Barcelona Small Group Explorer Driving + Walking Tour (8 Hour)

A comprehensive tour of Barcelona’s essential points of interest, combined with some more hidden and precious spots, led by a very knowledgeable, personable and entertaining Barcelona city tour guide. Not only will you learn about Barcelona’s colorful history, impressive architecture and gain an insight to the interesting current affairs of Barcelona and Catalonia, but you will also truly experience the lifestyle of Barcelona while enjoying a taste of the local gastronomy in one of the most vibrant parts of the city. The small size of the group and the professional efficiency of the organization guarantee high quality and personal attention for everyone to enjoy an authentic experience. Begin the day driving to the Montjüic hill, from where you’ll have a great panoramic view over Barcelona. Continue through the Olympic facilities area, until the Palau Nacional, an architectural gem from one of the leading modernist architects, nowadays hosting the Catalan National Museum of Art. Stop here for the views over Plaza de España and its “magic fountains”, before driving to Gaudi’s masterpiece, Sagrada Familia. Thousands of words would not be enough to describe the amazing and still ongoing project that crowned Gaudi’s career: it’s our experienced guide’s task to introduce you to the complex symbolism and astonishing geniality of this innovative architecture that leaves everybody captivated. After receiving a detailed explanation of this masterpiece, its history, the different facades and the intricacies of the design and construction, you’ll be able to go inside and explore all of the magnificent details on your own. (Skip-the-line entrances included.) We will then drive to the old city to begin a fascinating walking tour of the Gothic Quarter, admiring the Roman walls, towers, and ruins of the Temple, the Gothic Cathedral, the medieval Jewish district and many other monuments, squares and interesting corners full of history. A great lunch is waiting for you after the walking tour, and this might end up being your favorite part of the day! Not only a lunch, but an authentic gastronomical experience giving you the chance to embrace the Mediterranean vibes and keep learning about Barcelona lifestyle while eating delicious food with a refreshing drink. For those of you taking the full day tour, get ready to be back on the road! The bus will drive along the boardwalk (beach area), through the Olympic Village and pass across the Modernist Eixample area, the district of Gracia, uphill until the famous Park Güell, yet another fantastic example of Gaudi’s genius. Your guide will provide all the ins and outs of this astonishing project while walking around the park, before granting you some free time on your own inside the Monumental Zone. After the visit of the park, the bus will drive you back to the city center, to admire one of the most elegant boulevards in Barcelona: Passeig de Grácia. Here, among other beauties that the guide will point out, a group of three modernist constructions stands out: la Manzana de la Discordia. Let the guide explain the history behind this special block and the once again marvelous aesthetic splendor of Gaudi’s colorful Casa Batlló. The tour comes to an end and from this very central location you can easily catch a taxi, metro or walk back to your hotel.