If you are using a GPS or you like to get lost (get lost is an adventure) because you are using a worn out plan, which a friend who has been in Barcelona 5 years ago, has given to you just before you started your trip or you use an Online route planner, you don´t need to read this article which opens our blog, somehow late. And I say late because we are one of the last agencies for holiday apartments in opening our blog. The why, may be we will explain it later, it`s not the right moment now. If you want to visit Barcelona by car on the motorway, coming from France on the A9-E15, you have to make two "big" decisions. But before these decisions, there are others to consider. For example, refill the gas tank. But on which side of the border, in France or in Spain? And that depends on the gasoline price in this very moment, but I will check it just now. Ok, I am back...in the first gas station of the AP7-E15 after the french border 1 litre of diesel costs 1,189 euros and the unleaded gasoline95 1,285 euros, source: http://servicios.elpais.com/gasolineras/index.html. In the last gas station before the Spanish border, in France, 1 litre of diesel costs 1,394 euros and the unleaded gasolineSP95 1,450 euros, source: www.zagaz.com. Now we are coming to the first big decision, after having passed the toll point (peaje) Roca del Vallés, what is right? To take the C33 or do we stay on the AP7. After the toll, you will come to the first signs and you will see it more or less clear, because there are 2 traffic sign directions: one is saying C33 Barcelona (on the left sign) and the other you will see the different destinations to where the AP7 lead:
But a bit further on you can see on the sign on the right: AP7 Barcelona - Tunels de Vallvidriera – Port – Zona Franca:
What you should know is that the route C33 (which is called in the last sector on the google maps A-17, the former name) is much shorter to get to the centre of Barcelona and other aereas of the city. And this road, the C33 is the route which leads to the second "big" decision: Should I take the Rondes (Rondas) or would it be better to continue on the Avinguda Meridiana?
Las Rondes are fast 2-lane ring roads of Barcelona. The Ronda del Litoral and the Ronda de Dalt are the ones which are here the important one. You are driving on the C33 and there comes the great moment: Should I take the Rondes when I see the sign or do I stay on the C33 and will get finally to the Avinguda Meridiana? There is only one second to decide and taking the wrong decision, you could loose half an hour. If our accomodation is situated in the Sagrada Familia zone (Eixample Dreta), the decision must be clear, stay on the Av.Meridiana and you will be in the Eixample entering the Mallorca street. If you go to the Eixample Esquerra, it would be better to take the Aragó street, which is a street with more lanes and where the traffic lights are sincronized, so that if there is'n much traffic, you will get through some of them with green light (don't forget, the speed limit in the city is 50 km/per hour and in some street 30 km/per hour). If your destination is closer to the Plaza Espanya than the Plaza Universitat, just forget about the Avinguda Meridiana and take the Ronda del Litoral (B-10) and take the exit nº 21. This exit 21 is the way to go to the Gothic Quarter, Raval or Poble Sec quarter. For the Barceloneta quarter, La Ribera-Sant Pere-Santa Caterina-El Born quarter and generally the zones around the Parc de la Ciutadella, the exit is nº 22. For the Vila Olimpica it's nº 23 and for the Poblenou y Diagonal mar it's nº 24. If your destinations are the districts of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Les Corts or the northern zones of the Gràcia and Horta-Guinardó districts, take the Ronda de Dalt (B-20). There will always be some kind of uncertainty but anyway the option of Rondas or Avinguda Merdiana will always be equally valid.
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