Top Barcelona Bus Tours - page 2

We have been on numerous tours over the years many of them informative and enjoyable-but we have never had a guide quite like Rod with Explore Catalonia (through Viator). From the moment the tour began, Rod's enthusiasm and passion for the region were obvious. His knowledge of Catalonia's history, culture, and local traditions was impressive, and he shared it in a way that was engaging, interesting, and often humorous. It never felt like a lecture; it felt like traveling with a very knowledgeable friend who truly loves where he lives. What really set him apart was how much he clearly cared about giving everyone the best possible experience. His storytelling, local recommendations, and personal touches made the tour memorable and far more meaningful than simply visiting the sights on our own. If you are considering a tour with Explore Catalonia, we highly recommend it—and if you are lucky enough to have Rod as your guide, you are in for a truly exceptional experience.

This was a great day excursion. Xavier ("chavi") picked me up at my hotel. He had already picked up a nice family from Colorado. We drove directly to the Dali museum in Figueres - Xavi was telling us all about the area and the time passed quickly. We met up with the Dali specialist guide, Anatoly, near the museum where we joined his group. He was so knowledgeable and really helped contextualize the art we saw relative to what was going on in Dali's life. Anatoly escorted us around the museum so we didn't miss anything (the only bathrooms are near the beginning!). It was particularly interesting to see some of the jewelry that Dali designed - that exhibit is after you technically leave the museum so check it out on the way out! Then Xavi drove us to Girona - a charming college town on the coast. He showed us around and even showed us where several scenes from game of thrones were filmed! He was really knowledgeable but also really great at suggesting he take a picture a couple if times so I don't just have selfies! We had a fair amount of free time to explore on our own - I should have used that to eat something, but that's on me. I was just so distracted by taking pictures that I lost track of time. I did have a churro-like pastry called a Xuixo ("choochoo"). I felt like it was a lot for him to be our guide and driver, but felt like he did a great job with both. I was back at my hotel around 6:30 pm. It was a really neat day!

This was a really fun, unique way to see Barcelona. The tour leader was knowledgeable, fun, and approachable, and the selections were unique and felt much more local than anything I would have been able to source on my own for a short trip. The wine and food were nicely portioned, and the team was able to accommodate dietary restrictions relatively easily. This was a great value and a very fun way to access a more locally authentic experience.