Las Golondrinas

The Golondrinas, or swallows, have carried passengers around Barcelona's harbour since 1888, and their boats are a familiar sight at the foot of La Rambla. Trips leave from Moll de les Drassanes, directly in front of the Columbus Monument, and give a different perspective on the city, its port and its seafront. The company is one of the oldest tourist businesses in Barcelona.

There are two main options. The Barcelona Port trip lasts 40 minutes and circles the harbour, passing the cruise terminals, the marina and the working port. The Port and Coast trip lasts 60 minutes and heads out of the harbour and along the coast, giving views back to the city's beaches, the Hotel Arts and Montjuïc. Port and Coast trips run several times a day, typically at 11.30am, 1pm, 3pm, 4.30pm, 6pm and 7.30pm, while the 40-minute port trip runs more frequently at weekends. Schedules vary with the season and weather, so check the timetable on the website.

The company sells combined tickets that pair a boat trip with another attraction or a meal, including the Aquàrium de Barcelona, the Museu Marítim, the wax museum, the Poble Espanyol, the MOCO Museum and tapas or a lunch or dinner at partner restaurants. These can be good value if you planned to visit those places anyway.

A boat trip is an easy, relaxed way to see the city from the water and suits families with children, older travellers and anyone wanting a break from walking. The longer coastal trip is the better choice if you want sea views, while the shorter port trip is enough for a taste. Sit on the open deck for the best views, and bring sun protection in summer and a layer in the cooler months, as it can be breezy on the water. Tickets can be bought online or at the quayside.

The quay is a couple of minutes' walk from Drassanes station on metro line L3, at the bottom of La Rambla. The Columbus Monument, which has a lift to a viewing platform at the top, is right opposite, the Museu Marítim is housed in the medieval royal shipyards just behind, and the Maremagnum shopping centre and the Aquàrium are across the footbridge on Port Vell.