Barcelona Tourist Information

Although our website concentrates mostly on the Costa Blanca area of Spain, our site would not be complete without a guide to the second city of Spain - Barcelona.

In this tourist guide to the famous city of Barcelona in Spain we help visitors who are planning a trip with useful and practical advice on many tourism related subjects such as Barcelona car hire, accommodation, hotels, hostels, Barcelona map, sightseeing, weather, where to go, where to stay, travel information and what to see and do in Barcelona.

To make the best of your visit and holiday we cover everything you need to know about Barcelona. We also have photos, picture galleries, views, videos and Barcelona webcams of Barcelona.

Above - Casa Mila (aka La Pedrere) by Gaudi

Above - Photo of Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

BARCELONA ATTRACTIONS - WHAT TO DO AND SEE IN BARCELONA

Discover Barcelona's Famous Attractions
By Mike Riccione

Sites of cultural and historical interest can be found right throughout the city of Barcelona. Such is the wealth of the city as a tourist attraction that there is no one area that dominates interest. In La Barceloneta, Eixample and Passeig de Gracia there are many interesting and lively tourist centres. This is one of the great things about the city - you don't have to worry where you end up staying, there is still plenty to do nearby.

If there is one place that the concentration of famous sites is greatest, however, it is the Gothic Quarter. The area is generally characterized by ancient buildings and quaint streets that are always bustling with tourists.

There is a wide variety of apartments available in the Gothic Quarter, leaving you within walking distance of some great experiences. The Roman remains of the city can be seen here in the charming Barcino settlement. You are also well located to wander you way around the immense maze of streets and alleyways.

Even more amazing is what waits in store at the Museu d'Historia de la Ciutat. This is the entrance to a world of underground Roman ruins - the most complete collection of its kind anywhere is the world. If you want to discover the history of the city, do it here by walking the 2,000-year-old streets.

Aside from La Sagrada Familia cathedral, which is the most visited site in the town (get there using our Sagrada Familia map), the Gothic Quarter is also home to many squares where you can relax and rewind. Placa del Rei is said to be one of the most beautiful in all of Spain. Placa Reial is also considered very attractive and has many terraces for drinks at street level.

Being the oldest part of the city, it is hard to escape Barcelona's distinguished history in Gothic Quarter. This is the true heart of the city.

El Born, meanwhile, combines the ancient history of the Old Town, with some of the city's most recent developments. This neighbourhood is undergoing rejuvenation and is becoming exceedingly popular with tourists and locals alike. It is in El Born that you will find the Picasso museum, dedicated to the works of Spain's most famous artist.

The quaint streets, lined with small restaurants and exclusive boutiques also make for interesting walks. Indeed, El Born is ideal for getting around on foot because it is really not too far away from anywhere. The beach is only ten minutes away, while the zoo and Park Ciutadella are also within walking distance of many of the apartments.

If you want a closer experience of the Catalonian culture, then El Born should be your first stop. As an up-and -coming area, it has not yet been overrun by tourists. There still remains many independent shops and cafes, while the streets are generally less crowded. This area retains its old charm, but for how much longer no one can be sure.

If you wish to be close to the city's main attractions, you can't go wrong in either the Gothic Quarter or El Born. Both are home to some of the city's favourite attractions. And even if the place you really want to visit isn't to be found in either of these areas, you will probably find it is well within walking distance.

Want to find out more about central Barcelona apartments, then visit Mike Riccione's site on how to choose the best apartment in Barcelona for your needs.

Above - Port Vell, Barcelona

Above - Plaza de Espanya in Barcelona

BARCELONA SIGHTS

What more could you want out of life than a tremendous trip to Barcelona?!

Second city of Spain and major Mediterranean port, bustling Barcelona incorporates a delightful historic mix of Roman remains, medieval quarters and 20th century avant-garde art. It also possesses beautiful beaches nearby!

Nature lovers need not travel far to be able to hike through hills that are part of the Coastal Mountain Range and Catalonian Pyrenees.

Not only is Barcelona a tremendous artistic source, there is also penty for the children to do. How they will love the beaches that surround the city, the Aquarium, Zoo, Maritime Museum, Museum of Barcelona Football Club, Olympic Stadium and nearby theme park!

For shopoholics, the Barcelona Shopping Line will greatly appeal!

The velvet night vibrates with night clubs, discos, shows, restaurants, bars, cafés ... not to mention theaters, cinemas, opera and classical music concerts.

Needless to say, Barcelona is a culture-vulture's dream come true with most places of historic interest being situated in the Old Town.

The Old Town spreads north-west from the harbor and, at its heart, is the Gothic Quarter or Barrio Gótico. El Arco de Triunfo can be found there, plus the impressive Cathedral of Ciudad Condal.

Adjacent to the Gothic Quarter is the Barrio de la Ribera, also of medieval origin, where several historic buildings have been turned into museums, such as the Palau Aguilar which is, nowadays, the Picasso Museum.

The renowned Las Ramblas of Barcelona is a series of lively streets that combine to make a broad avenue leading to the harbor and Mediterranean Sea. What a superb atmosphere they possess!

To the south-west lies the fortress-topped hill of Montjuic, where the Barcelona Olympic Stadium and some fine museums are located.

At the southern end of the Ramblas lies Barcelona Harbor and Port Vell. This area now combines high-class restaurants with trendy clubs and bars.

To be found in the central area of Barcelona (the Eixample) are the fantasy works of Gaudí such as Park Güell, Palau Güell and Casa Milà La Pedrera.

However, Gaudí is best remembered for the part he played in the construction of the Cathedral of Barcelona - La Sagrada Familia.

So ... boomerang on over to Barcelona and get to know Gaudí!

About the author:
Linda Plummer is webmistress of Top Tour of Spain providing information on Spain for travel, food, language and living.

Above - Barcelona skyline with Park Guell

Above - Las Ramblas, Barcelona

Running through the centre of Barcelona, from the port to the Placa de Catalunya, is the tree-lined Las Ramblas. This famous avenue is often crowded with street entertainers, tourists and shoppers. To the east of Las Ramblas is the medieval Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic), home to various palaces, churches and the Cathedral la Seu which dates from the 14th century. Further inland is the Eixample district, which was laid out during the 19th century and contains several of the city's Modernista-style buildings, most notably Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia. The construction of this neo-Gothic cathedral was begun in 1882 and it is not expected to be completed for at least another 20 years. Another of Gaudi's fantastical creations, the Casa Mila (La Pedrera) with its curvy lines and surrealist chimney stacks, is also situated within the Eixample.

On the southern side of Barcelona is Montjuic Hill, which literally means 'Jews Mountain'. This expanse of greenery is home to a couple of notable art museums, the Fundacion Miro and the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, as well as the 1992 Olympic stadium. For those who prefer a more thrilling ascent to the summit of Montjuic, there is a cable car which leads up to the castle. From here you can enjoy the fine views of the port.

One of Barcelona's newest art museums is the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA), housed within a large glass-fronted building designed by the American architect Richard Meier. The MACBA contains modern works by Spanish and Catalan artists. Pablo Picasso spent some of his formative years in Barcelona and there is a museum dedicated to his work, with pieces that include 'The Harlequin' and a series entitled 'Las Meninas'.

The redeveloped Port Vell area contains an attractive marina along with shops, restaurants, cafes, an IMAX cinema and an aquarium. To the north is the former fishing district of Barceloneta, which has also been improved in recent years. As well as some fine beaches and excellent seafood restaurants, Barceloneta is home to the Museu Maritim which traces the city's maritime history.

The Barcelona Card, available from tourist offices, may be worth buying if you want to save a few euros on your visit. The card entitles you to free travel on public transport, as well as discounts at many museums, restaurants and nightclubs. Another money-saving option is the Articket, valid for six months, which provides you with free entry to several art museums, including the Picasso Museum and the MACBA. The Articket can be purchased at the participating museums.

Barcelona's main airport, known as El Prat, is just 8 miles (13 kilometres) from the city centre. Regular train and bus services are available from the airport to Estacio Sants. There are also a couple of alternative airports at Reus and Girona, both of which are used mainly by charter and budget airlines.

For more advice and tourist information about Barcelona please see Barcelona

EXCURSIONS AND THINGS TO DO NEAR BARCELONA

If you are staying in Barcelona or going on holiday to Barcelona then do consider these ideas for excursions so you make the most of your trip to Barcelona:

1. Trip to the scenic smaller city of Girona.
2. The small beach resort of Sitges is very artistic and bohemian with great festivals.
3. For bigger more lively beach resorts consider day trips to Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar.
4. Go into the Pyrenees mountains and go sking.

TOURIST VIDEO OF BARCELONA'S SIGHTS

The You Tube video below shows you most of Barcelona's most famous sights and attractions so you can get a flavour of the city before you visit.

---

Barcelona Tourist Information - Page Summary - This page contains unique content about Barcelona, the second largest city in Spain.

---

---

Related Barcelona Pages:

Tourist Information | Long Term Lets | Car Hire | Webcams