Barcelona apartments, Barcelona Hotels,

Few visitors use the transport system of private bus companies. With them, you can explore the surrounding cities and landscape, such as the Costa Brava that offers beautiful Mediterranean atmosphere. South of Barcelona, the Costa Dorada = the golden coast - offers wonderful golden beaches and historic small cities.

Having an apartment in Barcelona or a hotel in Barcelona let you use train or bus services directly from the Barcelona city center. The cheapest way to do so is by train. For instance, fares are only 4 Euros reaching Sitges, which is an hour and a half. Of course, there are several destinations available as well. Fares are oriented towards the type of train you use.

Exploring Catalonia by bus is very easy. Sagalés is one of the bus companies. One of its destinations is Sabadell, a small city in the catchment area of Barcelona. There are also other numerous destinations. Visitors from Barcelona can easily explore the region, the people and particularly the breathtaking landscape.

Another bus company is Sarfa. With them, it is possible to reach destinations like Roses, Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar. Both bus companies use the Estació del Nord, which is located at the city center and can easily be approached by metro using line 1 (Arc de Triomf) and line 2 (Tetuan).

In general, the bus fares are higher than the train fares. Therefore, it is more comfortable to travel by bus. Also, the bus can reach destinations that cannot be reached by train. Tossa de Mar, for example, can be reached better by bus, because Tossa de Mar does not have an own train station. So, the travel method depends on the destination you have chosen. 

Are you going to spend some time during summer in Barcelona? If not, why don't you come and spend some exciting holidays in Barcelona in either a Barcelona hotel or an apartment in Barcelona?

Beside the typical sights that Barcelona can offer you, you could get to know the city from another point of view: Namely, as the scene of plenty of internationally known movies. The latest well-known movie which was shot in the metropolis was Woody Allen's successful movie "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". Yet, there are many other movies which were actually shot in Barcelona but didn't play in the city, for instance "The perfume".

The medieval Gothic quarter "Barrio Gotico", where one can also find many comfortable Barcelona apartments and the dry Mediterranean climate ensure ideal conditions for many movies.

When spending some Barcelona holidays, you should definitely participate in a Barcelona Movie walk and explore the original settings. Beside the tours "The Barcelona of Woody Allen" and "The Barcelona of Perfume" one can also take the tours "The Barcelona of "Salvador"" and "The Barcelona of Pedro Almodavar". Of course there are also tours which bring you to the French movie settings of "L'Auberge Espagnole - Barcelona for a year" as well as to the movie settings of the Italian movie "Manuale d'amore 2".
In case you don't want to participate in a guided tour, you can just follow the movie tracks by yourself. On the webpage WITUR you can find the certain movie walks.

Starting on the 6th of June until the 6th of september 2009, a very special exhibition takes place in the Barcelona Maritim Museum, called „Tutankhamun: Discover its tomb with its magnificant treasures".
Tutankhamun's tomb was found and opened for the first time in the year 1922 - And you have the great chance to visit it in Barcelona.If you are - like me too - an inspired fan of the history and myths of the ancient Egypt you should definitely NOT miss visiting this exhibition. It enables you to see all precious objects of Tutankhamun's gravesite.

Besides, you can visit the exhibition of Tutankhamun with a monitoring audio-guide which can be obtained for free when buying an entry-ticket. This tool guides you through the whole exhibition and informs you with practical and supporting information and facts.

Entry fees for the Tutankhamun-exhibition:

Adults: 17 €
Retirees (65+): 11 €
Students: 11 €
Children: 9 €

Yet, there are some special offers. For instance the "family rate" (2 adults, 1 child). Tickets can be obtained either directly at the entry or via ServiCaixa.

My personal recommendation:
Spend a informative, and at the same time relaxing, summer-weekend in Barcelona by the sea, from where you are only a stone's throw away of the Barcelona Maritim Museum and its exhibition. A cheaper option would be to go for a Barcelona holiday apartment at the sea.
For instance in a comfortable Barcelona beach apartment, located in the charming district Barceloneta, just beside the sea. This location is the perfect starting point in order to discover Barcelona by foot and also let one's minds wander in the evenings at the Barceloneta beach in an authentic Mediterranean atmosphere.

Did you already come up with some plans for the coming summer holidays?
No?? Well, then it's eaxtly the right time to do so...

What about spending a relaxing summer holiday at the beautiful Costa Daurada which

ranges along the Spanish east-coast to the south of Barcelona?
Numerous, kilometer-long (and partially untouched) sandy beaches, pleasant Mediterranean temperatures as well as plenty of famous holiday destinations, such as Sitges, Tarragona, Cambrils, Salou and Deltebre expect you there and ensure you a wonderful holiday in Spain together with your family or friends.
If you, for instance, go for holidays in Salou where you stay in a comfortable Salou hotel, make sure that you visit the amazing theme park "Port Aventura".

My tip:
Don't miss to book a cozy Costa Dorada apartment or a attractive Costa Dorada hotel early enough - And your holidays can begin...

Barcelona itself has loads of attractions and sights to offer BUT also the surrounding area is absolutely well worth seeing it. So, if you are staying in Barcelona over a longer period in a comfortable Barcelona apartment, you should definitely take your time to explore it.
My tip is - among others- to make an excursion to Sitges (with the Renfe train from Sants Estacio). The charming coastal city is located only 40km away from Barcelona and belongs to one of the most famous and attractive destination for people who are spending their holidays at the Costa Dorada.
Kilometer-long sand-beaches invite its' guests to swim in the turquoise-blue sea. The international gay-scene, which annually meets in the gay-friendly city Sitges, assures to place emphasis amongst the tourist-hypes. A walk through the picturesque, Mediterranean old town or along the beautiful boardwalk ensures you the feeling of "pure holiday".
When strolling along the beach, the small baroque church "Sant Bartolomeu I Santa Tecla", also called "La Punta" (the tongue) is immediately catching one's eye, not least for its amazing location: It is directly bordered to the sea. Numerous (fish-) restaurants, bars and café's invite its' guests to allay their hunger or thirst...of course including sea-view!

You could also conversely visit Barcelona from your holiday accommodation in Sitges.

For instance, the Sitges apartment "Sitges Apartment Sea View" literally invites you to enjoy a really relaxing Spain holiday in the small but lovely city Sitges. The well-equipped Sitges holiday apartment offers a sleeping capacity of up to 4 persons and besides the community garden it offers a swimming-pool as well as a balcony with sea-view. What more would you want?

You are generally a Spain fan?
Then you should also visit the following blogs:
Coasts in Spain - Blog
Ibiza & Majorca - Blog

Today I would like to suggest you a typical „Sunday-afternoon-programm" for your Barcelona holiday: A small Barcelona excursion on the deck of the so-called "Las Gollondrinas" boats.
The Barcelona Las Gollondrinas offer different tours within the Barcelona harbor and along the coast of Barcelona.

Tour 1:
Departure in a typical wooden boat from Portal de la Pau. The journey goes through Barcelona's harbor from where one will see the World Trade Center, the bridge "Porta d'Europe", the international sea-station and the new harbor entrance.
This tour takes approximately 35 minutes and the costs for adults, retirees and students are 6€ whereas the costs for children between age 4-10 are only 2.60€.

Tour 2:
Departure also from Portal de la Pau in a catamaran. Riding this tour will also enable you to see the World Trade Center, the bridge "Portal d'Europa", the international sea-station. In addition, you will pass by Barcelona's beautiful beach-district Barceloneta, the different beaches of Barcelona and further to Vila Olimpica, the Port Forum and to Sant Adria de Besós.
This journey lasts about 1.5 hours and costs 12.50€ for adults, 10€ for retirees and students and 5€ for children between 4-10 years.

Watch the following video of Las Gollondrinas and get an insight of this superb boat ride:

For more information about the Las Gollondrinas, visit the official website http://www.lasgolondrinas.com/index-ang.html.

Departure location is at Portal de la Pau, just vis-à-vis of the Columbus-statue at Barcelona's Port Vell.