Peter Greenberg: Barcelona Tours

By: Peter Greenberg | Source: AARP.org | 2009-06-30

Dear Peter, My wife and I are going to be in Barcelona two days before our cruise. We would like to find out about hiring a private tour guide there for a half-day or whole day. How does one find and check out such services for offerings and cost?
–Michael
Davie, Fla.

A: A private tour is often a good option for travelers who don’t have time to waste, and you have many options.
 
You can always call the hotel concierge before you arrive and ask him or her to recommend a private tour. Many hotels work with independent tour guides and can probably get you a package deal. Just keep in mind that most tours need to be booked at least 48 hours before your travel date.
 
If you don’t want to (or can’t) use the hotel’s recommendation, you can always try Viator, a reputable, American-based company that arranges private, guided tours all over Europe. Viator's Barcelona tour includes such famous landmarks as Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló, the Picasso Museum, the Olympic complex, and the Gothic Quarter.
 
Another option is the locally based Barcelona Tour Guides. They organize and conduct private, chauffered tours of Barcelona for half a day and day-long excursions for group and individual travelers.

If you are interested in strolling through the city, try the Barcelona Tourism Office, which offers weekend and weekday walking tours around various neighborhoods.