Barcelona city busses
Feb 13th, 2010, 11:20 AM
#1
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Barcelona city busses
We are interested in getting around by local ( not hop on hop off) bus as opposed to metro due to preference for seeing what we are passing and also avoiding stairs. My sense is that bus routes are convenient to most tourist attractions, and preferable for Parc Guell, but I am not sure. Have any of you experience with busses as primary means of transport? We are staying in Eixemple close to Placa Catalunya on Pau Claris. Thanks for any help. I know there are HH bus fans out there, but we are not among them.
Feb 13th, 2010, 01:49 PM
#2
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The buses are fine. You can get a 10 ride pass that can be used between all travellers.
www.tmb.net
and
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...transport.html
www.tmb.net
and
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...transport.html
Feb 13th, 2010, 06:45 PM
#3
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On my recent trip to Barcelona, I used the bus quite a number of times as well; however, I don't think the bus is more convenient than the metro for *most* tourist places.
[disclaimer: I prefer buses over subways in any city, as I get to see more of the city on a bus. I use buses extensively in London & Paris.]
I had the most difficult time getting a bus map from TMB. I went to the tourist office (Placa Catalunya) and they don't have it. Told me to go to the metro stop @ Placa Catalunya to get one, but there's none there either. Finally, I was told that I can get one from the TMB office near University stop, but by then I just gave up.
At most bus stops, there is a bus route map, so I used that to help be figure out the rides. I also had my netbook with me, so I tried to look up bus routes on TMB's website beforehand, but the route planner isn't very user-friendly (I'm comparing that to the superbly designed Berlin transport website).
Anyway, the bottom line is, you can get around with buses in Barcelona, but they aren't more convenient than subway.
[disclaimer: I prefer buses over subways in any city, as I get to see more of the city on a bus. I use buses extensively in London & Paris.]
I had the most difficult time getting a bus map from TMB. I went to the tourist office (Placa Catalunya) and they don't have it. Told me to go to the metro stop @ Placa Catalunya to get one, but there's none there either. Finally, I was told that I can get one from the TMB office near University stop, but by then I just gave up.
At most bus stops, there is a bus route map, so I used that to help be figure out the rides. I also had my netbook with me, so I tried to look up bus routes on TMB's website beforehand, but the route planner isn't very user-friendly (I'm comparing that to the superbly designed Berlin transport website).
Anyway, the bottom line is, you can get around with buses in Barcelona, but they aren't more convenient than subway.
Feb 13th, 2010, 08:51 PM
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The buses are quite convenient as you do not need to go downstairs/upstairs for the Metro, and bus stops are more frequent than Metro stops.
The main obstacle, as yk described, is to find a map. I have not suceeded so far, neither. But: At each bus stop you find a good map of the bus network.
From your location in Barcelona there are several lines with "touristic relevance" (NOT a full list, just some lines I found useful)
#19 (bus stop on Pau Claris/Via Laietana: serving Sagrada Familia northbound, and the Old Harbor/Port Vell & Maremagnum southbound
#40 (as #19 but only to the southbound locations)
#24 (bus stop on Pl Catalunya): serving Pg de Gracia with the many Gaudí buildings and Park Güell northbound
#45 (as #19, 40): serving Barceloneta and the beaches southbound
#50 (bus stop on Gran Vía): serving Pl Espanya and Montjuic (going all way up the hill, stops at Poble Espanyol, Stadium, Miró Museum, Cable Car) westbound, and Sagrada Familia and Hospital Sant Creu eastbound
#59 (bus stop at Pl Catalunya, upper end of the Ramblas): serving the Ramblas from one end to the other, Barceloneta, and the beaches southbound
The are probably much more that could be useful.
One thing which can make bus travels a bit tricky is the system of one-way streets, esp. in Eixample. You cannot also expect that the bus stops in either direction are located in the same street, sometimes you have to walk a block to catch the opposite direction.
You can find individual maps for each bus line at tmb.net, when you go to "maps" and use the pull-down menu in the TMB bus section to select a specific line.
Getting off the bus is easy since the stops are indicated by a display. You also find electronic displays at the bus stops telling you when the next bus will arrive.
The main obstacle, as yk described, is to find a map. I have not suceeded so far, neither. But: At each bus stop you find a good map of the bus network.
From your location in Barcelona there are several lines with "touristic relevance" (NOT a full list, just some lines I found useful)
#19 (bus stop on Pau Claris/Via Laietana: serving Sagrada Familia northbound, and the Old Harbor/Port Vell & Maremagnum southbound
#40 (as #19 but only to the southbound locations)
#24 (bus stop on Pl Catalunya): serving Pg de Gracia with the many Gaudí buildings and Park Güell northbound
#45 (as #19, 40): serving Barceloneta and the beaches southbound
#50 (bus stop on Gran Vía): serving Pl Espanya and Montjuic (going all way up the hill, stops at Poble Espanyol, Stadium, Miró Museum, Cable Car) westbound, and Sagrada Familia and Hospital Sant Creu eastbound
#59 (bus stop at Pl Catalunya, upper end of the Ramblas): serving the Ramblas from one end to the other, Barceloneta, and the beaches southbound
The are probably much more that could be useful.
One thing which can make bus travels a bit tricky is the system of one-way streets, esp. in Eixample. You cannot also expect that the bus stops in either direction are located in the same street, sometimes you have to walk a block to catch the opposite direction.
You can find individual maps for each bus line at tmb.net, when you go to "maps" and use the pull-down menu in the TMB bus section to select a specific line.
Getting off the bus is easy since the stops are indicated by a display. You also find electronic displays at the bus stops telling you when the next bus will arrive.
Feb 14th, 2010, 12:15 AM
#5
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Doing a quick google search "Parque guell by bus barcelona" I found this detailed info for you. There is more at virtual tourist.
Open daily: November to February from 10am–6pm; March & October from 10am–7pm; April & September from 10am–8pm; May to August from 10am–9pm;
Admission is free except Gaudi’s home (4 €)
Other website: http://www.gaudiallgaudi.com/AA010.htm
Phone: 93-317-39-740
Directions: Take bus #24 from Plaça de Catalunya right to the eastern park entrance by the car park; or take Metro line 3 to Lesseps Station (climb up from here), or Station Vallcarca (go downwards from here), then follow the street signs to the western side gate.
Website: http://www.bcn.es/parcsijardins
Open daily: November to February from 10am–6pm; March & October from 10am–7pm; April & September from 10am–8pm; May to August from 10am–9pm;
Admission is free except Gaudi’s home (4 €)
Other website: http://www.gaudiallgaudi.com/AA010.htm
Phone: 93-317-39-740
Directions: Take bus #24 from Plaça de Catalunya right to the eastern park entrance by the car park; or take Metro line 3 to Lesseps Station (climb up from here), or Station Vallcarca (go downwards from here), then follow the street signs to the western side gate.
Website: http://www.bcn.es/parcsijardins
Feb 14th, 2010, 02:52 AM
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Parc Guell is up a steep hill. There is a bus that comes down the most obvious route from the Lesseps station (but not up), as I recall.
I certainly found the buses to be easy to understand and use. If you see a sign for "Nitbus" don't be alarmed - those are night buses.
I certainly found the buses to be easy to understand and use. If you see a sign for "Nitbus" don't be alarmed - those are night buses.
