Visiting Barcelona on a cruise: DIY itineraries, tips, and tours

Barcelona is a beautiful city rich in attractions. From the waterfront to the nightlife, passing through Gaudí's buildings, it would take a week to see it all, but even in half a day there is something to do. If you are planning a cruise that stops in Barcelona, take a look at our half-day itineraries dedicated specifically to this Catalan city. However, seeing it in half a day is truly challenging.

DIY itinerary for cruise passengers: 10 things to see

Barcelona is truly full of interesting things to see. To help you during your stop, we indicate 10 must-see places, but it's up to you to decide which to visit based on the time available. See also: must-see attractions in Barcelona

La Rambla is the tourist center of Barcelona, home to significant places like the Liceu Theatre. Its 1.4 km route, lined with businesses loved by tourists and locals alike, connects the old port with Plaça de Catalunya. It is 1 km and a 10-minute walk from the WTC Dock - Get directions
Sagrada Familia, designed by Gaudí in 1882, is the most famous church in Barcelona and an undisputed symbol of the city. It is 5.7 km and 20 minutes by taxi from the WTC Dock (Get directions), also reachable by Metro (L2, L5 - Sagrada Família stop) - It is recommended to purchase the priority ticket
Mercado de la Boqueria is the most famous food market in Barcelona, filled with stalls offering traditional food. It is 1.5 km, 15 minutes by taxi, and 20 minutes on foot from the WTC Dock (Get directions)
Barceloneta is the most famous beach in Barcelona, particularly known for its vibrant nightlife. It is 2.4 km, 13 minutes by taxi, and 25 minutes on foot from the WTC Dock (Get directions)
Parc Guell, initially designed as a garden, hosts works by the artist Antoni Gaudí. It is 5.9 km and 35 minutes by taxi from the WTC Dock (Get directions), also accessible by Metro (L3 - Lesseps or Vallarca stops) - Entry ticket from €10.75 per person.
Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe, with a capacity of almost 99,400 spectators. It is 5.7 km away, 22 minutes by taxi, and 42 minutes on foot from the WTC Dock (Get directions), also reachable by subway (L3, L5 - Palau Reial, Les Cortes, Badal stops) - 4-hour private tour of Camp Nou
Plaça Reial (Gothic Quarter) is the heart of Barcelona's nightlife, located in the center of the Gothic Quarter. It is 1.5 km and a 15-minute walk from the WTC Dock (Get directions).
Casa Batlló is one of Gaudí's most famous buildings. It is located 3.0 km away, 14 minutes by taxi, and 35 minutes on foot from the WTC Dock (Get directions), also accessible by metro (L2, L3, L4 - Passeig de Gracia stop) - Ticket + audio guide from €25.00 per person.
Santa Maria del Mar was built between 1329 and 1383 and is one of the highest examples of Catalan Gothic architecture. It is 2.3 km away, 10 minutes by taxi, and 20 minutes on foot from the WTC Dock (Get directions) - Cathedral of the Sea tour from €14.00 per person.
Parc de la Ciutadella was built within the old city fortress and was modeled after the Luxembourg gardens in Paris. It is 2.3 km away, 9 minutes by taxi, and 18 minutes on foot from the WTC Dock (Get directions), also reachable by metro (L4 - Ciutadella Villa Olímpica stop).

Recommended itinerary: what to see in half a day

First Stop: La Rambla, Plaça de Catalunya, Casa Batllò

From the port, you will easily reach the statue of Christopher Columbus, our starting point. From here, heading towards the city, you will immediately be on La Rambla, the main street of Barcelona. Famous for its nightlife and numerous venues, it will lead you straight to Plaça de Catalunya, the meeting point between the old city and the Eixample. From here, continuing along La Rambla for less than 1 km, you will arrive at Casa Batllò, one of Gaudí's creations.

Second Stop: Sagrada Familia, Parc de la Ciutadella, Passeig del Born

Departing from Casa Batllò, you can reach the Sagrada Familia via Line L2 of the subway to the stop of the same name. After admiring the church designed by Gaudí, continue south along Carrer de Sardenya until you reach the Parc de la Ciutadella, the green lung of Barcelona, with its monumental waterfall. Only a 5-minute walk separates the park from Passeig del Born, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city.

Third Stop: Santa Maria del Mar, Plaça Reial (Gothic Quarter)

Just a stone's throw from the Born is the church of Santa Maria del Mar, featured in bestselling novels. After this brief detour, we return to the Born to visit the last stop, Plaça Reial, the square in the Gothic Quarter characterized by the central fountain, surrounded by palm trees and streetlights created by Gaudí. From the square, you can take La Rambla, just a few meters away, and return to the statue of Christopher Columbus.

In summary:

Visited Places La Rambla (free), Plaça de Catalunya (free), Casa Batllò (€25.00), Sagrada Familia (from €17.00 online), Parc de la Ciutadella (free), Passeig del Born (free), Santa Maria del Mar (€3.00 to visit the choir), Plaça Reial (free)
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours photo tour of the old city segway tour for small groups
Where to eat quick meal at Enrique Tomas, a stone's throw from the Sagrada Familia (Get directions). Prices around €10.00. A more traditional spot for a full meal is La Llavor dels Origens, located in the Passeig del Born (Get directions). Traditional dishes at km 0, with an average price of €30.00 per person.

Tours and excursions for cruise passengers

Barcelona Tourist Bus: Costs, Route, and Stops

Barcelona offers 3 different lines of tourist buses: red, blue, and green.

Red Line - The entire route takes 2 hours. The stops are: the Olympic stadiums, Montjuïc museums, Plaça d'Espanya, Casa Milà, Casa Batlló, Plaça Catalunya, Port Olímpic, Port Vell.
Blue Line - The entire route takes 2 hours. The stops are: Plaça Catalunya, MACBA museum, Camp Nou stadium, Tibidabo basilica, Parc Güell, Sagrada Familia, and Gaudí's houses.
Green Line - The entire route takes 40 minutes. The stops are near the beaches of Barcelona, from Port Olímpic to the Forum. This line operates only from March 27 to November 1.
Cost Adults €35.00. Reduced price for children aged 1 to 12 €18.90, for seniors over 65 years €31.60. Free for children aged 0 to 3 years. Access to the bus is designed for disabled persons, who will also receive a discount if their disability is over 33%.

Helpful tips

It is better to buy tickets online for tourist attractions, preferably choosing tickets with priority access.
Purchasing the Barcelona Card allows you to visit some attractions like the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell for free, and get a 20% discount on access to other attractions and guided tours of the city.
Public transport is very efficient, but given the limited time, it is also advisable to walk between the closer attractions.
A good option to visit places further away is a taxi, while for closer places, you can opt for a segway or bike rental.
If you have limited time, it is better to focus on outdoor attractions like squares and monuments.
For a quick lunch, street food is preferable.
Planning your itinerary in advance is key to visiting Barcelona in half a day.

Where ships dock and how to get to the city center from the port

The Port of Barcelona has 7 terminals dedicated to cruise ships, which can be grouped into 2 different areas based on their docking points:

1 - Adossat Quay

Includes terminals A, B, C, and D, where usually cruise companies like MSC or Costa dock. They are a bit farther from the center.

Distance from the center Terminal D (the farthest) is 4.4 km from the Columbus statue (beginning of La Rambla) and 4.6 km from the Drassanes Metro Station on Line 3.
How to get to the center It is not advisable to walk. It is best to take the Cruise Bus (formerly T3 Port bus) to reach the Columbus statue in 10 minutes. The bus schedule is coordinated with the arrivals and departures of the ships, and the fare is €3.00 for a one-way trip or €4.00 round trip (ticket can be purchased in cash on board). Alternatively, you can take a taxi. It costs less than €8.00 to reach the Columbus statue and a maximum of €15.00 to get to Plaça de Catalunya.

2 - World Trade Centre Dock

Includes the 3 North, South, East terminals, the closest to the historic center. Near the WTC dock, there is also the San Bertrand terminal, which concerns the ferries that run routes to Barcelona and the Balearic Islands.

Distance from the center 800 m from the Columbus Statue and 1 km from the Drassanes Metro Station on Line 3.
How to get to the center It is recommended to walk to La Rambla (10 min - Get directions) or take the Drassanes L3 metro, which is useful to move to any other place in the city (13 minutes - Get directions).

Getting around

The best way to visit the city is to use the Barcelona metro system for moving between different areas, and to walk the short distances between attractions in the same area. See also: how to get around Barcelona