Barcelona Tour Packages

What Makes the Allure of Barcelona Irresistible

An enchanting seaside city with a vibrant culture, Barcelona is perhaps best known for its famous football (soccer) team. While FC Barcelona is an emotion for multitudes, Barcelona tour packages offer a glimpse into the social and cultural forces that make it so. One of the most iconic features of this timeless city is its fabled architecture which can be traced back to the 1^st century A.D. Towering temples from the Roman era, mystical Gothic buildings and soaring cathedrals of the Middle Ages and whimsical masterpieces of contemporary sculptors can all be found in this beguiling city.

No Barcelona city tour package will be complete without sampling the flavourful delicacies of local cuisine served in captivating settings like a Basque-style tapas bar, Galician taverns and avant-garde restaurants. And, of course, the irresistible pull of the Mediterranean, embracing the city in glittering blue. The sun-drenched beaches are the perfect venue for relaxing holiday packages.

Barcelona Tourism: Best Time to Visit

The best time to indulge in Barcelona tour packages is during spring, anytime between March and July. The balmy temperatures also coincide with a lot of popular festivals and will allow you to enjoy your holidays in the glory of beaches and other outdoor activities in the city.

Barcelona Visa for Indians

Indian nationals desirous of purchasing Barcelona tour packages from Mumbai or other Indian cities must apply for the Spanish Schengen Visa at the Spanish Embassy, at least 6 months before their travel. This visa will allow you to stay in Spain for a maximum of 3 months. The visa processing time can take 15 to 45 working days.

Barcelona Tourism: Best Places to Visit

Basilica de la Sagrada Familia

Numerous spindly towers soaring high above the city, the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia is one of Europe’s most unconventionally designed churches and a must-visit site on Barcelona tour packages. Tagged as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Basilica is an exemplary tribute to the architect Antoni Gaudi’s signature surrealistic Art Nouveau style. Despite having begun construction towards the close of the 19^th century, the Basilica remains unfinished till-date with several architects still working on it, based on Gaudi’s plans. The lavish façade, dazzling artworks and the evocative Nativity and Crucifixion facades all serve to inspire awe in the most cynical of visitors.

The Gothic Quarter

Reminiscent of the romance and mystery associated with Europe’s Middle Ages, a visit to the Gothic Quarter on Barcelona tour packages will be packed with history. Ornately sculpted cathedrals with magnificently gilded altars, sprawling art museums, cobblestone streets, atmospheric alleyways and picturesque squares with street-side musicians strumming a classic Spanish guitar all serve to transport you into a romantic medieval era. Quaint cafes and classy restaurants tucked away in terraces and courtyards add to the allure of this timeless locale.

La Pedrera

The flamboyant avant-garde architecture of Casa Mila, popularly known as La Pedrera (the Stone Quarry), is yet another tribute to the genius of Antoni Gaudi. This UNESCO-listed site features prominently on most Barcelona tour packages. Resembling a natural stone quarry with curved windows and metal railings twisted into fantastic shapes, with an undulating roof and decorative chimneys, La Pedrera should never be missed on any Barcelona one day tour package.

Mont Juic

The hilltop neighbourhood of Mont Juic, translated as Mountain of the Jews, is the site of an old Jewish cemetery. Enliven your Barcelona trip package with a visit to this hillside crowned with a fortress on top with steep slopes that roll down to the Mediterranean Sea. Barcelona tour packages will also offer a ramble amidst the natural park as well as an exploration of the National Art Museum of Catalonia housing several astounding collections dating back to the 10^th century. Another nearby attraction is Poble Espanyol or Spanish Village, created for the 1929 World Exhibition. Mont Juic was also the venue of the 1992 Summer Olympics and Barcelona city tour packages often offer a guided tour of the venue.

Barcelona Tourism: Local Dishes to Try

Patatas Bravas

A simple tapas dish easily found in almost every tapas bar or restaurant on Barcelona tour packages, Patatas Bravas is made of cubed and fried potatoes, served with spicy tomato or garlic aioli sauce. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and garnished with a pinch of paprika, this dish offers a quintessential taste of Spanish cuisine.

Embotit

The perfect dish for meat lovers, Embotit is a plate of various cured meat and sausages such as sweet or spicy chorizo, pork sausage, blood morcilla and the world-famous Iberian ham. Try to find original Spanish tapas bars on your Barcelona trip package where the regional delicacies are made with traditional recipes and methods.

Bombas

Literally translated as ‘the bombs’, this is another unique dish to be relished on Barcelona one day tour packages. Little balls of mashed potatoes stuffed with meat or vegetables, dipped in bread crumbs and fried till golden brown, the ‘bombs’ are served alongside mayonnaise, aioli or salsa brava. Needless to say, a munch is enough to rock any and all Barcelona tour packages, especially for foodies.

Calcots

Barcelona tour packages must always include a stop to relish the iconic Calcots, grilled and served with romesco sauce. This unique vegetable dish is of great cultural significance to Catalans who gather in large numbers during the annual Calcotada event to celebrate the harvest of this vegetable.

Crema Catalana

Very similar in look and texture to crème brulee, Crema Catalana is uniquely Spanish and every bite is a fiesta to be savoured while on Barcelona tour packages.

Things to Do on Your Barcelona Trip

Ramble Along La Rambla

The heart of the social hub in the city, Barcelona tour packages must involve a day spent at La Rambla, a wide tree-shaded avenue in the Old Town. From the breath-taking splendour of the Romanesque 12^th-century Convent of Santa Anna all the way down to the port, the lively ambience and fresh air of the locale is superimposed with elegant buildings, outdoor cafes and a colourful market. You might even be treated to impromptu street performances of mimes and music shows.

Explore Gaudi’s Surrealist Park

Whimsical in its beauty and sparkling with colours of all hues, Antoni Gaudi’s surrealist park is the ultimate expression of this gifted artist’s vision and genius. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park includes 12 acres of landscaped gardens dotted with surrealistic architectural elements as well as 8 acres of woodland of pine trees and olive groves. Splendid fountains, grottoes and semi-closed conversation seats are the perfect backdrops to enjoy an impromptu picnic on Barcelona tour packages.

Guided Tour of FC Barcelona at Camp Nou

No sports enthusiast will consider Barcelona tour packages complete without exploring Camp Nou, one of the several venues for the Summer Olympics of 1992. More importantly, the camp now serves as the home of FC Barcelona, one of the world’s foremost football clubs. Guided tours are available which will take you through the stadium, the team’s changing rooms, players’ tunnel and the commentators’ box.

Beach-side Fun

Enjoy a lazy day of fun at the beach on Barcelona tour packages, adjacent to the cruise port on Sant Sebastia Beach. Soak up the sun, surf on the waves and savour the delicious local cuisine from any of the classy restaurants dotted along the beach. Don’t forget to ride in a cable car from the beach all the way up to Mont Juic.

Souvenirs to Look out For

The best souvenirs are the ones that preserve the memories of the amazing Barcelona tour packages you indulged in on your international holidays. Mosaic lizards that pay homage to Gaudi’s famous mosaic dragon, unique ceramics and porcelain figurines, delicious chocolates and FC Barcelona goodies are all souvenirs you can splurge on, at the end of your fantastic vacation.