Explore Barcelona

Barcelona is great city for the cosmopolitan lover. It offers a mix of eccentric architecture by Gaudi, and an electric local nightlife of music and dancing, a style an elegance in just about corner, all the while offering some of the best seafood dishes in the world. This city stimulates the senses with the warmth of the Mediterranean sun and their all encompassing Spanish hospitality.

Unique Things to See and Do in Barcelona

• Stroll down Las Ramblas
• View Barcelona from terraces of Park Guell
• Tour the Casa Ballo (Gaudi’s dragon house)
• Eat amazingly good tapas at Quimet & Quimet
• De-stress in Gracia’s Neighbourhood (full of bars and terraces, try Bar Lennon)
• Take in a soccer game at Camp Nou Stadium
• Watch the dazzling Font Magica’s display of choreographed light, music and water sprays

Places to Visit in Barcelona

• Sagrada Familia
• Aquarium de Barcelona
• Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village)
• La Pedrera (Gaudi’s Building)
• Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
• Picasso Museum
• Casa Mila
• A must – the beach! Barceloneta
• La Boqueria

Some highlights…

One of the best little neighbourhoods to visit is called Born and it’s just a few streets away from La Ramblas. Meandering through the cobblestone streets,  you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to medieval times. The Gothic style centre has lots of little designer shops, restaurants, and cafes to enjoy, but the real adventure is winding yourself through the maze of narrow streets and finding beautiful plazas.

One of the best markets in the world has to be the La Boqueria. Not only does it have amazing fresh vegetables, local meats, and cheeses but it also has some of the best little tapas bars. If you’re planning on a picnic at the beach, La Boqueria is a great spot to pick up all your needs- fresh juices, even spirits!

Another area that is increasing in popularity is the waterfront, with newer constructed walkways, shops, theatres, and Barcelona’s Aquarium.

Getting around Barcelona

Barcelona is a walkable city with multiple shops, restaurants, cafes, and pubs to stop at along the way. La Ramlas street is actually 5 different streets and boulevards in one and provides 2.5km of great people watching while you take in the sights.

Local transit is also easy to navigate. Barcelona has an extensive system for buses that integrates well with the subway system, trams, and trains. Local transit is used heavily by everyone, so during rush hour it can get quite congested- best to avoid these times if you can. You can also buy your tickets on the bus. The subway offers 8 metro lines and 3 FGC railway lines- maps highlight the routes by colour coding.

Taxis are another way around and are quite expensive. Make sure the meter is turned on and expect additional fees for travelling to and from the airport and having luggage. Drives can offer an estimation of costs prior too.

Travelling by car is not recommended because of the congestion, lack of parking, and expense. If you do want a car for different day trip excursions it can be cheaper to plan for ahead or even book in your home country then in Barcelona.

Best time of year to travel to Barcelona

With Barcelona situated in the Mediterranean climate, the summers are hot, sunny, and crowded, particularly in August when it becomes a major destination for European travellers. If you plan on going during the summer months plan ahead as the cheaper hotels and B&Bs fill up fast. Some restaurants also close during this month as locals tend to travel too. If you are travelling for the beaches, go between June to early October- this is when the waters are warmer.

The spring and fall months are a great time to visit too. The weather is cooler and the tourist crowds are smaller, allowing for more interaction with the locals. Barcelona is a port city and being close to the waters and next to the mountains means less snow fall if any during the winter months.