Badalona, Spain – a small cozy resort in the suburbs of the Catalan capital, which tourists love for its silence, beautiful nature and clean beach.
General information
Badalona is a Spanish city in the eastern part of the country, located on the Mediterranean coast. Located 11 km from the center of the Catalan capital and 23 km from Barcelona International Airport. Badalona has an area of 21.2 km2 and a population of 220,400.
Interestingly, Badalona shares the metro, airport and Trambesòs (rapid tram line) with the capital of Catalonia. There are also many bus routes connecting these two cities.
Since Badalona has been overshadowed by the modern Catalan capital throughout its history, it cannot now be called a developed economic or tourist center of the country. However, in recent years, fishing and shipbuilding have been gaining momentum here.
Externally, Badalona looks like a modern metropolis with a large number of office buildings, cafes and hotels. The main advantage of this resort is the presence of a large beach and a long embankment.
Attractions
Since Badalona is only a few kilometers from the Catalan capital, the importance of most local attractions is lost, and only a few places will really be interesting to tourists. It is hardly worth going here on purpose, but if you are still in Badalona, then pay attention to the following attractions.
Badalona Museum
This is the largest and most visited museum of the resort, opened in 1966. It is located on the site of an ancient Roman thermal bath, which was found by archaeologists in 1954. Almost the entire exhibition is dedicated to this historical period – the era of the Roman Empire. The museum also features the following collections and exhibits:
- Pyrenees (jug with ships, brocade vase, Black Eye jug);
- Romanesque architecture (statue of Venus, hinges, oil lamp of the 1st century BC);
- Medieval period (Saint Sebastian’s iconostasis);
- modernity (tiles of the 16th-17th centuries);
- culture of the XX century (paintings “Image of Brittany”, “Convalescent’s Breakfast”, “Dream”, “Panoramic view of Spain”).
Among the most interesting exhibits are::
- Roman baths. They are located in the basement of the museum, and perfectly convey the atmosphere of those times. Tourists consider this part of the museum to be the most interesting.
- Sculpture of Venus. This is a small piece depicting the goddess of beauty, love and fertility.
- Collection of medals TINTAS DE IMPRENTA CH. LORILLEUX & CIA.
Dolphin House
On the territory of the museum is the Dolphin House – a Roman patrician house of the 1st century BC. It is located in the basement, and consists of several rooms (study, winery, living room). Particularly notable are mosaics of high quality, as well as remnants of original wall paintings.
The Garden of Quintus Licinius
This is a small hall on the first floor of the museum, where you can see what kind of garden used to surround a Patrician house. You will take a virtual walk around the site, and see a stone pool built in the 1st century BC, plants that grew here, and hear birds singing.
Practical information:
- Location: Pl. Assemblea de Catalunya 1, 08911 Badalona.
- Opening hours: 10.00-14.00, 17.00-20.00. Sunday-from 10.00 to 14.00.
- Admission fee: 6.50 euros for adults, 5.20 euros for students and seniors, 3.20 euros for people aged 17 to 25 years. For children under 16 years of age and disabled people, the ticket price is 1.10 euros. Children under 7 years of age, ICOM members and school teachers can visit the museum free of charge. The cost of the audio guide is 2.40 €.
- Official website: https://www.museudebadalona.cat
Bridge on the sea promenade and sculpture of a monkey man with a bottle
Since Badalona is a city of the sea, the most interesting sights are located on the embankment. These include a pier that goes out to sea. Now anyone can walk through it and take a couple of beautiful photos of Badalona in Spain. Previously, it was used for unloading oil tankers.
On the pier is the symbol and main attraction of the city of Badalona in Spain-a sculpture of a monkey man with a bottle of anise liqueur in his hand. Interestingly, it was installed not by the city authorities, but by the owners of the liquor factory, who considered it a good advertisement for their product. Perhaps this is a favorite sculpture of both city visitors and local residents – everyone likes to take pictures with it.
Location: Passeig de la rambla, Badalona, Spain.
Rambla de Badalona
Rambla de Badalona is a long (5 km) embankment that stretches from the western to eastern outskirts of the city. This is the main pedestrian street of the resort, where the main shops, cafes and restaurants are located. Tourists love this place for its scenic views and small number of people (which is quite rare in Spain).
Travelers also note that many houses on the embankment will be interesting from an architectural point of view – most of the buildings were built in the early XX century. The disadvantages of vacationers include a very large number of dogs, because of which there is not a very pleasant smell on the embankment.
Location: Passeig de la rambla, Badalona, Spain.
Badalona Beach
Badalona is popular with tourists precisely because of the large and clean beaches that stretch along the entire resort. They have no official names, so the entire coast is simply called Badalona Beach by locals.
The sand in Badalon is golden, with lots of small rocks and shells. The approach to the sea is gentle – in this part of the coast there are no rocks and stone ledges. Algae and garbage are extremely rare – the beach is regularly cleaned.
There are quite a lot of tourists, but due to the length of the recreation area, everyone can find a secluded place. The only day when finding a free place is problematic is Sunday, when all the local residents of Badalona have a day off.
The infrastructure is well developed. On the beach (mainly in the central part) there are a lot of cafes and shops, there is a sports field. There are no sun loungers or umbrellas – you will have to sunbathe on a towel. There are changing rooms and toilets.
Badalona is a suitable holiday destination for those who live in Barcelona, but want to swim in clean water and do not have the opportunity to go far from the Catalan capital.
Accommodation
There are only 15 hotels in Badalona, most of which belong to the 3*category. Since the city is small, almost all tourist accommodation is located in the center or near the embankment. Book rooms much in advance is not necessary-the resort is not very popular, and there is always a chance to find suitable accommodation.
The estimated cost per night in a 3* hotel for two people in high season will be 70-80 euros. This price includes a spacious room with all necessary appliances, a terrace and friendly staff. Interestingly, most Badalona hotels have a relaxation area with a rooftop pool.
There are no 5* hotels in Badalona itself, but there are some in the surrounding area. The average price for a night in a double room in high season starts from 150 euros. It offers designer rooms, a delicious breakfast and a room with a view of the old town.
Remember that all the sights of Badalona are within walking distance, even for those who live on the outskirts of the city, so there is not much point in paying extra for housing in the very center of the resort.
Accommodation in Badalona is worth considering for those tourists for whom Barcelona is too expensive resort-here you can definitely find hotels a little cheaper. In addition, Badalona has a metro station, so you can get to the center of the Catalan capital in less than 20-30 minutes.
How to get there from Barcelona
Getting to Badalona is no problem. There are several options at once.
Metro
This is the fastest and easiest way. On the territory of Badalona there are several metro stations at once: Badalona Pumpeu Fabra (center), Pep Ventura, Gorg, Sant Roque and others. You need to transfer to the purple metro line, and go to the final station. Travel time from anywhere in Barcelona is no longer than an hour. The price is 2.20 euros.
Railway
This option will be most convenient for those who live near the train station (Plaça Catalunya). High-speed trains regularly run between the resorts, so you can get to your destination in 20-25 minutes. The final station is Badalona. The ticket price is about 5 euros.High-speed tram
You must board the T Tram No. 15 at Glòries station. Get off at Gorg Gorg Station in Badalon. The journey time will be 22 minutes. The fare is 2.2 euros.
Bus
You can board the H10-T Tram at the Muntanya stop. Get off at Alfons XIII station in Badalona (far from the resort center and attractions). The journey time is 20 minutes. The price ranges from 2 to 4 euros.
Interesting facts
- Badalonians don’t really like coffee, and they usually have a mug of hot chocolate for breakfast. A traditional evening drink is local wine.
- Now Badalona is in the shadow of Barcelona, but many centuries ago it was exactly the opposite – Badalona was the most influential and largest settlement on the coast.
- Every year in May, the coast hosts the ” feast of the burning of all devils” – a huge figure of a monster is brought to the beach, which is burned late in the evening to salutes.
- Be sure to visit the festival dedicated to the feast of the arrival of the Virgin. On this day, local residents launch hundreds of salute volleys into the sky, arrange costume shows and theatrical performances.
- Saint Anastasio is considered the patron saint of Badalona.
Badalona, Spain is the perfect holiday destination for those who want to combine Barcelona sightseeing with a beach holiday.
