© LORNET / ADOBESTOCK
For the best views , head west to the heights of Tibidabo . This low mountain outside the city is best reached by funicular railway and the summit provides stellar views along the Catalan coast . Tibidabo is also a great day outing for families , with the retro-style hilltop amusement park offering plenty of diversion for kids and teenagers . Down below the city streets beckon , enticing you to extend your stay and spend more time discovering the eye-catching architecture of Casa Batlló and the Romanesque art of the Museo Nacional d ’ Art de Catalunya . Next time .
La Pedrera ’ s wave-like facade and abstract roofscape blend both form & Function , with the added bonus of superb city views .
© OKKIJAN / ADOBESTOCK
Tapas time .
ABUNDANT ARCHITECTURE Back in the city spend time in the company of Antoni Gaudí . The city ’ s most famous architectural son was the creative force behind the Modernisme movement of the early 1900s that has gifted the city some of its most remarkable public spaces . The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia is his most famous pro je ct and remains a breathtaking work of art – or should that be work in progress ? Although construction began in 1882 , the basilica is only scheduled for completion in 2026 , a full 100 years after Gaudi died having been struck by a city tram . The basilica is enormously popular with tourists , so it pays to book your tickets online and get there early before the cruise ship coaches arrive . The same goes for Park Güell in the west of the city , where fanciful fairytale towers and the mosaic-covered serpentine bench have become icons of the city . Palau Güell , a neo-Gothic palace completed in 1889 , is also a striking work and is a short walk from the Gothic Quarter . My favourite , though , is the quirky La Pedrera in the Eixample district , a few steps from the glamorous Passeig de Gràcia shopping boulevard . La Pedrera ’ s wave-like facade and abstract roofscape blend both form and function , with the added bonus of superb city views . DAY TRIP WITH VIEWS
TRAVEL PLANNER The new Iberia service
Q
( launched August 2016 ) offers the most convenient routing from Johannesburg to Barcelona , via Madrid . British Airways , Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines also offer convenient connections via their hub airports . Ask your Sure Travel consultant for details , or visit www . suretravel . co . za / call 0861 47 48 49 .
GET AROUND : While taxis are plentiful they ’ re not cheap so use the excellent Metro system , which has nine lines that connect all corners of the city . Buy the good-value T-10 ticket at multilingual ticket machines . The T-10 allows for 10 separate journeys , which can combine metro , bus and tram rides within a 90-minute window .
VISAS : South African passport holders require a Schengen visa .
MONEY : Spain is part of the Eurozone . ATMs are common and credit / debit cards are accepted across the city . Cash is best when shopping in the markets .
42 // MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE