My son and I will be arriving at BCN from Dublin around 10:00 on a Tuesday morning. We're planning to take the airport bus into the city. But I'm wondering how best to get from Plaza de Catalunya to our apt on Sots Tinent Navarro.

After the things I've read about the Metro in Barcelona, I'm reluctant to take it with our luggage. And I'm having a hard time judging distances on the maps of Barcelona in the guide books. Seems to me I've read that the entire length of Las Ramblas is less than a mile. If that's true, it must be less than a mile walk from the airport bus to our apt.

Can anyone tell me whether it's walkable and safe with luggage at that time of day? Or would we be better off trying to take a taxi? And, if so, how difficult would it be to get one from the Plaza? And what could we expect to pay?

Thanks!

Carrer Sots Tinent Navarro looks to be 3-4 blocks long, starting just below the Plaça de L'Angel lying south of the cathedral. It runs parallel to the Vía Laietana.

Depending on where your apartment sits on that street, it would be walk from Plaça de Catalunya of from 6-9 blocks. You'd walk straight through the Gothic Quarter and the tourist crowds.

I have the handy, dandy Michelin Barcelona pocket-sized plano callejero in front of me.
Should take about 15 min., if you don't get lost.

You can see a walking route on google maps.

I wouldn't take the metro with anything more than a backpack.
When taking it I need to be super vigilant about my belongings.
That's why I don't use the metro carrying a roller board, tote plus handbag.

I'd just take a taxi. There is a taxi stand right on the Plaça de Catalunya with plenty of taxis waiting for visitors who have arrived at the square via the Aerobús.

www.worldtaximeter.com
estimates the fare on a weekday morning at 10 am to be under 5 euros. This estimate doesn't include the one euro supplement for each bag carried in the trunk.

Hope this helps.

That helps tremendously, Maribel! Thank you! If it's only 6 to 9 blocks, my inclination is to walk. But it's very good to know that we won't have any trouble finding a taxi if we decide to go that route.

I appreciate your confirmation of my instincts about the Metro.

I need to e-mail Habitat this week to make sure of exactly where the apartment is. The confirmation lists it as Sots Tinent Navarro 30, then a another 3 with a very small zero. I'm pretty sure the apartment number is 3. So I'm guessing the street number is 30?

Anyway, thank you very much for your help!

The 3 with the small zero means it's on the third floor. The street number is 30. So you can now put that address into google maps directions, along with P. de Catalunya and get walking directions.

Thanks again, Maribel! You saved me the bother of e-mailing Habitat.

Third floor to an American would mean 4th floor. In Spain it's the ground floor, then 1st, etc.
But I assume the building has an elevator, so that's a mute point, correct?

p.s.
I love the "get directions" feature of google maps, especially the "by public transport" and "by walking" options.

I can't remember whether it has an elevator. But the 4th floor's not too bad in terms of stairs. And we figured it'd be quieter.

That is a great feature! As soon as I finish getting walking directions for Barcelona, I'm going to use it for public transport directions for Edinburgh. Thanks so much for reminding me of this option.

After further consideration, we've decided we will take a taxi. So now I have to ask the dreaded tipping question!

So if it's 5 Euros for the two of us, plus 2 Euros for our bags (or do our carry ons count too?), how much should we tip?

Thanks!

I will defer to Maribel's greater knowledge, but according to my husband, every time he gave a taxi driver in Barcelona a tip of any kind, the driver looked pleasantly surprised. And there seemed to be an enormous number of cabs at all hours.

Very good to know, Nikki. Thanks!

CAPH52 - I don't have anything to add or offer, except to wish you bon voyage! Enjoy the wedding too!

Hi CAPH52,
As for any tip, I would just round up. The bag supplement only applies to those bags carried in the trunk. If you keep your carry ons with you, they don't count. Have fun!

Thank you very much, yk! Once I get through today and tomorrow at work and all of the little odds and ends that still need to be handled, I'm looking forward to getting on that plane on Sunday and heaving a huge sigh of relief! That is if I'm not suddenly struck with the realization that I've forgotten something major!

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled about every aspect of this trip. But, geez, there's a lot to take care of when you're going to be gone for three weeks!

Again, thank you so much for all the help you've given me in planning this trip. I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate it!

Thanks, Maribel! For the advice <i>and</i> the good wishes!