Welcome to Barcelona, one of the most stylish and elegant cities in the world
From the art collections of Picasso to the eccentric architecture of Antoni Gaudi, Barcelona’s unique sense of style is evident everywhere: art, architecture, fashion and entertainment. And at night, Barcelona transforms into a premier party town, where people party everywhere until the wee hours of the morning, especially during summer.
The people of Barcelona are a fun loving bunch, exuberant and creative, always full of good cheer and neighborly warmth. There are around 1.6 million residents in Barcelona, the second largest city in Spain, and 3.1 million in the Metropolitan Area.
Flanked by the rivers of Besos and Llobregat, Barcelona is a thriving economic center. Its famous ports and the bustling Barcelona International Airport host a parade of human traffic and various goods all day long. Meanwhile, tourists know Barcelona more for its cultural heritage, amazing sights, seven beaches and 68 municipal parks
Barcelona’s history underscores its prominence during past civilizations as the capital city of the Crown of Aragon and the Counts of Barcelona. It was founded as a Roman city and historical battles were waged for its control. Today, Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, an Autonomous Community of the Kingdom of Spain and one of 17 regions that compose Spain. It is the seat of the Catalan government: the executive branch, parliament and Supreme Court. It is also the capital of Barcelonès county.
The most prominent and interesting quarters in Barcelona are Ciutat Vella, the oldest town in the city with Medieval roots; Eixample, Modernist in every sense, including its buildings; the gentrified Gràcia; and Barceloneta, a tourist haven of beaches, restaurants, bars and cafes.
Barcelona has been one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations for the last decade. Its busiest time is August and September when some shop owners actually close shop and go on vacation to avoid the maddening throng of tourists. Despite the crowds, foreign visitors are more than glad to visit stylish and elegant Barcelona.
Attractions
Architecture
The first thing that strikes a tourist about Barcelona is its amazing architecture, which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Much of the credit for the city’s dazzling architectural landscape goes to two architects, Antoni Gaudi and Lluis Domenech y Montaner. Between them, they account for nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Casa Mila, Crypt in Colonia Guell, Palau de la Musica Catalana, Park Guell and Sagrada Familia.
Football
Anybody who loves football should visit Camp Nou, a veritable European football “cathedral” and home ground of FC Barcelona, the city’s number one team and a European football powerhouse. The arena can accommodate nearly 100,000 people, all of whom scream and stomp when their favorite team is in action. When Franco reigned, FC Barcelona was one of the few ways the people of Catalana could express their anger for the dictatorship, which is one reason why the team is so beloved.
La Rambla
Barcelona’s most famous boulevard is the perfect place to soak in the city’s culture. As the saying goes, if you sit here long enough, you will see all of Barcelona pass you by. Tourists pack La Rambla during the day to enjoy the sights, meander around the pet stalls or delight in the street performers. At night, the locals are out in droves. If you’re on La Rambla when FC Barcelona wins, especially against hated rivals Real Madrid, you will be treated to the fantastic sight of an entire city rejoicing.
La Plaça Reial
Sitting right beside La Rambla, La Plaça Reial is renowned as one of the most beautiful squares everywhere. Its charm is enhanced by streetlights designed by Gaudi.
Parks
Spanning an amazing 203 hectares and located on a mountain, Monjuic Park is the largest park in Barcelona. However, it’s the second largest park that really captures the fancy of tourists, Ciutadella Park, with its zoo, many museums, an old military citadel and the Parliament building. Oreneta Castle Park and Diagonal Mar Park are also can’t-miss destinations. Children will enjoy the Labyrinth Park, with its dizzying garden maze.
Museums
The Archeological Museum in Santa Madrona boasts of artifacts dating back to the 7th century. The Frederic Mares Museum displays a wide array of Spanish scriptures and artworks from the Middle Ages, including masterpieces of the Virgin Mary and the crucifix. As its name indicates, the Picasso Museum displays nothing but Picasso's paintings and his scope is amazing. The Wax Museums features over 300 famous and life-like figures. Sports buffs will adore the Sports Museum in Buenos Aires while FC Barcelona fans will consider the Museo del Futbol Club de Barcelona as a worthy shrine to their beloved team.
Olympic Port
Not sure what you want to do tonight? Head to the Olympic Port where you'll find countless bars, pubs, restaurants and other types of entertainment. The Olympic Port is one of the biggest reasons why the night is always alive in Barcelona.
Tibidabo
According to legend, this is where the devil tried to offer Jesus Christ the world in exchange for His allegiance. Located in the mountains, Tibidabo may not provide a view of the world, but it certainly gives tourists a dazzling view of Barcelona from a vantage point of over 500 meters high. Make sure you take the metro to Tibidabo Station and the Funicular to reach the top of the mountain. Otherwise, you’ll have to walk an entire day to enjoy the view.
Montjuic Castle
If you want a panoramic view of the city, another excellent place to visit is Montjuic Castle, a fortress built during the 17th century. The view is absolutely breath-taking. Montjuic also hosts some of Barcelona’s most popular parks and gardens.
L'Aquarium
This is Europe's second biggest aquarium where fishes, penguins and even sharks number in the thousands. Visitors can walk through a long "tube" made of glass and feel like they are in the water with the sharks and other fish. The tube is something that even Europe's biggest aquarium in Genoa doesn't have.
Dining
Food in Barcelona has a tendency to be inconsistent, and where you eat matters a great deal. Here's a tip: follow the locals and patronize the restaurants and cafes that they frequent. You can’t go wrong.
Restaurants typically have a menu of the day (menu del dia) consisting of a simple two-course meal, with three or four options. Keep an eye out for lunch specials from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. which serve food at a fraction of the price.
The hours between 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Barcelona are usually for siesta time, and most of the restaurants and cafes are closed. However, there are a few good restaurants that stay open, such as Origen, Udon and international food chains.
Here’s a rundown of some of the best restaurants in the city:
Alkimia
Located at Carrer Industria 78, Alkimia is a winner of the Michelin Star for excellence in dining. It specializes in Catalan cooking and seafood dominates the menu. Interiors are simple and all-white to draw more attention to the food. Operated by acclaimed restaurateur Jordi Vila, Alkimia is one of Barcelona’s best restaurants.
Gaig
Here’s another Michelin Star winner. Food connoisseurs say Gaig has the freshest produce in the city. That’s easy to believe, especially once you see the chickens in the patio freely walking about. Located at Arago 214, Gaig also specializes in Catalan cuisine. In contrast to Alkimia’s simple decor, Gaig’s interiors are a contemporary red and black.
Circ Sentits
In 2004, Conde Nast Traveler named this restaurant among the “80 Hottest New Restaurants in the World,” and Circ Sentits is living up to that lofty billing. The specialty is also Catalan cuisine, but served with a wine pairing. It is located at Aribau 58.
Casa Leopolodo
This is the place where pork lovers should dine. They have everything from pork stew to hoof of pork. For variety, Casa Leopoldo also has fish and seafood dishes, including its famous Norway lobsters. It is located at Sant Rafael 24.
Bars and Nightlife
Barcelona's pubs, bars, nightclubs and discos are constantly buzzing with the live sound of salsa, rock, jazz and flamenco. Here are some recommendations to make the wandering tourist feel right at home.
Catwalk
This is one of the hottest nightclubs in the city. Catwalk attracts such a crowd that they need every inch of their two dance floors. Dance the night away to R&B and hip-hop as well as Techno music. Things don’t really heat up until 2 a.m.
Fonfone
Located on Escudellers 24, Fonfone features all-night dancing to the hot beats of electronic music as the multi-colored tiled walls flash non-stop. The interiors are hip and modern. Fonfone also boasts of a well-stocked bar.
La Paloma
If you’re the type who enjoys gyrating with the young and beautiful crowd, La Paloma is your night club of choice. Located at Tigre 27, this place really begins to heat up at 2 a.m. The dance floor is packed and the party doesn’t stop until 5 a.m.
Maumau
Meanwhile, if your idea of a night on the town is chilling out at a lounge bar as slow, relaxing music fills the air, Maumau is the place. They regularly host live concerts and short film nights.
Sutton
Sutton has one of the largest dance floors around as well as two VIP rooms for its hip guests. There’s also a small stage where only the best dancers venture to show off their skills. Thursday is Studio 54 night. The rest of the week features a steady diet of House music. This is a must-visit for lovers of Techno.
Chupitos
The name says it all: chupitos means “shots” and that’s the specialty of this club. There are hundreds of different types of shots available, including the “Harry Potter,” which is sprinkled with cinnamon. You’ve probably never seen so many shot-happy people all in one place. And don’t worry about staring. Watching other people enjoy their shots is all part of the show.
Getting In and Around
The Barcelona International Airport, known locally as "El Prat," services flights from Europe and beyond. It’s a mere 10 kms away from the center of Barcelona. Taxis are always available but they can be expensive. Instead, you can take the RENFE suburban train, which leaves the airport every 30 minutes and takes 20 to 30 minutes to get to the city center. Tickets cost around €2.20.
There’s also the Aerobus A1 line, which departs from the airport every five to 10 minutes. All its buses are air-conditioned and the fare to the city center is just €4.05. However, the Aerobus is only available until midnight.
Once in Barcelona, tourists have many options for traveling around the city. One of the most convenient is the Bus Turistic, which connects to dozens of different tourists attractions. They have northbound and southbound routes. A whole-day ticket costs around €20 while a ticket for two consecutive days is around €26.
You may want to consider taking the metro around the city. Tickets are €1.30 for a single trip and €7.30 for 10 rides. There’s also a 50-ride ticket worth €27.55 that’s good for a month.
Heading to Tribidabo provides tourists with the opportunity for more exotic types of transport: the Tramvia Blau and Funicular. Tramvia Blau is an old tram dating back to the early 20th century which takes passengers to the foot of Tribidabo mountain. Funicular is another tram that takes passengers to the mountain top.
Traveling around Barcelona on a bicycle is a popular way to see the city. There are many places where you can rent a bike such as Barceloneta Bikes near the harbor and Budget Bikes, which has several outlets scattered around. You can also rent a bike from Fat Tire Bike Tours or try out their tour for €22.
Renting a car is naturally another option, but parking can be costly at €1.5 to €2.5 per hour. Moreover, driving around the city can be complicated as many of the roads are one-way. It's essential to have a driving map on hand.
Festivals and Events
Barcelona has year-round wild occasions filled with drinking, dancing and dressing to the nines, especially during the 15 official holidays of the year. Here are some of Barcelona’s leading festivals.
Fiesta de San Antonio Abad
Naturally, a year of fiestas begins with New Year's Day and is quickly followed by Fiesta de San Antonio Abad on January 17. This occasion is celebrated all over Spain with partying in front of bonfires, especially during the Saturday closest to the 17th.
Las Fallas
This major festival is celebrated from March 12 to 19. Families make paper mache dolls of Shrek, George W. Bush and other famous figures then parade them all over town and burn them in bonfires at the end of the day. All the while, music is playing and people are drinking and dancing. If you haven’t seen bonfires as big as buildings, just wait for the last day of Las Fallas. It looks like the whole city is on fire.
La Diada de Sant Jordi
On April 23, Barcelona celebrates this Valentine's Day of sorts and also commemorates the deaths of William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes, who passed away on the same day. It’s a special day for lovers and, naturally, party time for everyone else.
Festes de la Merce
This is one of Barcelona's biggest yearly festivals featuring fireworks, live music, processions with wooden giants and a popular contest on who can create the tallest human tower. It's also a day for drinking lots of Cava, Catalonia's national drink.
Festes de Gràcia
On August 15, Barcelona commemorates the Assumption with a week of fiestas and fireworks. It's an important Catholic occasion and the people of Barcelona celebrate it appropriately.
Fira de Santa Llúcia
This three-week celebration unfolds from December 2 to 23 and revolves around the feast day of Santa Llucia on December 13. Since Santa Llucia is the patron saint of fashion designers, the day features colorful costumes and floats. It's a favorite day of the gay community.
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