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School Trips to Barcelona

As the historic centre and capital of Catalonia in Northern Spain, Barcelona has an inimitable feel that no other Spanish city can match. 

School trips to Barcelona offer a diverse experience to students of all ages and subjects – from the modernist architecture of Gaudi and surreal art on show at the Museu Picasso, to the bustling atmosphere of Las Ramblas and illustrious heritage of the Camp Nou. 

There's nothing like the full immersion effect to get students in the right frame of mind when it comes to improving their Spanish. Although (as any Catalan will doubtless tell you, whether you ask them or not) Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and has its own Catalan language, the city's most used tongue remains Spanish thanks to a large number of residents from other parts of Spain, as well as a sizeable population of South Americans and Spanish-speaking foreigners. 

Does it sound like a school trip to Barcelona could be the ideal excursion for your school? Get in touch to find out more information or advice on all available options. Our trips to Barcelona are part of a wide selection of school trips to Spain that we offer.

Browse our curriculum-linked school trips to Barcelona

Art & Design

Art & Design

Barcelona is the place called home by inimitable art and design maestros such as Gaudí, Picasso, Dalí and plenty more - a wondrous city from an artistic perspective.

Learn more about our art & design trips to Barcelona here

Cultural & Transition Year

Cultural & Transition Year

The heart of Catalonia, Barcelona is a vibrant city with a storied history and bilingual population. That’s not to mention the tapas…

Learn more about our cultural & transition year trips to Barcelona here

Geography

Geography

Barcelona and Catalonia provide magnificent examples of preserved heritage, urban development and geographical diversity.

Learn more about our geography trips to Barcelona here

Music

Music

Our music tours to Barcelona and Catalonia include visits to world renowned concert venues, cathedrals and surrounding coastal towns.

Learn more about our music trips to Barcelona here

Spanish Language

Spanish Language

Give students an incredible opportunity to practise Spanish in one of Spain’s most iconic cities.

Learn more about our Spanish language trips to Barcelona here

Theme Park

Theme Park

Barcelona, a modern and dynamic city, is steeped in history, tradition and cultural influences, with a strong sense of art and architecture and offers a selection of exciting theme parks to choose from.

Learn more about our theme park trips to Barcelona here


Barcelona trip highlights - our groups love...

La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia

Students are left stunned by the unique architecture of La Sagrada Familia, an iconic building in the Barcelona skyline.

Camp Nou

Camp Nou

Inspire greatness in your group at the home of one of the world's most successful sports clubs. View all of the trophies, take in the huge 100,000 seater stadium, and relive FC Barcelona's brilliant history during a guided tour.

Park Güell

Park Güell

The beautiful Park Güell is another must-see on any trip to Barcelona. Situated in the hills to the rear of the city, climbing to the top provides incredible views back over the entire city and out to sea. The park is another part of Antoni Gaudi's significant contribution to the city's architecture; the main attraction being the mosaic terrace.

Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas

Let your group explore Las Ramblas, Barcelona's main boulevard. Bustling with activity day and night, it's a great way to experience the local Catalan culture and see how tourism impacts the city.

Las Golondrinas Boat Trip

Las Golondrinas Boat Trip

This hour-long trip across the Port of Barcelona will allow you to see the main cultural sites along the Port area, including the Maremagnum, Aquarium, the ‘Porta d’Europa’ bridge, a great view of the castle and Montjuïc.

Poble Espanyol

Poble Espanyol

Poble Espanyol is an open-air museum replicating a complete village, consisting of streets and squares of famous or characteristic buildings from all over Spain. Students can practise their language skills in the many buildings housing working craftspeople, souvenir shops, cafés, and restaurants. We also offer interactive workshops on Spanish crafts such as ceramics and leather jewellery, and Spanish cooking.

Port Vell

Port Vell

The renovated harbour area has a number of attractions including the IMAX Cinema and Maremagnum. Students can explore the largest aquarium in Europe, observing over 450 different species and marvellous underwater scenes. Visit the wide range of shops, eateries, an arcade games centre and a state-of-the-art large screen cinema, offering 3D movie experiences, too!

PortAventura

PortAventura

We have been working closely with PortAventura to bring you the very best value tickets. PortAventura has everything to make a trip here unforgettable! Both students and teachers will have a great time in the two amazing parks. PortAventura Park is an astonishing amusement park divided in six thematic areas with many rides and shows. Costa Caribe Aquatic Park is a water park packed with waves and slides. Together you can travel around the six themed areas of the park: Mediterrània, China, México, Polynesia, Far West and SésamoAventura. Take in several shows, from the dazzling wonders of Teatro Imperial in China to the exotic dances of Polynesia and then enjoy the thrills and spills of the many, many rides.

Montjuic

Montjuic

This historic, hilly area provides the best views of Barcelona. Students can explore its wide range of attractions, including the Olympic Stadium and the famous Spanish Village, Poble Espanyol, as well as artisan workshops and tapas bars. The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc offers a spectacular display of colour, light, movement, water and music too!

Gothic Quarter

Gothic Quarter

Originally a Roman Village, this beautiful area is a fantastic combination of old and new with the main attraction of a stunning cathedral. The narrow winding streets, with their many shops and eateries, are great for exploring!

On the ground support...

There’s a lot to contend with when travelling abroad, and many teachers find the service of NST’s Barcelona City Representatives invaluable. We can arrange for your representative to meet you on arrival, assist you with hotel check-in, advise on points of interest and public transport and provide your group with 24 hour emergency assistance. With NST, you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ll never be on your own on your school tour.

Our representatives will also be happy to discuss your programme of visits, offer an insight into your destination and suggest popular evening activities too.

Planning your first school trip?

If you're planning your first school trip, our essential guide will take you through each step of the process...

  • Choosing your destination
  • Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
  • Promoting your tour in school
  • Confirming your booking
  • Tailor-make your tour
  • Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
  • Quick reference timeline
  • Pre-tour checklist

Additional support, resources & information

Tour planning service

Tour planning service

With NST, you’ll get your own dedicated, knowledgeable Tour Co-ordinator who’ll work with you from start to finish. You’ll benefit from their unrivalled destination knowledge, and their experience gained from working with many other groups too. They’ll tailor-make your itinerary from scratch and take care of everything for you: 

  • Pulling together an itinerary that runs smoothly 
  • Planning the right balance of visits every day with realistic timings 
  • Pre-arranging and pre-booking your visits, entrance tickets, passes and meals 

 

You’ll receive your final itinerary a full 4-weeks before you travel too.

Free school trip promotion pack

Free school trip promotion pack

We’ll support you and provide everything you need to advertise your school trip around school and to parents. Our free school trip promotion pack consists of: 

  • Parents’ letter & permission slip template for you to complete A3 posters to promote your trip around school 
  • PowerPoint presentation templates which you can tailor to your own needs 
  • Online parents’ video which showcases the benefits of taking a school trip 

Risk assessment support including preview visits

Risk assessment support including preview visit

Risk assessment plays a vitally important part in the planning and organisation on any school tour.

Our risk assessment guide aims to help you understand more about your obligations and how you can more effectively manage group safety on your next educational visit and provide you with risk assessments for your trip.

Planning first school trip

Planning first school trip

Organising your first school trip can appear to be a daunting process. 

If you're planning your first school trip, our guide will help to take you through each step of the planning process, answering frequently asked questions and providing tips and support along the way. 

Our helpful guide covers the following: 

  • Choosing your destination 
  • Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head 
  • Promoting your tour in school 
  • Confirming your booking 
  • Tailor-make your tour 
  • Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment) 
  • Quick reference timeline 
  • Pre-tour checklist 

 

View our essential guide to a successful school trip here

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Locate My Trip uses GPS technology and is the easy, convenient way for your school to follow your location whilst on tour. Specifically designed to provide reassurance to both parents and teachers, NST will know where your group are 24/7. If your schedule needs to change, we’ll put plans in place to keep your tour on track. 

With Locate My Trip your group can also share photos and videos with the school and parents, via a secure link, to keep them updated on your experience whilst you’re away.

Watch our short Locate My Trip video here

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Save time and stay on track with your school trip admin with our online orgnaniser - designed to help busy teachers like you. 

With My Tour Manager, you'll be able to download FREE resources and access trip paperwork online and in one place. Your personalised checklist details what you need to do and by when, plus you'll receive fortnightly reminders too. 

What's more, you can take all your trip documents on the go whilst on your tour with our app, My Tour Manager-On-the-Go. 

Find out more and watch out short My Tour Manager video here

Free classroom resources

Free classroom resources

We've created a range of free geography resources and educational posters to brighten up your classroom!

Take a look at our downloadable posters here

Why choose NST...

Here's why hundreds of teachers choose NST each year...

  • Unrivalled knowledge

Your dedicated tour co-ordinator will use their unrivalled local knowledge and expertise of Barcelona & Catalonia to create a tailor-made, curriculum-linked itinerary to meet your group’s exact needs.

  • Making it easier for you

With our online school trip organiser, travel app, free classroom posters to support in-school promotion.

  • FREE group leader inspection visits

We offer a free inspection visit to your chosen destination to support your risk assessment planning. 

  • Value for money

We’re committed to bringing you the best possible value trips to help make every penny count.

 

  • More than 20 years’ experience

With over 20 years’ experience, with NST you can rest assured that your group is in safe hands.

  • Risk assessment guidance

Our risk assessment guidance will help you to manage group safety on your next educational trip. 

  • Peace of mind

Your group’s location can be followed with our trip tracking device - Locate My Trip - plus you’ll have 24/7 support from us whilst you’re away.

  • Offsetting carbon emissions

For every trip taken, we'll plant a Maya nut tree in Peru to support reforestation, local communities & biodiversity. Plus, we'll offset an additional tonne of CO2 to guarantee carbon emission reductions. 

Looking for protection on your next school trip? 

Booking with a school travel company is the best way for you to protect parents’ money and give yourself peace of mind.

Financial protection from the moment you book

NST are fully bonded & licensed:

  • ABTA
  • ATOL
  • IATA
  • Commission for Aviation Regulation

 

Managing safety on school trips

For your protection, NST's independently audited Safety Management System covers:

  • 24-hour emergency cover
  • Audited accommodation & transport
  • Excursions & school visit assessment
  • Group leader preview visits to assist with risk assessment planning

Package Travel Regulations 2018

Don't forget - if your school arranges transport, accommodation and other services directly, you’ll be liable under the Package Travel Regulations – meaning you’ll have all the responsibilities of a travel company, both legal and financial. 

We're LOtC Council’s Quality Badge assured

For groups travelling from Northern Ireland... the Department for Education advises schools to always look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing a school travel provider.

Learn more here