Barcelona is one of the most popular destinations for cruisers in the world and acts as a turnaround around port as well as a port of call for just about every cruise line that operates in Europe.

If you are due to visit there on a cruise, you are probably in the middle of trying to decide what you want to do when you get there and that is what we aim to help with on this list as we take you through what we believe to top 10 shore excursions to do in Barcelona, Spain.

It is actually quite a tricky task to limit things to just the best ShoreEx in Barcelona because as well as been a top cruise port and the city been one of Europe’s leading tourist hotspots, the region around Barcelona also offers lots of opportunities for memorable excursions including to places such as Sitges and the stunning Montserrat.

From days away from the city to city tours and from Catalan experiences to the building of Gaudi, there is lots to enjoy in and around Barcelona and best of all, all of those and more can be experience on a shore excursion in Barcelona.

Our Top 10 Shore Excursions In Barcelona

Montserrat

Montserrat maybe not actually in the city of Barcelona but the mountain range is easily reached on a shore excursion and in our opinion, is well worth the visit.

On our visit there, we took the mountain railway up to the Santa Maria de Montserrat Benedict Abbey and took the funicular up to the very top of the mountain to take a hike.

The views from the top of the mountain are stunning and will live long in the memory and with a return trip only needing a half day getaway, you still having plenty of time to explore the city as well.

Gaudi’s Barcelona Tour

There are a few things that instantly comes to mind when you think about Barcelona and one of those is the magnificent La Sagrada Familia- the cities famous unfinished cathedral.

For many it is the crowning glory of architect Antoni Gaudi’s career that saw him design several different buildings and structure in his unique style.

Many of those are now considered architectural masterpieces and can be found throughout Barcelona, with cruisers able to take Gaudi themed tour taking in places such as Park Guell, Casa Milà, Casa Battló and the aforementioned, La Sagrada Familia.

Barri Gòtic

The Barri Gotic, or Gothic Quarter is our famous part of Barcelona and is simply a must visit for those who love history and to see the culture of the ports that they visit.

The district is the historic center of the old city and starts at La Rambla, one of the city’s main tourist streets that is close to the cruise port and next to where many get dropped off from their shuttle buses.

That makes it easy to visit and explore it on your own but if you want to get a full understanding of its many iconic building, including the cities Cathedral, and to make sure that you miss nothing walking around winding and cobbled streets, you can take a guided walk excursion.

City Tour and Free Time

If you have never visited Barcelona before and only have a few hours there, mixing a city tour with some free time to explore on your own is often the best way to go.

Your coach tour will usually take you around the edges of the city, to places such as Montjuïc and will let you see many of the iconic building of the city before dropping you off centrally to simply stroll around the city streets and see what you want to see.

Camp Nou

If you are a fan of FC Barcelona or are just a football fan who wants to visit one of the most iconic stadiums in the world, a visit to the impressive Camp Nou stadium is simply a must.

The stadium is one of the biggest in the world and thanks to one of the most expensive developments of any building in the world, the ground is now an incredible mix of the historic and the new.

It is possible to book an excursion that takes in a visit to the stadium as part of a tour around the city, with many offering the chance to take a tour around the ground and visit areas such as the changing rooms, the trophy cabinet and you can even take a seat in the stands to feel what it would be like to watch a match there.

Hop On Hop Off

This is a great option for those who want a guided tour of the city but who still want the flexibility to explore on their own.

For those who don’t know, Hop On Hop Off buses are usually double decker open top buses that go around a set route, which takes in all of the top sights and districts of a destination whilst offering you commentary as you go.

Stops along the route include the likes of Montjuïc, Placa D’Espanya, the Gothic Quarter, the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell alongside many other places.

Tickets for the buses can often be bought in advance via your cruise ship for those wanting to use onboard credit or online, often with a early booking discount.

Sitges

Sitges is a seaside town and resort located around 35km down the coast from the centre of Barcelona, but with a direct motorway connection, it can be easily reached on an excursion.

The upmarket resort features good mix of seafront bars and restaurants and some of the best beaches in the region all with a thriving town centre and a long promenade that all makes for a great day at the beach.

Montjuïc

Montjuic is a hill in the centre of Barcelona that perhaps best known as been the location for much of the Barcelona Olympics.

There are still plenty of things to see related to the games including the main stadium and diving area but there are lots more to enjoy on the hill including some of the very best views of Barcelona and the famous Magic Fountain.

There are a few ways to get up the hill, including a cable car and funicular but there are also plenty of options for excursions that take you up there and that show you all of the main sights of interest.

City Drive

If you are only in Barcelona for a short amount of time, perhaps you are departing there and need to get to the airport, or maybe you have limited mobility but still want to see the impressive sights of Barcelona, you can.

There are plenty bus tours taking you around the sights of Barcelona with many of them ending up at the city El Prat Airport.

Barcelona Walking Tour

Barcelona is a huge city but thankfully it does have a good metro system so that you can explore it on your own but if you want a more guided tour, a walking tour could be the best option.

These will often take you around the historic town centre including the Barri Gotic and will take you up to the Sagrada Familia and give you the insight of a local tour guide.

Barcelona ShoreEx

Barcelona can easily be thought of as the cruise capital of Europe, so the chances are that if you are sailing in the Western Mediterranean, you will spend some time in port in the city.

With many of the biggest ships in the world calling in there or even homeporting there, coupled with the fact that the city is one of Europe’s leading tourist hotspots and it is no surprise that there are so many options for those wanting to explore the city and the region.

There are also many local companies that can not only often offer a cheaper excursion that the cruise lines but by using their local knowledge, they can offer a better day on shore for visitors.

Booking with a local operator also often see’s you explore with a smaller group, so everywhere isn’t as busy when you visit and you don’t spend half of your time waiting for people to get back to the coach.