Europe -> Southern Europe -> Spain

Barcelona is one of the liveliest and most vibrant cities in the world, and visitors certainly won’t be short of things to do during their stay. Simply walking around the city is an experience and you’ll soon find yourself captivated by the energy of the place. Then there’s the architecture of Antoni Gaudi, which is not to be missed (well you couldn’t even if you wanted to!). There are museums a plenty, great beaches and one of Europe’s best football clubs. The café culture is thriving too, so take some time out to sit back with a drink and watch the world go by.

Here are some of Barcelona top attractions….

La Rambla:

The heart of Barcelona for tourists is La Rambla, the wide boulevard that runs from Placa Catalunya down to Port Vell. A walk down the boulevard is a must during any visit to the city, and is the first port of call for many. Here you can soak up the energy of Barcelona and watch the mingling of cultures as well as all manner of street performers. It’s also a great place for a beer and a bit of people watching. One word of warning though: La Rambla has become a notorious hangout for pickpockets, and scam artists are always on the look out for careless and naïve tourists.

There are a number of landmarks along the way…

The top of La Rambla begins at Placa Catalunya, a huge open square surrounded by some of the city’s most important banks and buildings. Here shoppers will be keen to visit the huge department store, El Corte Ingles. For something a bit different a short walk down La Rambla will bring you to Barcelona’s Erotic Museum, featuring a six-foot tall phallus and such intriguing contraptions as ‘the pleasure chair’. A little further on is the Mercat de la Boqueria, a feast of colour for the eyes with all manner of fresh fruit and vegetables on display. Even if you’re not buying, it’s worth a walk around, though you’ll do well to keep your money in your pocket! After that, you’ll come across the Liceu, one of the world’s finest opera houses. A little further down, tucked away on the left hand side, is the Placa Reial, a beautiful palm tree fringed square that boasts Gaudi’s elaborately designed street lamps. This is another top spot to relax with a drink and soak up the atmosphere. On the opposite side of La Rambla is Palau Guell, another of Gaudi’s architectural achievements. La Rambla ends with the dominating Christopher Columbus monument, built on the spot at which he landed a year after discovering the new world. From here you’ll the huge seafront development built for the 1992 Olympics, featuring lots of bars, shops and restaurants that make it a popular stop during a night out.

Gothic Quarter:

To the east of La Rambla, you’ll find Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. The main focus is the huge Gothic Cathedral, and it’s a breathtaking sight. A stroll through the narrow streets will reward you with some great architecture, and you’ll find some good little markets. You’ll also find plenty of cafes and restaurants.

Sagrada Familia:

This is Barcelona’s premier attraction and it’s easy to see why. Although still unfinished, Antoni Gaudi’s great masterpiece never fails to amaze and inspire with its huge yet intricately sculptured towers. Gaudi worked for 40 years on the project until his death in 1926, though only a small part of the church was finished. He had intended to build 18 towers to represent the ‘holy family’ – 12 for the apostles, 4 for the evangelists, 1 for the Virgin Mary and another, the tallest of all, for Jesus Christ. Construction continued after his death, but confusion over his intentions (he was notorious for constant changes and improvisations), loss of some of his drawings, and lack of funding halted proceedings. Work continues at a good pace today, and much has been added to Gaudi’s original, however the sheer scale of the project means that even the estimated 2026 finish seems a little optimistic. Still, visitors can marvel at both the old and new parts of the monument as well as enjoying breathtaking views from the top of the towers.

Parc Guell:

This is Gaudi’s other great work, and it certainly shows the influence of nature and natural forms in his work. Originally designed as a kind a garden city residence for the wealthy, the peculiar nature of the place didn’t catch on and it was turned into a park instead. The mosaic dragon that dominates the entrance is the signature piece of the park, but stroll on through the park and you’ll be rewarded with a surreal fantasy land combining nature and the man-made as well as great views over the city.

Montjuic:

This hill is located to the south east of the city centre and enjoys commanding views over the harbour. The city metro extends up the hill with a funicular railway and the summit can be reached by cable car. At the top of the hill you can find the old fort Castell de Montjuïc.

In 1929 the Olympic Stadium was built, and was intended to be the venue for an alternative anti-fascist Olympics in 1936. Today it is home to the football club Espanyol. After Barcelona was awarded the 1992 Olympics, this became the centre of the games. The Olypmic Stadium was extensively refurbished and next to it was built the Olympic Ring, which hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the Olympic swimming centre.

Further down the hill towards the city you come across the striking Palau Nacional, which houses the excellent National Art Museum of Catalonia.

Museums:

There are a number of other excellent museums in Barcelona. The Picasso Museum is the most visited in the city, which is hardly surprising since it boasts the largest collection in the world of the great artist’s work. Another famous Spanish artist is celebrated at the Fundacio de Joan Miro. Art fans will also want to visit the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, which houses works from some of the best artists of the last 50 years and has frequently changing exhibitions. La Pedrera is the unusual and irregular apartment bock designed by Gaudi that has now been turned into a museum that houses a collection of renaissance and modern art. Other interesting museums in the city are the Museum of Catalan History and the Maritime Museum.

For sports fan a visit to the Barcelona Football Club Museum is a must. The excellent displays depict the fabulous history of the famous football club. For a bit extra you can join a tour that takes you into the changing rooms and VIP lounge and even sit on the players bench. Even better though, if you get the chance, is to go to a match at the Nou Camp, Barcelona’s huge 90,000 seat stadium. The atmosphere is electric and some of the finest players on the planet are on show.

Beaches:

The 1992 Olympics spurred the city council into a major clean up of Barcelona’s beaches and a regeneration of the waterfront areas. Hitting the beach is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, relax and soak up the sunshine. Probably the busiest beach is Nova Icaria, right next to the Olympic Marina. Just to the east is Bogatell Beach, which has a huge stretch of sand, and the promenade is great for jogging, cycling or roller-blading. Marbella Beach is slightly quieter, and a sheltered part is reserved for nudists. Here you can hire windsurfs and kayaks.

Nightlife:

Barcelona is rightly famous for its nightlife thanks to great venues and a young, energetic population. There is something to cater for all tastes; cheap student bars, exclusive wine bars, modern bars, old character-filled pubs, late night clubs, live music, gay bars and much more. Bars are normally open until 2am, whereas clubs can keep going until the morning. The Catalan ability to party, together with the mix of young people from all over the world, are what make Barcelona’s nightlife so popular.

For a quieter night out, there are some great restaurants in the city where you can find cuisine from all over the world. Avoid the main tourist hub of La Rambla if you want better service and more value for money.

Festivals:

Well this is the land of the fiesta, and Barcelona is no exception. Being Catalonia, festivals differ from other parts of Spain as they mainly celebrate Catalan culture and tradition. The traditional Sardana dance had been outlawed during Franco’s squeeze on Catalan culture, but it is now performed every Sunday outside the cathedral. The 23^rd April is Sant Jordi day, Catalonia’s patron saint (this is the same St.George of dragon slaying fame). June sees the celebration of the summer solstice, or eve of Sant Joan. The biggest festival, however, is perhaps La Merce, celebrated in late Septmeber in honour of Barcelona’s patron saint.

There are two big music festivals held each year in Barcelona: Sonar Music Festival is held in June and is a massive dance music celebration with DJs from all over the world. Primavera Sound Festival is held in late May or early June at the foot of Monjuic and recent years have seen acts such as Aphex Twin, Arcade Fire and the White Stripes.