can take the elevator inside the column up to the platform just under the 7m high Columbus statue and enjoy fine views over the Old City and the Port Vell area. Nearby at Port Vell you can see a different perspective of Barcelona taking a ride on one of the Golondrinas that anchor here.

Welcome to Barcelona!

The Barcelona Urban Adventures team are passionate about the city in which they live. Join them on a locally led adventure as they show you a more intimate side of this much loved city, from its stunning architecture and culture, to its fine cuisine and nightlife, and all the hidden gems in between.

Say "Hola" to our guide and staff !!

Mariano

Carlota

Elizabeth

Enrigue

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6°C
Feels like: 3°C
Passing clouds. Quite Cool.

Responsible Travel with Urban Adventures

Wherever we go in the world, we take a responsible attitude with us. That means travelling in a way which both respects and benefits local people, their culture, their economy, and their environment. Please read on for more information on our Responsible Travel policy and how you can be a responsible traveller for your entire journey.

Top 12 Responsible Travel Tips

The following tips are for your overall travel plans, not just for your time spent on an Urban Adventures tour.

Before leaving home, learn as much as possible about the countries you are visiting - the religion and culture, the local rules and values.
Learn some of the local language and don't be afraid to use it - simple pleasantries will help break the ice. Keep practicing.
Learn what's appropriate behaviour and body language. Like the concept of "saving face" in Asia or giving the thumbs up in western or central Europe.
Support locally owned businesses, hotels, restaurants, and other services. Eat local food and drink local brands and brews. Use public transport, hire a bike or walk where convenient - you'll meet local people and get to know the place. Use our local travel practices as a guideline.
Think first. It's best not to eat in restaurants, shop in stores or visit local shows, markets or zoos that promote cruelty or exploitation of endangered species.
Shop from traditional artisans and for locally made products, helping keep traditional crafts alive and favour local products over imported items. Bargain if that is a local practice, but bear in mind that a small amount to you could be extremely important to the seller.
Dress respectfully with an awareness of local standards. Dress modestly at religious sites and check what swim wear is suitable for pools and the beach.
Always ask first before photographing or videoing people. Send them back copies of photos to help make it a two-way exchange.
Be wary of giving gifts or money to beggars, children and people you have just met. Supporting the community through a local school, clinic, or development project may be more constructive.
Leave only footprints...take care of the environment as you would your own home. Take out all you take in, to areas away from the cities. Use alternatives to plastic and say 'no' to plastic bags. For cigarette butts, an empty film container makes a perfect portable container.
After returning home think how you can support programmes and organisations that are working to protect the welfare, culture and environment of where you've been lucky to visit.
Smile - The traveller who wishes to have a happy and successful trip should keep as calm, cheerful and friendly as humanly possible. And have fun!

Responsible Travel Code of Conduct

The following are Urban Adventures's key principles for operating responsible tours.

We aim to:

Use locally owned infrastructure on our tours where possible.
Spread the financial benefits amongst local people and operators.
Provide employment and leadership opportunities for local people.
Respect local customs and culture.
Provide safe tours for Urban Adventure partners, staff, and travellers.
Educate travellers and our partners about how and why we choose to travel this way.
Limit the negative impacts to daily lifestyles of local people not involved with Urban Adventures groups.
Limit the physical impact of trips in all destination communities-particularly sensitive natural and cultural environments.
Provide support to organisations and local communities visited by Urban Adventures groups.
Provide fun enjoyable trips to Urban Adventures travellers.
Provide opportunities for travellers to interact with local people.
Actively ban partners, staff and passenger participation in or endorsement of commercial sexual activities or illegal drug use on Urban Adventures tours.
Actively discourage the participation of Urban Adventures groups in activities which exploit animals - wild or domestic.
Use local partners that adhere to Urban Adventures' Responsible Travel and Local Travel principles and provide the best possible service to Urban Adventures travellers and staff.
Work to prevent the exploitation of children in tourism.
Support and encourage fair employment practices.
Give our travellers the best possible value.

For more information on how to be a responsible traveller, region-specific guidelines, and voluntourism, check out what our friends at Intrepid have to say.

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