How to get your FREE Renfe train pass for Barcelona

Posted on April 18, 2023April 30, 2023 by Sarah Nissen

The Renfe/Rodalies train pass was introduced to encourage travel by train at the end of 2022, and the offer is still going until December 2023. You can find the full info here in Spanish but we will give a summary below.

The Rodalies trains are the ones that take you to cities surrounding Barcelona (but not ALL the trains. Keep an eye out for the R trains). Here is a link to the map of the trains and zones. As you can see, there are 6 zones total.

The pass will give you unlimited travel on these trains for the time period when you bought it. Those time periods are as follows:

1 Jan 2023 – 30 Apr 2023
1 May 2023 – 31 Aug 2023
1 Sep 2023 – 31 Dec 2023

Cost: The ticket is “free” however requires a deposit of €10. If you complete 16 or more trips (8 round trips), the deposit will be returned to you. If you don’t do 16 trips, then still €10 is not a bad price to pay for this service (It’s already worth it after 2 trips depending on where you are going).

A few important notes:

You must have a DNI/NIE/TIE/Passport number to get the pass, and the ticket is not transferable so you can’t share with anyone
You will get a paper ticket which looks similar to a metro ticket. It’s important you do not lose this paper ticket, as you will not be able to get a replacement!

It is valid for most but not all of the R-trains. You can take the R1, R2 Nord, R2, R2 Sud, R3 (direction Sant Quirze de Besora), R4, R7 and R8.
After you complete a trip and return to Barcelona, for the next 15 minutes you can use the same ticket to transfer via the metro in order to go home.
Travel to Montserrat: Note that the ticket is NOT valid for the R5 which takes you directly to Aeri de Montserrat to visit the mountain, however you can take the R4 and change trains in Martorell Central (The price from here is about 6.80 EUR round trip) (The price to go directly on the R5 from Pl. Espana is about 11.50 round trip).

How to get the ticket from the ticket machines

Firstly, note that you should take it from the orange Rodalies ticket machines which are found in the Rodalies stations (Sants, Passeig de Gracia, Pl. Catalunya, Arc de Triomf, Estacio de Franca, El Clot-Arago, La Sagrera being the most central stations but check the map to see if there is one closer to your home)

Just to make things more complicated, Rodalies has 2 types of machines which function a bit differently, so pay attention to which type of machine you find:

The next steps are quite simple on both machines. (Scroll down for instructions with the old machine.)

New machines*:
*Easier to use than the old machines, we recommend finding one of these!

You will see on the main screen a big orange button on the button that mentions the abono gratuito. Click that button.

Then, simply enter your DNI/NIE/TIE/Passport #

Make sure on the next page that you select the destination that is in Zone 6. It doesn’t matter the destination, because you can use the ticket on all Rodalies lines. For example, we suggest choosing Manresa.

Then, make the payment of 10 EUR (We recommend using a card so that you can get your money back on that account).

The machine will print you a card. Don’t lose it 🙂

Old machines:

You will see a screen with many options. Choose “Abonament recurrent”

Next, it will ask for your phone number AND your ID number (DNI/NIE/TIE/Passport). Enter this information and continue.

Then, you can finalize your payment of the 10 EUR deposit. We recommend using a card so that Renfe can return your money on this account.

The machine will print you a card. Don’t lose it 🙂

Now you can enjoy trips to many cool places surrounding Barcelona, and even join New in Barcelona group day trips to places like Sitges, Manresa, Vic, Castelldefels, Sant Pol de Mar, and more! (See here some pictures of the trips we have taken!)

Have anything to add to this information or find a mistake? Please let us know!

Montjuic

Posted on June 8, 2018June 14, 2018 by Richie

Visit Montjuïc

Situated not too far from Barcelona city center is Montjuïc, a hill standing at 173m above sea level. The towering landscape lies right beside the sea, offering brilliant views of the coast as well as providing a great day out for visitors and locals alike.

A key site for Barcelona tourism, there is much speculation about the origin of the hill’s name, but many theorise that it comes from “Mountain of the Jews,” referring to the medieval Jewish cemetery that was found on the hillside. Others think it derives from “Monte Jovis” due to the possible existence of a Roman temple at this site that was dedicated to the God Jupiter.

Whatever your beliefs about the name, Montjuïc has a lot to offer for tourists. It is often known as Parc de Montjuïc (Montjuïc Park) thanks to its leafy trees and fresh, alpine air. But, aside from the beauty of the place, there are lots of things to do. Check out the best tourist spots below to make the most out of your visit.

CaixaForum

Contemporary art lovers will thoroughly enjoy the CaixaForum and its marvellous collection. Even the architecture of the building is stunning, with the artworks housed in a renovated factory that even served as the HQ for the First Squadron of the police cavalry unit for much of the 20^th Century.

Entry to the museum is €4 (free for children) but be aware that the 1^st Sunday of each month is free! And, during the warmer months, the CaixaForum sometimes hosts musical events, so be sure to check out their webpage for more information.

MNAC

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (or MNAC), is another one for the connoisseurs of art. At the more expensive price of €12, MNAC was constructed for the World Exhibition in 1929, and houses a timeline of Catalan art spanning from the Middle Ages to the early 20^th Century.

The Romanesque Frescoes draw the most attention, including Christ in Majesty (dated around 1123) and Virgin Mary and Christ Child. Amongst the medieval works are items of Modernista furniture and decorations, including a mural by Roman Casas that once decorated the bar and restaurant Els Quatre Gats (Picasso’s favorite hangout).

If you’re here for Barcelona sightseeing, then why not see it all from the top? Skip the art and go straight to the rooftop viewpoint; the admission price is €2 for a stunning photo op.

Museu Etnològic

If you are interested in Catalonian history, this museum is for you. The ethnology museum has a permanent collection displaying exhibits on myths, religious festivals, folklore, and other treasures from Barcelona’s past.

Don’t miss the massive gegants (figures made of papier-mâché) of King Jaume I and Queen Violant. There is also a dragon and devil costumes that are used in the correfocs (fire runs), which you can see in Catalonian festivals.

As with the two museums above, the first Sunday of the month is free for visitors (in this case only between 4-8pm), but the usual price is €5.

Jardí Botànic

Montjuïc has its fair share of parks and green spaces to lounge and get some breathing room away from Barcelona’s architecture, and one of the most

beautiful places to do this is the Jardí Botànic. The garden is dedicated to Mediterranean flora and contains some 1500 species. It costs €3.50 to enter the gardens, but is free after 3pm on the first Sunday of the month.

Plaça d’Espanya

This roundabout is one of Barcelona’s most important squares. It was built for the International Exhibition. It can be distinguished by the Venetian Towers, named for their resemblance to the belltower in Venice’s St Mark’s Square. Another key feature of the square is the Arenas de Barcelona, which was formerly a bullring. It was constructed in Moorish style, but has since been converted into a shopping center.

The Arenas has a viewpoint that is great for looking out over Barcelona. The escalators inside the mall are free to use, but the outside lift has a price of €1.

Montjuïc Castle

Sitting at the highest point of the mountain lies Montjuïc Castle, offering breathtaking views of both the coastline and the city. The castle is steeped in history, such as its role in the Spanish Civil War and its period as a prison. Now, the castle has some temporary exhibitions and hosts a few cultural events. Most visitors, however, visit the castle for its view.

You will need to pay to enter the castle, which will set you back €5. Try visiting the viewpoint just before sunset to watch the sun go down over the city.

Estadio Olímpic Lluís Companys

When Barcelona has hosted Olympic games in the past, this stadium is the main location for the sporting events. It sits right at the heart of Montjuïc and was opened in 1929 but has been restored a few times since. It is now a 54,000-capacity stadium, used for sporadic events including sporting and musical.

Visitors can see a small portion of the stadium free of charge by entering under the Olympic Torch.

El Poble Espanyol

The ‘Spanish Village’ is a wonderful attraction that many visitors love to see. It incorporates architecture and design from all the regions of Spain, giving an intriguing insight into the cultural differences across the country. It takes a few hours to wander around the 117 buildings, which includes 17 restaurants, cafes and bars, and 20 craft shops as well as places to buy souvenirs.

It costs €14 to enter, or €7 for children, but splashing out €3.50 extra on a multimedia guide is well worth the price (you will need to leave a €20 deposit to ensure you return it).

Getting to Montjuïc

Now that you’re probably sold on the trip to Montjuïc thanks to all the Barcelona tourist attractions to tick off your list, how do you get there? There are a number of ways to get up the hill, including by foot if you are situated nearby. Metro Stops nearby include Espanya, Parallel and Poble Sec, which are serviced by Lines 1, 2 and 3. Many of the bus lines also run to Montjuïc. For a more fun experience, you can catch the Funicular at Parallel Metro Station and use the same metro ticket to get up the mountain. Alternatively, you can take the Aeri del Port Cable Car, running from the Sant Sebastià tower in La Barceloneta (a return ticket is €16.50).

Montjuïc is definitely one of the best things to do in Barcelona, with plenty of places to visit and things to see.

Things to do in Barcelona

Posted on June 8, 2018October 15, 2018 by Richie

Make the Most out of your Barcelona Trip

It is an enchanting Catalonian city, sitting right on the seaside, with incredible sightseeing opportunities for foreign visitors. Art lovers flock to the city to check out the lively art scene, tracing all the way back to Antoni Gaudí’s famed presence here, and living on in the street art and awe-inspiring murals of Barcelona.

For those who have never visited the city before, somewhere with so much to offer can be a little confusing. Luckily, we have compiled this handy guide on things to do in Barcelona so that you know you’re not missing out on all the best of Barcelona.

The beaches

There are several different beaches in Barcelona, but these are some of the best suggestions of what to see in Barcelona. There are Barcelona tours that will take you across the different beaches, ranging from Nova Mar Bella to Sant Miquel beach. The most popular is Barceloneta, but it can get quite busy during the summer months.

Beach Volleyball

There are a number of beaches in and around Barcelona. If you feel like getting active while you’re there, in a way a little more unique than taking a bicycle ride around the city, head down to one of the sandy coves and search for the public volleyball nets. Try asking people already playing if you can join for a match, and that way you might get to meet some of the locals and make friends that last a lifetime.

Picnic

Barcelona today is an extremely popular with tourists, meaning that sometimes you can feel like your trip is a little generic. For a truly unforgettable experience in Barcelona, try arranging to join our international picnic with Picnic!. You can choose the food you want and get it delivered to the picnic spot of your choosing. You get to pick the spot, but the company can point out the best, most unique spots all over the city. If youre coming alone, you can join us with New in Barcelona to the international picnics organized by us! Time it right, and you can watch the sun set over Gaudí Land with friends, family or loved ones.

Barcelona Sightseeing Tours

As with any popular tourist city, sightseeing tours will always be available. Guided tours (in languages including English) are often options at many of the tourist spots, as are audio guides if you prefer to do things on your own time. Looking into these options is an excellent way to get the most out of your visit and make it a fulfilling and educational experience, as well as a really memorable one.