Barcelona Sightseeing Tour Including Montjuic Cable Car: (4.5 hours)
Meet your local guide in central Barcelona, and start your morning sightseeing tour with a stroll through Plaza de Catalunya; admire its many fountains and statues, and then wander along the narrow medieval streets of the Gothic Quarter. As you walk, your guide will explain interesting details about Barcelona’s historical sites. See many buildings from the 15th century, including Barcelona Cathedral, as you continue to Plaza Sant Jaume, where important government buildings are located, including the Palace of Generalitat and the Town Hall.
Next, board a coach and take in views of the Mediterranean Sea and Barcelona’s coastline on the drive to Montjuic, a hill near the coast that features many attractions. Pass the Olympic Village (Vila Olimpica), which was home to athletes during the 1992 Olympics, and drive by Port Olympic. Continue up Montjuic for a panoramic view of the city and harbor, and then enjoy a tour of Llu?s Companys Olympic Stadium, the Palau Sant Jordi and Calatrava Tower. Next, visit the Spanish Village (Poble Espanyol) to see architecture and traditional crafts from different regions of Spain.
Finally, board Montjuic cable car and take in aerial views of Barcelona landmarks such as La Sagrada Familia as you ride down the hill to Montjuic Castle. Admire the castle from the outside, then head back to central Barcelona, for a short lunch break (own expense).
Montserrat Royal Basilica Tour and Cog-Wheel Train Ride: (4.5 hours)
After driving through picturesque little villages, arrive in the small town of Monistrol to hop aboard your cog-wheel train for your 20-minute ride through the mountains. Gaze out at the glorious scenery, and hop out on the craggy mountain of Montserrat, a peak that rises to roughly 4,051 feet (1,235 meters).
The Royal Basilica of Montserrat has been one of Spain's most important pilgrimage sites for hundreds of years, due to its famous 12th-century Romanesque carving of the Virgen Moroneta (the Black Virgin).