Quick Question for Spain Trip

[kasefase]

I'll be traveling early October to Barcelona and Madrid. I have 5 days in each place. Which of these options is best: the hop-on/hop-off bus tours or the tourist travel cards?

Thanks!

-Casey

[gary]

I'll be traveling early October to Barcelona and Madrid. I have 5 days in each place. Which of these options is best: the hop-on/hop-off bus tours or the tourist travel cards?

Thanks!

-Casey

There is a tourist bus in BCN that runs all day on a circular route, you can hop on and off at will, dont think its guided. I always buy a T10 ticket (10 journeys for €6.80) for BCN Integrated Transport System - works for Bus-Metro and charges per journey so off Metro onto to bus back to Metro counts as one journey provided that the gap between rides is less than 75 mins and you are on a different line/bus number. I used two of these in 14 days.

A little bird tells me that on Friday next week there may be a useful post coming up with BCN Dos and Donts for visitors...;)

Watch this space, well the main NFS Blog space;D;D;D

[Legazpi]

If you've got 5 days in each place then a simple "metrobus de 10 viajes" is probably the best bet since the tourist bus is quite expensive. You can buy them at the machines in the metro stations, they also work on the buses, and you can share one between you.

In fact you could easily walk between the main sites in both cities. The tourist bus is mainly useful if you've only got a couple of days and need to squeeze everything in.

BTW if you've got 5 days in Madrid then I recommend a day trip to Toledo. It's only half an hour away on the AVE.

[gary]

BTW if you've got 5 days in Madrid then I recommend a day trip to Toledo. It's only half an hour away on the AVE.

I would second that, theres a bus that leaves every 15 minutes or so outside toledo station that will take you up the hill, oh what a hill! We walked back down. (dont think its AVE as such - next grade down, speedwise, - but very quiet and comfortable)

[Pepino]

I can see the merit in the official tourist bus, but if you´ve got time, then I´d say you´re better off seeing the city on foot for the most part, and using the Metro/bus for longer jumps. I think the tourist bus is great for people who have very very limited time in the city and want to cram.

Have fun! ;D

[kasefase]

Thanks for all of the useful info guys!

I think I'll go with the T10 option.

I will definitely be making a trip to Toldeo.

-Casey

[gary]

Thanks for all of the useful info guys!

I think I'll go with the T10 option.

-Casey

if there are two of you you can put it through the machine twice, but I dont know how that affects the per journey thing.

[SeattleJenn]

just got back on saturday from barcelona. a fun way to see the city is on a bike tour - highly recomended!
http://www.fattirebiketoursbarcelona.com

this site was very helpful in finding the right bus or metro to take:
http://www.tmb.net/vullanar/en_US/vullanar.jsp

i had heard about the pick-pockets and was always careful in the city, but let my guard down at the beach. learned the hard way - my bag was stolen while i was laying right next to it. your bag will be stolen if you are not sitting on top of it or have your arm thru a strap. dont even leave it for 1 second to go in the water unless u have a friend watch it.