Bike and Tapas Tours
One should never leave Barcelona without experiencing tapas, which are a type of Spanish appetizer. If you're concerned about the calories, consider taking Lifestyle Barcelona Beach Cruiser and Tapas Tour. Participants ride brightly colored bikes as they ride past Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia. This elaborate, privately funded Catholic church has been under construction since 1882. The tour explores other areas of Barcelona, until it reaches the shoreline, where participants are treated to a tasty selection of tapas.
Lifestyle Experiences Group SL
Calle Balmes 184, 1º 3ª
08006 Barcelona, Spain
+34 932 702 048
/www.lifestylebarcelona.com
Tibidabo Mountain
Tibidabo is the highest mountain in Barcelona. It rises 512 meters above sea level and offers breathtaking views of the city. Although Tibidabo is not one of Barcelona's major attractions, it has been referenced in various forms of media, and therefore has a certain mystique. In the famous episode of the TV series "Friends," Joey tells Ross to borrow his "hiking the foothills of the Tibidabo Montain" as a means of seducing women. Tibidabo also was a featured location in Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." While hiking the foothills of Tibidabo is possible, most people take the subway to Avinguda Tibidabo, and then the tram known as Tramvia Blau to the mountain. However, since the tram makes multiple stops along Avinguda Tibidabo, you might want to consider walking at least part of the way, and explore the architecture of this beautiful residential neighborhood. The tram lets you off at a plaza, which has a number of outdoor cafes. From there, you can take a funicular to the top, and visit the Tibidabo Amusement Park. The park was built in 1899, and still has some of its original rides. There is no admission charge. You only pay if you want to go on the rides. The Church of the Sacred Heart, which was built in 1902, is located next to the amusement park. To get an even better view of the city, take a 10-minute walk to la Torre de Collserola. This 288-meter -high telecommunications tower was built for the 1992 Olympic Games. On the way down, consider hiking through Collserola Park. The park, which boasts more than 300 species of vertebrates is 22 times larger than New York City's Central Park.
Collserola Park
Carretera de l'Esglèsia 92
Barcelona, Spain, 08017
932803
www.parccollserola.net
Park Guell
At the turn of the century, a count by the name of Eusebi Güell commissioned Anton Gaudi to build a park for Barcelona's aristocracy. Fortunately, it is now a municipal park that can be enjoyed by everyone. Park Guell is filled with some of Gaudi's intriguing sculptures and structures, which include his dragon sculpture and a tiled mosaic terrace. Take the metro, Green Line 3 to the Lesseps Station. From there, its a 20-minute steep walk uphill to the park.
