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Barcelona Weather
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Our choices for the Best places to Visit in Barcelona capture the most popular
tourist attractions in the Catalonian capital. Barcelona is
invitingly close to Spain's border with France and is, also, a good
jumping off place for a vacation in the Balearic Islands or Costa Brava.
However, we think you will find Barcelona so refreshing and attractive on its
own that you may not want to leave it for other destinations. It is a
place unlike any other in Spain or Europe.
I f you are looking for fun, the whimsical, or a delightful change in
attractions, Barcelona is a good place to spend a few days. Be
prepared to change your pace, as Barcelona is a city that comes alive only
at night. Dinner is commonly taken at 10 PM or later and nightlife
extends for hours after that.
Although there are a number of attractions to see in Barcelona, we find
that the whimsical architecture of Antoni Gaudi is a unifying theme for the
city. Although the city's architecture contains Romanesque and Gothic
attractions, it the
Modernista movement, typified by Gaudi that makes the city noteworthy.
Read our separate section on
Gaudi's Barcelona for more details.
The Barcelona area of Catalonia has served as a crossroads throughout history
and the city has taken on the flavors of the invading cultures. Carthage,
Rome, the Visigoths, the Moors and France (under Charlemagne) at one time
claimed this area and each of these cultures left lasting impressions on the
city. Under Spanish rule, Barcelona has not always been a good place to
be, but since the end of the Franco dictatorship, the city has revitalized and
taken a leading role in Spain's growth and modernization.
The city has a population of 1.6 million, although the surrounding built-up area
is closer to 5 million in population. The attractions we describe are located in
tourist Barcelona, that is, the are in or near the Old Town. Barcelona, as
other cities in Spain, has a crime problem and tourists should be careful in the
southern section of Las Ramblas and the Barri Gotic, especially late at night.
See our new map of
Barcelona, which locates our recommended Best Places to Visit on a map from
Google. You can click the "Hybrid" button to see a detailed satellite
Image of the area overlaid with street information. Zoom in close enough and you
can see the images of people walking La Rambla.
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Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) has a very helpful
website
filled with information on their "tourist bus" and interesting bus routes around
the city. |
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Antoni Gaudi (1852 -1926) created a style of architecture that has been
classified as "art nouveau" by some and "modernism" by others.
Whatever you call it, the style is dynamic, powerful, whimsical and
intriguing. From the Sagrada Familia (a cathedral still under
construction) to his numerous "casas", Gaudi's work is transforming and you
should see his creations if you visit Barcelona.
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We cover Gaudi's most popular section in our guide to
Gaudi's landmarks in Barcelona.
The Old Town
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La Ramblas
- Walking Las Ramblas, a tree-lined, grand avenue, is a great way to
get into the spirit of Barcelona, as La Rambla and its neighborhoods
offer a view into the history, personality and culture of Barcelona.
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"The Ramble", as it is often described, extends less than a mile
from the Plaça de Catalunya
to the Columbus Monument.
Las Ramblas is actually several streets (Rambla del Estudis, Rambla de
Sant Josep, Rambla dels Caputxins, and Rambla de Santa Monica, whose
"flavors" are distinctly different.
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You will find streets vendors and numerous kiosks offering a
wide variety of items including flowers, books, magazines, birds and
touristy trinkets. In addition, the large number of tourists make this a
popular place with street performers.
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Since cafes abound along La Rambla, take some time to have a drink or
a snack while watching the vibrant street life. As you might
expect, the prices on La Rambla are as elevated, but the
atmosphere is pleasant.
- In order to explore La Rambla's neighborhoods you will need to
stray into some of the side streets. One of the best jaunts will
take you to the Placa Reial, one of Barcelona's famous squares.
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If you have a chance, visit la Boqueria (Mercat St.
Joseph/Mercado de la Boqueria), a market specializing in Catalonian
foods that is one of the great central markets of Europe. See this site
run by the merchants of the Boqueria for more information on
visiting.
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Las Ramblas grows "seedy" towards its terminus near the port of
Barcelona. In addition, the avenue is a magnet for tourists, pickpockets
and scam artists. Portions of the avenue are unsafe later at night.
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Barcelona Cathedral and Barri Gotic
- The Cathedral in Barcelona (the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and
Saint Eulalia, is an amalgam of recent and ancient
architecture. The west entrance is relatively recent while other
sections of the cathedral date from the Thirteenth and Fourteenth
centuries.
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The Barri Gotic (barrio is a district or quarter in Spanish, so this
is the Gothic Quarter) surrounds the cathedral and is the historic
heart of the original city. Some sections of the city's
Roman walls still exist and add charm to this historic area
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The cobbled streets in the Barri Gotic are fronted by medieval
buildings and the area exudes an exotic, historic atmosphere that seems
to portray life in Barcelona at an earlier time. This unique
neighborhood starts near the Cathedral Seu at the Plaça Nova and
continues south to the Plaça de san Just.
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There are a number of fine restaurants in this area and, if you are
fond of Tapas, you will be very pleased with the variety available.
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Picasso Museum
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Picasso spent his youth in Barcelona and was said to have fond
memories of his time in city. After initially resisting the
founding of a Picasso Museum in Barcelona, he warmed to the idea and the
museum benefited from his patronage.
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If you are a Picasso fan, this museum has many works from his early
years and is vital to an understanding of his art and person.
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Museu Picasso is located on Montcada Street, 15-23 08003 in Barcelona
- Tickets can be purchased until half an hour before closing time.
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Palau de la Musica Catalunya
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Another of Barcelona's classic buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, the Palau re-opened in 2008 after an extensive renovation.
The interior of the building, which is representative of the Catlan
Modernist Style, is delightful and if you have a chance to attend a
concert, do so.
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See the official website
here
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Columbus Monument (Monument à Colom)
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The Monument à Colom, a tall spire commemorating the site where
Columbus first set foot on his return from the New World, sits in the
middle of a traffic circle at the end of La Rambla. The views of
the city and the old harbor (Port Vell) are spectacular.
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Montjuïc
The
Montjuïc Hill, called a mountain by Barcelonians, is the site of many
interesting attractions. There are more places to see on Montjuïc than
we have mentioned here, but these are the best:
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Palau Nacional D'Art de Catalunya
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If you are in the dark about Catalonia and Catalonian art, the National Palace
is a wonderful place for a quick introduction. The museum has a fine collection
of medieval art and Romanesque Frescoes.
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The the
official website of the Palau provides more details on visiting and
museum's collection.
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Fundació Joan Miró
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Miró, the famous Spanish surrealist painter, endowed the Fundació with many
examples of his work including paintings, sketches and sculptures. If you
are a fan of Miró, this is a required stop.
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The official website of the
Fundació provides additional details on the artist and its impressive
collection.
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The Fundació Joan Miró is located in Parc de Montjuïc
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Poble Espanyol
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Many of the buildings on Montjuic were constructed for an international
exposition in 1929. One part of the exposition was a small village that
gathered into one locale all of the different types of houses that can be
found across Spain. The village, called Poble Espanyol, is an interesting
open-air museum that offers numerous crafts demonstrations.
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Open every day but hours vary by season. Check this official website for
more information.
Day Trip
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Montserrat
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If you have a yearning to see the countryside surrounding Barcelona,
consider a day trip to the mountains and the Benedictine Montserrat
Monastery, to see the famous Black Virgin.
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In addition, the site houses the oldest boys' choir in Europe and
daily concerts are offered.
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Finally, the Museu de Montserrat has a highly regarded art collection
with paintings by Miro, Picasso, Dali, El Greco and others.
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Travel to the Monastery, about 30 miles from Barcelona, by car, tour
or train (train is the preferred mode and offers the most scenic trip).
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See the Montserrat
website
for more details.
For more information on visiting Barcelona, see the city's official tourism
website
BarcelonaTurisme.
The site provides additional details on our recommended best places to visit, as
well as information on attractions that did not make our list.
For country facts on Spain,
as well as information of value to travelers (visas, traffic safety and road
conditions, medical facilities and health information), see the U.S. State
Department's page on
Spain.
If you need information about another travel destination, try our
Destination Guide Index or Googling ThereArePlaces.
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