Spain Travel: Barcelona Travel Guide
In terms of size, Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, after Madrid; however, it constantly rivals in popularity with the Spanish capital, being a genuine cultural metropolis. It has a Mediterranean climate that attracts tourists all around the world, with its cool winters and hot summers.
If the city managed to seduce you already, then you should know that the best time to visit is during May, June and September, so you can also get a shot at enjoying its amazing beaches.
Beauty of Barcelona
Barcelona offers a unique occasion of tourists to walk from the Roman remains to the medieval city, and then to the modern city, with its open thoroughfares and large intersections.
The historic center of the city is almost flat, while the modern part extends to the surrounding hills, with streets growing in altitude, which remember the American tourist of San Francisco. The most elegant avenue is the Passeig de Gracia, where there are two buildings of Antonio Gaudí, Casa Mila (La Pedrera) and Casa Batllo.
Places to See in Barcelona
Barcelona is a huge exhibition of architecture, which includes all styles: from the Roman and Gothic ones, to the international style (glass-metal) of Mies van der Rohe. The city displays rich ornaments, bright mosaics, stained glass, tiles, wood, marble and stone, in combinations that defy the conventional.
Meeting the architecture of Antonio Gaudi is overwhelming. Construction imagined by the eccentric genius both impress and amaze. His latest masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia church is the most famous and representative of his entire work.
The famous creation, whose construction began in 1882 and is not finished yet, is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Barcelona, recording over 2 million visitors annually. Inside the cathedral there is a museum which gives details about the history of the building, but also about the personality of Gaudí, whose tomb is located in the crypt of the cathedral. It is expected that the church will be completed in 2020.
Best of Barcelona
Barcelona is the capital city of Catalonia. It is the second largest city of Spain after Madrid and has the maximum population. Barcelona enjoys Mediterranean climate and is a fantastic place for tourist attraction. The city contains many historical monuments and buildings. It has many museums and parks. It also has fantastic beaches and hence is a dream come true for all tourists. No one regrets a trip to Barcelona and there is almost nobody who does not stop at Barcelona when visiting Spain.
Monuments Of Barcelona
The historical buildings and monuments in Barcelona are famous worldwide and are a must see. These include the Sagrada familia which is the international symbol of Barcelona, the cathedral of Saint Eulalia. It is one of the best attractions in Barcelona. The church of Santa Maria del Mar, medieval church of Sant Pau del camp, Gothic church of Santa Maria del Pi, The Columbus monument, The Forum building which is a fine example of contemporary architecture and many more. These are beautiful buildings and monuments and the tourists thoroughly enjoy visiting these.
Magnificent Barcelona Museums
The museums of Barcelona cover different areas and eras. Most of the museums offer free entry on either the first Saturday or the first Sunday of the month. These museums contain some of the finest pieces of art, which have been declared masterpieces by several experts. These museums include the erotic museum of Barcelona, Barcelona maritime museums, and private owned Egyptian museum, the museum of History of Catalonia, The archeology museum of Catalonia and many more.
Beautiful Beaches And Parks
Barcelona has a total of 68 municipal parks. Out of these 68 parks, 12 are historic parks, five are thematic parks, 45 are urban parks and six are forest parks. These lovely parks attract a whole lot of tourists who love the recreation offered in the form of parks. Park guell is one of the most popular parks and not to be missed!
There are seven beautiful beaches in Barcelona. It has been declared the best beach city in the world by National geographic. Barcelona also has several beautiful skyscrapers of which Hotel arts is the tallest. For all those who badly want a break from stress Barcelona is the perfect solution and a perfect holiday spot.
Things to do in Barcelona
Looking for things to do in Barcelona? This is no small feat because there is so much to do here. It all depends on what your interests are, but there is something here for everyone to do. It may also depend on what type of holiday you’re on. Either way you will most assuredly find something for you and yours to enjoy while in Barcelona. So have a quick look at this list because its some of the many things you can experience.
A Leisurely Walk at Parc Guell
While in Barcelona, walking down a park is the best way to relax yourself. Park Güell is a garden complex which is located in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. It was designed by architect Antoni Gaudí. With its remarkable with architectural elements, it is too included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Any tourist will enjoy walking here and appreciate the architecture marvel of this complex.
Enjoying the Gaudi Architecture
Barcelona is a city steeped in culture and history, so if you’re interested in sightseeing, then you’ve come to the right place. Barcelona is most famous for the fantastical architecture of Antonio Gaudi, whose buildings are scattered all around the city. Yes, if you love culture and exquisite architecture then you’ll love Barcelona.
Taste the Barcelona Cuisine
Barcelona has great food, there’s no doubt about it. You can get anything you want from international food to Catalan favorites, Tappas to seafood platters. All you have to do is look around and there are some very reasonably priced restaurants. Ramblas has the more expensive higher class restaurants. There is some kind of food for all tastes. You will love it!
Strolling at La Rambla
La Rambla enjoys the status of being one of the most well-known boulevards in the world. It is worth to stroll down this avenue even if you visit Barcelona for a single day. This mile-long road is always busy with tourists, fortune-tellers, dancers and musicians. Vibrant flower stalls and human statues can be found along the street. While taking a walk there, you can visit a cultural and exhibition centre and go for shopping at the fantastic La Boqueria market.
Attend a Music Concert
Barcelona has several live music venues, where music concerts are everyday affair. The famous ones are Razzmatazz and Bikini. There are also few wonderful concert halls. While you are in Barcelona, if you are lucky enough, you can be part of a bunch of music festivals, such as the Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona.
Bring your Family to the Zoo or Aquarium
Barcelona is a very child friendly place with a lot of activities that kids will enjoy. There is a zoo in Park Ciutadella. The zoo is very large and will provide a day’s easy entertainment to you and your kids. Or there is the Barcelona Aquarium which is the largest in the entire Europe and is always fun to spend time there. Barcelona has something to interest all of a family, whatever your tastes may be.
Food in Barcelona
Food in Barcelona ranges from conventional to traditional. This region loves their cuisine and will make sure you do to. There is a wide variety of restaurants in Barcelona. In life there’s always going to be different tastes, Barcelona has a little bit of everything to suit everyone’s tastes. People come from all around the world to get some authentic old world style food. The local specialty Tapas are to die for. A definite must have while you are in Barcelona. The food ranges from Spanish, mediterranian, fresh seafood, to international cuisines like Japanese, Chinese, and French. Like I was saying there is definitely something there for everybody. Here are some of Barcelona’s popular cuisines.
Pan amb tomàquet
Pan amb tomàquet is a favorite Catalan breakfast. It is prepared from a nice and thick slice of toasted country bread. There are some garlic and fresh tomato pieces on the top. A good amount of olive oil is drizzled on it with a pinch of salt. This is a staple breakfast in the rural areas of Barcelona.
Sarsuela
Sarsuela is an assortment of seafoods. It’s again a type of Catalan food. It often contains various combinations of different types of white fish, clams, crayfish, lobsters, mussels, prawns, shrimp and squid. Any combination of these ingredients is mixed in a casserole with olive oil. Then lemon, paprika, tomato, white wine and other spices are added. Oh it’s yummy.
Fideua
Fideua is cooked in a big, plane, circular pan. The ingredients are a combination of meat, poultry, shellfish and vegetables. A type of short, skinny noodles called fideus is taken as base.
Crema Catalana
This is the most omnipresent type of Catalan dessert of the Barcelona. Crema catalana is actually a type of delicious cold custard with a crunchy, caramelized sugar coating.
Calçotada
Calçots are a kind of local baby onions that are well-cooked over an open flame, but the onions are tender from inside. They’re then braised with a special type of Catalan sauce called romesco. This sauce is made of tomatoes, red peppers, almonds, garlic, and olive oil.
Getting Around in Barcelona
There are many ways to get around in Barcelona. You can take the train for a scenic country ride, or take country side bus tours. Of course there are also cabs and the metro underground subway system. Various factors might determine which one of these would suite you best; Like what kind of trip you will be taking, like whether it is a family vacation or a business trip, Or If you like the historic and beautiful aspects of the scenery, or the fast paced nightlife. Barcelona provides transportation for whatever your needs may be. So there may be many things you need to worry about on your trip, but transportation isn’t one of them; that’s one less thing on your mind. Enjoy your trip.
Metro Subway
Barcelona has a clean, punctual, air-conditioned metro system that will take you to most of the major sites. The metro can be quite useful especially useful in he summer when it can be to hot to walk. This is also a very economical way to travel the city.
Taxis in Barcelona
Taxis are an affordable alternative to public transportation. A 15 minute journey will only cost about 10 Euros. Licensed Taxis have to charge you the amount on the meter. However if you are carrying extra luggage there may be a small surcharge.
Car for Hire
Generally this service is only for those with special needs. Or if you’re planning a day trip out of the central town. You may just enjoy the privacy and luxury of this service.
Buses
There’s also a clean and efficient bus service that serves all of Barcelona centre. The buses are air conditioned and very surprisingly comfortable. Plus it doesn’t get more affordable then this, for the change in your pocket you can get across town.
Walking
Yes I said walking, when in the heart of Barcelona sometimes it is so much easier to just stroll to where you need to go. You can slow down and take a closer look at this beautiful city. There’s much to see and do.
Shopping in Barcelona
If you love shopping, then you will definitely love it in Barcelona. The city has the famous 5 kilometers of shopping line, which stretches from La Rambla, through Placa de Catalunya and then from Passeig de Gracia to Avenguda Diagonal. The most of this zone is full with pedestrian areas where cars are forbidden, which makes it very pleasant to wonder through stores taking your time, without worrying because of traffic.
All along the shopping line in Barcelona there are almost all the great stores owned by famous designers like Calvin Klein, Burberry, Mango, H&M, Zara, Versace, Armani and many others. Besides these, the shopping adventurer can discover other stores with clothes, jewelry, shoes and quality accessories signed by Spanish designers.
Barcelona has many shopping chains, including the two of the most famous in Spain, El Corte Ingles and Fnac, situated right in the city center. In these large shopping centers you can find anything your heart desires, under the same roof.
El Corte Ingles is located right in Placa Catalunya, where you can easily arrive by subway from any part of the city. Another El Corte Ingles can be found just a hundred meters away, halfway down the street called Portal De L’Angel.
Among the other big stores in Barcelona, Maremagnum is located in a wonderful area, built right on the Mediterranean Sea and connected with the La Rambla through La Rambla del Mar. It is not a very tall building, but it’s very wide and flanked by the IMAX cinema.
Glories Shopping Center is another large mall, with half of its shops spread outdoors, so you can also enjoy the wonderful weather while shopping. It houses a Carrefour supermarket and it’s very easy to located, especially if you come here by subway.
Diagonal Mar is another large complex of shops located almost on the outskirts of the city, at the end of Avinguda Diagonal Street. You can find here clothes, shoes, electronics and home appliances, music and films and many other products. Many brands with low-cost products prefer to sell their products here so, if you’re looking for bargains, Diagonal Mar is a wise choice.
Attractions in Barcelona
and historical cultural centers for those who like to learn about various cultures. There are zoos, aquariums, and a lot more types of great family adventures, just waiting for everyone. Whatever be your preferences, Barcelona is guaranteed to have something that you will love to see or participate. So, if you are planning to visit Barcelona, we can help you by providing you information on some of the best choices of awesome things to do while you stay in Barcelona. If you’re an adventurer or just want to relax, you will definitely find here lots of attractions that you’re looking for.
La Sagrada Familia
One of the best attractions in Barcelona is definitely La Sagrada Familla. La Sagrada Família is a large Roman Catholic Church, located in Barcelona. Designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, the church is a part of UNESCO World Heritage Site. While you are in Barcelona, you must visit this heritage site.
Casa Batllo
Casa Batlló is a remarkable building which was originally built in the year 1877 and later remodeled in the years 1904–1906. This building is a center of attraction for its unique design and is often identified as Art Nouveau in the broadest sense. This building is a tourist’s delight, particularly for someone who has interests in architecture and design.
La Pedrera
La Pedrera is known as Casa Milà. It is a building designed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí. The building has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is a remarkable piece of architecture to cherish and appreciate.
La Rambla
La Rambla is the name of a street located in the central part of Barcelona. This street is popular among both tourists and locals equally. This 1.2 kilometer long street with rows of trees on both sides gives pedestrians opportunities to see the Christopher Columbus monument, built its along side.
Parc Guell
Park Güell is a garden complex which is located in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. It was designed by architect Antoni Gaudí. With its remarkable with architectural elements, it is too included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is considered one of the best of Barcelona attractions.
Barcelona FC Museum
No surprises here. If you’re a footie fan then this is a must see for you. It has wall to wall pictures, statues, and trophies of the great personalities. You can also see the stadium while you are here at the museum. Opening days are from April 4th to October 16th.
Imax Cinema
The Imax Cinema is right next door to the Barcelona Aquarium. You can see the Killer Sharks at the aquarium and then go next door to enjoy a thriller on sharks. The Imax Cinemas get over 670,000 visits each year.
Barcelona Zoo
Barcelona Zoo has a wide variety of animals for the animal lovers. The zoo also has a restaurant, picnic area, shops, electric cars, pony rides, and a mini train. The Barcelona Zoo was seen by over a million guests last year. If you’re going on a family vacation, this is a worth visiting place.
Spanish Village
This Barcelona attraction is a small Spanish village with architecture from different regions of Spain. So, at this single spot, you can see different houses and different architectural layouts. All are beautiful. This is definitely a not-to-miss attraction when you are in Barcelona. The beauty of the village will leave you breathless and create magical memories of your visit to Barcelona.
Barceloneta
La Barceloneta is the neighborhood of Barcelona which was constructed during the 18th century. The neighborhood is almost triangular in shape, which is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea. Barceloneta beach is known as one of the best urban beaches in the World and anyone would love to enjoy the beach life here.
Nightlife in Barcelona
Nightlife in Barcelona is something that many tourists and locals come to Barcelona for. Sure everyone comes to visit the beaches and shop and enjoy the beautiful scenery. There are many types of night clubs in Barcelona for everyone to enjoy. Rather you are interested in jazz or various other types of music there is something for everyone. Barcelona has dance and disco clubs, pubs and bars. Some of these clubs stay open all night until the sunrises and other close around 3 am. There are a few clubs that do not allow women, but don’t let that keep you away from Barcelona there are still many clubs for the women to have fun in. These are some of the major party areas in Barcelona:
Barri Gotic & Las Rambles
This area is a great place because of the central location and the atmosphere. There are lot’s of pubs, clubs and bars in this Gothic area. A few of the clubs and bars are just to draw tourists in but there are several reputable bars. The Rita Blue is a restaurant, club and a funky bar all rolled into one.
L ‘Eixample
Has many bars and clubs scattered throughout this area. There are several different types of clubs as well.
Maremagnum
This is a large shopping center or mall that is occupied by clubs and shopping stores. During the day you can shop till you drop. During the evening hours the clubs, bars and pubs come to life with students, local and tourists. The party goes on until sunrise there is entertainment from jazz to techno.
Port Olimpic
This yachting marina is home to several clubs and it is especially nice during the summer months when you can enjoy the outdoor terraces with friends and family.
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