Cruise Passenger Shores
Our tours are ideal for cruise passengers who want to see Barcelona during their stop over or before embarking on a cruise and are seeking a more personalized experience.
We take care to ensure that your time is well spent and our licensed guides will accompany you throughout the whole tour. There are stops at some of the monuments you visit for a closer look, taking photographs and time for souvenir shopping.
We set a maximum number of people for each guide so for large groups a second guide accompanies the group offering a more personalized tour. Learn More.
Our Cruise Shore Excursions includes:
Tour Experience 1 – Gothic Quarter by Night
Long before many cities were founded, the kingdom of Aragon and Catalonia was a bastion of art and architecture. Barcelona’s early city center – which was surrounded by walls during Roman times – makes up what is today the Gothic Quarter. Surrounding Barcelona’s impressive cathedral, medieval palaces emerge such as Casa dels Canonges, La Pia Almoina, and Casa de l’Ardiaca. Whether the Gothic Quarter (or Barri Gòtic as it's called in Catalán) is truly Gothic is the subject of endless debate, but it is one of the most evocative neighborhoods in Spain and hides lots of bewitching places with many stories to tell – especially at night. Its richly textured streets, quiet squares, attractive corners, gurgling fountains, vintage stores and ancient fortifications inspired such artists as Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró (who was born in this neighborhood).
Included is a guided walk through dark, cool and atmospheric alleys that wind through plazas and hidden alleys. Discover authentic old ghostly legends including the haunted house of the Jewish Quarter, the procession of the condemned and other haunting stories.
BONUS: We visit La Boqueria en route, Barcelona’s most famous and colourful outdoor market located along the charming and famous promenade, Las Ramblas.
This tour will not only keep you up and about upon arrival so that you don’t commit jetlag suicide by surrendering to bed too early, it will introduce you to Spain’s public transportation and the fascinating area of the Gothic Quarter – an area that you will surely want to revisit on your own by day for its charming boutique stores selling Catalan crafts and trinkets along with fabulous street music.
Duration: 3 hours
Mode: by foot (please wear comfortable shoes)
Endurance Level: Walk slowly 2-3 miles
Tour Experience #2 – City flash Barcelona by coach!
Home to the 1992 Olympic games, Barcelona is a mix of modern and traditional Spain. The city has often been at odds (sometimes even at war) with the rest of Spain. It is this divergent history that makes Barcelona so distinct from other Spanish towns and its people so fiercely independent. There is a youthful sense of joie de vivre and rebellion that permeates the ancient streets.
Our panoramic city tour is a smattering of old and new and combines the main historical and cultural points of the city. Mostly enjoyed by bus but with opportunities to stop for picture-taking and leisure walking, we visit the Old Harbor, Montjuic (for beautiful views and picture opportunities) Olympic Stadium, Cathedral of Barcelona and its beautiful cloister, Las Ramblas (Barcelona’s most famous street filled with shops, cafes and plenty of ambience), Paseo de Gracia where some of the most important modernista facades are situated, including la Casa Batllo of Gaudí and the Sagrada Familia. The tour concludes at the Sagrada Familia.
This tour provides for a great introduction to the city. After understanding the lay of the land and absorbing a general overall view of the sights, you’ll be in good shape to revisit and explore all of Barcelona on your own at leisure.
Duration: 3 hours
Mode: Private Coach and by foot (please wear comfortable shoes)
Endurance Level: Bus riding and walk slowly less than 1 mile
Tour Experience #3 – Going Gaga over Gaudi
No architect in Europe was as fantastical as Antoni Gaudí y Cornet, the foremost proponent of Catalán modernisme. Barcelona is studded with the works of this extraordinary artist, all of which UNESCO now lists as World Heritage Sites. A recluse and a celibate bachelor as well as a fervent Catalán nationalist he lived out his own fantasy in his work.
Nothing is more stunning than his Sagrada Família, Barcelona's best-known landmark, a cathedral on which Gaudí labored for the last 43 years of his life. Work to complete the landmark cathedral still continues today, and when finished, "The Sacred Family" will be Europe's largest cathedral.
Our morning starts to reach Gaudi’s architectural works of art. Already having been introduced to Sagrada Familia as part of the Bravo Barcelona tour on Saturday, this guided walking lecture tour concentrates on his other three most well-known works in Barcelona including La Pedrera (Casa Milá), Casa Batlló, and Park Güell.
We are introduced to the genius – including his historical and artistic influences, his social life and his mentality. Time permitting, we may visit Casa Lleo Morera of Domenech I Montaner, Casa Amatller of Puig I Cadafalch, Palau Güell. Although the tour includes only outside guided viewing, you have the opportunity to visit the interiors at your own leisure, i.e. Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. If you are Gaga over Gaudí, this walking lecture and photo-op tour is for you!
Duration: 4 hours
Mode: Private Coach and by foot (please wear comfortable shoes)
Endurance Level: Walk slowly 2-3 miles
