Port Vell: the old harbour below La Rambla
Port Vell is the harbour area you reach when you walk to the end of La Rambla. The Columbus Monument stands at the entrance, and from there a footbridge, the Rambla de Mar, crosses the water to the Moll d'Espanya. On that quay you find the Maremagnum shopping centre and the Aquarium. Boat trips leave from the Moll de Drassanes, opposite the monument.
You can see the harbour in an hour or spend half a day here. The boat trips and the Aquarium are the two things that need planning. If you would rather have a guide for the walk from the Rambla to the water, look at Barcelona walking tours and the Columbus Monument page for what sits at the entrance.
Our pick: the aquarium in Port Vell
Our take: across the Rambla de Mar footbridge.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Boat trips and tours at Port Vell
Harbour boat trips from the Moll de Drassanes and walking tours along La Rambla, with live prices and availability.
Harbour boat trips from Moll de Drassanes
Adult and child prices in 2026. The boats leave from the quay opposite the Columbus Monument.
| Route | Length | Adult | Middle fare | Child 5–10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harbour and coast | 60 minutes | €13 | €11 | €6 |
| Harbour only | 40 minutes | €9 | €8 | €4 |
An audio guide for the 60-minute trip costs €3 and headphones are not included. Who qualifies for the middle fare is shown when you book. The 60-minute trip is adapted for visitors with reduced mobility, the 40-minute trip is not. The timetables are standard schedules, and weather can change them. The harbour loop may run only on weekends, so check the days before you plan around it.
For most visitors the 60-minute trip is the better choice, because it leaves the harbour and follows the coast. Choose the 40-minute loop if you are short on time.
Rambla de Mar and Maremagnum
The Rambla de Mar is the pedestrian bridge and promenade that carries the Rambla out over the harbour water. It was designed in 1994 by Albert Viaplana and Helio Piñón. A section of the bridge swings open for leisure boats every hour, so a short wait is possible. Allow a few minutes.
At the end of the bridge, Maremagnum is a shopping and dining centre on the Moll d'Espanya. Shops open 10:00–21:00 in winter and 10:00–22:00 in summer, with restaurants and bars open until about 01:00 to 01:30. Check the hours for your date. The nearest metro on the Rambla side is Drassanes.
The Maremagnum car park has 826 spaces and is open 24 hours. Hourly rates change, so look at the current tariff at the entrance. For metro, airport and driving details, see the getting there page.
The Aquarium: ticket types and prices
Prices in 2026. Children aged 0 to 2 enter free.
| Ticket | Age 11+ | Age 5–10 | Age 3–4 | Over 65 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dated day ticket (date and time chosen online) | €30 | €23 | €15 | €25 |
| Flexi ticket (valid 90 days from purchase) | €35 | €28 | €17 | €30 |
The box office and the online shop show the same basic prices. The Aquarium is open 365 days a year from 10:00. The closing time depends on the date, and the last entry is one hour before closing. Reduced rates exist for visitors with a recognized disability: €20 for adults and €14 for children, and a companion is free from a disability level of 65 percent.
For most visitors with a fixed date, the dated ticket is the cheaper choice. The flexi ticket suits a trip where the weather decides the day.
A simple half day at Port Vell
- Start at the monument. Walk the last section of La Rambla, Santa Mònica, and look at the column from below.
- Take a boat. The quay is across the road. Choose the 60-minute trip if you want the coast, the 40-minute loop if you want a short one.
- Cross the Rambla de Mar. Walk out to the Moll d'Espanya for a coffee at Maremagnum. Add the Aquarium if you have children.
- Walk back up. Finish with a meal in the old town. The food tour guide shows tasting routes if you want one.
For plans after dark, see La Rambla at night.
Port Vell: frequently asked questions
What is Port Vell?
Port Vell is the old harbour at the foot of La Rambla. It includes the Rambla de Mar footbridge, the Maremagnum shopping centre on the Moll d'Espanya, the Aquarium and the departure quay of the harbour boats.
How much is a harbour boat trip?
In 2026 the 60-minute harbour and coast trip costs €13 for adults and €6 for children aged 5 to 10. The 40-minute harbour trip costs €9 and €4. A middle fare of €11 and €8 also exists.
How much is the Aquarium?
A dated day ticket costs €30 from age 11, €23 for ages 5 to 10 and €15 for ages 3 to 4. Seniors over 65 pay €25. Children aged 0 to 2 are free. A flexi ticket valid for 90 days costs €35.
Does the Rambla de Mar bridge ever close?
A section swings open every hour for leisure boats, which can interrupt your walk for a short time. Allow a few minutes.
Which metro is closest to Port Vell?
Drassanes on line L3, on the Rambla side of the harbour. Liceu is further up the street.
Is la-rambla.org the official site of the port or its attractions?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the port authority, the Aquarium, Maremagnum or the boat operators.