Barcelona is one of the most visited cities not only in Spain, but also in Europe. This is the center of tourism in Spain. Every day tourists make in Barcelona a countless number of images, by which those who have been here at least for one day, immediately recognize this extraordinary city. Being the second largest city in Spain and the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia, Barcelona attracts tourists with its rich history, extraordinary architecture, including the buildings of Antoni Gaudi, interesting attractions, bars and restaurants with delicious cuisine, and its unique atmosphere. Attractions of Barcelona ascinate tourists at once:

Sagrada Familia

Tibidabo

Montjuic

Park Güell

Casa Milà

Casa Batlló

Gothic Quarter

La Rambla

Barcelona is the center of informative tourism in Spain. There’s no language problem to travel to Barcelona, because people speak either spanish or english there. Barcelona travel guides and maps are always popular and for several years they have been in incredible demand, because every year the number of tourists to the capital of Catalonia increases.

Having been in Barcelona once, you’ll want to come back again, this city knows how to make you love it forever. In addition, no matter how many times you’ve been to Barcelona, you will not get bored, there are always new interesting activities, things to do, events and places to visit and to have fun. Barcelona is beautiful any time of the year thanks to the mild Mediterranean climate.

Barcelona is the most visited city in Spain! In this Travel Guide you will find 66 photos, information about 62 attractions, accommodation, food and reviews about our days in Barcelona.

Tourists also prefer to combine a trip to Barcelona with sightseeing and sea vacation in small resort towns on Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa Blanca, Balearic (Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca) or Canary Islands (Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria). We have been to Barcelona twice and will surely come back, because it’s impossible to stop loving this magical city.



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For more in-depth coverage of Barcelona, my 53-page guidebook is perfect for budget travelers like you! It gets straight to the practical information you need to travel and save money in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on- and off-the-beaten-path things to see and do, nontouristy restaurants, markets, and bars, and much more! Click here to learn more and purchase the eBook.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

🌞 When is it Better to Go There? Barcelona City Weather by Months

🚀 Barcelona – How to Get There?

💰 Money Saving Tips on Staying in Barcelona

🏠 Districts of Barcelona – Where is it Better to Rent Accommodation?

🔭 The Map of Barcelona

🏛 City Attractions: Places You Must See in Barcelona

🗺 Travel Itineraries Around Barcelona

⛪ Barcelona Tours & Excursions

🏊 Barcelona City Beaches

🍴 National Cuisine of Catalonia

🛍 Shopping in Barcelona

🎬 Useful Links

⭐ Our Review of The Days Spent in Barcelona



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When is it Better to Go There? Barcelona City Weather by Months

The most popular months for a trip to Barcelona are July and August. Despite the fact that during these months in Barcelona city the weather is the hottest, in July and August the capital of Catalonia is visited by the largest number of tourists, the demand for vacation rentals and air tickets (and their cost) increases. If you do not want to walk and enjoy the attractions of Barcelona with crowds of tourists – it is better to choose the off season for a trip to this wonderful city. Warm summer weather (above 20 ° C) is kept in Barcelona city in May, June, July, August, September and October, so you can safely choose these months except July and August for a trip to Barcelona.



Photo at the entrance to one of the main attractions in Barcelona – Park Guell

Another undoubted advantage of traveling to Barcelona in the off season is an opportunity to save money, because the cost of air tickets and vacation rentals is lower during this time. There is the mild Mediterranean climate in Barcelona, and the weather is sunny and comfortable not only during the summer months, moreover, it is even more pleasant to enjoy the amazing attractions of Barcelona without the sweltering heat.

In winter, even in the coldest months (December, January and February) during the day the temperature usually does not fall below 13 ° C in Barcelona city. However, you should remember that November in Barcelona is the most rainy month, which can spoil your plans for a walk around the city.



Barcelona city weather by months





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Barcelona – How to Get There?

Barcelona is located in the south-east of Spain, 120 km from the Spanish-French border.

How to Get to Barcelona

Avia – is perhaps the easiest way to get to Barcelona. Located 12 km away from Barcelona, El Prat Airport is the largest airport on the Mediterranean coast. There are two terminals in El Prat Airport – T1 and T2, as well as the Corporate Aviation Terminal – used for flights of private airlines. T1 terminal is designed for most domestic and international flights, with the exception of flights operated by low-cost airlines. Low-cost flights at El Prat Airport are served at T2 Terminal.

How to get from El Prat Airport to the center of Barcelona? In our travel guide we offer several ways:

The easiest way is to take a taxi, the estimated cost for a trip from El Prat Airport to the center of Barcelona is 30-40 €

The second, no less difficult way to get from main airport to the center of Barcelona – right at the exit of the terminal to take the Aerobus, which will take you to the center of Barcelona, namely to Plaça Catalunya, before making a few more stops – Plaça Espanya, Gran Via – Urgell, Plaça Universitat. We prefer to get from the airport to Barcelona by bus – it is a fast and comfortable way. From / to T1 terminal runs Aerobus A1, from / to T2 terminal – Aerobus A2. It is important to remember the terminal when returning from the center of Barcelona to El Prat airport, because having mistakenly arrived at the wrong terminal, you can lose a lot of time on the way to the necessary one. The Aerobus fare is € 5.90 one way and € 10.20 when you buy tickets to both sides at a time (valid for 15 days from the first trip). You can buy tickets both in the terminal before boarding the bus or at the driver for cash or in advance. Aerobuses from terminals to the center of Barcelona run from 05:35 am to 01:00 am. In order to get from the airport to Barcelona at night, you can take the night bus # 17.

You can also get from El Prat airport to Barcelona by train – in this case you can even save money. The entrance to the railway station (RENFE) is located in T2 terminal. In order to get to the station from T1 terminal, you need to take a free shuttle. The stops that train makes in Barcelona: Aeroport, Estacio Sants (Sants train station), Passeig de Gràcia, El Clot. The first train leaves from El Prat Airport at 05:42 am, and the last – at 11:38 pm.

One more way to get from El Prat airport to Barcelona is transfer

However, El Prat is not the only airport in Barcelona. 103 km away from the capital of Catalonia there is another one – Girona Airport. There are three ways to get from Girona Airport to the center of Barcelona:

Rent a car and go on a self-made trip

Use Barcelona Bus, which you can catch right at the airport. Barcelona Bus will take you from Girona Airport to the center of Barcelona in 1 hour and 10 minutes, you’ll get to to the bus station in the city center – Estació d’Autobusos Barcelona Nord. Approximately 10 minutes walk from the bus station is the metro station – Arc De Triomf, from where you can get to the point you need in the city. The cost of bus tickets from Girona Airport to Barcelona is 16 € one way and 25 € if you buy tickets in both directions.

You can also get from Girona to Barcelona by train. For this way, first you need to get from the airport to the center of Girona (by bus or taxi), and then take the train that will take you to Barcelona in 1 hour and 10 minutes

Ferry is another way to get to one of the most attractive cities of Europe – Barcelona. It’s all because the port of Barcelona is one of the 10 largest in Europe, with well-established communication between many cities, and accordingly, you can turn the journey to Barcelona on a cruise liner into a real sea adventure! By water you can get to Barcelona from Genoa, Rome, from the Balearic Islands, Sardinia, etc.

Train is not the fastest way to get to Barcelona, but this option can also take place. Daily trains from major European cities (Paris, Zurich, Marseille, Nice, Milan) arrive at the train stations of Barcelona. Of course, there are also internal trains – for example, a high-speed train from Madrid, which takes 3 hours.

If you have a desire to travel around Costa Brava – train will help you a lot. Trains run along the coast and connect Barcelona with all coastal resorts.



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Money Saving Tips on Staying in Barcelona

Get Barcelona City Pass. You can read about city pass in details in our travel guide below. With Barcelona City Pass it’s easier to move around Barcelona on public transport. It also includes all kinds of discounts at museums, nightclubs, shops and restaurants in Barcelona. If you stay in Barcelona for several days and want to visit a great number of attractions – Barcelona City Pass is a must to save your money! Visit the attractions of Barcelona for free. During some days there is free entrance to many attractions in Barcelona, mostly museums. For example, almost all city museums are free on the 1st Sunday of each month, except the City History Museum, which is free on the afternoon of the 1st Saturday of the month, and some other museums. Before visiting the museums of your interest check the information about its free entrance. Ask for lunch menu in the restaurants of Barcelona. There are a lot of bars and restaurants in Barcelona. And many of them offer lunch menu in the afternoon on weekdays. This is great opportunity to save your money and try Catalan cuisine at about €10-15. Choose vacation rental with kitchen. If you have kitchen you can really save a lot (not only money but also time). It’s much cheaper to buy fresh local food and cook by yourself than to eat in restaurants in Barcelona. Even on Boqueria market, which is also an attraction, they offer products at good prices. Couchsurf. Barcelona is an extremely popular for tourism city. And there are a lot of vacation rentals as well as offers from couchsurfing hosts. This is a truly good way to save money in your trip to Barcelona!



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Districts of Barcelona – Where is it Better to Rent Accommodation?

Finding a place to stay on a trip is important, because your overall impressions of the trip significantly depend on the vacation rental.

Below we provide information about the main districts of Barcelona, so with the help of our travel guide you can find out in which of the districts (Barrios) it is better to rent accommodation depending on the purpose of your trip and the places you want to visit in Barcelona. Examine the districts of Barcelona before making a choice about where to stay, and your journey will not disappoint you.



Map of districts in Barcelona

If you are going to spend a few days in Barcelona and visit the main tourist attractions while traveling by public transport, it is better to rent accommodation in the city center near Plaça Catalunya or in the Gothic quarter (Barri Gòtic). There is a well-developed public transport, and besides, many attractions are within walking distance. From Plaça Catalunya begins the most tourist and famous street of Barcelona – La Rambla, which is constantly full of life. La Rambla offers a wide choice of hotels, hostels and apartments, but it is worth considering the fact this part of the city is always noisy, and if you want to relax in rented apartments in the evening after a busy day in Barcelona, it’s better to choose the quieter streets of the Gothic quarter.

If your priority is not only watching and visiting touristic places in Barcelona, but also staying close to the beach – check vacation rentals in the Barceloneta area (Barceloneta Barrio). This is the closest area to the city beach in the city center.

15$ per night for person – Safestay Barcelona Sea, 7,3 points

per night for person – Safestay Barcelona Sea, points 84$ per night – Hotel 54 Barceloneta, 8,4 points

If you want to save a little on renting apartments in Barcelona – choose the Barcelona Sants district, rental prices are lower here than in the central areas. Barcelona Sants is not rich in tourism attractions, but from here you can easily get to any point of the city.

16$ per night for person – Ten To Go Hostel, 9,4 points

per night for person – Ten To Go Hostel, points 20$ per night for person – Alberguinn, 8,0 points

per night for person – Alberguinn, points 45$ per night – Hostal Easy Sants, 7,7 points

By choosing accommodation in Bogatell and Ciutadella areas, you’ll be close to Bogatell Beach and Port Olimpic, a beautiful area of Barcelona built for the 1992 Olympic games.

Port Olimpic – is one of the busiest places in Barcelona. In addition to the beaches, the port includes 740 piers, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, hotels and shops. From Port Olimpic you can go in a boat trip along the Barcelona harbor.

The area of Barcelona with the best shops, bars, restaurants and modernist architecture, the most famous representatives of which are Casa Batlló, Casa Mila and Sagrada Familia – is Eixample. We made a list of vacation rentals at different prices in this area of Barcelona:

Another district of Barcelona near the center is El Born Barrio. The area consists of traditional buildings, and accordingly represents the cultural heritage of Barcelona. At the same time there are a lot of bars, restaurants and tourist places.

If the accommodation you liked in Barcelona is located in El Raval, you should know that this is not only an interesting but also sometimes dangerous for tourism district. If desired, the El Raval area is worth visiting, but tourists are not recommended to rent accommodation and stay there in the dark.

Barcelona’s Old Town is a Gothic quarter (Barri Gotic). This is where we prefer to stay in Barcelona!

Barcelona’s Old City is a Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic). This is where we prefer to stay in Barcelona. Barri Gotic is full of original buildings, winding cobbled streets, an indescribable atmosphere of the old city and cozy restaurants and cafes.

Barri Gotic is located within walking distance from many attractions of the city, as well as Plaza Catalunya, from where buses to El Prat airport depart. The cost of vacation rentals in the Gothic Quarter varies. In our travel guide we picked up a list of accommodation of different price categories in this area of Barcelona with the best tourists reviews:

Important financial and business district of Barcelona is Les Corts. Here is a large number of good hotels and restaurants, but there are no attractions that distinguish Barcelona in tourism from other cities. If your priority is walking along the city, sightseeing and visiting tourist places – Les Corts is not an appropriate choice.

Area of Plaza de Espana, the main attraction of which is the Museum of Catalan Art – Palau Nacional. The territory of the museum is incredibly beautiful both day and night when the lights turn on and the Magic fountain inspires with its beauty. From Plaza de España you can quickly get to the Montjuïc area – a picturesque hill with landmarks, from where you can watch a wonderful panorama of Barcelona. At the same time, from the Plaza of Spain by metro you can reach the center of Barcelona in just 10-15 minutes.

Should You Book Accommodation in Barcelona in Advance or Upon Arrival?

It depends on some factors, the main of which is the time when you are going to Barcelona. During the high season (summer, common holidays) the demand for vacation rentals is so great that it’s better to book good and worthwhile options in advance.

What is the best way to book accommodation in Barcelona? Useful tips on booking accommodation you can read in details Here.

As for local features – before booking a hotel, carefully read the reviews about it, preferably on several websites.

Services Where We Book Vacation Rentals

Booking — guesthouses, apartments and hotels in Barcelona without prepayment.

Airbnb — apartments and apartments in Barcelona with prepayment. Under this link you will receive $ 30 for the first trip.





Booking.com









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The Map of Barcelona — City Attractions, Beaches, Best Accommodation, Cafes, Entertainment and Other Important Points on Google Maps

A trip to any city isn’t complete without examining not only travel guide, but also its map. And for a trip to Barcelona, exploring the map is a priority, since the city has a large number of attractions located at a distance from each other. To plan your trip to Barcelona, explore the attractions that you would like to visit, and then find them on the map of Barcelona. Mark the attractions and combine on the map of Barcelona those that are close to each other, thus you will break your itinerary into parts. We marked on the map of Barcelona all the attractions, beaches, cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as rental options – everything that is mentioned in our Travel Guide.

Explore the map of Barcelona and make your ideal itinerary through the capital of Catalonia!





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City Attractions: Places You Must See in Barcelona

Barcelona is an incredibly interesting and really rich in attractions and unusual places city. Many confirm that no matter how many times they return to Barcelona, there is always what to do, what to see and visit.

In our Travel Guide we collected as many attractions and best places of Barcelona as possible so that everyone could choose what he really likes. Before planning your itinerary to the attractions of Barcelona, we recommend you examine the map of the city. Having an idea of where the attractions of your interest are located, you can make the most optimal route according to the number of days of your trip to the capital of Catalonia.

If you have only a day trip in Barcelona – you watch the most popular city of Spain and visit the attractions using Bus Turistic. Buses make 42 stops at Barcelona’s attractions, and you decide what to visit and what can be missed. During exploring Barcelona on Bus Turistic, tourists have an opportunity to use the audio guide in different languages to listen to additional information about the attractions of the city, which the bus passes by.

Traveling around Barcelona in Bus Turistic is quite convenient, because you can cruise around the city along the chosen route (there are 3 routes in Barcelona for tourist buses), return to the bus stop after sightseeing and continue on the next bus. Some stops along the Bus Turistic routes are common to make it convenient for tourists to change the route.

The cost of a one-day adult ticket for Bus Turistic is 30 €, two-days ticket is 40 €. Children’s ticket (from 4 to 12 years old) on a tourist bus in Barcelona costs 16 and 21 € accordingly. Bus Turistic tickets can be bought on the bus or at any tourist information in Barcelona. In summer and winter tourist buses have a different schedule, but in general, waiting for the next bus to the maximum can reach 30 minutes.

One more useful option in the popular city of Spain is Barcelona city pass. With the help of Barcelona city pass you can make your stay and tourism here more comfortable, easy and even cheaper – it provides a priority entrance to major city attractions, discounts on other attractions and museums in Barcelona. Not only visiting attractions, Barcelona city pass also includes Aerobus tickets (to get to Barcelona from El Prat or Girona airport and back), Bus Turistic ticket, and tickets for city transport. This is really useful card for a tourist in Barcelona, and you can buy it here.





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Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia– without exaggeration, is the main attraction of Barcelona, which you can find in absolutely every travel guide. Every tourist names Sagrada on question what places he wants to see in Barcelona, this is the main purpose of tourism to Barcelona. The Holy Family Cathedral is an example of a unique architecture and perhaps the most famous unfinished building in the world (which is still built solely through donations).

The construction of the Cathedral began in 1882 and continues to our days, the end of the main construction, according to preliminary data, is expected in 2026. In 1891 Antonio Gaudi became the chief architect of Sagrada Familia. And despite the fact that the master gave this project 43 years of his life, during the life of Gaudi, only a third of his ideas were implemented. Sagrada Familia includes the unusual forms and structures of the building, each stone of which is not accidental and carries a certain plot. Each section of the Cathedral of the Holy Family, both outside and inside, deserves separate attention and the building can be viewed for a long time.



Photo of the main attraction not only of Barcelona, but of the whole Spain – Sagrada Familia (The Temple of the Holy Family)



Photo of Sagrada from the other side – be sure to go around the main attraction of Barcelona to see all its details



Detail photo of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona



Photo of Sagrada Familia from the inside – take your time to visit the most famous attraction of Spain

Even if you are not going to visit Sagrada Familia from the inside, you absolutely must see this unique sight of Barcelona from the outside, go around it from all sides and enjoy the atmosphere of Gaudi’s famous creation. Yes, there is always a large number of tourists around the Cathedral, and during peak hours, the queue at the entrance to the attraction reaches unbelievable sizes. However, having visited the Cathedral, you will be impressed by this truly amazing creation by Antonio Gaudi for a long time.

An excursion to Sagrada Familia with an audio guide will broaden your knowledge about Barcelona. We visited Sagrada Familia twice with a difference of 3 years, and it was interesting for us to observe what changes the building got during this time, what new interesting details were completed. Even if you have already seen Sagrada before, be sure to visit the Cathedral on your next trip to Barcelona – the building never ceases to amaze!

The price of entry tickets to Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is: 15 – 22 – 24 – 29 € depending on the selected program.

Find Sagrada Familia on the map

Working hours:

From November to February: from 9:00 till 18:00, last visit at 17:00

In October and March: from 9:00 till 19:00, last visit at 18:00

From April to September : from 9:00 till 20:00, last visit at 19:00

25th and 26th of December | 1st and 6th of January: from 9:00 till 14:00

How to get to Sagrada Familia:

By metro to Sagrada Familia station of L2 or L5 lines

By bus: 18, 33, 33, 43, 44, 50, 53, B20 or B24

By Bus Turistic

On foot



Address: Mallorca, 401



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La Rambla

La Rambla or Las Ramblas – Barcelona’s most popular tourist street, with many shops, restaurants, buildings with interesting architecture, as well as tourist attractions: living statues, performances, street artists. La Rambla is located in the very center of Barcelona and runs from Plaça Catalunya to the terminals of the cruise port. Many itineraries in travel guides start from La Rambla.

Apart from the fact that La Rambla itself is a tourist attraction in Barcelona, there are other popular interesting tourist places to visit and see on it.

Find La Rambla on the map



In the photo is the main tourist street of Barcelona – La Rambla



The architecture of La Rambla in Barcelona





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Boqueria

On La Rambla there is the most visited market in Barcelona – Boqueria. This is a place of tourism with a unique atmosphere of ancient Catalonia. At any time of the year, at Boqueria Market you will find an abundance of products from all over Spain, from nuts and fruits to seafood and meat products. Here you can eat – many shops offer drinks and ready meals. Boqueria is always crowded and noisy, but this amazing place in Barcelona is worth visiting.

And if you like cooking and have enough time – visit the cooking school in Boqueria. In addition to unforgettable emotions, it will help you decide on what to buy in the most famous market in Spain. Mostly tourists buy hamon, nuts and dried fruits, spices in Boqueria. At first, we were skeptical about the Boqueria market, and we thought that we would go there for a few minutes. However, our attitude changed as soon as we turned to the entrance of the market from La Rambla – even the crowd of tourists did not prevent us from enjoying the unique atmosphere of Boqueria, where we stayed and had a snack.

Find Boqueria on the map

Address and working hours:

Placa de la Boqueria, closest metro station — Liceu.

From 7-8 am till 6-7 pm.



Photo of Boqueria – the most popular market in Spain, which is also an attraction



Photo of Boqueria Market from the inside – it’s a crowded and popular place in Barcelona



Photo of assortment on Boqueria market – one of the main attractions of Spain



Photo of assortment of fruit at Boqueria market



Visit the famous attraction of Spain not only to take a photo, but also to try Catalonian cuisine



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Plaza Real

Walking further along La Rambla towards the port and turning left you will find yourself on Plaza Real or Plaça Reial – a cozy and beautiful part of Barcelona with cafes, restaurants and bars. In addition to its relaxed atmosphere, Plaza Real attracts by the work of Antoni Gaudi – the lanterns on the square are designed by the famous architect. Plaza Real is one of our favorite places in Barcelona, you should definitely visit it!

Find Plaza Real on the map



Photo of Royal Square – one of our favorite attractions in Barcelona



Photos on Plaza Real are atmospheric, with the mood of this Barcelona attraction



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Christopher Columbus Monument

At the end of La Rambla Street, right by the port, there is a 60-meter monument, constructed in honor of the famous explorer Christopher Columbus. A remarkable and little-known for many tourists and travel guides is the fact that at the base of the monument tower there is an elevator, taking advantage of which you can get to the very top of the monument, which offers an incredible view of Barcelona. Tickets for the monument of Christopher Columbus you can buy in advance. In addition to visiting one of the observation decks of Barcelona, wine tasting is included in the price.

Find Christopher Columbus Monument on the map



Photo of the monument of the famous seafarer of Spain – Christopher Columbus

Rambla is a too busy place with too many tourists both day and night. What has also a negative side – here you need to be extremely careful not to fall for the tricks of scammers and pickpockets, ready to profit by the relaxed tourists.

Elementary Safety Rules in Barcelona

Keeping to these safety rules, you will not spoil your holiday in Barcelona with negative tourism emotions

It would seem obvious, but watch your things, no matter how much beautiful and interesting attractions are around, be careful

If you are approached by a group of strangers trying to interest you with something or asking for a service, it is better to ignore them immediately, because perhaps this is a group of scammers. It is easier for such people to “work” in the group – while some are distracting, the second steal the values of inattentive tourists

Do not carry with you the whole amount of money you have, it is better to take the necessary amount for the day, and keep the rest in a safe

If you prefer to wear a camera around your neck – additionally hold it with your hands to protect yourself, because the freely hanging camera can be easily robbed

In bars and restaurants keep a bag, wallet and other valuables nearby, in sight, do not leave a wallet, for example, in a jacket pocket hanging on the back of a chair

Be especially careful and attentive in crowded places, in transport and at railway stations, it is better to prepare in advance the amount you need to pay for transport, and get it out of your pocket at the right time, rather than a wallet with all your money – scammers keep an eye on tourists where they put the wallet, they can easily steal it and quickly disappear in the crowd

Remembering these simple rules and observing them you can fully enjoy the days in Barcelona, not overshadowing your vacation with unpleasant moments. All you need is to be extremely attentive all the time.



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Plaza Catalunya

Plaza Catalunya (Plaça Catalunya) – a significant place for tourists in Barcelona, because it is on Plaza Catalunya where Aerobuses arrive from El Prat Airport and it is Plaza Catalunya from where sightseeing buses around Catalonia leave (to Mt. Montserrat, Figueres and Girona). In the past, Plaça Catalunya was a small square not far from La Rambla, but by the World Exhibition in 1888 the square was expanded and transformed, and now Plaça Catalunya is a spacious square with fountains and several monuments – a favorite meeting place for both tourists and locals. According to legend, if you are a tourist and quench your thirst in one of the fountains on Plaça Catalunya, this is a sure sign of your soon return to Barcelona.

Plaza Catalunya is the beginning of the famous Rambla street, and on the other side – Passeig de Gràcia Avenue with many shops and boutiques. Also there is El Corte Ingles shopping center on Plaza Catalunya, on 7 floors of which you can really find everything you need.

Find Plaza Catalunya on the map



Plaza Catalunya is an attraction of Barcelona and at the same time an important point for tourists





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Casa Mila

Casa Mila – is a building and a masterpiece of architecture of Barcelona, one of the works of Antoni Gaudi, built in 1906-1910. After construction of this building for Mila family, Gaudi dedicated himself to the Sagrada Familia project. Casa Mila has unusual smooth forms from the outside, but it also surprises from the inside – for example, it has a well-designed natural ventilation system, and also allows residents to move interior partitions at their discretion. Nowadays, there is a bank in Casa Mila, as well as a museum dedicated to the works of Gaudi, and a roof terrace which is open to the public.

The cost of entrance tickets to Casa Mila – 29 € for adults and 11 € for children.

How to get to Casa Mila: Passeig de Gracia, 92

Find Casa Mila on the map



The photo – Casa Mila, one of the most famous mansions in Spain



Casa Mila



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Casa Batllo

Casa Batllo – is one of the most famous mansions built by Antoni Gaudi. Casa Batlló is often shown on postcards about Barcelona, all sorts of posters, flyers and travel guides. The building is really unique, and it will take a lot of time to watch all its amazing details. The Casa Batlló is amazing not only with the way it looks like, but also with its interior – stairs, furniture, multi-colored stained glass – all this is unlike our classical ideas about the house.

We especially like to enjoy the view of Casa Batlló during twilight, when it is not dark yet, but the lights are on. At this time Casa Batlló looks the most attractive. Casa Batlló is open to tourists, the entrance fee is € 24.50 for adults and € 21.50 for children (7 to 18 years).

How to get to Casa Batllo: Passeig de Gracia, 43

Find Casa Batllo on the map



Casa Batlló is the most popular mansion, which is often depicted on photos, posters and postcards about Barcelona



Close up photo of Casa Batlló – a vivid example of the unusual architecture of the most popular city of Spain





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Barri Gotic

The old city of Barcelona and without exaggeration its heart is Barri Gotic. Most of the medieval attractions of Barcelona are located in Barri Gotic. The buildings in this area of Barcelona date from the 14th and 15th centuries, which undoubtedly gives it a special atmosphere.

Many streets of Barri Gotic are pedestrian, you can walk here for a long time enjoying the true Barcelona, and then stop at one of the many cafes and restaurants in the Old Town. During trips to Barcelona we prefer to rent vacation rentals in Barri Gotic.

Find Barri Gotic on the map



Barcelona’s Barri Gotic – a place where you can take photos at every step



Photo of Barri Gotic, Barcelona





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Barcelona Cathedral

Barcelona Cathedral (The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia) opens the list of attractions of Barri Gotic, this is where the routes through Barri Gotic often begin. Built in 1298, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia is one of the main attractions of Barri Gotic and whole Barcelona. The architecture of the building surprises with its massiveness and at the same time elegance – this is a vivid example of Gothic, made in the Catalan style. It is always crowded near The Cathedral, it is a favorite meeting place for both tourists and the locals. The Cathedral, not Sagrada Familia, is the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona and the main cathedral of Barcelona.

Find Barcelona Cathedral on the map



The photo – one of the most beautiful attractions of Spain – Barcelona Cathedral





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St. Jacob’s Square (Plaça de Sant Jaume)

Another iconic place in Barri Gotic is Plaça de Sant Jaume, located on the site of the Roman Forum. Throughout the various stages of history, St. Jacob’s Square was called the “Constitution Square”, which until 2013 was reminded by a sign on the facade of one of the square’s buildings. Nowadays, the City Hall’s buildings are located on St. Jacob’s Square.

In the past, the Square of St. Jacob (Sant Jaume) in Barcelona was very small, on each side the square was framed by houses, but in 1823 the Church of St. James was moved to Carrer de Ferran, and a number of houses were torn down, after which Plaça de Sant Jaume got its current dimensions. In the evening, decorated with lights, the area looks especially attractive. On Plaça de Sant Jaume in Barcelona takes place a widely known event – festival of construction towers of people.

Find Plaça de Sant Jaume on the map



The photo shows the Barcelona attraction from the times when this part of Spain was dominated by the Romans – St. Jacob’s Square



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The Bridge of Sighs

The visiting card of Barr Gothic is The Bridge of Sighs. The most romantic attraction of our travel guide, it’s located on a narrow street Carrer del Bisbe. Connecting two buildings, this openwork bridge attracts a large number of tourists with its beauty and uniqueness. The Bridge of Sighs is also called the Bridge of Kisses or the Lace Bridge. The Bridge of Sighs was built in 1926 under the guidance of architect Joan Rubio, who collaborated with Antoni Gaudi and worked on Casa Batlló, Sagrada Familia, and others.

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Photo of one of the most romantic places in Barcelona – the Bridge of Sights





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The Remains of the Roman Wall

An unusual attraction of Barri Gotic are the remains of the Roman wall, which surrounded the Roman colony of Barsino in the past. The Roman wall at that time had impressive dimensions: 3 meters wide and 9 high. Nowadays, close to the remains of the Roman wall, you can find the letters B-A-R-C-I-N-O – reminiscent of the historical past of Barcelona. Parts of the wall are found in several places, but the largest ones are on Avenida Catedral, Plaza Nova and Correu Vell.



Photo of the remains of the Roman wall, Barcelona



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Jewish Quarter

A part of Barri Gotic is the former Jewish quarter, which was located here until the 15th century. Now it’s a small area of El Call which is located between the streets of Rauric, Sant Honorat, Ferran and Baixada de Santa Eulàlia. Nowadays in the narrow streets of the district, as well as in the whole Old Town, there are cozy shops, a medieval atmosphere and street musicians.

The main attractions of the Jewish quarter are the synagogue, recognized as the oldest in Europe, the main street of the Jewish quarter (Call) and the immured house of Barcelona. During difficult periods in the life of the Jews in Barcelona, the synagogue remained abandoned and later was used for other purposes.

The return of the status of an attraction to the Jewish quarter in Barcelona happened not so long ago – in 2002, since this time it has been used as an excursion site in English or Hebrew.

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Photo of the oldest synagogue in the Jewish quarter of Barcelona





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Museums of Barri Gotic

In the heart of Barcelona, Barri Gotic, the thematic diversity of museums is widely represented. Whatever you are interested in, in the Gothic Quarter you will always find a museum that will be of interest to you. In Barri Gotic there are such museums as

Gaudi Exhibition Center with the Diocesan Museum of Barcelona

Frederic Mares Museum

Erotic Museum near St. Joseph Boulevard

The Museum of Wax Sculptures near Columbus Avenue

The history museum of Barcelona, which is located on the Royal Square, it is considered to be the most popular among the museums of Barri Gotic

Picasso Museum, located on Moncada Street and now occupying five mansions

The museums of the Gothic Quarter attract many tourists, which is not surprising, because visiting museums is a great option to have interesting time in Barcelona.

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The Head of Barcelona

The Head of Barcelona (La Cabeza de Barcelona) — is an unusual sculpture in Barcelona made by American artist Roy Lichtenstein. Barcelona Head is located not far from the seafront, at the intersection with Via Laietana. The sculpture was created for the 1992 Olympic Games. In honor of Antonio Gaudi, the sculpture is lined with bright ceramic tiles.

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The photo – The head of Barcelona, a gift to the city of Spain from the American author





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Bunker del Carmel

Bunker del Carmel – is one of the most famous and popular viewing platforms in Barcelona which is included in our travel guide. In the past, Bunker del Carmel was used for its intended purpose – during military operations in the 30s of the 20th century, the bunker was a strategically important object in the air defense of Barcelona. As time passed, romantic people became interested in bunker del Carmel, they rushed up the hill in search of beautiful views of the city. The panorama of Barcelona from the territory of bunker del Carmel is really fascinating – parallel streets diluted by the unusual architecture of the capital of Catalonia.

The peaks of Barcelona Cathedral, Sagrada Familia, Agbar Tower, Montjuic, Park Guell, Tibidabo – all the main attractions of the most visited city in Spain come from the El Carmel bunker in all its glory. Bunker del Carmel observation deck is becoming more and more popular among locals and tourists of Barcelona, and therefore, not so long ago, the authorities strengthened the structure and improved it’s territory a little. In the future, it is planned to create a museum here with several halls telling about the military past of bunker del Carmel.

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How to get to bunker del Carmel in Barcelona

Buses V17 (to the top), 119 (to Labèrnia street), 24 (to Carretera del Carmel-Mühlberg)

Blue metro line (Carmel station), yellow metro line (Alfons station)



Bunkers del Carmel is an attraction in Barcelona since the war in this area of Spain. From here you get incredible photos of Barcelona





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Observation Deck at Las Arenas Shopping Center

The observation deck at Las Arenas shopping center (Barcelona Arena) – is another place to see Spain’s most visited city from above. The observation deck at Las Arenas shopping center is a great option for those who do not want to spend time on getting to Tibidabo or bunker del Carmel. The panorama of Barcelona from here is not as endless as from the places mentioned above, but the view of the city from height is always attractive.

The observation deck is located at the exit of Las Arenas shopping center, on the top floor. The shopping center itself is located on Plaza Espanya, next to the metro station of the same name, Montjuic and the Magic Fountain. Regarding the cost of visiting the observation deck in Las Arenas shopping center – if you get there through the shopping center itself, the visit will be free. However, from the street, next to the shopping center, there is a paid elevator leading to the observation deck, which costs 1 €. You can get to Las Arenas observation deck in both ways.

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Photo of the attractions of Barcelona from the observation deck of the shopping center Las Arenas





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Parc de la Ciutadella

Parc de la Ciutadella – is a beautiful park located in the Old Town near Arc de Triomf. This is one of our favorite places in Barcelona and a must-visit of our travel guide. The incredible nature, combined with luxurious buildings, waterfalls and terraces of the Parc de la Ciutadella, make it one of the best places to relax in Barcelona.



Parc de la Ciutadella is a beautiful place to relax and take photos in Barcelona

Tourists and locals like to walk here, hiding in the shade of the trees from the sweltering heat and watching parrots, swans and other bird species. In the northern part of the Park, you will find the Cascade Fountain (Cascada), surprising with its beauty, built in 1875-1888 with the help of the then young architect Antoni Gaudi. In the center of the Parc de la Ciutadella there is a lake where you can take a boat, which is especially popular with those traveling to Barcelona with children. And this is not all the entertainments that Parc de la Ciutadella offers to its visitors.

In the southern part of the Park there is the city Zoo of Barcelona. Tickets to the zoo cost 19.90 € for an adult and 11.95 € for children (from 3 to 12 years old).

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The photo shows the Cascade Fountain in Parc de la Ciutadella, another attraction of Barcelona



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Arc de Triomf

Many buildings of Parc de la Ciutadella participated in the World Exhibition of 1888, and the main entrance to the Exhibition was Arc de Triomf (L’Arc de Triomf), which was built specially for the event. Today, Arc de Triomf is a popular place in Barcelona for both tourists and locals. At Arc de Triomf many people prefer to walk and relax, young people go roller-skating and skating, and for the guests of Barcelona animation is organized here – caricaturists, magicians and others.

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Arc del Triomf – an attraction and favorite place for tourists in Barcelona



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Palau Guell

One of the iconic attractions of Barcelona is Palau Guell. This is one of the first major works of the architect Antoni Gaudi – it was intended to become the main residence of the industrialist Eusebi Güell. The palace was built in 1885-1890 near the central boulevard of Barcelona – La Rambla. From the time of construction to our days, Palau Guell is an architectural masterpiece. Built with a mixture of styles, Palau Guell looks modestly outside and diversely rich inside. The palace is extremely popular among fans of Antoni Gaudi. The building is listed by UNESCO.

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How to get to Palau Guell: Nou de la Rambla, 3-5

The cost of entrance: watching external facades is free, the cost of entry is 10 €

Palau Guell working hours

Summer time: from April to September from 10 am to 8 pm

Winter time: from October to March from 10 am to 5.30 pm



Photo of Palau Guell – one of the most unusual buildings of Barcelona and perhaps of all Spain





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Park Guell

It’s a mistake to visit Barcelona and not to visit Park Guell. The history of the park began in 1900, when the Catalan industrialist, philanthropist and politician Eusebi Güell bought 62 hectares of land on the outskirts of Barcelona to create a garden city. Construction of Park Guell began in 1901. The most unusual stage of construction was the creation of the famous winding bench on the terrace area – for it all the builders of Gaudi objects were tasked to collect fragments of dishes and decorative tiles.

With the help of these fragments they made the parapet of the bench and the stairs leading to the terrace, which can now be found on numerous postcards about Barcelona. However, this is not the only place in Barcelona where the bright fragments were used. In Park Guell there is a hall with 86 columns, which are also lined with blue fragments, which Antoni Gaudi loved so much. The entrance to the Park looks fabulous – on the sides there are two gingerbread houses with white roofs, as if from a glaze. And just opposite the entrance to Park Guell, you can admire the symbol of Barcelona – the mosaic lizard.

You can spend quite a lot of time in the park, walking along the paths surrounded by different kinds of colorful flowers is a big pleasure. Park Guell is a must-visit of every travel guide of Barcelona. There are the Museum of Antoni Gaudi, fountains, a playground and a souvenir shop in Park Guell. The only thing that can disappoint you in Park Guell is the number of visitors. Despite the fact that a few years ago, the entrance to the park was made for money – the number of those who wants to visit one of the creations of Gaudi did not become lower, there is always crowded. Park Guell is an extremely popular place for tourism in Barcelona.

Important! Currently (November 2018), a part of the terrace area is under reconstruction, visitors can only stay in half of the area.

The cost of the tickets to Park Guell

Adults – 7,50 €

Children from 7 to 12 years old and adults from 65 years old – 5,25 €

Children from 0 to 6 years old – free

You can, and it’s even better, buy tickets in advance here

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How to get to Park Guell

By metro – to Lesseps station, then on foot following the signs to Park Guell, or to Joanic station, and then by mini-bus number 116

By bus – №№ 24, 31, 32, H6, 92 or by Bus Turistic

By taxi or rented car – there are parkings next to Park Guell

Park Guell working hours:

From January 1 to March 24 – from 8.30 am to 6.15 pm (the last entry time 5.30 pm)

From October 28 to December 31 – from 8.30 am to 6.15 pm (the last entry time 5.30 pm)

From March 25 to April 29 – from 8.00 am to 8.30 pm (the last entry time 7.30 pm)

From April 30 to August 26 – from 8.00 am to 9.30 pm (the last entry time 8.30 pm)

From August 27 to October 27 – from 8.00 am to 8.30 pm (the last entry time 7.30 pm)



You can walk and take photos in Park Güell for a long time, this attraction of Barcelona fascinates immediately



The view from Barcelona’s Park Guell Square is a great opportunity to take a panoramic photo of the city



Park Guell is a popular attraction, when mentioning it Spain, Barcelona and its unusual architecture immediately come to mind







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Mount Tibidabo

The attraction of Barcelona, where you will not be able to spend a few time, is Mount Tibidabo. After all, Tibidabo is a favorite vacation spot for both tourists and locals, including companies with children. During a walk through Tibidabo, you will have a great perspective on Barcelona from height of 512 meters. This is a great opportunity to see the capital of Catalonia from an unusual angle.

However, on Mount Tibidabo there is a large number of other entertainments for adults and children. Check our travel guide of Barcelona for them. For example, here is the natural science museum CosmoCaixa, one of the best scientific and educational museums in Europe. On the area of the museum in 45 thousand m2 the achievements and knowledge of mankind about the world are represented:

El Muro geologico, showing how the Earth is arranged

La Sala de la Materia, where you can learn about the origin of the universe from the big bang to the appearance of the mind

El Bosque inundado, representing the Amazon jungle as an example of one of the ecosystems

Plaza de la Ciencia, where you can watch large moving models depicting the phenomena of the physical world

Children’s rooms Click and Flash – large game rooms, where in the process of the game children gain experience in learning about the world around them

Planetario – one of the best planetariums in Europe, where tours, lectures on the origin and structure of the universe and even dinners under the stars are held

Planetario Burbuja – which is a planetarium for children aged 3 to 8 years



Photo of Barcelona from Mount Tibidabo

The cost of tickets to CosmoCaixa Museum in Barcelona: € 4 for adults, free for children under 16 years old.

Working hours of CosmoCaixa Museum:

Daily from 10 am to 8 pm

December 24 and 31, January 5 from 10 am to 6 pm

Closed – December 25, January 1 and 6

On Tibidabo Mountain there is also the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a statue of Christ on top. The temple is truly an architectural masterpiece not only of Mount Tibidabo, but of whole Barcelona. While the hill is considered to be one of the most religious places in whole Spain. You will hardly manage to watch the Temple quickly, because a building that combines elements of the Romanesque, neo-Gothic and Modernist styles attracts you with its interesting details.

An interesting way to spend time on Tibidabo is to walk through the landscape labyrinth – Laberint d’Horta. And if you won’t be able to find the way out of the labyrinth on your own, one of the employees will help you at any time.



Landscape labyrinth – here you can walk and take a photo in memory of Barcelona

And of course, on Tibidabo mountain, it will be difficult to ignore the oldest amusement park in Spain. This amusement park was built more than a hundred years ago and it is still a favorite place for both tourists and locals. The “age” of the amusement park gives it a special atmosphere, but you should not worry about safety – the mechanisms are replaced by modern ones.

Perhaps the most popular carousels are:

Ferris Wheel

Roller Coaster

Plane

In spite of the fact that these are not modern breathtaking rides, the height at which they are located gives a special atmosphere.

The Observation Deck

The observation deck of the TV tower on Mount Tibidabo is worth special attention. Indeed, besides the fact that the TV tower is located on Tibidabo at an altitude of more than 500 meters, the observation deck rises 270 meters more. This is the highest point from which you can see Barcelona and it is popular at any time, but especially during the sunset.

How to get to Mount Tibidabo:

The easiest way is by bus “Tibibus” from Plaza Catalunya

And the most romantic way is by metro to Tibidabo station (7th line), where you should take the famous blue tram and get to Doctor Andreu square, from where take the funicular that takes you directly to the top of Tibidabo

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TV tower on Mount Tibidabo, from the observation deck of which you can see many of the attractions of Barcelona and make panoramic photos of the city





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Mount Montjuic

Another place from travel guide for an interesting and relaxed pastime in Barcelona is Mount Montjuic. In fact, Montjuic is a hill towering above the old port of Barcelona. Here are some of the best museums of the capital of Catalonia, the exhibits of the World Exhibition of 1929, the complex of objects of the 1992 Olympics, many parks, squares and walking routes with a view of Barcelona. And at the highest point of Montjuic there is the castle of the same name, walking around which you can at the same time plunge into the medieval atmosphere and see the panorama of modern Barcelona from the height.

Montjuic is a famous place for tourism in Barcelona. If you decide to go to the top of Montjuic on foot – along the way you can visit several botanical gardens, for example, one where species of cacti grow from all over the world. The Olympic Stadium, Spanish village (Poble Espanyol) and Joan Miro Museum are also worth Your attention on Mount Montjuic.

National Art Museum of Catalunya (MNAC), which is located right at the beginning of Montjuic, is worth mentioning separately. The museum, located in the National Palace, built for World Exposition 1929, is the main museum of Barcelona and an important center of Romanesque art in the world. The territory of the National Palace is incredibly beautiful, you can walk and watch its many details for a long time. In the evening your walk will be complemented by the view of the Magic Fountain, which was built in 1929 for the World Exhibition. And to the 1992 Olympics, the Magic Fountain was reconstructed and the music was added to the backlighting, thereby making the Magic Fountain one of the symbols of Barcelona. The cascade of fountains stretches from Plaza Espanya to the National Palace. About 2.5 million people a year visit the Fountain at the foot of Montjuic. If you want to see the performance of the Magic Fountain, you should keep in mind its working time:

From April 30 to September 30 — from Thursday to Sunday 21:00 – 23:30 (musical performances at 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00)

From October 1 to April 30 — from Thursday to Saturday 20:00 – 21:00 (musical performances at 20:00, 20:30, 21:00)

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How to get to Montjuic:

By metro – Espanya station, located at the beginning of the hill, buses No. 50, 55, 61 and 193 go to the top

By one of the cable cars of Barcelona – from the Old Port to the top of Montjuic

By funicular, which starts near the Parallel metro station and arrives at the fortress of Montjuic



Photo of the Olympic Stadium on Montjuic in Barcelona



In the photo: the National Palace and the Magic Fountain – a popular place in Barcelona, that attracts tourists both day and night





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Barcelona Aquarium (L’Aquarium)

Barcelona Aquarium (L’Aquarium) – is a popular attraction of the capital of Catalonia and one of the most interesting places to visit Barcelona with children. The aquarium is located near the port (Port Vell) and the end of the Rambla boulevard in a popular area of Barcelona.

In the aquarium there is a 80-meters glass tunnel along the bottom, walking along which visitors can closely examine the numerous marine life from coral fish to sharks. In the Aquarium of Barcelona it is interesting for both children and adults.

The Aquarium is divided into several sections, each of them represents the reservoir, depending on climatic conditions. On the second floor you can not only watch the inhabitants of the Aquarium, but also with the help of various technical means (projectors, screens, etc.) find out how life began in the water, how organisms adapt to changes of life in the water, and so on. In Aquarium you can also watch the favorites of many people – Arctic penguins!

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Barcelona Aquarium – here you can have a great time and take unusual photos





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FC Barcelona Stadium – Camp Nou

Camp Nou – is a home stadium of FC Barcelona, where football fans from all over the world come every year. Camp Nou stadium was opened in September 1957, and nowadays tours to the stadium and the museum of FC Barcelona are considered to be the most popular excursions of the capital of Catalonia. During a tour to Camp Nou of FC Barcelona, tourists see the stadium from the inside, as players and managers see it.

Camp Nou is the largest stadium not only in Spain, but also in Europe. The home stadium of FC Barcelona is one of the few European stadiums that UEFA values in five stars. The entrance ticket allows you to go behind the scenes of the club, to the museum and multimedia center. If you are fond of football – you will surely enjoy this excursion in Barcelona. The cost of the ticket to the Camp Nou stadium for adults is € 25, for children € 20.

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Photos at Camp Nou stadium – a must-see point for visiting Barcelona for those who likes football.





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Port of Barcelona

The port of Barcelona, which is more than 2000 years old, is in fact also an attraction. In antiquity the boats traveling to trade with Greece left off from the coast of the current Barcelona. The first stone of today’s port was put in Barcelona in 1428. Today, port of Barcelona stretches for 15.6 km and consists of 3 parts:

Cargo port, which can be seen from Montjuic Port Vell — the so-called old port. It is especially popular among tourists for its atmosphere, both day and night. This part of Barcelona port runs from the monument of Columbus towards Barceloneta Beach Cruise port, located next to the main tourist street – La Rambla, which is especially convenient for those traveling by ferry. From cruise port of Barcelona the sea adventures of many tourists begin. And those who come to Barcelona by ferry just for 1 day, from the port immediately get into the atmosphere of Rambla, which allows them feel the atmosphere of the capital of Catalonia at once

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In the photo – part of the port of Barcelona, which is most popular among tourists



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Montserrat Monastery

Despite the fact that Montserrat monastery is located in the Pyrenees, 50 km away from Barcelona, it is quite a popular place of tourism from our travel guide, and many tourists dedicate a day for visiting it. Montserrat – is the name of a separate peak, where the monastery is located – it is a well-known place of Catalonia, because this is where the valuable shrine is kept – the statue of the “Black Madonna at Montserrat”. A visit to the monastery can be combined with hiking – the way to monastery is equipped with trails with signs of difficulty and length of the route.

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Montserrat – the sacred place of Spain





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PortAventura World

PortAventura World – is perhaps the most popular attraction in province of Barcelona. The visit to PortAventura amusement park, which is located near Salou (Costa Dorada), usually takes the whole day.

Emotions from visiting the park will stay with you for a long time, because PortAventura is the largest theme park in Europe. The park is divided into 6 thematic zones, where absolutely everyone will find something to do and enjoy. If you have enough time in Barcelona, and you want to diversify your holiday – go to the amusement park PortAventura and you will not regret!

You can get to PortAventura amusement park from Barcelona by train, bus or taxi.

Renfe electric trains run from Barcelona to PortAventura amusement park and back once in every hour from 6 am to 9 pm. You can catch the train in Barcelona from Estació de França, Passeig de Gràcia and Estació de Sants.

It is advantageous to buy train tickets and an entrance ticket to amusement park at the same time – so you will pay less

You can take Plana bus from Barcelona to Port Aventura. The exact schedule you can find here.

Convenient, but not a cheap way to get from Barcelona to PortAventura – is to take a taxi. The cost of such a trip will start from 170 €.

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Port Aventura – the most famous amusement park in Spain





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Travel Itineraries Around Barcelona

Travel itineraries around Barcelona can be really different, and depending on your interests there can be many of them. In our travel guide we have made several universal itineraries around Barcelona, which contain places that everyone who visits this unique city needs to see.

If you are in Barcelona for just 1 day, we recommend a route that runs through the main city attractions. Barcelona is big and many interesting places for tourists are located out of the city center. In order not to lose your precious time, we offer a combined route in Barcelona for 1 day, where you can reach city attractions both on foot and by public transport:

It’s reasonable to start Barcelona itinerary from Sagrada Familia, which can be reached by metro (the station of the same name). From Sagrada Familia head on C.Provenca Street, towards Diagonal Avenue. After a quarter from Diagonal Avenue, you will see “Casa de les Punxes” (house with spikes), near which go through Diagonal Avenue and move towards one of the most famous central streets of Barcelona – Passeig de Gràcia. Here are 2 famous attractions of Barcelona — Casa Mila and Casa Batllo. After go to Plaza Catalunya. From Plaça Catalunya, walk through Rambla, take a look at Boqueria market and the Royal Square (Plaza Real), go to Columbus statue. Then go for a walk through the streets of the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic) – to Barcelona Cathedral, the Bridge of Kisses and Plaza Sant Jaume. In Barri Gotic there is a large selection of cafes, bars and restaurants where you can have a snack and try Catalan cuisine. After, if you’ll have enough time — take the metro and go to Parc Guell where you can watch the sunset. It will be a busy, but full of bright emotions day in Barcelona.

If your trip to Barcelona lasts 2 days, the second day will be rich in emotions too:

Take the metro to Plaza de Espana, which is an attraction but there are also beautiful places near it — walk on the territory of the National Palace, admire the Magic Fountain, climb the Montjuic mountain, visit Montjuic Castle, buildings built for the World Exhibition, parks and squares, as well as the “Spanish Village – Poble Espanyol”. In the afternoon we recommend a trip to Mount Tibidabo. We described the attractions of Tibidabo in details above in this travel guide, and just mention again that there is really a lot of entertainment – the oldest amusement park, natural science museum, planetarium, television tower with the highest observation deck in Barcelona. There are places to spend half a day on Tibidabo, and you will remember this time for a long time.

If your trip to Barcelona lasts 3 days:

On the third day in Barcelona in the morning, go to the embankment, walk along the beaches and relax on one of them. After we recommend to visit Parc de la Ciutadella, which is located not far from the beaches. In the Park you can ride a boat and visit Barcelona Zoo. Next to Parc de la Ciutadella, go to the Arc de Triomf, from where along the streets of Barcelona head to one of the shopping centers (for example, El Corte Inglés) or a museum for your interests.

✔ We Released the Barcelona Travel Guide eBook.

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Barcelona Tours & Excursions

Barcelona is a really rich in attractions city. As a result, there is a huge number of excursions. Tourism in Barcelona is always exciting, colofrul and interesting. Depending on the quality of days of stay in Barcelona and the interests, absolutely every tourist will choose for himself a tour and a guide around Barcelona. Before you choose a tour of the most visited city in Spain, we advise you to examine the map of Barcelona to know where the attractions you are interested in are located.

When visiting many attractions of Barcelona, you can buy an audio guide and visit them on your own, but if you prefer excursions with a real guide, there are many offers of them in Barcelona.

All excursions and day trips in Barcelona can be divided into groups:

Barcelona sightseeing tours

Excursions to historical places of Barcelona with outstanding architecture

Excursions on unusual itineraries of Barcelona

Excursions to museums of Barcelona for art fans

Excursions out of town

Excursions to the remarkable places of Barcelona, offering local cuisine





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Barcelona City Beaches

Visiting Barcelona – is a great opportunity not only to see the attractions of the works of the architect Antoni Gaudi and enjoy the unique atmosphere of the old city, but also to spend time on city beaches of the Catalan capital on the Mediterranean coast. Yes, Barcelona is not a place to go only for a sea vacation, but combining walks around the city and visiting the beaches is a great opportunity to enrich your holiday and get bright emotions. In this regard, Barcelona is an ideal city for tourism.

For example, we always spent the mornings on Barcelona city beach, and after 11am we walked along the itineraries of the attractions of Barcelona. The beaches of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast are popular at any time of the year, the quays of the best beaches are always crowded, tourists and locals walk here, play sports or just enjoy the breeze. The coast of Barcelona stretches for 5 km, which is occupied by several city beaches. Along the coast you can walk, ride a bike or rollerblade or enjoy many attractions from the travel guide of Barcelona.





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The best beaches of Barcelona are considered to be:

La Barceloneta Beach

La Barceloneta, which stretched from Carrer Almirall Cervera to Port Olimpic. This is the oldest and most popular beach in Barcelona. Infrastructure is well developed on Barceloneta, there are bars, rent of sunbeds and umbrellas, sports grounds and numerous entertainment for beach visitors. Usually used to spend time on Barceloneta in the morning, when there were not many people on the beach, and the sea was calm and clean.

However, one day we came on Barceloneta before dinner and we did not recognize it. A lot of people, garbage and dirty sea – that’s what we saw. If it was the first time we saw Barceloneta – I bet we wouldn’t want to spend time on the beach in Barcelona again. Therefore, we recommend visiting the beaches in Barcelona in the morning, as in the afternoon and in the evening there are many other interesting activities in the city.

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Photo of the beaches of Barcelona from the W Hotel to Port Olimpic





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San Sebastian Beach

San Sebastian beach is located next to La Barceloneta beach, however, it is absolutely different. San Sebastian Beach is near the famous Hotel W, which can be seen from the coast of the most popular city in Spain. Beach visitors should keep in mind that a part of San Sebastian beach is for nudists. As for the nature – the water is more clean and light here than on Barceloneta, since the beach is in the bay. There is a water sports club on San Sebastian beach as an entertainment.

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Photo of one of the beaches of Barcelona – San Sebastian





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Somorrostro Beach

Somorrostro beach, the name of which most people do not know. This beach is located near two remarkable high buildings of Port Olympic and the monument of the Golden Fish. Somorrostro is one of the party beaches, on the coastline of which there are several clubs and restaurants. Dj’s play music during the day and fashionable young people spend time here.

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Photo of one of the beaches of Barcelona – Somorrostro





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Bogatell Beach

Bogatell Beach is another beach located near Port Olimpic. Due to the fact that there are not so many cafes, bars and entertainment near the beach, as on La Barceloneta, Bogatell is popular among those who likes swimming and lying on the golden sand, taking a break from city attractions or recharging before they are seen. On Bogatell beach there are sunbeds and umbrellas for rent (€ 5–8), showers, changing rooms and cafes with soft drinks, as well as soccer and volleyball courts.

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In the photo: one of the beaches of Barcelona – Bogatell





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Mar Bella Beach

Mar Bella Beach – located near the Port Olimpic after Bogatell Beach. This is the most freedom-loving beach in Barcelona, where nudists and sexual minorities prefer to relax. All people can also spend time here, but for companies with children or conservative-minded citizens it is better to choose another beach in Barcelona. At the same time, water sports like windsurfing, kayaking and catamaran rides are popular on Mar Bella.

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Nova Icaria Beach

Nova Icaria Beach – the most popular beach of Barcelona for visitors with children. Both tourists and local families prefer this beach, because here you can enjoy a quiet and comfortable stay in the heart of the capital of Spain. On Nova Icaria beach there are fine golden sand and clear blue water. There are also sports grounds, a small park with exercise equipment and a shopping center nearby.

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Photo of Nova Icaria beach – the most popular beach in Barcelona among visitors with children





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Castelldefels Beach

Although it is located outside of Barcelona, Castelldefels Beach is worth special attention in our travel guide. The beach of the town of the same name has an elongated shape and is located near the Garraf reserve. The length of the beach Castelldefels reaches 5 km. In order to have a good time here, you can do water sports. In addition, on the beach of Castelldefels there are a playground, showers and wooden walkways for easy movement on the sand.

Find Castelldefels beach on the map



Photo of Castelldefels beach near Barcelona





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National Cuisine of Catalonia – What You Should Definitely Try in Barcelona

Traditional cuisine is a significant part of the Catalan culture. Catalonian people are truly proud of their national dishes, because, due to the geographical features of the region, fresh first-class products and wine were always here. Catalonian – is one of the variations of Mediterranean cuisine, in most of which soups, salads, meat, fish and seafood take place. Among traditional dishes, which you should definitely try in Barcelona, first of all is tapas – various appetizers for wine, vermouth or beer, served both cold and hot.

The most popular among the tapas are:

Patatas bravas (potatoes under various sauces)

Pa amb tomaquet (bread spread with garlic and tomatoes)

Anchoas de L’Escala (sandwich with anchovies)

Tapas bars are extremely popular in Barcelona, their concentration per square kilometer sometimes exceeds the limit, and therefore the question of where to eat in Barcelona often does not have an acute need. Tapas can be attributed to cheap food in Barcelona, because their prices start from 1 €. Tapas bars will always be on the way, wherever you are.



In the photo – various versions of tapas in one of the bars of Barcelona





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The Restaurants We Recommend in Our Travel Guide

In our Barcelona Travel Guide we recommend the following tapas bars:

Casa Lolea (Sant Pere Mès Alt, 49)

Cervecería Catalana (Carrer de Mallorca, 236)

Bar Canete (Carrer de la Unió, 17)

Mercat Princesa (Carrer dels Flassaders, 21)

Paella, dishes with jamon, garlic paste (El alioli), squid ink risotto (arros negre), grilled sausages with beans (La butifarra), cannelloni (Los canelones), cream catalana and of course catalonian wine – having tried all this you can really feel the atmosphere of Catalonian cuisine and your trip to Barcelona will be filled with vivid emotions.

Due to the fact that in recent years Barcelona has become an incredibly popular tourist city, the competition among cafes, restaurants and wine bars in the capital of Spain is huge. Many bars and restaurants offer lunch menu for 10-15 €, and this is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the Catalonian cuisine and eat in Barcelona.

Among the places with traditional Catalonian cuisine, in our Barcelona Travel Guide we recommend:

La Fonda – Carrer Escudellers, 10

Brunch & Cake

Los Caracoles – Carrer Escudellers, 14

Buenas Migas

Can Pineda – Carrer de Sant Joan de Malta, 55

Petit Comitè – Passatge de la Concepció, 13

El Nacional – a place with an interesting format, where different cafes and restaurants are located together. Having entered the hall with a beautiful interior, you can look at the menu and choose a place you like the most. We advise you to visit El Nacional in the evening when the lights are on and in the interior and the atmosphere become more romantic.





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Shopping in Barcelona

Barcelona means not only informative tourism, beautiful attractions, the best promenades with beaches, restaurants with amazing Catalan cuisine, but also incredible shopping. The city has a really large number of shopping centers, shops and boutiques, and nearby there are also 2 outlets.

Spain is the homeland of such popular brands as Zara, Mango, Pull & Bear and many others. However, shopping in Barcelona is not limited to popular well-known brands. The flea market Encants, where you can find truly amazing and antique items, is becoming increasingly popular in Barcelona.

In central tourist areas of Barcelona there is a large number of shops and boutiques. On Plaça Catalunya there is El Corte Ingles shopping center, on the seven floors of which everyone will find everything he needs. And starting from Plaça Catalunya Passeig de Gracia is a shopping paradise. The first floors of the buildings are occupied by various shops and boutiques.

In province of Barcelona there is the designer outlet of La Roca Village, where the goods of leading world brands are represented. You can get to the outlet from Barcelona either by car or first by train from Sants train station to Granollers station, and then by bus to La Roca Village. There is also a direct bus from Barcelona – Express. The bus leaves from the stop at Carrer de Casp, 34 to the outlet.

The cost is 7 € for a one-way trip and 12 € – both ways.

How to get to La Roca Village outlet: La Roca Village, s/n 08430 Santa Agnès de Malanyanes

Recently one more outlet was opened in province of Barcelona – Viladecans The Style Outlets. The outlet is located in the town of Viladecans, 15 minutes from Barcelona and 10 minutes from El Prat airport. There is a shuttle bus from Plaça Catalunya and Plaça Espanya from Barcelona to the Viladecans outlet, which costs 10 € in both directions.

How to get to Viladecans outlet: Viladecans The Style Outlets: Carretera de la Vila, 90, Viladecans, Barcelona.

Shopping in Barcelona always pleases with a variety of goods, and during the winter (January-February) and summer (July-August) sales also with discounts up to 70%. Months of sales in Barcelona are especially popular with those whose purpose of the trip to Barcelona are not only attractions, but also shopping.

Find outlets on the map





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Useful Links

Useful links for your bright trip to Barcelona and making the perfect itinerary around the city:





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Our Review of The Days Spent in Barcelona

Many people fall in love with Barcelona immediately, as soon as they get into this extraordinary city. The amazing combination of beach and informative tourism makes the Catalan capital a universal city for a holiday. Absolutely everyone will find how to spend time in Barcelona interesting and exciting.

We combined our days in Barcelona with different types of tourism: the mornings we spent on the beach, then visited city attractions with the travel guide, and in the evenings we walked along the beautifully decorated with lights streets, visited cafes and restaurants, shops and shopping centers. Due to the fact that we stayed in Barcelona quiet a lot of time, we traveled to almost all the attractions within the city on foot (perhaps, except Tibidabo and Parc Guell). Walking around Barcelona is a great opportunity to get to know the city better, and often to find beautiful and interesting non-tourist locations.

Despite the large number of tourists, Barcelona has a relaxed atmosphere. However, if you want to avoid a large number of tourists on the streets of Barcelona, do not choose July and August for holidays here – these are the most popular months for tourists to visit the capital of Catalonia.

A large number of attractions in Barcelona makes it difficult to visit them in one trip, and therefore, having visited this incredible Spanish city already several times, we plan to return again.

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