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Best of Spain pre-tour plan

Posted by (Edmonton, Alberta) on

I am joining the RS Best of Spain tour on 10/19. I will be flying into BCN from Nice, France. I am relying on public transport only. My interests are architecture, Roman history/ruins and photography. The RS tour only has 1 full day and an evening in BCN.

Here is my plan. Please advise if this is sensible.

10/13: arrive BCN airport 1035. To Sants train station to Girona. See Girona sights. Sleep Girona 2 nights
10/14: bus to Besalu day trip. Sleep in Girona
10/15: train Girona to Tarragona. Sleep Tarragona
10/16: see more of Tarragona. Train to Barcelona. Sleep BCN 3 night pre-tour.
10/16-19. BCN with daytrips to Montserrat and Cava wineries in Sant Sadurni d'Anoia.

I did not want to have more one night stops so I can start the tour a bit rested (not travel weary, I will not be resting in BCN).

Thanks in advance.

Posted by
7175 posts

Hey June, you're Canadian, of course it's sensible !!
I haven't been to Besalu - looks wonderful. I shall put it on my watch for my next visit.

Posted by
2296 posts

Are you planning to get tickets ahead of time for anything in Barcelona? In looking at the RS itinerary, it doesn't look like you go in to any of the Gaudi structures, other than Sagrada Familia. I am guessing for your interests, you might want to see most of them. We got advanced tickets for La Sagrada Familia combo with Gaudi's museum (house) in Park Guell and the Monuments area in Park Guell, as well as the Picasso Museum all in one day. We wished we'd done the rest of the Gaudi structures.

We also did a day trip to Montserrat following the directions in the RS guidebook. There are bus tours, but you seem to be an experienced traveller, so I think it's more fun to do it by train. We chose the option where we rode up the mountain on the gondola. We did the ticket that included the lunch - we could have skipped the lunch. The boys choir sang at 13:00, but they only sing for 10-15 min., so make sure you're there in time.

I wish we'd had time to hit all the places you're going pre-tour and had more time in Barcelona!

Posted by
7175 posts

It looks like the Barcelona inclusions on your tour are Passeig de Gracia, Ramblas, Gothic Quarter and Sagrada Familia.

Other places NOT TO MISS - Palau de la Musica Catalana, Picasso Museum, Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, Park Guell, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Montjuic, MNAC Museum, Miro Museum, Boqueria Markets, Hospital Sant Pau, Barceloneta. .

My concern is that if you plan 2 days out to Montserrat and Sant Sadurni d'Anoia, you may find you miss out on getting to some of the places I list above. You will have the 17th, 18th and 19th before the tour starts, and then some free time after Sagrada Familia on the 20th. I would suggest perhaps leaving Sant Sadurni d'Anoia for another time, even though I think its a fabulous thing to do, having done it a few years back.

16th Casa Mila or Casa Batllo (choose one to visit) after arrival from Tarragona
17th Palau de la Musica Catalana, Picasso Museum, Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, Barceloneta
18th Boqueria Markets then to Monserrat
19th Montjuic, MNAC Museum or Miro Museum (choose one to visit), Park Guell (tour group meets 5pm at hotel)
20th Ramblas, Gothic Quarter, Sagrada Familia (all with tour), Hospital Sant Pau (close by and easy on your own)

Posted by
797 posts

Thanks so much David. There is so much to do in Barcelona and around. Your list of must sees is great!

Posted by
7175 posts

Tickets for Palau de la Musica Catalana, Picasso Museum, Park Guell are best booked in advance.
http://www.palaumusica.cat/en/
http://www.bcn.cat/museupicasso/en/
http://www.parkguell.cat/en/

Make sure you check out the Magic Fountains of Montjuic, perhaps on your return from Montserrat.
Times: Thu / Fri / Sat / Sun @ 2100 / 2130 / 2200 / 2230 (31 March – 25 October)

As a lover of architecture and photography, you would particularly enjoy Sant Pau.
http://www.santpaubarcelona.org/en/schedule

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