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Runner Bean Tours Barcelona

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Barcelona's Dark History Night Tour in English

Gaudí & Sagrada Familia Free Tour in English

Kids and Family Gothic Quarter Walking Tour in English

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RUNNER BEAN TOURS BARCELONA - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Runner Bean Tours

Review Highlights

“ I spent a week in Barcelona and was lucky to take two tours with Raquel ( Gaudi Tour and Gothic Quarter Tour). ” in 22 reviews

“ The tour lasted about 2 hours and gave us a good understanding of the history and how to get around the Gothic Quarter . ” in 16 reviews

“ We walked around the unfinished temple where Anna explained about the history of Sagrada Familia . ” in 11 reviews

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Plaça Reial, 1

08001 Barcelona

Barri Gòtic

Serving Barcelona Area

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113 reviews

Have actually done the Gothic Quarter tour twice over the years by mistake. Both though were amazing as the different guides were able to provide unique information which made it seem like we were covering the topic for the first time. We could not swing The Dark Past Night tour as we were busy on the days for the seasonal rotation. That has been one the family has talked about over the years and we just have not been able to swing with timing. With how exciting multiple guides have told us it is, we will be planning a set day around that on our next trip to Barcelona. The free aspect is nice as we can tip the guide the extra portion in my mind as it is them taking their own time to provide their years of knowledge to you in a fun interactive environment. I would highly encourage anyone to go with Runner Bean Tours in Barcelona as it is better than the actual paid tours that just drag you along and provide canned talking points.

10/5 stars - I love the free walking tours in cities around Europe and it's a great way to get oriented to wherever you are visiting. I did the Gaudi tour with Lisa on my first day in Barcelona and the Barri Gotic tour with Ann-Marie on the second day. The tours were very well organized and both tour guides had a wealth of knowledge that was well worth the time away from doing something else! Lisa's tour was so great that we even waited for her to finish the tour when we got separated in the Metro because of crowds:) Would definitely recommend at least doing the Gaudi tour if not both once you get to Barcelona.

Gothic quarter tour with Ann-Marie

Enjoyable tour. Derek was super knowledgeable and fun. We will definitely use this company again.

My husband and I were in Barcelona for the first time a few weeks ago and booked a tour of Gaudi's Casa Mila and the Sagrada Familia with Runner Bean Tours. From the moment we met our guide, Diana, I knew we were in good hands. She was knowledgeable, fun, and passionate about Gaudi, architecture, and Barcelona. As it was the beginning of our trip, she jotted down notes of things we should do, see, or read as they came up in the tour and our conversation, and shared the notes with us at the end. I learned so much from Diana --and missed learning from a tour guide after the tour ended!

Wow! How lucky we feel to have found Runner Bean Tours for our trip this summer to Barcelona! From the thoughtfulness and responsiveness of my first email exchanges with the owners, I knew it was a first class company. Anna and Diana, our extraordinary guides for two full days, blew away our already high expectations! They were both incredibly knowledgeable (there was not a question from my very curious 12 year old, about history; art; religion; geography; or even the best gelato, which they could not answer!); personable; punctual; prepared; passionate and kind! We have used luxury tour companies all over the world and these guides are the best!! Highest recommendation!

I really enjoyed the Gothic Quarter Tour with Jarrod. It was a fun and interesting insight into the oldest part of the town and the people that shaped it. I already signed up for the Gaudi Tour and would absolutely recommend checking Runner Bean Tours out. :-)

In July we visited Barcelona for the first time. Knowing we only had a couple of days we select Runner Bean Tours. I cannot say enough about the services that they provided we hired them for the whole day so that we could see the highlights in Barcelona. Our tour guide was Mari, and she was fantastic. She shared so much knowledge. We laughed enjoyed the beautiful sites in Barcelona. Had a great lunch in town and even got in a little shopping. Both the driver was great, and I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a tour guide, best services ever. We would hire them again without a doubt. From the communication prior to us arriving to the day of the tour they were great. Mari, thank you Tony & Shelly

This tour was awesome and fascinating. You absolutely need to reserve in advance as each group is limited to around 15 people. Our guide, Tati, was fantastic and funny and extremely knowledgeable. She walked us all around and told stories of the history of Barcelona and the Catalan region for about 3 hours. After the tour ended we were thrilled to tip her more than we had planned to because we had such a great time.

Using Yelp, I was able to do a little bit of planning for my trip to Barcelona. I knew a Gaudi tour was a must-do, see we reserved spots for Runner Bean's free Gaudi walking tour. **Note: RBT's website was really easy to navigate, pand reserve a spot. In the email confirmation, details about were to meet, cancellation, etc. Very thorough! Jarred was our guide. He did a great job giving detail into Gaudi's life, showing how his architectural features and designs evolved over his years. There's several Gaudi buildings around Barcelona and, after the 2 hour walking tour, we still hadn't seen everything. My personal fav? Of course, the Dragon House! Basically, a whimsical fairyland that belongs on the Candy Land board game. No angles, bright, bold colors, lots of broken glass mosaics, an amazing sight for the eyes! I definitely recommend this free walking tour -it's a perfect glimpse into history, and a magnificent specter of Barcelona!

Free 2hr walking tours daily! Meeting point is at Plaza Reial (Carrer del Carme, 44, small street off La Rambla...look for a KFC) Arrive 15-30 mins early. Wear sunblock, comfy sneakers or walking shoes and bring water. Also no bare shoulders/knees to enter the cathedrals. Lisa was our tour guide for the walking tour of the Old City. She imparts history and cultural knowledge in such an entertaining and captivating manner throughout. We wanted to take more tours with her specifically but time would not permit. Wholeheartedly recommend Lisa (with the Irish accent) and Runner Bean tours! Recommend the Old City/Gothic Quarter tour first, then highly recommend the 11am Gaudi tour on same day you visit Sagrada Familia. Buy advance tickets for Sagrada Familia online for anytime after 3pm.

Lisa was engaging and knowledgeable!

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Runner Bean Tours Barcelona

• See all photos

Barcelona's Dark History Night Tour in English

Gaudí & Sagrada Familia Free Tour in English

Kids and Family Gothic Quarter Walking Tour in English

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Runner Bean Tours Barcelona - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

Runner Bean Tours Barcelona

• See all photos

Barcelona's Dark History Night Tour in English

Gaudí & Sagrada Familia Free Tour in English

Kids and Family Gothic Quarter Walking Tour in English

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Runner Bean Tours Barcelona - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go - Visiting Tips (2024)

Walking Tours Barcelona - Runner Bean Tours

Gaudí for kids: a family guide for Barcelona

Ann Marie Brannigan 5 Comments

Gaudí for kids? Yes, why not? Everyone knows Gaudí and his buildings are a not-to-miss attraction in Barcelona but will my children enjoy his work too? The answer is quite simply YES. Firstly, your kids will love the shapes and colours on the Gaudí buildings , and a great bonus is that some of the sites include tools, like audio guides or interactive platforms, specially designed for the little ones. Now, there is no excuse for not enjoying Gaudí’s work together with your children . Here are some ideas on how to make the most of it.

Sagrada Familia

Casa batlló, mosaiccos (trencadís and mosaic workshop), gaudí in 4d (g experiència).

• “A stroll with Mr Gaudí” by Pau Estrada

The best of Gaudí for kids in Barcelona

There are a few buildings and sites designed by Gaudí that everyone knows about. If you were travelling without the kids I would recommend you to visit them all as each one is wonderful in their own different way. However, your children might not find them all that fascinating so these are my choices for the three that you shouldn’t miss on a family vacation in Barcelona.

This icon of Barcelona is a must-visit in the city. Unfortunately, the dedicated children’s audio guide is not available anymore but kids can still enjoy this masterpiece with a bit of your help. There are many beautiful colour reflections from the stained glass windows and little details on the sculptures to keep your children fascinated. Ask them to find all the different little critters on the bronze doors in the Nativity Façade. They will love it!

Another of the highlights for the young ones is going up to the bell towers (not suitable for those suffering from vertigo). I would recommend visiting the Nativity façade instead of the Passion façade because, not only you will be inside the towers that Gaudí saw in his lifetime, but also, going down the windy spiral staircase is a lot of fun. Adventurous children would love this part. And, don’t worry if you are not too fit as there is a lift that brings you to the top.

OUR TIP: Book your tickets online through the Sagrada Familia official website to skip the long lines . You don’t want to be waiting for hours under the scorching sun and your children will be thankful!

• Children under 11: Free

If you ever dreamed as a child of entering the Hansel and Gretel gingerbread house, maybe your dreams will come true… and you can bring your own kids along too. The main entrance to Park Güell is just that, but there is a lot more in Gaudí’s park to amuse the young ones . The curving structures and multiple colours that you can find all over the monumental zone is fun-guaranteed and the iconic dragon at the entrance is always a hit with children.

I do recommend exploring the farther part of the park  as there are also some places of interest. One of them is the Casa-Museu Gaudí . Although not designed by Gaudí himself, this is the place where he lived for many years before moving to Sagrada Familia. Another great activity for the family is climbing the “ Turó de les tres creus “ , a little hill with fantastic views of Barcelona. You will probably end up walking quite a bit in the park so don’t forget to pack some food and enjoy it in the shaded picnic area.

Spark your young children’s interest even more with this fun video of Mati and Dada in Park Güell. Mr Gaudí even does a guest star appearance!

OUR TIP: If you visit during the summer, go early or late as the heat could be quite intense in the middle of the day. Also, don’t forget to pre-book the tickets on the Park Güell official website as the number of visitors is limited. Since April 2019 the ticket includes the return bus transfer from Alfons X metro station.

• Children 0 to 6: Free
• Children 7 to 12: €7

There are many houses designed by Gaudí but, surely, Casa Batlló is the most appealing to young children . It is not only because of its outrageous façade but, once inside, it is like entering a fantasy world of round shapes and organic forms. The roof terrace with its imposing chimneys is beautiful but don’t take the lift to get there. Instead, climb the stairs to submerge into the depths of the ocean sea, the most beautiful part of the house for me. The photograph on the balcony, however, is quite overpriced and not really worth it.

The newly added feature to the visit is the interactive mini-tablet included with the entrance fee. It is great to see the nature-based forms of the house really coming to life and a really nice way to see how the Batlló family lived at the time. As with all modern gadgets, this app will keep the kids occupied as you wander around. You can see what to expect in this video:

OUR TIP: If you can get the children up, go very early on the day or, even better, late in the evening, as the house gets quite crowded and the space is limited. After 7 pm is a good time to enjoy it without the crowds (the closing time is 9 pm). You will skip the lines if you pre-book the tickets online and also save the €4 surcharge for tickets bought on the site.

• Children under 13: Free
• Children 13 to 17: €29

Enjoy the world of Gaudí with kids in a different way

So you have visited the main attractions. There are plenty of museums in Barcelona suitable for kids but maybe you are looking for something different to do together as a family? Gaudí not only designed buildings. He also crafted furniture, mosaic tiles or wrought iron gates. But, on top of that, his imagination was endless. Take a look at these two, very different, but both great fun things to do with your kids in Barcelona .

If you have already visited some of Gaudí’s buildings you are probably familiar with the “ trencadís ” mosaic technique. “ Trencadís ” is a Catalan word and it literally means smashed or broken. And that is what Mosaiccos offers: a way for your children to imaginatively recreate Gaudí’s original technique . It is all hands-on and the best way to spend a family day . I can’t think of a better souvenir to bring back home.

OUR TIP: Each of the artworks have to be grouted so you won’t be able to take your masterpieces straight away. So don’t leave the workshop until your last day, especially if you have an early morning flight.

• Discounts for families are available

Want a more thrilling way to experience Gaudí’s world? If your children are not too young (over 6 years old) and they like action, they will love to put on the glasses and feel the adrenaline of G Experiència . This is not a regular day-to-day cinema but a 4D fantasy and animation film with Gaudí’s life creations as the main theme. The movie is a bit short but the ticket entrance also includes the exhibition space with interactive holograms and puzzles to learn about the architect in a fun and entertaining way.

OUR TIP: Maybe it is a good idea to see the movie after you have visited the attractions so you can recognise them and enjoy it even more.

• Children under 14: €7.50

Books on Gaudí: my special recommendation:

“ a stroll with mr gaudí ” by pau estrada.

As the title says, Gaudí goes for a stroll . From his house in Park Güell, he starts his daily routine to oversee the progress of his work. The beautiful illustrations show some of them: Casa Milà , Casa  Batlló , Sagrada Familia and, of course, his park. The moment when, at the end of the day, he meets his friend and patron, Eusebi Güell, in the empty park, and they decide to turn it into a public space for the citizens of Barcelona is priceless.

At the end of the book is a mini-biography of Gaudí for kids that they will find very easy to understand. The whole story in the book, however, keeps on giving clues to Gaudí’s personality, architectural techniques and snippets of his life (the premonition of his fatal streetcar accident is a recurring element). I also particularly like the author’s note explaining his very personal relationship with Gaudí and, especially, Park Güell, where he used to play and ride his bike as a child.

OUR TIP: Buy the book online or at your local specialised bookstore before coming to Barcelona so your kids can start getting familiar with the world of Gaudí. When they finally get to see the real sites, it will be even more special.

A great compliment to any family visit to Barcelona is our specially designed walking tour for families with children . You can join Lisa, Jessi, Tati, Ali or myself on a wonderful experience to discover the old town. Every Saturday at 10 am and, also, on Wednesdays during July and August. Also, don’t forget to check our complete post of ideas for your visit to Barcelona with Kids .

(This post might include affiliated links. If you make a purchase by following an affiliated link, we might make a small commission to help maintain this site. At no point, this will incur any extra costs to you. Thank you)

This post was originally published on July 11th 2015 and updated on May 11th 2018

Main photograph by Evan Bench

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Most recent reviews of runner bean tours barcelona.

July 30, 2016 at 10:13 am

Question – Where can we sign up for the mosaics workshop? is it through the museum? what is the cost?

Thanks so much!

July 30, 2016 at 10:19 am

follow up question – do you know if i can buy the “stroll with gaudi” book in valencia or barcelona? thx!

July 30, 2016 at 1:00 pm

Being a book about Gaudí, there are a lot more chances of finding it in Barcelona than in Valencia. They will have it at most bookshops in the children section or at the gift shop of the Gaudí buildings.

July 30, 2016 at 12:57 pm

You can sign up directly on their website: mosaiccos.com

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Fantastic Walking Tour! - Runner Bean Tours Barcelona

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Fantastic Walking Tour!

This was a great tour. It was well put together and the guide was incredibly knowledgeable of the topic and entertaining with the execution of the tour. It was a fun and unique way to venture into the city after hours and learn some history along the way. I’m glad we booked this tour and it was well worth it for the price point.

If you’re interested to see, feel and comprehend the real Barcelona and have an amazing lasting memory throughout your own eyes and perhaps, capturing the best photos of your lifetime in Barcelona then this 90 minutes walk through historic old Barcelona would give you chills! Awesome tour, thanks to all of you specially our tour guide Miguel! We enjoyed our tour.

Hi Eddie, Fantastic review for Miguel! Thanks for joining us and for sharing your experience for others to read. We hope to see you again soon :) Ali

This was an entertaining, and historically accurate tour of the dark past of Barcelona, including but not limited to the Spanish Inquisition. Our knowledgeable guide Ross did an excellent job balancing facts with visuals projected from his phone at appropriate points along our walk. The darkness (9-11 pm) created the appropriate atmosphere. A very worthwhile experience.

Hi there, We're so glad you enjoyed your experience with Ross on the Dark Past Night tour. He's a great guide and I know will enjoy reading your review. Thanks a lot for sharing! We hope to see you for another tour one day soon :) Ali

The guide was very clear, communicative and funny. Her English was very easy to understand. She told us many interesting stories about Barcelona and its history, captivating adults and children. Very recommended!!!

Hi Marg, We're delighted your enjoyed your experience with us on the Gothic Quarter tour. Thanks for joining us and thanks for your 5* review. We hope you had a fab time in Barcelona! All the best, Ali

Three of us did the Gaudi walking tour with Jarrod and found it absolutely fascinating. If you're in Barcelona you'll probably visit one of the Gaudi mansions and definitely the Sagrada Familia, so this is a great way to get started. You stand outside each building (in the shade if it's hot - thanks Jarrod!) and learn about the man and his methods, with plenty of entertaining anecdotes. There's a couple of Metro rides and you have to provide your own tickets and it's actually a really useful experience to help get around the city. A fun, informative and utterly stress-free introduction to Barcelona.

Hi Jonno, What a terrific review for Jarrod and his Gaudí tour!! We loved reading it and I'll be sure to pass your comments on to Jarrod. Thanks a lot for taking the time to review us :) All the best, Ali

We really enjoyed our Gothic Quarter Tour! Our guide, Raquel, was perfect for her role; very knowledgeable and a native of Catalonia. Raquel was personable, delightful, and at the end of the tour was very helpful with questions of the city even unrelated to today’s tour. The group was really a perfect size, she made sure we could all hear her and kept us in the shade as much as possible. You won’t be disappointed and I highly recommend Runner Bean tours!

Hi Becky, Lovely to read your 5* review of our Gothic Quarter tour with our wonderful guide Raquel. Thanks a million for your comments and warm recommendation. We hope to see you again soon :) Ali