Three of us will be traveling through Barcelona to Santiago de Compostela on May 10. We have 7 hours from landing to takeoff (9am - 4pm), two different airlines so our luggage will not be checked through. Given that we will visit Barcelona for three full days following our hike, I’m wondering if we have enough time to taxi to Montjuic or another point in the city that we may not have time to visit during our three days there. Is there an area close to the airport that would be nice to stroll and a grab a bite? Or, are we better off just staying at the airport, and if so, any recommendations on how to spend the time?
Posted by
Washington DC
27187 posts
This question is probably best answered by a current or former Barcelona resident, but the airport's not far from the center and taxi rates in Barcelona are not terribly high. I think you can probably make some use of that time. On most occasions you can probably buy a ticket at the Miro Museum or the MNAC and walk right in. They're both on Montjuic. So that area would be a good target if you have some art lovers in your group.
The beautiful Recinte Modernista Sant Pau complex will also sell you a ticket for immediate entry.
Paying a taxi to drive you around the Eixample and/or Gracia for an hour before dropping you off somewhere to grab a quick bite would be another possibility. I don't know exactly what you should say to the driver, though. You'd want to see some of the most architecturally interesting neighborhoods. The Eixample has a lot of the modernista buildings.
Posted by
Barcelona
109 posts
Touch and go. And what will you do with baggage?
Land on time at 9am you should be cleared through baggage/ immigration/border/customs control by 10am.
Take-off: 4pm.
You'll need to be back at the Airport at around 1.45pm.
Taxi to/from center at that time of day, around 30 minutes.
So, you'll have two and a half hours — pushing it, maybe three hours— to soak in some stuff, get an idea of what our place is like.
Time enough for a stretch, a stroll, a bite, and a drink — maybe— but no, not Las Ramblas — do NOT do it. Use your time to explore the upper parts of Rambla de Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia, i.e. the façades of Casa Battló and La Pedrera, and the Amattler building, but be careful where you park yourselves for a bite. I would politely suggest somewhere on Carrer de Mallorca or Carrer Rosselló NOT Carrer Provenza. Enjoy your visit.
Posted by
OP
10 posts
Thank you for the ideas of how to make the most of our time!
Posted by
OP
10 posts
Is there a luggage storage facility at the airport or lockers?