Wondering what to see in Barcelona? You’ll find out that there’s just so much to see, so much to do and to taste, that you will certainly not be disappointed after your visit to the city. This is our selection of the best activities and places in Barcelona.
A must during your stay in Barcelona is to see some of Gaudi’s legacy to the city such as the amazing Sagrada Familia cathedral (Holy Family cathedral), the biggest building by Gaudi which is still unfinished today.
Another of Gaudi’s works is the famous Park Güell, with its unique stone and ceramic monuments and eccentric shapes that remind of elements in nature, you’ll find here the famous dragon that you have surely already seen in photos of Barcelona. In the park there’s also a colourful terrace from which you’ll have beautiful views of the city. To get to Park Guell you can take the subway to “Lesseps” station. The park is open every day and entrance is free, but take some time for this visit since you can spend good part of the day in the park.
In the famous “Paseo de Gracia” avenue you can admire two other buildings by Gaudi, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera with beautiful façades.
Barcelona is also home to some of Picasso’s works. In the centre of the city you’ll find the Picasso Museum, which occupies a splendid building composed by several adjacent Mediaeval palaces in Moncada street, close to the subway stop “Jaume I”. Don’t miss either a visit to the Maritime Museum, although if you like art you’ll find some other 50 museums in the city.
Barcelona has been indeed a city of inspiration for culture and arts, the Summer Festival “el Grec” with music, theatre and dance shows, is one of the outstanding events in the city, and popular theatre companies such as “Els Comediants”, “Tricicle” or “La Fura dels Baus” come from Barcelona.
Discover a different face of the city taking a walk through the lively “La Rambla” street. Here you can stop to have a look at “el Liceu” the second largest Opera theatre, where some of the most famous opera singers of the last centuries have sung.
For those seeking to relax and sunbathe, the coast of Barcelona offers several beaches, some of which are conveniently close to the city centre. The most popular is probably Playa de la Barceloneta, due to its location only 10 minutes away from the centre. Taking the subway to “Ciutadella Vila Olímpica” you can get to Playa Icaria. Sitges beach is also an excellent option if you want to go to a beach out of the city.
For your leisure time you’ll find in the city attraction parks such as the one in Tibidabo.
If you are ready to experience Barcelona nightlife you’ll find plenty of different options for your night in the city, starting with a glass of cava (the local champagne), a cocktail or a nice dinner in one of the many restaurants of the city. Some of the most popular zones are Port Vell, where you’ll find the Maremagnum resort, with shops, restaurants and bars. The Ribera, with a more bohemian atmosphere, St. Gervasi, Gracia or the Gothic quarter.
These are just some suggestions, but Barcelona does have a lot more to offer, the best way to discover it will be to wander through the streets of this amazing city keeping your eyes wide open.