BARCELONA
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE
by
Clàudia and Marcel Sandé
 BARRIOS DE ​
BARCELONA
(barrio = neighborhood or district)

Barri Gòtic​
· (Gothic quarter)
The heart of the Roman settlement of Barcelona lay within what later
became the medieval city and today is the most visited area by tourists and
also the most loved by locals.

Plaça Sant Jaume is the site of the Roman forum and it is flanked by two of
Barcelona’s most important symbols of Catalan self-rule: the Casa de la
Ciutat (town hall) and the Palau de la Generalitat (office of the Catalan
Presidency). From Roman times until today, the political center has not
moved!

Las Ramblas is a broad, tree-lined pedestrian boulevard dotted with cafes,

newsstands, tourists and locals. It cuts through the two most populated
neighborhoods, the Gòtic and the Raval. The hit on this promenade is the
Boqueria market, probably the best market in the city. Even if it looks
touristy, you will also find grannies shopping. The fish and seafood section
is especially interesting.

 
Raval
El Raval, the area to the west of Las Ramblas, was historically known for its
monasteries and also for the drinking and vagrancy that took place there.
Today, it is being rejuvenated with creative and entrepreneurial energy. It
is a neighborhood of many ethnicities and this is apparent in the diverse
selection of restaurants and its community.
 
 

El Born
This area in the district of La Ribera used to be the harbor that once almost
rested on the seashore, and is now home to the majestic church of Santa
Maria del Mar​ . In the Middle Ages, Passeig del Born was the center of the
city where people gathered to talk but also to watch the public executions.

Formerly a bulk goods market, Mercat del Born is now a museum and
cultural center dedicated to the Catalan battle of 1714. Just behind it you
can find Parc de la Ciutadella, which used to be a citadel. In 1888, it was
remodeled to host the Universal Exhibition and is now a beautiful park. 
 Barceloneta
This area was once called ​Somorrostro and was the home to fishermen
and immigrants from other parts of Spain (mainly the South). Some famous
flamenco dancers, for instance, Carmen Amaya, were born here, and the
Rumba Catalana​ was played in taverns until the early morning.

In 1988, in pre-Olympic days, the decision was taken to demolish the old
beachfront restaurants, known as ​ xiringuitos​
, and public baths, heralding a
process of opening the city up to the sea and the modernization of an area
which now offers beaches as the main attraction.
 
 
Montjuïc
Montjuïc is a broad shallow hill with a relatively flat top overlooking the
harbor, to the southwest of the city center. The hill used to be the Jewish
cemetery and it was turned into a park in the 1890s.

Montjuïc has a dark history, as the castle on the hill was used by the
Castilians to bombard the city after political disturbances, and it also
served as a political prison during Franco’s regime. Today it is a pleasant
park with many gardens and museums. It offers amazing views of the city
and an open-air cinema in July.
 
 
L’Eixample
Barcelona was contained to what we know today as the Ciutat Vella (old
city) until 1860 when the walls were taken down. L’Eixample (expansion
district) was created and extended the city limits toward the pre-existing
villages (such as Gràcia).

Ildefons Cerdà, a utopian socialist urban planner, designed the area in a

grid system with green spaces in between housing developments. Following
this ideology, the urban plan was designed to create equal spaces for all
residents with the intention to diminish social segregation, although this
dream was never realized.

Much of the Catalan bourgeoisie gathered there, as exemplified in many of

the architectural modernist gems along the Passeig de Gràcia.

 
 
 
 
 Gràcia
Gràcia is one of the many villages that integrated into the municipal fold
with the creation of L’Eixample. The mostly single-lane streets of this
neighborhood, punctuated by ​ places ​
(squares), retain a familial, friendly
and social neighborhood feel. There are many restaurants, cafes and
shops in this area.

Park Güell is where Gaudí turned his hand to landscape gardening. It is a

strange, enchanting place where his passion for natural forms really took
flight.
 
 
Les Corts and Pedralbes
The district of Les Corts spans the western half of the Avinguda Diagonal,
the part furthest away from the sea. It was formerly a village of the same
name, which, like Gràcia, Sants and Sant Martí, was annexed by Barcelona
during the late 19th century. There you can find the iconic FC Barcelona
stadium, Camp Nou.

Pedralbes is the area in the north side of Avinguda Diagonal. Even though
this neighborhood is mainly residential, there are some beautiful
landmarks like the Palau Reial (royal palace) and the monastery of
Pedralbes.
 
 
Sant Gervasi-Galvany
Sant Gervasi – Galvany is a neighborhood in the Sarrià – Sant Gervasi
district. The name of the neighborhood refers to one of the parts of the
former municipality of Sant Gervasi de Cassoles; and the Camp d'en
Galvany urbanization which was started in 1866 by its owner, Josep
Galvany Castelló. The Galvany name became popular when the Galvany
market was built.

It is an area with a lot of bars, restaurants and nightspots, as well many

different kinds of shops. One of the most visited places is the Turó Park,
which is a quaint park built in the early 20th century.

 
 
 
 
 WHAT TO DO IN​
BARCELONA
Things to see in every b
​arrio

All the following recommendations are about places we’ve

been to. Some are more touristy than the others, but they’re
all worth it! The ones marked with a ​ ★ are places you
definitely cannot miss.

 
EL GòTIC
 
Plaça Catalunya
Plaça Catalunya is pretty much the center of Barcelona. It’s a typical
meeting point and the start of Les Rambles.

★Les Rambles
Probably the most famous street in Barcelona, it’s a boulevard that takes
you from the city center to the sea, with a statue of Columbus presiding the
end. There are many landmarks along the way, like the ​ Gran Teatre del
Liceu (the opera theatre), the ​
Palau de la Virreina (an 18th-century palace,
home to the city's cultural department, hosting exhibitions and events, most
of them free) and the ​Boqueria​ market. All of these are worth visiting.

It’s crowded with tourists, and pickpockets know that,

so be careful with your belongings.

Museu Frederic Marès

This art and sculpture museum contains the collection of thousands of
items donated to the city by Catalan sculptor Frederic Marès.

Opening hours Tue – Sat: 10 – 19h

Sun: 11 – 20h

Admission Adults: 4,20€

Reduced fee: 2,40€ (16 – 19-year-olds)
Free for children under 16 / first Sunday of the month
(11 – 20h) and Sunday afternoons (15h–)
★Plaça del Rei
th​
It’s a 14​ -century square with many historic buildings, which formed the
royal palace in medieval ages. It’s said that King Ferdinand and Queen
Isabella received Columbus in this square when he first returned from
discovering the New World. There is also the ​
Museu d’Història de la Ciutat
(Museum of the History of the City)

★La Catedral
This is the official cathedral of Barcelona (not to be confused with the
Sagrada Família). Built in honor of Santa Eulàlia, patron saint of Barcelona,
who was a 13-year-old girl when she was tortured and murdered by the
romans. In honor of her age, there are 13 geese living inside the cathedral.

Opening hours Mon – Fri: 8 – 19.30h

Sat – Sun: 8 – 20h

Admission Mon – Sat: 13 – 17.30h entry with donation

Sun: 14 – 17h entry with donation
Admission is free the rest of the day

★Sant Felip Neri

It’s a small square with an almost magical atmosphere that’s usually quiet
and isolated from all the buzz going on in the busy gothic quarter. It’s
named after its baroque-style church, which still has dents in the façade
left by a bomb thrown during the Spanish civil war.

In an adjacent street you can find one the best and cutest soap stores in
Barcelona, ​
Sabater Hermanos​ .

★Plaça Sant Jaume

Used to be the Roman forum, now is the home to the
town hall and the Catalan government. There is a
Catalan tradition called ​ castellers​
, which consists of
building human towers or castles. When it’s the patron
saint festivities of Barcelona, they gather in Plaça Sant
Jaume and try to build the highest ​ castell​
. Next to the
Plaça there is a ​ metal sculpture that is as tall as the
castell​
highest ​ ever built.

Església de Sant Just

A beautiful gothic-style church that remains quite unknown by locals and
tourists.

Opening times 11 – 14h / 17 – 20h

Carrer Ferran
This street links Plaça Sant Jaume and La Rambla, and is one of
Barcelona’s most atmospheric streets. In the 1920s many Barcelonians
used to go there for a stroll and to admire the window displays of the city’s
most elegant shops. From the end of the 19th century it has been the home
of some of Barcelona’s most important jewelers and silversmiths.

★Plaça Reial
Not to be confused with Plaça del Rei, this is a beautiful square built in a
regal style, similar to the squares you can find in Madrid (which is rare in
Barcelona). It is the only square in Barcelona that has arches. Also, three of
its lanterns were designed by ​ Antoni Gaudí​. There are many restaurants
and nightclubs, which make it very lively at night.

★Plaça del Pi and Santa Maria del Pi

th​
Santa Maria del Pi is a 14​ -century gothic church located in a square of
the same name (square of the pine). The church has one of the biggest rose
windows in Europe.

The square is one of the most interesting places of the Gothic quarter.
Together with its neighboring ​ Plaça de Sant Josep Oriol, ​
Plaça del Pi has an
authentic bohemian atmosphere. The square is surrounded by old
decorated façades, antique shops, bars and restaurants with interesting
cuisine. There is also a nice little market dedicated to artisan products.

There is a store called La Manual Alpargatera where they sell espadrilles

(in Catalan ​
espardenyes and ​alpargatas in Spanish) a traditional Catalan
shoe.

Carrer Petritxol
A charming narrow street near Plaça del Pi, it’s a favorite among locals. It’s
known for its jewelers, art galleries, but mainly for its ​
granjes – cafès that
specialize in dairy products and pastries. Going to a ​ granja to have ​hot
chocolate with churros or ​ melindros is a typical Catalan experience. The
most well-known is probably ​ Granja La Pallaresa.

Església de Santa Anna

th
It’s a church and former monastery whose construction began in the 12​
century. It’s built in Romanesque and Gothic style, and its cloister is still
preserved.
 
 
 
 RAVAL
 
★Mercat de la Boqueria
As mentioned before, it’s in Les Rambles. It’s one of the best markets in
Barcelona with many colorful and interesting stands. If you’re hungry you
can eat at bar ​
Pinotxo, ​
a very emblematic and popular market bar.

★Rambla del Raval

This boulevard is the most important street in the area. There you can find
a very singular ​
sculpture of a cat by the famous Colombian artist Fernando
Botero​, which has become very iconic in Barcelona.

In this street there is a hotel called ​

Hotel Barceló Raval​. You can take the
th
elevator and head to the 11​floor, where there is a 360º terrace with
spectacular panoramic views of the city. It’s open to both guests and
general public and it has a swimming pool and a small bar. Most viewpoints
of Barcelona are in the outskirts of the city, which makes this terrace in the
middle of Barcelona a very special place. We highly recommend you go and
enjoy the views while you rest a bit from all the walking through the city
center.

MACBA
The ​Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona or MACBA is the museum of
contemporary art. It is a white, diaphanous building with huge windows in
front of a Gothic chapel. You can always find skaters in the square doing
tricks. The museum’s programme explores the visual arts, performance,
dance, film, music, etc.

Opening hours Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat: 11 – 20h

Tue: closed
Thu: 11 – 21h
Sun: 10 – 15h

Admission Adults: 10€

Reduced admission for students, senior citizens, etc.
Free admission for children under 14

CCCB
Located behind the MACBA, it’s an exhibition and arts center that organizes
and produces exhibitions, debates, festivals and concerts as well as film
cycles and lectures. The underlying aim of these activities is to generate
debate, thinking and reflection on the theme of the city and public space,
and other issues that define current affairs.
 Mirador,​
Another good viewpoint in the middle of the city is its ​ ​
which opens
to the public the first Sunday of every month.

Opening hours Tue – Sun: 11 – 20h

Mondays closed

Admission 6€ for 1 expo / 8€ for 2 expos

Reduced fee for under-25s
Free admission for children under 12 / Sun 15 – 20h

Carrer Tallers
This street, usually missed by tourists, is the link between Gòtic and Raval,
halfway Plaça Catalunya and MACBA. It’s full of vintage stores,
restaurants, bars and spots to relax.

★Sant Pau del Camp

This Romanesque church and former monastery is one of the oldest
surviving churches. It is one of the most beautiful and special buildings in
Barcelona, its cloister in particular, and yet it has managed to stay away
from the tourists’ radar.

Opening hours Mon – Sat: 10 – 13h / 16 – 19h

Admission 3€

Plaça de Sant Agustí

Charming little square named after the convent that now is a neo-classical
style church.

Palau Güell
A modernist mansion built by ​ Antoni Gaudí​ , a few steps from Les Rambles.
It’s one of his earlier works and it is modeled after venetian palaces.

Opening hours 10 – 20h

Admission Adults: 10€

Reduced fee for students over 18: 8€
Reduced fee for children aged 10 – 17: 5€
Free for children under 10

Museu Marítim
This museum holds a major collection of exhibits that are illustrative of
Catalan seafaring culture and make it easier to understand the factors that
influenced the country's maritime history.
The museum takes you on a journey through the history of seafaring with
spectacular recreations of authentic maritime settings.

Opening hours 10 – 20h daily

Admission Adults: 7€
Reduced fee for under-25s with student ID: 3,5€
Free for children under 17 / Sun after 15h

Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau

Now located near Sagrada Família, the old hospital building used to lie
here. It currently hosts the ​
Biblioteca de Catalunya (library of Catalonia).
th
Founded by the King in the 15​ century, this was the hospital where Gaudí
died after being run over by a tram.
 
 
 
EL BORN
 
★Palau de la Música
This beautiful concert hall was built in 1908 by modernist architect Lluís
Domènech i Montaner for the choral society L’Orfeó Català. The Palau is a
true symbol of Catalan culture not only due to the artistic importance of the
building, which is a modernist masterpiece that brings together all the
decorative arts: sculpture, mosaic, stained glass and ironwork; but also to
the effort that has been made throughout its history to promote Catalan
composers and artists.

You can access the cafeteria and see some of the entrance hall, but if you
want to visit the rest you need to book a guided tour.

http://www.palaumusica.cat/en/buy-tickets_38011

★Mercat de Santa Caterina

th
This market built in the 19​ century owes its name to a convent that used to
lie there. It is covered by an undulating, brightly colored roof.

Museu Picasso
This museum shows the solid bond between the Málaga-born genius and
the city of Barcelona. The permanent collection comprises over 3,800
works from different periods, but with particular emphasis on works from
his formative years and youth. The Museu Picasso also features the
extraordinary Las Meninas series, works from the Blue Period, as well as
an extensive programme of exhibitions which complement the permanent
collections.
Opening hours Tue – Sun: 9 – 19h (Thu until 21.30h)
Mon closed

Admission Adults: 11€ (14€ + temporary exhibition)

Reduced fee for 18 – 25-year-olds: 7€
Free for under 18-year-olds and university students
with ID / on Sundays

Tickets are for a particular entrance time (it’s a small museum so they need
to control the number of people inside). That’s why we recommend you
book the tickets online, so you are sure when you get there you can go in;
otherwise you may line for a long time and when you get your tickets the
entrance time is much later. You need to book Sunday visits as well, even if
they’re free.

http://www.bcn.cat/museupicasso/en/museum/times.html

Casa dels entremesos

During special festivities, there is a Catalan tradition of dressing up in
paper-maché giant costumes or heads, which take many different forms:
giants, dwarfs, bestiary, devils, etc. When these are not being used they are
stored in the Casa dels Entremesos. It’s a nice way to discover Catalan
folklore and kids will be sure to enjoy it.

Opening hours Tue – Sat: 10 – 13h / 16 – 19h

Sun: 11 – 14
Mon closed

Casa Gispert
Casa Gispert is one of the oldest food stores in Barcelona. They have been
selling products from overseas since 1851: nuts, dried fruits, coffee, tea,
cocoa, and spices like vanilla, cinnamon, saffron…and the inside has been
kept like a museum but still working. Nowadays, they also sell a large
assortment of organic products, extra virgin olive oils, chocolates, nougats,
honeys, jams, etc. Good place to buy souvenirs.

Estació de França
th
The most beautiful train station in Barcelona, it was built in the 19​ century
and designed in a mixture of classical and modernist elements.

★Santa Maria del Mar

The basilica of Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona is one of the most perfect
examples of Gothic style architecture, since it was built in just 55 years
(most churches took more than a century to build, which usually involved
changes in architectural style).
It was built by the people of Barcelona who could not make donations to the
actual cathedral, so they contributed with manual labor after their shifts.
This is why it is know as the “​
cathedral of the people​
”.

Opening hours Mon – Sat: 9 – 13h / 17 – 20.30h

Sun: 10 – 14h / 17 – 20h

★Centre Cultural del Born

Under the structure of an emblematic market with iron casting
architecture of the 19th century you can find the archaeological site of
1700 Barcelona. At ​El Born Centre Cultural ​
you can learn about life in
Barcelona in the 18th century, as well as all the historical events
surrounding the War of Spanish Succession.

The battle of 1714 shaped Catalan history like no other historical event,
and even though it ended in defeat, Catalans still commemorate it every
year with the national day celebrations.

★Arc de triomf
In 1888 Barcelona hosted the Universal Exhibition. The Arc de Triomf was
built as the gateway to the fair which was held in the Parc de la Ciutadella.
The monument is classical in shape and proportions and features
groundbreaking sculptural and decorative finishes replete with symbolism.
It has become one of the city's iconic landmarks.

★Parc de la Ciutadella and the zoo

Parc de la Ciutadella, Barcelona's urban "green lung", is no ordinary park.
In 1869, the demolition of the military citadel, built a century earlier by
Philip V, was highly significant for a boom Barcelona with its sights firmly
set on the 1888 Universal Exhibition.

Relics of the exhibition can still be seen today in the park, with buildings
such as the ​Castell dels Tres Dragons by the famous modernist architect
Domènech i Montaner, the ​ waterfall and lake​, and the beautiful plant house,
the ​
Umbracle​ , and glass house, the ​
Hivernacle​ .

The ​
Barcelona Zoo has stood on the other side of the park since 1892. The
Catalan Parliament stands in the parade ground, in the former military
arsenal of the citadel.

A​giant mammoth and a bandstand are among the other elements which
surprise visitors to this vibrant central park in Barcelona, which covers an
area of 18 hectares.

Opening hours (​
zoo​
) Mon – Sun: 10 – 20h
Admission Adults 19,90€
Reduced fee for children aged 3 – 12: 11,95€
20% off if you buy tickets online
http://www.zoobarcelona.cat/en/home/

L’ E I X A M P L E
★Passeig de Gràcia
This elegant, majestic boulevard was a showcase for Barcelona's
bourgeoisie at the turn of the 19th century, and links Plaça Catalunya with
the district of Gràcia, hence its name. The presence of Barcelona's finest
modernist buildings makes this avenue a veritable open-air museum.

★La Pedrera
Casa Milà or La Pedrera is a blend of fantasy and functionality. It’s the
culmination of ​ Antoni Gaudí's career, designed as a modernist building
tailored to the new social needs, without forgetting his main source of
inspiration: nature and organic forms.

You can visit by day, by night, or both! It’s better to book your tickets online.
https://www.lapedrera.com/en/home

★Mansana (or illa) de la discòrdia

Meaning block of discord in English, it’s a city block on Passeig de Gràcia
that has buildings by four of Barcelona's most important modernist
architects: Lluís Domènech i Montaner (​ Casa Lleó-Morera​ ), Antoni Gaudí
(​
Casa Batlló​ ), Josep Puig i Cadafalch (​ Casa Amatller​ ) and Enric Sagnier
(​
Casa Mulleras​ ), in close proximity. As the four architects' styles were very
different, the buildings clash with each other and the neighboring buildings.
They were all built in the early years of the 20th century.

All of them are beautiful buildings, though the most famous one is Casa
Batlló by Gaudí.

You can buy tickets here (they’re a bit pricey)

https://www.casabatllo.es/en/online-tickets/

Fundació Antoni Tàpies

The Fundació Antoni Tàpies is a cultural center and museum dedicated
mainly to the life and works of painter ​
Antoni Tàpies​
, who was one of the
most important artists of post-war Europe. The Fundació is located in a
modernist building by Domenech i Montaner, and is presided by Tàpies’s
Núvol i cadira​
work called “​ ” (cloud and chair).
Opening hours Tue – Sun: 10 – 19h
Mon closed

Admission Adults: 7€
Reduced fee: 5,60€

Palau Robert
Palau Robert is a neo-classical style palace that used to be the private
residence of an aristocrat at the turn of the 20th century. Nowadays it’s a
government-run institution which hosts an exhibition center with three
halls, a concert hall, gardens as well as the ​ Information Center for
Catalonia​
, including the city's tourism bureau.

Rambla Catalunya
A tree-lined street that runs parallel to Passeig de Gràcia. Along the
boulevard you can find a great variety of shops, restaurants, bars, art
galleries, etc. You can also feel a touch of ​
modernisme.

Enric Granados
Named after the Catalan pianist and composer, it’s one of the most popular
streets right now in Barcelona, especially for food and drinks. There is a
huge number of bars and restaurants all along the street, and since it’s
almost pedestrian, there are a lot of terraces.

MONTJUïC
 
Las Arenas
A former bullfighting ring, now it’s a trendy shopping mall. There are many
restaurants on the top floor that have great views.

★MNAC
The ​
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) is the national museum of
art of Catalonia. It is housed in the Palau Nacional, a landmark building
dating from the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition, which has
wonderful views over the city.

The Museu Nacional takes you on an uninterrupted journey through a

thousand years of Catalan art, from the 10th to the 20th centuries, through
its four permanent collections: Romanesque and Gothic art, Renaissance
and Baroque art, Modern art, photography, drawings, prints and posters
and the Catalan Numismatic Department.

If you only want to visit one museum in Barcelona, we recommend this one.
We also recommend you check the terrace, which is a beautiful spot with
amazing views of Barcelona. Recently they have started a bar service open
Thu – Sat from 20 to 00h.

Opening hours Tue – Sat: 10 – 20h

Sun: 10 – 15h
Mon closed

Admission Adults: 12€ (valid for 2 days)

Reduced fee for students (30% discounts)
Free for children under 16 / Sat after 15h / first
Sunday of each month

Fundació Miró
Over the years, the ​Joan Miró Foundation has become a major point of
reference on the world art scene and offers a wide range of contemporary
art exhibitions, encompassing the avant-garde and the latest artistic
trends. It has hundreds of paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings by the
Catalan surrealist genius Joan Miró.

Opening hours Tue – Sat: 10 – 20h (Thu 21h)

Sun: 10 – 14h
Mon closed

Admission Adults: 11€

Reduced fee: 7€
Free for children under 16

Castell de Montjuïc
The Castle of Montjuïc is a military fortress with roots dating back from
1960, though it was rebuilt in the late 18th century.

In the last 350 years the castle has played a decisive role in the history of
Barcelona since it was used to bombard the city and as a prison and
torture century after the Catalan defeat to Spain in 1714.

It is especially infamous in Catalan history because of its role in the Civil

War from 1936 to 39 when both sides of the conflict imprisoned, tortured
and shot political prisoners at Montjuïc. Among them was Lluís Companys,
who was the president of the Generalitat de Catalunya while the Spanish
Civil War. Companys was executed by the dictator Franco's regime at
Montjuïc castle in 1940.

Opening hours Mon – Sun: 10 – 20h

Admission Adults 5€
Free for children under 16
Teatre Grec
An open-air ancient Greek-style theatre that hosts a festival in the summer.
You can visit freely when there are no shows taking place.

Gardens of Montjuïc
There are many parks and gardens in the hill
of Montjuïc. These are our favorites:

Jardí Botànic
It is a botanical garden that is part of the Natural Science Museum,
and it specializes in plants that grow in Mediterranean climates
around the world.

Opening hours Mon – Sun: 10 – 19h

Admission Adults: 3,50€

Reduced fee for 16 – 29-year-olds: 1,70€
Free for children under 16

Jardins del Palauet Albéniz

Palauet Albéniz is the palace that was built so that the King and
Queen of Spain could reside near the Barcelona 1929 Universal
Exhibit. Nowadays it is still the residence of the King when he visits
Barcelona. The gardens are beautiful and open to the public Sat and
Sun 10 – 15h.

Jardins del Mossèn Costa i Llobera

A garden specializing in cacti, it’s one of the most important of its
kind in Europe. It’s a very unique place fairly unknown to locals. If
you visit on a sunny day it has a Wild West sort of atmosphere.
Admission is free.

Pavelló Mies Van der Rohe

Built for the German section of the 1929 Universal Exhibit, it is an important
building in the history of modern architecture, known for its simple form
and its spectacular use of extravagant materials.

Opening hours Mon – Sun: 10 – 20h

Admission Adults: 5€
Students: 2,60€
Free for children under 16
★Font Màgica de Montjuïc
The Montjuïc Magic Fountain is a water, light, color and music show that
takes place every 30min from 21h to 23h. It is always very crowded but it’s
worth watching. Children will especially enjoy it. 
 
 
GRàCIA
 
★Park Güell
This park was was an attempt to create a housing estate in a natural
setting in the old village of Gràcia: an ambitious property development
project commissioned by Gaudí's patron, Eusebi Güell. Now it’s Barcelona’s
most unusual park.

You need to purchase tickets to get into the monumental area, with Gaudí’s
trencadís​
famous lizard and the ​ viewpoint.

You can visit the rest of the park for free. There are many good viewpoints
of the city, but we recommend ​ Mirador de les 3 creus​ , and a bit further
away but quieter and with better views: ​ Mirador Virolai​ . Look for
indications on signboards to get there.

Tickets (for the monumental area) are 8€, or 7€ if you ​ buy them online​ ,
which we recommend you do. You can only get tickets for a particular
time-slot, and access is limited to 30min after that time (once you’re in you
can stay as long as you want). If you don’t buy the tickets online you may
find yourself with tickets for a much later time, in which case you can use
the spare time to explore the rest of the park.

Casa Vicens
Another building by ​Gaudí​ , this is one of his earlier works. You cannot go
inside as of today, but it’s worth checking on your way to Park Güell. It’s a
very colorful building with interesting tiles and shapes.

★Places (squares) de Gràcia

Gràcia is a neighborhood of charming little streets and squares, with lots of
small shops, cafès and restaurants. The best way to explore it is to walk
around and get lost, though ​
you should check these squares​ :

Plaça de la Virreina
Plaça del Sol
Plaça del Diamant
Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia
Plaça de la Revolució 
 
L E S C O R T S I​​
PEDRALBES

Camp Nou
It’s the football stadium, largest in Europe by capacity, which is home to ​
FC
Barcelona or Barça (many people use Barça as a short name for the city of
Barcelona, but it is actually only used for the football club!).

You can take a tour and visit the museum with all the trophies.

Get tickets here: ​

​
http://www.fcbarcelona.com/camp-nou
 
Palau Reial
The royal palace of Pedralbes is an early-20th-century building that
belonged to the family of Eusebi Güell (Gaudí’s patron) until they handed it
over to the city in 1926 to serve as a royal residence.

The palace is now closed to the public but you can visit the gardens, which
have some elements designed by ​ Gaudí​ .

Pavellons de la Finca Güell

Located in the Pedralbes Avenue, north of the Royal Palace, the gatehouses
of the Güell Estate are an extraordinary work by ​ Antoni Gaudí that is
renowned for its gate in the shape of a dragon.

Monestir de Pedralbes
The ​
monastery of Pedralbes is a complex that includes a Gothic-style
church and monastery. It’s considered to be one of the finest examples of
Catalan Gothic architecture and it allows us to see the artistic legacy
preserved by the community of nuns from the Order of Saint Clare
throughout the centuries and find out about the way they lived.

Opening hours Tue – Fri: 10 – 17h

Sat: 10 – 19h / Sun: 10 – 20h
Mon closed

Admission Adults: 5€
Reduced fee for families and under 30s: 3,50€
Free for children under 16

 
 TIBIDABO
 
Temple del Sagrat Cor de Jesús
The Expiatory Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the huge church on
top of Tibidabo that you can see from almost anywhere in the city. It was
th
built in the 20​ century by Catalan architect Enric Sagnier. It is crowned
with an enormous bronze statue of Jesus.

Parc d’Atraccions del Tibidabo

An amusement park on top of the mountain, it’s one of the oldest in the
world, built 100 years ago. The park is very charming and there are all
kinds of rides, some are more thrilling and some are more vintage-looking.

The ​Sky Walk is the area of the park with the best views and some of the
oldest and most emblematic rides. You can purchase a ticket to this area
that allows you to go on these rides and visit the rest of the park. You can
also buy individual tickets to the rides in the Sky Walk.

It is especially nice in the evening when they light up the rides.

Admission General admission to all rides: 28,50€

Sky Walk: 12,70€
Individual attraction (Sky Walk): 2€

Avinguda Tibidabo
th th
It is a wide street that was designed in the late 19​ century – early 20​
century to connect Tibidabo with the rest of the city. It’s surrounded by
spectacular mansions that were designed by the most famous architects of
the time. Nowadays there are many high-class hotels, restaurants and
some schools and official buildings.

Torre Bellesguard
One of the lesser-known buildings by ​Gaudí​, it recently opened its doors to
the public. The history of Bellesguard is closely linked to the history of
Catalonia as it dates back to the Middle ages when Martin the Humane
gave the site its current name and built his home there. It was also the
place where one of Catalonia’s most famous bandits, Serrallonga, used to
hide out after committing his crimes, and also played an important role in
the historic events of 1714. The building takes its name from its strategic
position and magnificent views – in Catalan “Bellesguard” means “beautiful
views” or “good viewing point”.

Opening hours Tue – Sun: 10 – 15h

Admission Adults: 9€
Under 18s: 7,20€
CosmoCaixa
Formerly known as the Science Museum of Barcelona, it features a variety
of exhibitions, permanent and temporary that showcase the environment,
nature, science, and space. It also has a planetarium and exhibitions
devoted to interaction such as touch and play for children.

Opening hours Mon – Sun: 10 – 20h

Admission Adults: 4€
Free for children under 16

/​H O R T A · G U I N A R D ó
SAGRADA FAMíLIA ​
 
★Temple de la Sagrada Família
The most famous work by ​Gaudí and probably the most famous landmark of
Barcelona, even though it’s still incomplete. A church like no other in the
world, its style is variously likened to Spanish Late Gothic, Catalan
Modernism and Catalan Noucentisme.

The ticket system is the same as in Park Güell (with time slots), which
means that it’s better to buy the tickets online. You can pay an extra fee to
access the towers, but it’s not really worth it – there are much better
viewpoints in Barcelona.

Get tickets here​

http://www.sagradafamilia.org/en/tickets/
​

Hospital de Sant Pau

A modernist complex designed by architect ​ Domènech i Montaner in the
th
early 20​ century, it is, together with Palau de la Música Catalana, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a big complex with many buildings that is
considered the most important public modernist building in Barcelona. It
has progressively been transformed into a museum.

Laberint d’Horta
This park was designed in 1792, which makes it Barcelona’s oldest park.
It’s a very peaceful and romantic park with lots of beautiful neo-classical
elements. There is a ​labyrinth in the middle of the park, which makes it a
perfect place for children. It’s also a good place for a ​
picnic​
, since the park
is a bit isolated and there are no places nearby to eat. There is a picnic
area in the entrance of the park.

Opening hours Mon – Sun: 10 – 21h

Admission Around 3€ for adults, with reduced fee for students 

 WHERE TO ​
EAT
Places to eat in every barrio
 
Some recommendations, the
ones with ​
★​are our favorites!
 
 

C L O S E T O H O M E 
You can easily walk to all these places from our house (less than 15min)
 
★Semproniana
Used to be a publishing house, now it’s an innovative Catalan-style cuisine
restaurant with really creative décor. ​
http://www.semproniana.net

Casa Paloma
A brasserie 2min away from home ​
http://www.casapaloma.es/carta.html

100 montaditos
Very cheap but fun place where you order from their endless menu of
montaditos (a kind of tapa that consists of small sandwiches). Very popular
on Wednesdays and Sundays when all the items on the menu are 1€.
http://spain.100montaditos.com/en/

Flash Flash Tortillería

This modern restaurant is a bit hidden yet pretty popular with locals. They
specialize in omelets but they have a long menu with lots of other options.
http://www.flashflashbarcelona.com/flash-english.php

Los inmortales
Good Italian cuisine in a quiet place. Good value for price.

Meatpacking Bistro
Stylish and trendy restaurant that has a New York-like atmosphere and
food. Great place for brunch. ​
http://meatpackingbistro.com 
Kuo
An elegant and authentic Japanese restaurant (not like the many Chinese
places that pretend to cook Japanese food!).  
 
The place next door, called ​
Nomo Market​, is where you can buy their take
away food.
http://www.restaurantekuo.com/en
Panchito
This Mexican restaurant is a bit small but very popular, which means that if
you arrive late there is gonna be a huge line of people waiting to get a table.
http://www.panchito.com/en/site/index.asp

Timesburg
If you feel like having a burger, definitely check out this place!
http://www.timesburg.com/en/
 
Byblos
Really small and cheap Lebanese take-away place. It’s not very fancy but
their shawarmas are amazing!

 
T A P A S 
Tapas in Spanish means a style of food served in small portions. If you can,
we recommend you order many different tapas and then share them.
 
Pinxus (Sant Gervasi)
Creative, recently opened basque-style tapas restaurant
http://www.elspinxus.com

Bar Mut (Eixample)

A very iconic place in Av. Diagonal. The food is very good but the prices are
above average (for what you would usually pay for tapas).

La Perla de Oro (Raval)

Tapas with a French touch

La alcoba azul (El Gòtic)

Curious-looking restaurant sort of hidden in the Jewish quarter.

El Xampanyet (El Born)

Traditional tapas place right next to the Picasso Museum

★Quimet i Quimet (Poblesec)

This place is not that big and is very popular, which means that it’s quite
crowded, although it definitely lives up to its fame. We recommend getting
there early (around 8pm) and after trying some of their tapas and wine you
should continue the tapas route at the bars along ​Carrer Blai​
.​
This street is
full of bars and restaurants that offer many kinds of tapas and beers/wine
for 1-2€. You don’t need to order too much, just have two or three tapas
and then head for the next bar!

Bar Tomás (Sarrià)

Many people say that they make the best ​ patatas bravas in Barcelona,
though it’s a bit far away from the main sights.
Pepa Tomate (Gràcia)
Popular restaurant in the Plaça de la Revolució

★La Trini (Gràcia)

Great place with great food in one of the best streets in Gràcia, ​
Carrer
Verdi 
http://latrini30.com/ 
 
 
 
CAFES AND BAKERIES
 
La Nena (Gràcia)
Charming little café in Gràcia, great place if you wanna try typical Catalan
sweets

Marti (Eixample)
Excellent Italian cafe close to Passeig de Gràcia

El Cafè de les Delícies (Raval)

Original café/bar/restaurant in Rambla del Raval

La Clandestina (El Born)

Lovely tea place in the border between Gòtic and Born

Granja La Pallaresa (Gòtic)

granja​
Iconic ​ in Carrer Petritxol

★Granja Viader (Raval)

A traditional and emblematic ​ granja ​that is more than a hundred years old.
They serve great hot chocolate and typical Catalan pastries. ​ Cacaolat​,
which is Catalonia’s favorite chocolate milk, was invented here (though now
you can find it everywhere).
 
 
P A E L L A 
Having paella by the sea is an iconic Spanish experience. Typically eaten for
lunch on the weekend, it’s always better to book a table.

★Xiringuito Escribà
L’Antiga Casa Escribà is a modernist patisserie in La Rambla that you
should totally check out as well (they are some of the best cake makers in
the city). They also have a really good paella restaurant in the beach, where
you can have some of their cakes as dessert. Best combination ever!

http://xiringuitoescriba.com/en/index.html
 
 
SPECIAL PLACES
These places are not your typical restaurant or café...

★El Nacional (L’Eixample)

Even if you don’t eat here, you should at least go inside and check the
décor, which is amazing! Formerly a parking lot, it now has become a
gastronomic space with different areas where you can try different kinds
of food – there’s a brasserie, a fish restaurant, an oyster bar, a tapas
place, a cocktail bar...
http://www.elnacionalbcn.com/en/
 
★Cerveseria Moritz (El Raval)
Moritz is the most iconic beer from Barcelona, and this place used to be
their factory. Now it’s become a very modern and original space where you
can enjoy delicious food and try their beers.
http://moritz.com/en

7 portes (El Born)

Opened in 1836, this is one of the oldest and most iconic restaurants in
Barcelona. It’s a bit more expensive than the rest (40 – 50€ per person).
http://www.7portes.com/angles/index.php

Caelum
This original teahouse and store serves products (mainly sweets) made by
monks and nuns from different parts of Spain. It’s located on the first floor
th​
of a 14​ century public bath.
http://caelumbarcelona.com
 
 
 
I N T E R N A T I O N A L CU I S I N E S
Food from other parts of the world

Out of China (L’Eixample)

Not your typical Chinese restaurant that serves greasy food. It is a modern
restaurant with good value for price and a great lunch menu. 
 
Can Kenji (L’Eixample)
A​lso not your typical Japanese restaurant. It’s a small Japanese tavern
that specializes in mixing Mediterranean and traditional Japanese cuisine. 
 
Bun Bo (Raval)
Vietnamese restaurant next to MACBA with really colorful décor 
A​
 GETAWAYS
one-day outings and weekend trips  
 
 
SITGES
 
Sitges is a fishing town with beaches 30min away from Barcelona by car. It
th
still preserves the charm of a resort town of the early 20​ century, with
modernist houses and a beautiful church that overlooks the sea. You can
take a stroll through the streets in the city center and visit the modernist
museum of ​ Can Ferrat​. The beaches have fine sand and lots of restaurants.

MONTSERRAT
The sanctuary of the Virgin Mary of Montserrat is located in a very special
mountain. A community of monks lives in the Benedictine Abbey, which is
also home to the Escolania de Montserrat, one of the oldest boys’ choirs in
Europe.

http://www.montserratvisita.com/en/index.html

VISIT A WINERY
The ​
Penedès region, located south of Barcelona, has long been considered
one of the country's best wine-producing regions after La Rioja and it is
also one of the most ancient viticultural areas in Europe. There is a wide
choice of tours, but we recommend these ones:

http://www.enoturismepenedes.cat/en/proposals/guided-tour-through-v
ineyards-tasting-and-typical-catalan-breakfast 

http://www.enoturismepenedes.cat/en/proposals/torres-experience-an
d-tasting

Cava is the iconic sparkling wine produced in the Penedès area, within the
village of ​
Sant Sadurní d’Anoia​. Around 90% of the total production of cava
takes place in Sant Sadurní, which means that there are a lot of cava
wineries in the village. We recommend:

http://www.visitascodorniu.com/en/
http://www.gramona.com/web/en/visitus.html 
 
GIRONA & FIGUERES
This is a trip you can do in one day. We recommend you visit Figueres in the
morning and Girona in the afternoon. To get there you need to take the
highway towards France (it’s 140km, around 1h and 45min).

In ​
Figueres you can visit the ​
Teatre Museu Dalí​ , which is a bizarre building
that hosts a big collection of the surrealist painter’s work. Dalí himself is
buried there in a crypt that you can visit.

http://www.salvador-dali.org/museus/teatre-museu-dali/en_index/

If you want to have lunch in Figueres we recommend a place called ​

Txots​
,a
cider bar that also offers great tapas.

https://www.sidreriatxots.com/en/index.html

Girona has a beautiful old town with narrow streets and bridges across the
Onyar river. You should walk around the Jewish quarter; the best
preserved one in Europe. You should also visit the ​
Cathedral and the abbey
of ​
Sant Pere de Galligants​.

BEACHES
The coast of Catalonia is a succession of beaches, virtually all of them great
for bathing and well equipped. We do not recommend the beaches in
Barcelona city. Though they are safe and hygienic, neither the sand nor the
water are so good, and they are usually really crowded.

El Maresme
El Maresme is the county immediately north of Barcelona, and it has many
good beaches 30-50min by car from Barcelona. We recommend:

Sant Pol de Mar

Pineda de Mar

http://www.costadebarcelonamaresme.cat/en/beaches-and-ports/mare
sme-beaches
 
Costa Brava
Costa Brava is the coastal region of the province of Girona, which stretches
from Blanes (60km north of Barcelona) to the French border.

Official webpage: ​
http://en.costabrava.org/

There are lots of beautiful beaches, probably the best in Catalonia. All of
them are worth visiting, but in the first two weeks of August they are
usually quite crowded.

We recommend this one-day trip, which takes around 1.30h each way
(140km):

Platja de Sant Martí d’Empúries​

(L’Escala)
http://www.visitlescala.com/EN/34/Situacio.html

You should go to the beach in the morning and have lunch in Sant Martí
d’Empúries (we recommend a restaurant called ​ L’Esculapi​
). In the
afternoon you can visit one of the nearby medieval towns, like ​Pals or
Peretallada​
.

If you want to visit a one-of-a-kind fishing village, where Salvador Dalí used
to live, you should head to ​
Cadaqués​ .

http://www.visitcadaques.org/?lang=uk&sec

In addition to visiting the village and ​

Portlligat (Dalí used to live here), you
can go as far as the lighthouse of ​ Cap de Creus ​in the Parc Natural del Cap
de Creus, which has an amazing landscape. It is a bit far away and the road
from Figueres to Cadaqués has a lot of curves; however, the views are very
nice. In Cadaqués we recommend ​ Restaurant Casa Anita.

Costa Daurada
South of Barcelona lies the Costa Daurada (meaning golden coast), in the
province of Tarragona. There is a very touristy area in the towns of ​
Salou
and ​
Cambrils​, 120km from Barcelona by car. The beaches are nice but it is
really crowded in August.

Port Aventura​
Near Salou there is ​ , the most visited
theme park in Spain, and one of the best in Europe. It is
also a resort that has a water park and many hotels. If
you enjoy this kind of parks it is really worth
visiting, but take into account that it is very crowded
in the summer, and especially on the weekend.
http://www.portaventura.co.uk/
Delta de l’Ebre
In the far South of the Catalan coast there is the mouth of the Ebre river,
which creates a delta with a unique landscape of long beaches and rice
fields. It is a natural park with one of the biggest wetland areas in the
Mediterranean, and a great spot for bird watching.

To visit the Delta, you can go by car to ​ Sant Carles de la Ràpita (around
171km). We recommend the southern area of the Delta, departing from
Sant Carles until ​Platja dels Eucaliptus​. You should also visit a small town
called ​
Poblenou del Delta​ , and eat at ​
Restaurant Ca’l Faiges

http://www.calfaiges.cat/index.php