About an hour drive from Lloret de Mar you will find the metropolis of Barcelona. During your holiday, you can not miss a beautiful excursion to Barcelona from Lloret de Mar. The world famous Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, the Ramblas and Campnou of FC Barcelona are all within reach.
You can go from Lloret de Mar to Barcelonaby different ways : by bus, train or car! Moreover, you can choose whether you want to discover Barcelona entirely by your own or if you prefer to do this through an organized excursion. In this blog, I am going to tell you all about how to have a wonderful day in Barcelona. But also how to get from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona and what you must visit!
Discover Barcelona by doing an organized excursion
The easiest way to go from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona is with organized excursions. You will be picked up in the early hours by a nice and professional guide and in about 90 minutes you will be in front of your first major attraction in Barcelona! You will get some time to visit or admire a touristic attraction before keep going with the bus to the next one.
During this day they will try to show you as many hotspots of Barcelona, as possible such as Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, the Ramblas and Campnou. Most guides also close the day at Font Magica at Plaça d'Espanya and leave for Lloret de Mar around 10:00 PM. This way you can easily see the highlights of this beautiful city in one day!
Which organized excursion suits you the most?!
In Lloret de Mar you have many organized excursion options to Barcelona. Every excursion therefore has its own own organization and sights to be. You have excursions that are very focused on the football stadium Camp Nou and others more on top sights such as the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. At one entrance you get tickets for the sights and the other gives you more space to stroll around on the Ramblas.
So take a good look at which excursion from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona best suits your needsso you make sure to see everything you really want to see! And if you are short of time, you can always go a second time to Barcelona?. Like almost everything in Lloret de Mar, you can also visit Barcelona relatively cheaply!
Read more here to know why is Lloret de Mar actually very cheap !
From Lloret de Mar to Barcelona by your own
Due to its excellent location and good connections, you can also easily reach Barcelona from Lloret de Mar by your own. In contrast to an organized excursion, you can handle your own time, what you want to see and what not, but also how much time you want to spend somewhere. Of course, in this case you have to plan your trip completely and you cannot fall back on an organization in case of problems or questions. You are, however completely free to experience Barcelona exactly the way you want it. But how exactly do you get there?
By car
If you came with your own car in Lloret or do you have one rented a car then the first option is to go from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona by car. The drive takes about an hour, so you'll be there in no time. However, it is important to keep in mind that you have to pay toll on most roads (both for the AP-7 and the C31 and C32). Another important point is the roads in and around Barcelona are very busy and that you certainly should not be a novice or an insecure driver to enter this hustle and bustle.
If you go by car from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona, it is also recommended not to look for a parking space in the center. In addition to the fact that the parking fees here quite pricey Finding a place in a busy city like Barcelona can be tricky! In this case, it could be a good option to park your car at a parking garage at a bus station or shopping center. This is not only less stress but also much cheaper than in the center. From here you can also quickly and easily take the bus or metro to the heart of Barcelona !.
Tip: Click here you will find an overview of all the parkings where you can park your car in Barcelona and the rates. You can pre-book your parking space in Barcelona here, so no more stress to park your car and you can start your trip in Barcelona right away!
By train
From the adjacent Blanes There is a train to Barcelona every half an hour (even every 15 minutes) between 06:00 and 22:00. You will be in Barcelona within 75 minutes (Arc de Triomf train station) and start your wonderful journey of discovery. A single trip to Barcelona from Blanes costs about € 6 per person. The big advantage of the train is that you do not have to drive yourself inside of Barcelona and you just arrive at your destination. The disadvantage is that you have to take the last train back into account!
Tip: The train routes to Barcelona are part of the RENFE regional Cercanias network. The rates are expressed here in single travel units. This is because people often use the 10-ride cards or monthly cards. The 10-ride tickets are cheaper then a few tickets, to be used by several people and to buy in a machine at each station.
By bus
If you do not want to or cannot take your own transport to Barcelona and if the train is not an option, then it may be an option to take the bus from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona. There are several bus companies (Sarfa, Flixbus, Sagalés) which offer bus trips from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona. The rates depend on departure time and day, between € 5 and € 17. Travel times may also differ according the company. This way you are with the fastest connection in about 70 minutes in Barcelona, but you can also easily do it again for 120 minutes!
Tip: Book your bus trip from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona in advance with one of the bus companies above, so you know exactly what the costs and travel times are for your desired day!
The 10 best sights to visit during your day trip to Barcelona
Do you only have one day to visit Barcelona and do you want to see the real highlights of this beautiful city? Discover below de 10 must-see places in Barcelona!
1. La Sagrada Familia
Of course, this beautiful church, designed by Antoni Gaudi, have to be on this list. La Sagrada Familia might be the Barcelona's most famous and visited landmark, about 3 million visitors come here every year. Not only from the outside but also from the inside, this beautiful church is worth a visit. Take the elevator all the way up and enjoy a beautiful view over Barcelona!
Tip: due to the big lines, it is recommended to buy a skip-the-line ticket in advance.
2. Las Ramblas
The Rambla is a very famous and popular attraction for millions of tourists, a real must-see! The Ramblas is more than a kilometer long and runs from the central Plaça Catalunya up until the Columbus monument at the Port Vell Marina. The many kiosks, terraces, flower stalls and stalls give you the opportunity to enjoy a delicious snack or buy a nice souvenir for home. Along the way you will also come across living images, artists and mime artists.
Tip: Pay close attention to your valuables items, there are many pickpockets on the Ramblas
3. Passeig de Gràcia: Casa Batlló and Casa Mila
If you are on the Passeig de Gràcia and see people looking up in front of a building, join the crowd and admire the beautiful buildings that this street has to offer. The best known are: Casa Batlló and Casa Milàboth builded by Antoni Gaudi.
Casa Batlló you recognize the beautiful mosaic work, the round shapes and colorful facade. The house is a tribute to the Catalan patron saint Sant Jordi (Saint George), who, according to legend, liberated the region from a dangerous dragon.
Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, is one of Gaudi's most famous buildings. The building has beautiful wavy lines and is supported by columns and beams on a steel and concrete frame. In summer you can enjoy beautiful concerts on the roof terrace here.
4. The Picasso Museum
In the eclectic neighborhood of El Born you will find the museum of the world famous Spanish painter Pablo Picasso. Here you can admire more than 4,000 pieces of art, all dating from different periods of Picasso's life, although most of the work belongs to his early life.
Tip: You can visit this museum for free every first Sunday of the month and every Thursday after 18:00!
Park Guell
Park Guell, located on the Carmel hill, belongs to UNESCO World Heritage places and it is considered one of Gaudi's most artistic masterpieces. You can enjoy a lovely walk through the park while enjoying the beautiful art that Gaudi left here.
6. Barri Gòtic
The 'Barri Gòtic' (the Gothic quarter) is a labyrinth of narrow picturesque streets and squares with influences from Roman times . The Romans chose this place to found a new colony, but you will also find a medieval Jewish quarter ('El Call' in Catalan). The 'Barri Gòtic' district has a beautiful Gothic cathedral, the 'Capella de Santa Llúcia', a Roman temple and an Arabesque mosque. It took more than 600 years to be finished.
A large number of historical buildings are well preserved and are still in operating today. Although it is for other purposes than in the past. Some of them are 'Plaça de Sant Jaume', 'Palau de la Generalitat' (headquarters of the Catalan government) and 'Casa de la Ciutat' (Barcelona's town hall). The Roman influence is always visible if you walk through the streets of the Barri Gòtic: the Temple of Augustus, the aqueduct and the city walls.
7. Camp Nou, the Stadium of FC Barcelona
If you are a real football fan then should visit the Camp Nou, the stadium of FC Barcelona. You can take a stadium and museum tour here, but it is of course even more fun to actually see FC Barcelona in action. Then first check whether a match takes place during your visit and try to get a ticket in advance because the matches are very popular.
8. Montjuïc
From Montjuïc you can enjoy a beautiful view over Barcelona, it is therefore a popular place to visit among tourists. There is also a cable car here that takes you to a beautiful palace (Palau Nacional) with also breathtaking views and a typical Spanish village (Poble Espanyol). Here you can admire the different Spanish architectural styles. Finally, here you will find a wide range of restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and a real flamenco show.
9. Palau Nacional & De Font Mágica
At the foot of Palau Nacional, at Plaça d'Espanya, you will find the magic fountain (The Font Mágica). In the evening you can enjoy a magical fountain show here with music, water, lasers and fireworks. This show is free, but check in advance when it will take place on the specific day of your visit. If you follow the stairs from the fountain you will get to Palau Nacional on the Montjuïc hill. This beautiful palace is nothing short of breathtaking, as is the view you enjoy from the palace. Inside, the castle serves as museum and enjoy an extensive collection Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance art.
10. The Barceloneta beach
Just like the beautiful beaches in Lloret de Mar, this beach is also a beautiful place that attracts many tourists. In addition to a refreshing swim, you will also find a wide range of restaurants and traditional tapas bars. In the adjacent chic marina, Port Olímpic, you can admire the beautiful boats and luxury yachts. This area was completely renewed for the 1992 Olympics.
Here you will find more information about the 8 heavenly beaches of Lloret de Mar!
Hop-on hop-off bus
Barcelona is a real metropolis, which is also evident because of its many attractions. So visit all the beautiful locations within a day therefore seems almost impossible. Especially if you also want to take some time to shop in the endless shopping streets. The so-called hop-on-court-off bus may then offer a solution. This tourist bus drives all day through all the top sights and you can get on and off whenever and wherever you want.
Of course you can also do this in Barcelona by metro, but underground you won't be able to see everything this city has to offer above ground!
Tip: If you plan to go from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona for 1 day then the Barcelona City Pass maybe something for you! For € 80, - you get ao 20% discount on attractions, Fast-track tickets for the Sagrada Famila & Park Guell, the Hop-on-Hop-off bus and a UK-language audio guide for your phone!
If you want to know more about the great activities you can do in Lloret de Mar take a look at:
22 activities in Lloret de Mar not to be missed!
Lloret de Mar itself also has beautiful sights that are definitely worth a visit! Do you want to know which ones? Then read on here: