Walking along the streets of Barcelona and taking in the sights is one of the best ways to explore this idyllic city. Alternatively, tourists can also take a boat ride to gain another unique experience of the city.

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.

White water rafting is a thrill-seekers sport that almost anyone can do, and it’s ideal for groups too. Rushing down a rocky river and with adrenalin rushing through your veins

Booking a rafting trip with a professional,experienced, white water rafting company guarantees high standards of equipment and safety. They use trustworthy, stiff inflatable boats (known as rafts) and supply crash helmets and life jackets for you and your group. Expert training is provided, and your instructor demonstrates all the safety procedures before your paddles get wet, and remains in the raft with you all the way down.

The level of difficulty changes according to the river, and there’s a big difference between rafting on a meandering, waterway, and tackling a rough, pounding torrent. There are established gradings for white water rafting rivers around the world, ranging from Grade 1 which is easy, to Grade 5 which is extremely difficult. (There’s actually another grade 6 above these which is reckoned to be “unrunnable”.)

The level of water in a river will also impact the level of difficulty, so it’s wise to check beforehand with the tour guides about the river conditions. When river levels are low, after a long dry spell for example, a river will run faster, and more boulders will be exposed, affecting navigation and speed. When rivers are high, they tend to slow down and have fewer obstacles. Whichever, the whole aim is to enjoy yourself, so ensure that you’ll have a decent challenge, but not so much that it will scare the living daylights out of you!

White water rafting is a fantastic group activity, and this is another reason why it can be incredibly good fun. It’s brilliant if you’re in a group of mates, or a team of work colleagues looking to enjoy and participate in a thrilling day out. With everyone’s paddles going like blazes, guiding the raft away from boulders and currents, working together and splashing water everywhere, you’re certain to have a great experience.

Screaming down a river with your workmates or group can also do wonders for morale, even if there are shy or untalkative ones amongst you. For the same reason, white water rafting is spot on for hen or stag weekends when members of the party come together for the very first time. By the end of the experience, everyone will be buzzing from the days exhilaration, grinning from ear to ear and utterly bushed!