Barcelona: Top sights in Barcelona and where to find them via the Metro
Hope you all enjoyed my little update last month from my trip to Barcelona, I have lots more to tell you about including some great restaurants and bars I visited during the evenings of my trip. Before I get writing this one I wanted to post this little post here all about the sights we visited and how we accessed them via Barcelona's metro. This is very similar to my Subway post I wrote last year in NYC, I am hoping this one is going to be just as popular. Enjoy.
Barcelona's Metro system in my opinion is one of the best I have been on in Europe, it can take you wherever you need to get to in the city in next to no time at all! It is used by more than 425 million people a year and is one of the most cost effective modes of transport in Europe. The metro has 12 lines which are operated by two seperate companies. Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Cataluyna (FGC).
Each line is a different colour and each station has a unique name, making it very easy to navigate your way around the city. The lines are simply called L1, L2, L3 and so on until you reach L12. Lines L9 and L10 are currently not in use as they are still under construction, works are due to be completed soon (no official date given).
Where does the 12 lines go in Barcelona?
The official metro symbol is a white M on a red diamond background (pictured below), this is the symbol to look out when out and about in the city.
Each station can be clearly spotted with the M symbol at the top, it also has the name of the station and lines so you know what part of town you are in, and what train station you are entering/exiting. Once you are in the underground, which is usually accessed via the street and down steps leading in, you will be able to access the platforms by inserting your ticket into the machine/ticket barriers near the entrances/ exits and carry on through once there. Trains usually take 2-3 minutes (unless there are signalling or other problems on the line).
The ticketing system in Barcelona is quite unique and not at all like what we are used to in London. In London we use Oyster Cards which are like credit cards, you have to top these cards up for every single journey you make . It costs £2.90 or £2.40 (off peak) for a single journey, or alternatively you can use your contactless debit or credit card to touch in at the barriers, your card will get credited at the end of the day with the amount of journeys you touched in at, the single journey price is exactly the same which ever way you decide to pay, just make sure you touch in or you can get charged a much higher fair!
In Barcelona they use a different system entirely (one which I think works better because it will always be cheaper!). You can purchase a single trip paper ticket which only allows 1 single trip only for 2.15 euros, this is only valid for zone 1. The best thing to get which is cost efficient is the T10 card. This is a paper ticket which costs 9.95 euros and allows 10 trips/ 10 people can use this card for 1 trip each. The price per trip on this card is calculated at 0.95 euros, this is the most popular ticket type for residents and commuters living in Barcelona. They also offer our version of the monthly season ticket, and this costs 42.50 euros and is valid for 30 days, or pay 59.50 euros ad get an extra 20 trips for the month.
So now we have the basics out of the way lets crack on with the fun part, touring the city via the metro!!
So one place we spent a lot of time at during both our trips in the city two years ago and this year was the famous tourist street La Rambla, we stayed on this street a few years ago, and wanted to come back here to explore so we decided to take the metro. You can of course walk this quite easily, but considering we got had 10 single journeys on our travel card, we thought it would make sense to use them up!
So as mentioned above the nearest metro station to the Cathedral is Juame I on L4 (Yellow line) and is approx a 3 minute walk. The nearest metro stations to La Rambla street is Liceu on L3 (Green Line) or Drassanes which is little walk further.
How to get from Barcelona Cathedral (Gothic Quarter to La Rambla): Start at Juame I station L4 yellow line, get off 1 stop at Urquinanona and then walk for 14 minutes till you reach Las Rambla street.
From one famous street to another, we are now about to enter one of the most famous shopping streets in Barcelona, Passeig de Gracia. We decided to use the Metro here because we wanted to save our energy for shopping and walking up this delightful street! Here is how we got here from La Rambla. If you have been here before you will know just how special this street is, it is definitely a must if you are visiting the city and like the finer things in life! The nearest station to Passeig de Gracia shopping street is exactly as the name states Passeig de Gracia and is located off of Passeig de Gracia and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes or you could use the Diagonal underground which is right up the other end of the street (depending on which part of the street you are entering from).
Passeig de Gracia station is on line L2 (purple line) (the preceding station is Universitat, following station Tetuan), L3 (preceding station Catalunya and following station Diagonal) & L4 (preceding station is Girona, following station is Urquinaona) and is in zone 1. As mentioned before the station you need for La Rambla is Liceu on L3 (green line).
How to get from La Rambla to Passeig de Gracia: Start at Liceu (L3) get off two stops at your destination Liceu (approx travel time 3 minutes) walk for approx 7 minutes.
The Arc de Triomf is one landmark we didn't get to visit on our last trip, so this is somewhere we eagerly wanted to visit this time round. Unfortunately the day we visited my phone decided to die so I couldn't get any photographs, but if you go online you can see some amazing shots of this very impressive landmark. Here is how we managed to reach it from Passeig de Gracia.
The nearest underground needed to get to the Arc de Triomf is on L1 (red line) and is located a very short walk from the land mark. Below is how you can find it.
How to get from Passeig de Gracia to the Arch de Triomf: Walk 4 minutes until you get to Catalunya metro station L1 line (Red) take this train and get off after two stops at Arc de Triomf.
Barcelona's Metro system in my opinion is one of the best I have been on in Europe, it can take you wherever you need to get to in the city in next to no time at all! It is used by more than 425 million people a year and is one of the most cost effective modes of transport in Europe. The metro has 12 lines which are operated by two seperate companies. Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Cataluyna (FGC).
Each line is a different colour and each station has a unique name, making it very easy to navigate your way around the city. The lines are simply called L1, L2, L3 and so on until you reach L12. Lines L9 and L10 are currently not in use as they are still under construction, works are due to be completed soon (no official date given).
Where does the 12 lines go in Barcelona?
So here is some info about what each line in the metro system is, its colour and where it travels to. For a more detailed breakdown of stops on each line please visit this helpful website here.
Line 1 (Red)- Starts at: Hospital de Bellvitge
Ends: Fondo
Line 2 (Purple)- Starts at: Paral-lel
Ends: Badalona Pompeu Fabra
Line 3 (Green)- Starts at: Zona Universitaria
Ends: Trinitat Nova
Line 4 (Yellow)- Starts at: Trinitat Nova
Ends: La Pau
Line 5 (Blue)- Starts at: Cornella Centre
Ends: Vall d'Hebron
Line 6 (Lilac)- Starts at: Pl. Cataluyna
Ends: Sarria
Line 7 (Brown)- Starts at: Pl. Cataluyna
Ends: Av. Tibidabol
Line 8 (Pink)- Starts at: Pl. Espanya
Ends: Moli Nou- Ciutat Cooperativa
Line 9 (Orange)- Starts at: Aeroport T1
Ends: Zona Universitaria/La Sagrera to Can Zam
(This line is still under construction)
Line 10 (Bright Blue)- Starts at: La Sagrera
Ends: Gorg
(This line is still under construction)
Line 11 (Lime)- Starts at: Trinitat Nova
Ends: Can Cuias
Line 12 (Purple)- Starts at: Sarria
Ends: Reina Elisendal
Underground
The official metro symbol is a white M on a red diamond background (pictured below), this is the symbol to look out when out and about in the city.
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| Photo Credit: brandemia |
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| Photo Credit: latinametric |
Ticketing System
The ticketing system in Barcelona is quite unique and not at all like what we are used to in London. In London we use Oyster Cards which are like credit cards, you have to top these cards up for every single journey you make . It costs £2.90 or £2.40 (off peak) for a single journey, or alternatively you can use your contactless debit or credit card to touch in at the barriers, your card will get credited at the end of the day with the amount of journeys you touched in at, the single journey price is exactly the same which ever way you decide to pay, just make sure you touch in or you can get charged a much higher fair!
In Barcelona they use a different system entirely (one which I think works better because it will always be cheaper!). You can purchase a single trip paper ticket which only allows 1 single trip only for 2.15 euros, this is only valid for zone 1. The best thing to get which is cost efficient is the T10 card. This is a paper ticket which costs 9.95 euros and allows 10 trips/ 10 people can use this card for 1 trip each. The price per trip on this card is calculated at 0.95 euros, this is the most popular ticket type for residents and commuters living in Barcelona. They also offer our version of the monthly season ticket, and this costs 42.50 euros and is valid for 30 days, or pay 59.50 euros ad get an extra 20 trips for the month.
So now we have the basics out of the way lets crack on with the fun part, touring the city via the metro!!
Landmark: Barcelona Cathedral
I thought I would start off my tour with one of the nearest landmarks to the hotel we stayed in 'Grand Hotel Central' which is located in the Gothic Quarter, on popular tourist street Via Laietana. The Cathedral is located on 'Pla de la Seu' and is surrounded by lots of eateries, coffee shops and high street shops. The nearest metro to this landmark is Jaume I which also happens to be the nearest metro stop to our hotel. (approx 3 min walk from Cathedral & 2 min walk from Hotel).
Jaume I underground station is on the L4 line (Yellow line) which if you remember from above starts at Trinitat Nova station and ends at La Pau station, the proceeding station before Jaume I is Urquinaona and the stop after is Barceloneta, where you would get off to access Barceloneta beach! Jaume I station is the intersection point between the Gothic district and the Born district.
Landmark: Barcelona Cathedral to La Rambla
Jaume I underground station is on the L4 line (Yellow line) which if you remember from above starts at Trinitat Nova station and ends at La Pau station, the proceeding station before Jaume I is Urquinaona and the stop after is Barceloneta, where you would get off to access Barceloneta beach! Jaume I station is the intersection point between the Gothic district and the Born district.
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| Photo Credit: Wikiwand |
Landmark: Barcelona Cathedral to La Rambla
So one place we spent a lot of time at during both our trips in the city two years ago and this year was the famous tourist street La Rambla, we stayed on this street a few years ago, and wanted to come back here to explore so we decided to take the metro. You can of course walk this quite easily, but considering we got had 10 single journeys on our travel card, we thought it would make sense to use them up!
So as mentioned above the nearest metro station to the Cathedral is Juame I on L4 (Yellow line) and is approx a 3 minute walk. The nearest metro stations to La Rambla street is Liceu on L3 (Green Line) or Drassanes which is little walk further.
How to get from Barcelona Cathedral (Gothic Quarter to La Rambla): Start at Juame I station L4 yellow line, get off 1 stop at Urquinanona and then walk for 14 minutes till you reach Las Rambla street.
Landmark: La Rambla to Passeig de Gracia
From one famous street to another, we are now about to enter one of the most famous shopping streets in Barcelona, Passeig de Gracia. We decided to use the Metro here because we wanted to save our energy for shopping and walking up this delightful street! Here is how we got here from La Rambla. If you have been here before you will know just how special this street is, it is definitely a must if you are visiting the city and like the finer things in life! The nearest station to Passeig de Gracia shopping street is exactly as the name states Passeig de Gracia and is located off of Passeig de Gracia and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes or you could use the Diagonal underground which is right up the other end of the street (depending on which part of the street you are entering from).
Passeig de Gracia station is on line L2 (purple line) (the preceding station is Universitat, following station Tetuan), L3 (preceding station Catalunya and following station Diagonal) & L4 (preceding station is Girona, following station is Urquinaona) and is in zone 1. As mentioned before the station you need for La Rambla is Liceu on L3 (green line).
How to get from La Rambla to Passeig de Gracia: Start at Liceu (L3) get off two stops at your destination Liceu (approx travel time 3 minutes) walk for approx 7 minutes.
Landmark: Passeig de Gracia to Arc de Triomf
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| Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons |
The nearest underground needed to get to the Arc de Triomf is on L1 (red line) and is located a very short walk from the land mark. Below is how you can find it.
How to get from Passeig de Gracia to the Arch de Triomf: Walk 4 minutes until you get to Catalunya metro station L1 line (Red) take this train and get off after two stops at Arc de Triomf.
Landmark: Arc de Triomf to La Sagrada Famailia
Last on my tour of famous landmarks in Barcelona is famous La Sagrada Familila because really no trip to Barcelona is complete with a trip to view this impressive building. For those not familiar with this landmark it is a large Roman Catholic Church which was designed by Catalan, Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi in 1882. The building to this day STILL hasn't been finished (as you can see the Cranes in this photo) and it is expected that construction works on this site will be finished approximately 2026-2028. This building is also part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and because of this it attracts millions of tourists a year.
There are three metro stations all within walking distance to La Sagrada Familia, the nearest is Sagrada Familia station (named after the landmark) which can be accessed on the L2 (purple) line going towards Badalona Pompeu Fabra and L5 (dark blue) line going towards Vall d'Hebron.
You can find the L2 section located under Marina street, between Mallorca and Provenca streets, and can be accessed through the entrances each side of the station.
The L5 section is located under Provenca street, between Sardenya and Marina streets.
The two other metro stops which are also within walking distance to the Sagrada Familia are Monumental on the L2 (purple line & the stop before Sagrada Familia) and Verdaguer on the L4 (yellow line) and L5 (dark blue line).
How to get from the Arch de Triomf to Sagrada Familia: Starting from the Arch de Trimof metro station (do not enter station) walk 9 mniutes until you come to Tetuan metro station L2 (purple line) take this train and get off in 2 stops to Sagrada Familia.
There are three metro stations all within walking distance to La Sagrada Familia, the nearest is Sagrada Familia station (named after the landmark) which can be accessed on the L2 (purple) line going towards Badalona Pompeu Fabra and L5 (dark blue) line going towards Vall d'Hebron.
You can find the L2 section located under Marina street, between Mallorca and Provenca streets, and can be accessed through the entrances each side of the station.
The L5 section is located under Provenca street, between Sardenya and Marina streets.
The two other metro stops which are also within walking distance to the Sagrada Familia are Monumental on the L2 (purple line & the stop before Sagrada Familia) and Verdaguer on the L4 (yellow line) and L5 (dark blue line).
How to get from the Arch de Triomf to Sagrada Familia: Starting from the Arch de Trimof metro station (do not enter station) walk 9 mniutes until you come to Tetuan metro station L2 (purple line) take this train and get off in 2 stops to Sagrada Familia.
So that brings me to the end of my post, I hope you have had just as much fun reading as I have revisiting some of my favourite places in Barcelona. There is just SO much to see, and I really don't think it would be possible without this great Metro System. You can make 10 singles trips with one ticket with the T10 card, so there really is no excuse to not tour the metro on your trip. Do you use the Metro in Barcelona, if so what is your favourite station? or line? and where do you visit?
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