If you are visiting Barcelona to visit the city alone you may not hire a car for the whole of your stay however there are some fantastic places to explore just outside of the city. Often flights to Barcelona are more expensive than surrounding airports; because of this many budget airlines fly to Gerona and transfer passengers on the final leg by coach. It is always safer to double check a flight as some people think they have booked directly to Barcelona and end up in Gerona having to transfer across.

Flying to Gerona (103 Kilometers away) or Reus (106 kilometers away) can be quite a good option; by taking advantage of the cheaper price flights it makes it easier to look to hire a car for the onward travel to Barcelona. A hire car for a week stay can often be the same price as taking a taxi transfer from the airport. There is always the fact that you will avoid any further transport costs during your stay and the convenience of your own hire car, it becomes the sensible option. Here are a few thoughts about where to visit in Barcelona and some great excursions to around Barcelona:

Barcelona dominates a fantastic area on the North Eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsular. On the edge of the Mediterranean, Barcelona is actually the second biggest city in Spain. Physically and in terms of population this size and popularity has made it the capital of the Catalonia region. If you are expecting to be able to use the Spanish language in Barcelona remember that most of the public speak Catalan which can be quite difficult to use and very hard to understand.

As with many Spanish cities, Barcelona is filled with culture, war, and various traditions from the many societies which have ruled here. The cities history dates back to the second century BC when the Romans began a settlement on the site. The World’s fair took place in Barcelona in 1988, the city was experiencing a huge economic up turn during the industrialization of this era. Since then Barcelona has grown to the height of culture, art and Mediterranean glory we recognize today.

Getting around in Barcelona city center can be a busy and stressful experience, driving especially can be difficult but is the quickest way of travel. The city has a very modern and clean metro system which connects to most of the city and all of the places you might like to visit. However if your hotel is situated a long way from a metro station or you intend to visit some places outside of Barcelona, taxis can be found easily at reasonable prices; you should also visit some of the fantastic white sandy beaches just outside of Barcelona. If you are starting in Gerona or Reus I urge you to spend a day exploring either of these cities, they both offer historical and entertaining things to do.

The majority of visitors to Barcelona stay along the Ramblas lots of good and reasonably priced hotels and resturants can be found here. It is the center for most of the nightlife activities in the city. The Ramblas is a long walkway which joins with the Columbus monument filled with street hawkers, acts, mime artists and stalls there is activity and Spanish life nearly 24 hours a day. It’s a very fun place to be, do be warned though the Ramblas is also a hot spot for thieves who target the huge crowds of tourists. Be sure to keep your wits about you and an eye on your belongings and bags when you stop. Be aware when passing along the Ramblas there are some architectural delights which can easily be missed, make sure you look out for the Palau de la Virreina; the beautiful 18th century mansion house sits next the Boqueria market.

The Boqueria market is essential this is one of the country’s largest food markets and a wonderful place to enjoy a breakfast or lunch, they offer a range of different things to eat and drink whilst watching the busy bustle of Barcelona in the AM.

The works Of Antoni Gaudi dominate Barcelona and you’ll probably have heard, read, and said the word Gaudi a few hundred times during your visit. In spite of the beautiful medieval section of Old Barcelona, the Romanesque and Renaissance periods it is still Gaudi’s modernism that attracts so many tourists. Instantly Barcelona is equivalent with Gaudi’s architecture and art Catalonia’s favorite man can be talked about for pages. It is hard to see it all during a short stay so make sure you choose carefully where you are going to visit.