The capital of Catalonia, Barcelona is a breathtaking seaside city known for its Gothic architecture, historical and religious landmarks, and world-class Catalan food. Rich in culture, Barcelona is a city that embraces its origins – with many of its popular attractions including La Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila and Casa Botlle, now deemed UNESCO World Heritage Sites – while welcoming modernity and change. Visit a museum or two in the day, and then spend the rest of the night drinking and dining to your heart’s content.
La Sagrada Familia is a name that is known all over the world as it is Spain’s most visited monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Designed by Antoni Gaudi, and arguably one of his most famous works, this minor basilica is known for its breathtaking architecture. The basilica, still unfinished to this day, is located in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Spain and is visited by millions of tourists yearly.
Another design by the famous Antoni Gaudi, Park Guell is one of the largest green spaces in Barcelona, spanning 17 hectares. Taking inspiration from a fairy tale, Gaudi decorated the park with mosaics forming dragons, animal figures and other magical geometric shapes. Since its opening in 1922, Park Guell has become one of Barcelona’s most famous attractions. Like La Sagrada Familia, another one of Gaudi’s masterpieces, the park has since been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Commissioned by Pere Mila and Roser Segimon, Casa Mila is another one of Antoni Gaudi’s inspired architectural works. What was originally the home of the Mila family, Casa Mila is now known as La Perdera (“the stone quarry”) and is now used for many things: a tourist landmark, a cultural center that hosts a variety of events, and conferences, a commercial space, anda residential area with rented apartments available inside the building. In 1984, Casa Mila was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Considered one of Antoni Gaudi’s masterpieces, Casa Batllo was redesigned and renovated by Gaudi in his team in 1904. Located in the heart of Barcelona, Casa Batllo is known for its very unique design. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is also a must-see for those who are especially interested in Gaudi and his work. Attracting over 1 million visitors per year, Casa Batllo is a must-see in Barcelona.
One of Barcelona’s most iconic streets, La Rambla is a tree-lined walkway spanning 1.3 kilometers long, connecting some of Barcelona’s most popular attractions including Placa de Catalunya, the Christopher Columbus Monument and more. Walking through La Rambla, you’ll find stores, kiosks, fruits and flower shops, human statues, street performers, and even the world-famous Liceu Theater, La Boqueria (an iconic street market), and many more! Because of its popularity, La Rambla has a tendency to become crowded, especially in the busier months. Despite that, the street is still one of the city’s most popular tourist spots you must experience.
Along the popular tourist attraction, La Rambla, stands Mercado de La Boqueria – a large street market filled with fruits, vegetables, meat and fish. Aside from the variety of goods that you can purchase at La Boqueria, you can also find yourself a good meal, or a pint or two of beer at one of the bars that line the street market – the perfect place to settle down for a snack or two while walking the 1.3 kilometer long La Rambla.
If you’re looking for a day trip away from the crowds and the tourists in the city, then the district of Montjuic is perfect for you. Best known for its mountain house and stunning views of the city, there is much to do in Montjuic like climb the 210-metre-high mountain for breathtaking views; visit the Castell de Montjuïc, which is home to the Military Museum; or walk along Barcelona’s Jardi Botanic (botanical garden). Whichever you decide to do, the quiet charm of Montjuic may be exactly the thing you need while you visit the busy city of Barcelona.
Housing over 4,200 works by Pablo Picasso, the Picasso Museum is a must-see for any art lover looking to see and appreciate Picasso’s works dating from his formative years. Aside from his work, and the stunning architecture of the museum itself, many people visit the Picasso Museum to get a glimpse of the different phases of the artist’s life – carefully illustrated by the art works that are thoughtfully curated and displayed inside the museum. A visit to the Picasso Museum is almost as good as spending a day in Picasso’s shoes.
Located at the center of Barcelona – and is fondly referred to as the heart of Barcelona, Placa de Catalunya is a favorite meeting point for locals and tourists alike. Covering 5 hectares of land, Place de Catalunya is known for its large shopping centres, department stores, beautiful fountains and statues, and most especially for its easily accessible location and proximity to some of Barcelona’s most iconic tourist attractions.
Located in the Old Town of Barcelona, the Barcelona Cathedral is the current seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona. With its impressive facade, and beautiful 14th century architecture, it’s easy to see why it earned its moniker, the Gothic Cathedral. As one of the most famous and most beautiful cathedrals in Barcelona, it comes as no surprise that the cathedral gets over three million visitors per year.
The capital of Catalan, Barcelona is known for its architecture, Antoni Gaudi’s works, and one of the most popular football teams. Some popular tourist attractions include La Sagrada Familia, La Boqueria, the Barceloneta Beach and of course, the largest stadium in Europe, Camp Nou Stadium.
The best time to visit Barcelona is from mid-September through October, where the crowds are thin and the lines are short. This way, you will be able to see and do more while enjoying the sights of the city. While the weather in Barcelona is generally good all year round, it’s best to avoid visiting during the summer as Barcelona is typically packed with travellers during the holidays.
For first-time visitors to Barcelona, the best places to stay are near the city center: anywhere near La Rambla, Placa de Catalunya, and the Old Town of Barcelona. If you’re on a tighter budget, you might choose to stay at Poble Sec or Placa España instead.