While tourists can purchase a map and arrange their own walking tours, they run the risk of getting lost and losing time trying to find their way around. The better option, therefore, is to take the services of walking tour companies, which hire qualified tour guides who can not only direct tourists through the city, but can also provide valuable information regarding its history and architecture. A few of the excellent walking tour companies in Barcelona are Viator Tours, Barcelona Tourist Authority, Antoni Gaudi foot Tours and Walking Planet.

No tourist can take in the entire city in just one tour by foot, owing to which walking tour companies have devised different types of tours based on area, attractions of the city and themes. There are, sightseeing walking tours, tours to specific areas of the city and tours designed on specific themes such as food walking tours, wine tasting tours and photo tours by foot. Tourists are even free to consult a walking tour company and design a walking tour to suit their tastes, budget, interests and requirements.

Taking boat tours is one of the most romantic ways of viewing the city’s attractions. Usually, boats depart from Portal de la Pau in summer, and adventurous visitors can purchase a one-way ticket and walk the 4 kilometre distance back instead of returning by boat.

Barcelona has several boat tour companies that offer different tours via types of boats such as speedboats, catamarans, motor boats and others on hire. Tourists can rent any boat they are comfortable with and enjoy a boat ride on their own, which will give them an opportunity to experience the city of Barcelona in a unique manner.

Alternatively, visitors can sign up for a luxury boating cruise featuring dinner, musical shows, parties and entrainment. Many boat tour companies offer boat tour services in Barcelona and tourists should make it a point to find out whether the boating service can really give them what they want before purchasing a ticket for a boating tour. For instance, Les Golondrines arranges long and short boating trips and one of its special features is the availability of catamarans with an under-the-water view.

Second, always carry a few basic items with you in case you have to spend the night on the trail. Take a garbage bag, a lighter, a whistle, a pocketknife, and a water bottle. This is the minimum number of essential items you should bring with you whether you are hiking for a day or for a week or longer. These items address the basic needs from shelter to water and heat. Depending on your outdoor activity, level of skill, and the climate you plan to hike in, you may need to carry more extensive equipment.

Third, be sure to pack something you can turn into a shelter quickly. A garbage bag is an example of such an item. It can be easily made into a shelter. Just cut a slit in the middle of the closed end and pull it over your head. This is a great solution to the problem, and a bag is easy to pack in a pocket. It only costs a few pennies, and it may save your life. Hypothermia can occur even in 50-degree weather, so it is critical that you have a way to make a quick shelter should the need arise. Always carry a wool cap in your vehicle and your daypack. Eighty percent of your body heat leaves you if your head is exposed. You must always protect your head when you are hiking. If you don’t have a cap, use a sock or a bandanna. You can wear anything on your head as long as it keeps your head warm.

Finally, make a habit of carrying at least three fire-making resources with you. Having a lighter is always a good idea, but having only one source of fire making while hiking is inadequate. Lighters may get wet, and then they won’t light anymore. Also carry a spark rod and windproof matches in your pocket or pack. You are like to make a fire in rainy or otherwise bad weather. While this can be tricky, it can be done. Just collect dead twigs from evergreens like pines, firs, or spruces. These trees have a lot of resin so they will catch fire faster than other types of wood.