Barcelona Hop on Hop off Buses

[itsanita]

In researching the HOP On Hop Off bus in Barcelona, I am finding there are a few different companies that do this in the city. 

 

Has anyone had any experence with them?  Is on better (on time, more frequent, better routes) than another.

 

We find on our fist day in a city, while trying to get rid of jet lag, these buses are great.  They give you a birds eye view of the city and keep you awake.  

[mskaufman]

We have used Bus Turistic (Blue) and have found them to be a good choice.  What we liked is that the route from Placa Catalunya got us to Gaudi Houses, Parc Guell, and Sagrada F first and then we could hang on the bus until Mont Juic.  We may have had to switch lines.  

 

[alserrod]

13 hours ago, itsanita said:

In researching the HOP On Hop Off bus in Barcelona, I am finding there are a few different companies that do this in the city. 

 

Has anyone had any experence with them?  Is on better (on time, more frequent, better routes) than another.

 

We find on our fist day in a city, while trying to get rid of jet lag, these buses are great.  They give you a birds eye view of the city and keep you awake.  

The company that offers two tourist bus lines (previously there were three) is public and depends on the municipality of Barcelona.

However, I would not recommend it to you. Doing the entire two routes without getting off takes four hours by bus. Yes, they will take you all over Barcelona, through many neighborhoods, but you will not get to know the most interesting things about Barcelona.

For example, walking along the Rambla is a MUST, and the hoho bus does not pass there. I don't know why it doesn't do it since there are several Barcelona bus lines that do pass and metro line 3 has stations at the ends and in the center.

As I said, walking that street is mandatory if you go to Barcelona. Walk to the cathedral as well and the entire Gothic quarter. 

If you want, I suggest a tour of the Gothic quarter of Barcelona where you would see almost everything. Between that, walking along Paseo de Gracia (modernism) and going to the Sagrada Familia, you have most of Barcelona that can be seen even in two or three days (depending on whether you want to enter each site or just visit the exterior). 
Paseo de Gracia is very close to the Gothic quarter.
Choose whether to go to the Sagrada Familia by taxi or even by metro and thus get to know a little more about Barcelona (the tour is suitable for wheelchairs even on the metro). The taxi should not cost you more than 15 euros

[Harters]

When we were there last autumn, there were two HOHO companies. Both operate more than one route and both pretty much go to the same places (and charge the same). They are a good way of getting round the main attractions - we've been to the city on long weekends and have used them extensively. Equally, if you are short of time, you might just regard them as a sight-seeing tour without much actual HOHO.  The last time was just for a day, pre-cruise, and that's what we did, only getting off to visit the Miro gallery which we'd not been to before (we're both fans of his art). The route takes about 2 hours, obviously plus any hopping off time, and as itsanita notes, HOHOs are a great way to chill out. 

 

We had a good day in the city. The bus, including a couple of hours at the Miro, took up much of it. We had a tapas lunch at a place next to the Boqueria market (which was itself closed as it was a Sunday), then a stroll down the Ramblas and a nice-ish dinner in the evening. If you're new to the city, you'd probably want to pack more into it, if you're only there for the day, 

[alserrod]

Hi, two months ago I wrote this about why to go DIY on Barcelona instead a hoho bus

 

 

 

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I  would suggest to walk around this route (in the first post)

 

which, in google maps is something like

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Drassanes,+Barcelona/Plaça+de+Catalunya/Basílica+de+Santa+María+del+Pi/Plaça+Reial,+Barcelona/Catedral+de+Barcelona/Plaza+de+San+Jaime+-+Plaça+de+Sant+Jaume/Plaza+del+Rey/Calle+de+Montcada/Basílica+de+Santa+Maria+del+Mar/Museu+Picasso+de+Barcelona/@41.3814114,2.1645532,2028m/data=!3m2!1e3!5s0x12a4a258095f2359:0x15e622ccfb2611fc!4m77!4m76!1m15!1m1!1s0x12a4a257476b9689:0x8e815306a27dd60f!2m2!1d2.1758663!2d41.3767353!3m4!1m2!1d2.1713865!2d41.3812886!3s0x12a4a2f62f79caf7:0x6d186162c7cf56b5!3m4!1m2!1d2.1719606!2d41.3821076!3s0x12a4a2f64a178ed7:0xeb5dbda4b8e4a5d7!1m10!1m1!1s0x12a4a2f1602b4819:0x1eecc2af1c60d64b!2m2!1d2.1700471!2d41.3870154!3m4!1m2!1d2.1729656!2d41.3856744!3s0x12a4a2f0ccd6ea5d:0xf21ea466042c1c19!1m5!1m1!1s0x12a4a2f7949d96c7:0x6db4a1a0bd2c6a29!2m2!1d2.1738023!2d41.3823031!1m5!1m1!1s0x12a4a257e581ce27:0x90dcec0919a87166!2m2!1d2.1752743!2d41.380052!1m5!1m1!1s0x12a4a2f996716c83:0x16f6112475e15883!2m2!1d2.1761991!2d41.383962!1m5!1m1!1s0x12a4a2f8f889070d:0x87638fb381ba334e!2m2!1d2.1770236!2d41.3826971!1m5!1m1!1s0x12a4a2f90c49a327:0x5afcc89c7d7eb3fb!2m2!1d2.1773472!2d41.38416!1m5!1m1!1s0x12a4a2fe8bb6c2a3:0xb163fd70c1ee9680!2m2!1d2.1810493!2d41.3850135!1m5!1m1!1s0x12a4a2fe5e0da457:0xb4bc945c1fc0e160!2m2!1d2.1820711!2d41.3838871!1m5!1m1!1s0x12a4a2fe99bce26b:0x27011e710700cc63!2m2!1d2.1809472!2d41.3852706!3e2?entry=ttu

 

 

 

 

Here's a comparaison about my walking tour (you will not need a guide, just follow the route) and the hoho bus

 

 

Blue line: My suggestion

Red line: Bus hoho

Green spots, the only three spots near Gothic quarter

 

 

My suggestion crosses the full La Rambla

 

It means walking accross this street

 

 

Bus hoho drives through Via Laietana

 

It means driving, with one stop here

 

 

 

 

It is not bad but....

 

Via Laietana is NOT a must in Barcelona

La Rambla is a MUST in Barcelona

 

If someone takes a hoho bus.... he can choose between walking or not walking accross gothic quarter.... but several must will be lost.

 

In my route there are

- la Rambla

- Cathedral

- TWO bassilics (Santa Maria del Pi and Santa Maria del Mar)

- Gothic quarter

- Born quarter

- Picasso Museum

and more

 

for 4,8 km tour walking

 

 

Now, everyone can choose between bus or walk

[alserrod]

And I keep my opinion.

 

Barcelona is a city that deserves to walk around the Rambla and around cathedral. Touristic bus just go over the port, not through the Rambla and impossible inner Gothic quarter.

 

If I were someone who visits Barcelona I would

1st visit Gothic quarter

2nd visit Art Deco (P. de Gracia and Sagrada Familia

3rd.... use hoho bus

 

This is, hoho bus is perfect to know Barcelona neighbourhoods and main avenues, not city centre. Use it as third option.

 

[itsanita]

We have been to Barcelona twice.   Thanks for the itinerary, it's been awhile and we will re visit some of the sights.

 

We are there 3 days pre cruise.   We still like the HOP on for our arrival day.  Works for us, nice overview of the ciity and keeps us awake and moving till early dinner and bed.   I guess I will just pick one, if they are similar.  

 

Our 2nd day we will explore the city, and our thrid day we will be going to Zaragoza via train for a day ( using zaragoza's info, thanks!).    

[alserrod]

2 minutes ago, itsanita said:

Our 2nd day we will explore the city, and our thrid day we will be going to Zaragoza via train for a day ( using zaragoza's info, thanks!).    

 

 

Any other question you could have, just write me. Where to go, how to move, where to visit on tapas, etc...

[itsanita]

23 hours ago, alserrod said:

 

 

Any other question you could have, just write me. Where to go, how to move, where to visit on tapas, etc...

Thanks!  I do have a couple questions.

We will be there in November.  I will get advanced tickets for Sagada Familia, but will I need to do the same for Cas Batilo and La Pedrera?   It is hard to know what time will be convient ahead of time.  How are the crowds?   

 

And is it possible to eat at the Public Market,  Mercado de La Boqueria?   Or is everything just for purchase to take home with you?    We will be looking for a light meal that first day, and we are staying around the Las Ramblas/Placa de Catalunya area.   

[alserrod]

30 minutes ago, itsanita said:

Thanks!  I do have a couple questions.

We will be there in November.  I will get advanced tickets for Sagada Familia, but will I need to do the same for Cas Batilo and La Pedrera?   It is hard to know what time will be convient ahead of time.  How are the crowds?   

 

And is it possible to eat at the Public Market,  Mercado de La Boqueria?   Or is everything just for purchase to take home with you?    We will be looking for a light meal that first day, and we are staying around the Las Ramblas/Placa de Catalunya area.   

 

 

 

Hi, I wrote here some information, just to help other people looking for Barcelona

 

is possible, either inside (not too many options but enough), either just in front of the market

It