Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Perhaps the greatest recent transformation in the city has been along the waterfront,
where harbour and ocean have once again been placed at the heart of Barcelona. Dra-
matic changes over the last two decades have shifted the cargo and container trade
awaytothesouth,openeduptheolddocksidesaspromenadesandentertainmentareas
and landscaped the city's beaches to the north - it's as if a theatre curtain has been lif-
ted to reveal that, all along, Barcelona had an urban waterfront of which it could be
proud. The glistening harbourside merges seamlessly with the old town, with the mu-
seumsandattractionsofPortVelljuststepsfromthebottomoftheRamblas.Novisitto
the city, meanwhile, is complete without a seafood meal in the eighteenth-century fish-
ing quarter of Barceloneta, followed by a stroll along the beachfront promenade as far
as the showpiece Port Olímpic.
The city's
beaches
extend for 5km along the Barcelona waterfront, from Barceloneta in the
city centre out to the River Besòs, which defines the northeastern city limits. Locals have
taken to the sands in a big way - jogging, cycling and skating their length, and descending
in force at the weekend for a leisurely lunch or late drink in one of scores of restaurants and
bars. Though the main development is around the Port Olímpic, there are also spruced-up
beaches further north, on either side of the old working-class neighbourhood of
Poble Nou
,
whose pretty
rambla
makes for an offbeat diversion. Beyond here, the
DiagonalMar
exhib-
ition district might appear to be a journey too far for most visitors, but its bold urban scale is
definitely worth seeing, especially since the opening of the Museu Blau, the Natural Science
Museum's flagship attraction.
HARBOURSIDE RIDES BY SKY AND SEA
The most thrilling ride in the city centre is across the inner harbour on the cable-car,
the
Transbordador Aeri
(departures every 15min, daily: March-April & Sept-Oct
11am-7pm, June-Aug 11am-8pm, Nov-Feb 10.30am-5.30pm; €11 one-way, €16.50 re-
turn; 934414820),whichsweepsrightacrossthewaterfromtheTorredeSantSebastiá,
at the foot of Barceloneta, to Montjuïc. There's normally a stop in the middle at Torre de
Jaume I, in front of the World Trade Centre in Port Vell, but this is currently closed for
long-term repairs. Expect queues for the cable-car in summer and at weekends as the cars
only carry about twenty people at a time. Note that strong winds can also close the ride.
From the quayside just beyond the foot of the Mirador de Colón,
LasGolondrinas
sight-
seeing boats and the
Catamaran Orsom
depart on regular trips throughout the year along
the waterfront.
Plaça del Portal de la Pau
Drassanes
