Barcelona Tourist Guide; Sightseeing
Sightseeing in Barcelona really depends on how much time you’ve got to play with. It’s another case of: fabulous city, so much to do and see and just not enough time! It’s hard to decide what sights to visit and what to leave until next time. We’re here to offer you some advice so that you can make the most of your time in Barcelona.
The Barcelona bus tour is one of the best ways to get your bearings of the city. Buy a day trip ticket and start at Placa Catalunya, hopping on and off wherever you like. This way you get to see all that the city of Barcelona has to offer whilst being selective about where you want to spend most of your time.
Las Ramblas is a must for all visitors to Barcelona. Las Ramblas, made up of five separate wide streets strung end to end, is a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard packed with buskers, living statues, mime artists and people selling everything from lottery tickets to jewellery.
There is a raucous bird market on the second block of Las Ramblas that is worth a glance, as is the nearby Palau de la Virreina, a grand 18th-century rococo mansion, with arts and entertainment information and a ticket office. Next door is Las Ramblas' most colourful market, the Mercat de la Boqueria. This popular food market sells the freshest local produce of Barcelona.
The next section of Las Ramblas is home to the Gran Theatre del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera house. Below the Plaça Reial, Las Ramblas becomes decidedly seedy, with strip clubs and peep shows. Las Ramblas ends at the large Columbus Monument and the harbour. You should be aware that this bustling neighbourhood has a reputation for having a problem with pickpockets.
Barri Gotic – the old town of Barcelona
Being the oldest districts of Barcelona, Barri Gotic and Las Ramblas could be the tourist areas of the city. This barri is a maze of narrow cobbled street and contains a concentration of medieval Gothic buildings only a few blocks east of Las Ramblas. The maze of interconnecting dark streets link with squares, and there are plenty of cafés and bars, as well as the cheapest accommodation in Barcelona. Most of the buildings date from the 14th and 15th century, when Barcelona was at the height of its commercial prosperity and before it had been absorbed into Castile. Around the Catedral, one of Spain's greatest Gothic buildings, part of the ancient walls is still visible having been incorporated into later structures. The quarter is centred on the Plaça de Sant Jaume, a spacious square, the site of a busy market and one of the venues for the weekly dancing of the sardana. Two of the city's most significant buildings are here, the Ajuntament and the Palau de la Generalitat.
After looking at so many buildings and street life you might fancy a stroll in the park. We recommend Park Guell which is the work of Antoni Gaudi, featuring serene greenery, winding pathways and plenty of sculptures and mosaics designed by Gaudi himself.
Barcelona Sightseeing
Barcelona Restaurants
Barcelona Bars and Pubs
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