Leave your central Barcelona hotel (or cruise port) by air-conditioned minibus and travel up Montjuic – Barcelona’s famous 755-foot (230-meter) hill – while enjoying breathtaking views of the city harbor. Located at the hill’s peak is Anella Olímpica, where the 1992 Olympic Games were held. After stopping to explore, continue to Montjuic Castle for photos and then head back down the hill into town.

Barcelona is famous for its links to Antoni Gaudi – Spain’s most celebrated Modernist architect – and the city is scattered with his highly acclaimed works. Stop outside for a panoramic visit to one of his more extraordinary creations -- the still-unfinished La Sagrada Familia cathedral -- and then pose for photos outside Casa Batlló with its eye-catching exterior.

Travel along the glitzy shopping strip of Passeig de Gracia, passing other architectural sites of interest like Casa Amataller and Casa Morera, and then head to the hills for a stroll through Gaudi’s Park Güell. Easily one of the most impressive public spaces in the world, the gardens are said to encapsulate Gaudi’s creative genius with an abundance of colorful mosaics and intriguing gatehouses.

After a break for lunch (own expense), hop back on board your minibus and travel west to Montserrat, the craggy mountain in the middle of Spain’s first national park. Walk through the park and learn about the area’s history, and head inside Santa Maria de Montserrat – the beautiful Benedictine abbey and basilica where thousands of Christian pilgrims have journeyed over the centuries. Learn about the Virgin of Montserrat (known as the Black Virgin) and take in incredible views toward Barcelona. If you’re lucky, you may catch a performance by La Escalonia – the oldest children’s choir in Europe – who performs regularly here.

Return to Barcelona by minibus, and finish your tour back at your central hotel or cruise port in the early evening.