Travelling in Barcelona

Once you arrive at Plaza Catalunya, the central and main place of Barcelona, you can buy your ticket in the automated teller machines or in the TMB information and attention points available in stations.

These tickets from TMB network are valid for metros, bus, trams, Ferrocarrils (FGC) and Rodalies de Catalunya.

Fares from the 1st of April to the 30th of June 2011 (-5%):

Avoid single ticket, which is only valid for one trip (1.45€).

Better choose the following pass, more economical:

T-Dia 1 zona: 5,90€

This is the one that you have to favour if you have planned to make a lot of travels by transports in one day. Unlimited number of trips. Individual use.

If you have planned to repeat these trips for several consecutive days, rather opt for the option “Subscription”: this will be cheaper. Unlimited number of trips. Individual use.

2 Days: 11,50€

3 Days: 16,50€

4 Days: 21,00€

5 Days: 25,00€

However, Barcelona’s city is small and it is possible to get from one neighbourhood to another by foot. If you prefer walking, you will minimize the number of trips by public transport. In this case, we highly recommend you the following pass:

T-10 1 zona: 7,85€

This pass offers you up to 10 trips, usable anytime. This pass can be used by several persons, that is to say that after a validation, it can be reused by the people accompanying you. You are allowed to make until 3 connections without any charge, in a limited time of 1h15.

/!\ Be careful ! The connections will be deducted if you take 2 times the same line in the time allowed by the ticket.

Feria of Sant Ponç 2011 in Barcelona

On the 10th and 11th of May, come try local specialties thanks to the Feria of Sant Ponç! This fair, which is one of the oldest fairs in Catalonia, is celebrated each spring in honor of San Ponç, the Herbs’ Patron come to heal the population facing misery and poverty, with potions of medicinal herbs.

Dating from the 16th century, this is a tradition where a large variety of herbs such as thyme, chamomile, rosemary and bay is presented in the streets.

But this celebration will also allow you to discover and taste the typical gastronomy of the region. Indeed, for the occasion, 93 stalls in total will be settled in Barcelona’s city according to the City Council, in order to offer you the opportunity to buy all kind of local and home-made products. These products include of course deli meats and cheeses, but also sweets such as honey, marmalades, chocolate, cakes and traditional confectionery.

And to follow the trend, some products coming from organic farming will also be available.

The stalls will be spread on 4 main districts, as following:

- Sants – Montjuïc: 10th and 11th of May, calle Blai.

- Ciutat Vella (City Center): 11th of May, from 9 am to 9 pm, calle Hospital.

- Sarriá San Gervasi: 11th of May, from 10 am to 8 pm, plaza Mañé i Flaquer y plaza Sarrià.

- Nou Barris: 11th of May, until 10 pm, at Via Júlia marquee.

Do you know it?

On this day of San Ponç, Catalonian people make their big spring cleaning. By cleaning their house from top to bottom and placing a bouquet of herbs under the bed, they hope in this way to drive away evil spirits.

Want to spend a few days in Barcelona and you still have not found any apartment? Check our website : Top Barcelona Apartments.

Museum Night 2011 in Barcelona

Last update on the 03/05/2011

On the 14th of May, come participate to the Museum Night in Barcelona! Created by the Council of Europe and this for its 7th edition, this event takes place in all the biggest European cities. On this date, the participating museums will be free of access for a night, which will delight tourists as well as residents.

In Barcelona, you could visit for free 40 of the most popular museums of the Catalonian capital, from 7 pm to 1 am more precisely, as MACBA, Maritim Museum and Picasso Museum. Barcelona’s city is famous for its numerous museums and here is for sure an ideal opportunity to take!

In addition, concerts, shows, conferences, poetry readings and all kind of workshops and activities will be organised for both the parents and children. This will be one way to learn and discover a lot of interesting things while having fun.

Museums that you could visit for free are spread on 6 different areas. If you prefer staying near the center, here are the areas that we recommend you:

ZONE 2: From L'Eixample to Gràcia

You could see the following museums:

Click here to view the list of museums for zone 2

ZONE 3: From Gothic to El Mar

You could see the following museums:

Click here to view the list of museums for zone 3

ZONE 4 : From Raval to the Port

You could see the following museums:

Click here to view the list of museums for zone 4

(maps from the website of Barcelona's City Council)

Tips:

As a participant, leave your opinion about the Museum Night 2011 on this page between the 15th and the 30th of May. You could enjoy a free entrance for a museum, for 2 people, available until the 31th of December 2011!

In the meantime, you can already book your apartment on our website : Top Barcelona Apartments.

Barcelona International Motor Show 2011

Looking for the car of your dreams or simply fond of cars? Do not miss in any case the Barcelona International Motor Show 2011, which runs from May 14 to 22, in the exhibition center of La Fira de Montjuïc.

With no less than 1 million visitors every year, this show is now one of the most important in Europe and has become a key event for all car lovers.

For its 36th edition, organizers hope to attract even more curious since the event will be held at the same time as the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix. The show follows trends and will highlight this year clean energies (electric and hybrid vehicles, vehicle charging infrastructures, renewable energies).

34 of the most famous brands in the sector have already confirmed their attendance to present their latest models. From the simplest to the most spectacular, there will be something for all prices and for all tastes!

Of course, this will not be only about looking at these new wonders. Indeed, the show offers several activities that will delight children and adults. Among the most attractive, there are namely :

- a circuit around Montjuïc especially laid out for the occasion, offering the opportunity to try some new models;

- Formula 1 simulators for those who want to put themselves in F1 drivers' shoes.

OPENING HOURS:

From Sunday to Thursday: 10am - 8pm

Friday and Saturday: 10am - 9pm

ENTRANCE PRICES:

Adults and children over 10: 12€

Children under 10: Free entrance

You can book online by clicking here.

For more information, check the official website of the show: http://www.salonautomovil.com

Interested by this exhibition? Do not waste your time and book your apartment now on our website Top Barcelona Apartments.

Address:

Salón Internacional del Automóvil

Fira de Montjuïc

Avinguda Reina Maria Cristina, 1 – 08004 Barcelona

Metro: España (L1)

Tel: 902 233 200 / +34 93 233 2000

e-mail: automovil@firabcn.es

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The Chocolate Museum of Barcelona

In Barcelona, there is nothing better than the Chocolate Museum to completely enjoy this Easter week !

This museum, telling the history and the manufacturing of chocolate, will marvel you thanks to its sculptures entirely made of chocolate.

You will recognize some of the heroes from your favourite cartoons as Tintin or Astérix, but also the most famous buildings of Barcelona, and even a reproduction of the Camp Nou and its players!

But that's not all, the museum also offers activities for all ages, one of the most popular is of course pastry classes or how to make chocolate sculptures by yourself!

Finally, this museum will surely give you the munchies ... Fortunately, the Chocolate Museum has planned everything and has at your disposal a shop where you can buy all kinds of chocolate and other sweets! In the cafeteria, you can also taste the original Xocoatl, the chocolate drink of the Aztecs.

OPENING HOURS :

From Monday to Saturday : 10.00 - 19.00

Sunday : 10.00 - 15.00

Address :

Museu de la Xocolata

Plaça Pons I Clerch, S/N - 08003 Barcelona

Metro : Jaume I (L4)

Tel : +34 932 68 78 78

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Walking in Barcelona :

If you cannot go to the Museum, you also have an other option : indeed, you could see a lot of chocolate sculptures on all the bakeries display, during Easter week.

La Feria de Abril 2011, in Barcelona

Updated April 28 2011

Let you immerse yourself in an Andalusian atmosphere for a week in Barcelona!

You are visiting Spain and you can not go to Andalusia? Do not panic!

From April 29 to May 8, 2011, Catalonia celebrates the 40th Feria de Abril. During this period, Barcelona will be in Seville’s colours at the Forum Park, where you can enjoy various typical activities from the south of Spain, as if you were really there!

For the occasion, the Forum Park, located in the district of Diagonal Mar on the seaside, will be transformed into a small Andalusian village with many stalls where you can find:

- Flamenco music with its guitarists, singers and dancers dressed in their prettiest costume;

- Traditional food such as tapas, fried anchovies and calamari, Spanish ham... without forgetting its famous wine;

- Craft products, accessories and souvenirs originally coming from Andalusia;

- Attractions for all ages specially installed for the occasion, and all kinds of games and entertainment.

This festival is really worth, since the entry is free as well as the stalls! By the way, it will be the opportunity for you to visit the famous Forum Park.

If you want to come and dance flamenco with us, book your apartment now by clicking on this following link : Top Barcelona Apartments.

Transportation:

Metro:

4: Station El Maresme - Forum

On Saturday, April 30 and May 7 subway runs all night.

Bus:

Line: 7, 36, 41.43, 141 (17h service strengthened to 22.30)

Special service: between Plaza de Catalunya and El Fòrum 10pm at dawn and until 3am on Sundays and 5:30am on Fridays. (Every 10 minutes)

Opening Times

Weekdays: 10am to 2am

Friday, April 29: 6pm at 4:15am

Saturday, April 31-Sunday, May 1: 10am to 4:15am

Friday, May 6: 10am to 22pm

Saturday, May 7: 10am to 4:15pm

Sunday, May 8: 10am to 18pm

Address:

Parc del Forúm

Avinguda Diagonal 1 - 08019 Barcelona

Metro : El Maresme Forúm (L4)

View larger map

Semana Santa 2011 (Easter Week) in Barcelona

This year, Barcelona celebrates the Semana Santa from the 17th until the 25th of April. For Catholics, coming to Barcelona for Easter Week is a good option but also for Non Catholics, since everybody could enjoy processions organized in the city. These processions are a great opportunity for tourists to discover the charm and the historical part of the city.

Palm Sunday procession route

In Barcelona, Easter holidays will start on the 17th, with Palm Sunday. A first procession will take place on this date in the Raval area, starting at 10.00 from Plaça Sant Agusti and ending around 12.00. Here is the procession route :

View Palm Sunday procession route - 17/04/2011 on a larger map

Holy Friday procession route

On the 22nd of April, during the Holy Friday (Viernes Santos), two main processions will take place.

The first one is called "Nuestra Señora de las Angustias" (Our Lady of Sorrows) and will start at 19.00 from Sant Jaume church. It will end around 22.30 in the same place. The procession will go through the Gothic area, from a point to another that you can see on the following map:

View Holy Friday procession route - 22/04/2011 on a larger map

The second one is called "Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena" (Our Father Jesus of the Great Power and Holy Virgin of Macarena). It will start from Sant Augusti church to finish in this same place. This will follow almost the same itinerary than the procession for Palm Sunday, going from the Raval area to the Gothic area:

View Holy Friday procession route - 22/04/2011 on a larger map

Finally on the 25th of April, the Semana Santa will end with Easter Monday, where the family eat together a traditional easter cake (Mona de Pascua) offered by the godfather to his godchildren on Palm Sunday.

Funny tip:

But for the Semana Santa, there is also a funny tradition for children, which is called "The dancing egg" ("L'ou com balla" in catalonian). This tradition, still unknown from the public, consists in taking the shell of an empty egg and trying to make it turn on itself the longest as possible. For the occasion, fountains are decorated with fruits and flowers.

You could try this childish game in the Cathedral of Barcelona, el Poblet, The Frederic Marés Museum, The Santa Ana Church, el Ateneu barcelonés, The Bones Letres Academy and the Purisima Concepcio Church.

If you still need an accommodation in Barcelona for Easter holidays, check our website : Top Barcelona Apartments.