Best Catamaran Cruises in Barcelona (2026): 12 Tours Compared

A catamaran cruise is one of the best ways to see Barcelona from a different angle, swapping the crowded old town for the open Mediterranean, the city skyline, and the Sagrada Família and Montjuïc from the water. This guide compares Barcelona's most-booked catamaran cruises side by side on price, reviews, duration, what is included, and departure marina, so you can choose between a quick sightseeing sail, a sunset cruise with live jazz, a sail-and-swim trip with an open bar, or a private charter.

We cover the full range, from the €17 one-hour music cruise to a €76 four-hour sail with a swim stop, and both of the big names travelers search for: Orsom, the well-known sailing catamaran that leaves from Port Vell, and BlueMagicCat, whose sailing trips depart from Port Olímpic. To round out your trip, pair a sail with a flamenco show in Barcelona or a Barcelona food tour, or an after-dark Gothic Quarter ghost tour, and browse all our Barcelona travel guides to plan the rest.

Almost every Barcelona catamaran offers both a daytime and a sunset departure, and the two are quite different trips. Here is how to choose.

Daytime sails

Daytime departures are about the sea and the sun: bright skyline views, warm decks for sunbathing, and, on the sailing trips from Port Olímpic, a stop to swim in the Mediterranean, sometimes with paddleboards. We'd give them the edge if you want to get in the water and have the most active, beachy version of the day. BlueMagicCat's midday sail and the party BBQ cruise are the clearest day-and-swim options.

Sunset cruises

Sunset departures are the most in-demand, and it is easy to see why: the skyline and the sails turn golden, the mood is calmer, and a drink on deck at dusk is hard to beat. The Orsom Sunset Jazz Cruise adds live music to the light, and the BlueMagicCat and luxury sunset sails add wine, cava, and tapas. The trade-off is that sunset trips do not stop to swim and sell out first, so book ahead, especially in summer.

Barcelona's catamaran cruises leave from two main marinas, and knowing which operator sails from where helps you pick, and get to the right pier.

• Orsom, from Port Vell: Orsom is Barcelona's best-known sailing catamaran, an 80-passenger boat with a bar and a sun deck that leaves from Moll de les Drassanes at the bottom of Las Ramblas. It runs the day sail, the budget jazz-option cruise, the tapa-and-drink sail, and the flagship Sunset Jazz Cruise, all focused on sailing and skyline views rather than a swim.
• BlueMagicCat, from Port Olímpic: BlueMagicCat runs smaller, more sociable sailing catamarans from Port Olímpic, about 15 minutes from the center. Its trips lean into the sailing and the sea: an open bar with wine, cava, and beer, snacks, and a mid-sea swim stop on the daytime sails, plus private charters for up to around 12 people.
• Budget, party, and luxury boats: The €17 one-hour music cruise is a large comfort catamaran from Port Vell, the BBQ party cruise and the luxury sunset sail leave from Port Olímpic, and the Turtur day-or-sunset cruise also departs from the Olympic Port area. These fill the gaps between the two big names on price and style.

Whichever you pick, the marinas are both an easy walk or metro ride from the center, so we'd choose on the kind of sail you want rather than where the boat leaves from. Just double-check your meeting point, since Port Vell and Port Olímpic are a couple of kilometers apart.

The two names most people compare are Orsom and BlueMagicCat, and they are genuinely different trips. The short version: Orsom is the classic big-boat sunset sail from Port Vell, while BlueMagicCat is a smaller, all-inclusive sailing trip from Port Olímpic with an open bar and a swim. Here is how they stack up.

Is Orsom worth it?

For a first Barcelona sunset on the water, we think Orsom is worth it. It is an 80-passenger sailing catamaran with a bar and a sun deck, and its Sunset Jazz Cruise (from €28) pairs live jazz with the skyline at golden hour, which is why it is the name most travelers search for. It is also cheap for what you get, with day and jazz-option sails from €18. The caveats: it is a big, sometimes busy boat, so arrive early to grab the bow nets; drinks are bought at the bar rather than included (sangria around €4); and on a calm day it may motor rather than sail. If you want the iconic, well-priced sunset sail, Orsom is the easy choice.

Is BlueMagicCat worth it?

BlueMagicCat is worth the higher price if you want a smaller, more sociable sail with drinks and a swim included. Its trips leave from Port Olímpic on smaller catamarans, with an open bar (wine, cava, beer, and soft drinks), snacks, and a mid-sea swim stop on the daytime sails, from €45 to €76 for a 2 to 4-hour trip, plus private charters. You pay more than Orsom, but you get an all-in experience and a quieter boat rather than a big-group cruise.

The verdict

Choose Orsom for the classic, affordable big-boat sunset with jazz and skyline views, paying at the bar. Choose BlueMagicCat for a smaller sail with an open bar and a swim built in, if you do not mind paying more. If your priority is the sunset and the atmosphere, we'd lean Orsom; if it is drinks and a dip in the sea, we'd lean BlueMagicCat.

Sunset is the most popular time to sail in Barcelona, and three cruises stand out. The best sunset catamaran cruise overall is the Orsom Sunset Jazz Cruise (€28, 4.7 from over 3,300 reviews), a 90-minute sail from Port Vell with live jazz and the skyline glowing at golden hour, the best blend of price, atmosphere, and reviews.

For a smaller, all-inclusive sunset, the BlueMagicCat sunset sail (€55) adds wine and a tapa on a more intimate boat from Port Olímpic, and the Luxury Catamaran Sunset Cruise (€35) leans upscale with cava, tapas, and snacks. All three focus on the light and the views rather than a swim, and all sell out first in summer, so book your sunset slot ahead.

Beyond the sunset sails, a few cruises are the clear pick for specific plans.

Best party boat in Barcelona

The Catamaran Party Cruise with BBQ Meal (€50) is the party pick: a 3-hour trip from Port Olímpic with a swim stop near Badalona, a BBQ meal, unlimited soft drinks plus a couple of beers or sangrias, and music and dancing on deck. It suits groups and younger travelers who want food, drinks, and a swim over a quiet sail. Come for the atmosphere and the swim, since the BBQ itself is simple.

Best private catamaran in Barcelona

For a group or a special occasion, the Private Catamaran Sailing charter (from €790 per boat) gives you the whole catamaran from Port Olímpic for about 3 hours, with a skipper, drinks, and snacks, for up to around 12 people. Split between a group it is competitive with the per-person sails, and you get the boat, the route, and the pace to yourselves.

Best budget catamaran cruise

The cheapest way onto the water is the €17 Daytime or Sunset Cruise with Music, a one-hour sightseeing sail from Port Vell on a large comfort catamaran, or the €18 Orsom jazz-option sail for a genuine sailing catamaran at close to the same price. Both keep the cost down; the trade-off is a shorter, more crowded ride with little included.

All twelve are genuine catamaran cruises, so the right one comes down to time of day, what you want included, and how long you want on the water. While the Orsom Sunset Jazz Cruise is our pick for the classic experience, it is not the only right answer: travelers who want a swim and an open bar may prefer a BlueMagicCat sail despite the higher price. Here is how we'd match them to different travelers.

• Best overall / best sunset: the Orsom Sunset Cruise with Live Music, the signature Barcelona sail with jazz and skyline views at €28.
• Best value: the €17 Daytime or Sunset Cruise with Music for a quick, cheap hour on the water, or the €18 Orsom jazz-option sail for a better-rated sailing catamaran.
• Best for a swim: the BlueMagicCat midday sail or the party BBQ cruise, the clearest day-and-swim options with a stop in the sea.
• Best open bar: the BlueMagicCat sails, which include wine, cava, beer, and snacks rather than a bar you pay at.
• Best for a party: the Catamaran Party Cruise with BBQ Meal, with a swim stop, food, drinks, and dancing over 3 hours.
• Best luxury or private: the Luxury Catamaran Sunset Cruise with cava and tapas, or the private charter for up to around 12 people.

A catamaran cruise in Barcelona costs about €17 to €76 per person, or from €790 for a private charter of the whole boat. The price mostly tracks the length of the sail and what is included, from a bare one-hour ride to a four-hour trip with an open bar and a swim. What typically matters more than the headline price is what the ticket actually includes and whether there is enough wind to sail that day, since a €17 sail is the ride only while a €49 sail includes an open bar and a swim. Here is how the tiers break down.

• Decide day or sunset first: It is the biggest difference. Sunset sails have the skyline glow and the atmosphere; daytime sails have the light and, on the sailing trips, a swim stop. Only the daytime departures stop to swim.
• Read the inclusions, not just the price: A €17 sail is the ride only with a bar to buy from, while a €49 BlueMagicCat sail includes an open bar and a swim. Compare what is actually included before you compare prices.
• Book sunset cruises ahead: Sunset departures are the most popular and sell out first, especially in summer and on weekends. Most cruises offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so you can lock in a date and adjust if plans change.
• Check the marina: Orsom and the budget music cruise leave from Port Vell (Moll de les Drassanes), while BlueMagicCat, the party boat, and the luxury and private sails leave from Port Olímpic, a couple of kilometers away. Confirm which before you set out.
• For a swim, bring a towel and swimwear: The daytime BlueMagicCat and party cruises stop to swim, so pack accordingly; the sunset sails do not. The swim also depends on the sea, since a rough or choppy day can shorten or cancel it.
• Consider the boat size: The €17 cruise is a big comfort catamaran that carries a lot of people, while the BlueMagicCat and private sails are smaller and more intimate. Pick based on whether you want a lively deck or a quieter sail.
• Arrive early for the bow nets: On the sailing catamarans, the trampoline nets at the front are the best seats and there are only a few spaces, so turn up well before departure if you want one.
• Expect a cruise, not always a sail: With light wind the crew often motors rather than raising the sails, and a choppy sea can keep the boat near the port, so come for the skyline, the drinks, and the atmosphere rather than a hard sailing experience.
• Bring sun protection and a layer: Decks are exposed, so sunscreen and a hat help in the day, and a light layer is worth having once the sun goes down on a sunset sail.
• Pair it with the rest of your day: A short sail slots neatly around the beach, dinner in Barceloneta, a flamenco show in Barcelona, or a Barcelona food tour.