This tour combines two areas of natural beauty used by Barcelona for culture and recreation:

The Waterfront which is a living example of how the very old can be successfully combined with the very new: the Old Port with its Dock warehouses and the Gothic Drassanes or shipyards have been preserved and incorporated into a remodeled recreational area, with the Aquarium, the World Trade Centre, restaurants and cinemas. Just north of the Old Port, the Olympic Village and Olympic Port were built for the '92 Games, transforming an industrial part of the city into apartments facing the sea, beaches, marina, and parks, criss-crossed with bicycle paths;

Montjuich Hill with its parks, art galleries, museums and the 1992 Olympic Ring of sports stadiums also provides spectacular views over the city. We will visit the charming Spanish Village and have free time for lunch there; we will give you a voucher valid for a 10% discount in one of the restaurants.

WATERFRONT:

Olympic Village: A run down and industrial area of Barcelona was completely reconverted into the 1992 Olympic Village. Right on the waterfront, it has become an attractive, landscaped residential area.

Olympic Port: Flanked by two of the tallest buildings in the city, the Arts Hotel and the Mapfre Tower, the port is a good example of contemporary architecture. Here you can see the copper sculpture Fish by Frank O. Ghery, spectacular in the sunshine.

Old Port: Separated from the Olympic port by long beaches and the old fisherman’s quarter, Barceloneta, the Old Port has been remodeled to extend the city center down the Rambla into the harbor. Attractive, popular area with restaurants, shops, nightclubs and frequent open-air entertainment.

Columbus Monument: built in his honour in 1888, it is at the foot of the famous Rambla.

World Trade Center: original imposing building by Henry N. Cobb whose aesthetic features are highlighted by the building being surrounded by water.

MONTJUIC HILL:

Mirador de l'Alcalde (the Mayor’s Lookout) stop: This terrace is a balcony over the Mediterranean with spectacular views over the harbor and the whole city. The bus will stop here to let you walk around and get the best viewpoints.

Olympic Ring: Central sports facilities of the ’92 Olympic Games, the complex includes the Stadium, the St Jordi sports pavilion by architect Arata Isozaki, the INEF by architect Ricardo Bofill and the Calatrava Communications Tower.

Spanish Village guided tour: Final place on the tour so people who so wish can stay for as long as they like. Built for the 1929 Exhibition, you can see replicas of streets, squares, monuments and buildings from around the country. There is an open air museum with many artists and craftsmen you can watch at work, synthesizing traditional crafts with modern design: glass, ceramics, jewellery, fabrics etc. There are also many bars and restaurants, you will have free time for lunch and we will give you a voucher valid for 10% discount in one of the restaurants you choose.

After lunch, the tour will return to Placa Catalunya and link with the Montserrat Tour for those who wish to see this special monastery and mountain.