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The beautiful city of Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia (province of Spain), is situated on the shores of the Mediterranean sea and is bounded at both ends by 2 river deltas. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after the capital Madrid. The city’s diverse and eventful history dates back 4,000 years to the first settlements by ancient farmers. Later it became a Roman colony, the capital of the Visigoths, then came under Moorish rule. It went through siege, destruction and occupation, eventually becoming an autonomous democracy in 1975. The city has always played an important role in the political and cultural life of Spain and that is well reflected in the diversity and quality of historical buildings, museums, and many other tourist attractions. Today Barcelona is one of the most European cities with a unique culture and rich traditions. Here you can find a wonderful balance of the traditional and the avant-garde. A cosmopolitan metropolis, Barcelona gives visitors a warm and genuine welcome, recognized worldwide as one of the best tourist-friendly cities in Europe. The organization of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics provided the regeneration of this dynamic city, providing a fresh start for the construction of its infrastructure.
PLACE OF ATTRACTION
La Rambla is a tree-lined pedestrian street lined with buskers, living statues, pantomimes and peddlers selling everything from lottery tickets to jewellery. Sidewalk cafes and booths selling handicrafts, street performers surrounded by curious onlookers, a noisy bird market, Palau de la Virreina, a magnificent 18th century rococo house, Gran Teatre del Liceu, a famous 19th century opera house – everything is colorful part of the La Rambla mosaic. La Rambla ends at the tall Monument a Colom (Columbus Monument) and the harbor.
Barri Gotic – also known as the Gothic Quarter, this is the old part of the city. Picasso lived and worked at Barri Gotic since 1895 to 1904 and Joan Miro was born and lived here too during his youth. The Gothic Quarter is located on the right side of La Rambla, it contains a concentration of tall medieval Gothic buildings (14th-15th centuries) in narrow cobbled streets and is now home to much of the city’s nightlife.
La Sagrada Familia – La Sagrada Familia is one of the most magnificent and famous among Barcelona’s landmarks. The living masterpiece of renowned Barcelona architect Antoni Gaudi, the cathedral’s majestic unfinished tower imprints boldly on the sky with outlines inspired by the sacred mountain Montserrat. Above each facade are four towers, 12 in total, dedicated to the Apostles. The central tower, the tallest of all at 170 m., is dedicated to Jesus Christ. Around it are the towers of the four Evangelists, and the tower above the apse is dedicated to the Virgin. They are inlaid with an interweaving of statues that seem to breathe life into the stone. Gaudi died in 1926 before his masterpiece was completed, and since then, controversy has plagued the development program. Nevertheless, the southwest facade (Passion), is nearing completion, and the central section, which began in 1978, is developing.
La Pedrera – Casa Mila (Mila House) is an apartment building, the latest example of Gaudi civil architecture. It is one of his finest and most ambitious creations, highly innovative in its functional, constructive and ornamental aspects. Visitors can walk around the building and go up to the roof, where they can see spectacular views of Barcelona. One floor under the roof is a museum that dedicated to Gaudi’s work.
Montjuic – the largest open space in the city, the main attractions of which are the Olympic installation, the Spanish Village and the hilltop fort. Montjuic, a hill overlooking the city center from the southwest, is home to several fine art galleries, recreational attractions, relaxing parks, and the premier group of 1992 Olympic sites. Montjuic is covered in ornamental gardens with water features and is Barcelona’s most popular destination on the day. Sunday.
Tibidabo – is the highest hill in the forest range against which Barcelona is set. It has stunning views of all of Barcelona, a stunning cathedral, and the Parc d’Atraccions family theme park with old-style rides offering stunning views. The glass elevator in the park runs 115m (383 ft) to the visitor observation area of the Torre de Collserola telecommunications tower.
Modernism – spectacular modernist architectural creations scattered around the city by the famous Antoni Gaudi and his contemporaries.
Camp Nou – home of F.C. Barcelona, one of the leading football teams in Europe, with a capacity of almost 100,000 spectators.
Seu Cathedral – Built in medieval era on the site of a Roman temple, La Seu is one of the great Gothic buildings in Spain.
Parc de la Ciutadella – Barcelona’s favorite park and Sunday afternoon gathering for family, friends and ducks.
Sardana – a traditional Catalan dance, performed outside the cathedral and at national festivals, with everyone encouraged to join.
MUSEUM
Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art -the only museum in Europe devoted to Pre-Columbian culture. Housed in a gothic palace, the collection is one of the best of its kind and provides visitors with an insight into the rich world of the earliest cultures on the American continent. This tiny museum contains a hundred pieces, including wood and stone sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, jade, which are frequently found in international exhibitions and prestigious publications. Exhibits represent the Olmec, Mayan, Aztec, Chavin, Mochican and Inca civilizations.
Palau de la Musica Catalana – one of the most extraordinary music halls in the world, this is a Barcelona landmark. From the polychrome ceramic ticket window on the side of the Carrer de Sant Pere Mes Alt to the statues above Palestrina, Bach, Beethoven, and Wagner, Palau is the architectural flagship of Barcelona’s Moderniste.
Museu Picasso – is the most visited and famous museum in Barcelona. 3,500 exhibits are in the permanent collection. Picasso spent several years (1901-06) in Barcelona, and the collection is very strong in his early work. Displays include childhood sketches, pictures from the beautiful Rose and Blue period, and a variation of the famous 1950s Cubism in Las Meninas (Ladies-in-Waiting) Velazquez.
Gaudi Casa-Museu – Gaudi lived in this pink Alice-in-Wonderland house from 1906 to 1926, which is now a museum of furniture, decorations, drawings and portraits designed by Gaudi as well as a statue of the architect.
Fundacio Miro – it was a gift from the famous artist Joan Miro to his hometown. The museum opened in 1975, and is now one of the most interesting exhibitions of contemporary art in Barcelona.
BEACH
One of Barcelona’s biggest attractions is undeniably its beautiful beaches. Apart from the world famous Costa Brava and Costa Dorada which are a 1 hour drive from Barcelona, there are also several beautiful beaches more than 4 km long within the city limits, we will list some of them here: Nova Icaria- Nearby with the Olympic Marina, always bustling, this vast expanse of rough golden sand is perfect for food diners. There are three perfect beach bars and two very popular restaurants on the promenade (Mango and Chiringuito de Moncho) and many bars and restaurants are just a short walk away. Bogatell- This beach is twice as long as adjoining Nova Icaria and is lined by a stone walkway perfect for jogging, rollerblading and cycling. Three large informal restaurants in the promenade. Mar Bella (Metro Ciutadella Vila Olimpica, plus 20-minute walk)- Barcelona’s only natural beach close to a peaceful park – perfect for a picnic or a nap under the trees. Barceloneta- wide and long, traditional stretch and popular with locals, bustling, noisy and very jolly.
WHEN TO GO, WEATHER
The best times to visit Barcelona are late spring and early fall, when the weather is still warm and comfortable, around 21-25°C. Summers are typically hot and humid, with temperatures averaging +30 (+86 Fahrenheit). Especially avoid the “dead” month of August, when many shops, bars and restaurants are closed during the month as many locals go out of town. Winters are mild with average daytime temperatures around +12 C (+59 Fahrenheit), with occasional rains.
THERE AND ROUND
By direct flights to Barcelona, or via Madrid or via any other major European city from almost any major airport in the world. The highest rates are from May to September, the lowest are March-April, October-November and December to February (excluding Christmas and New Year’s when prices rise). Also note that flying on weekends can increase the cost of your ticket. If traveling to Barcelona from within Europe, you can also opt for the train, bus or car, although these take longer than planes and are often not cheaper. Many Mediterranean cruises include Barcelona as a port.
ACCOMMODATION
We can offer you many options. You can choose a vacation rental in Barcelona starting at $125 USD for a double room in a 4 star apartment hotel. Or you can choose a hotel from $65 USD for a double room in a 3 star hotel. Accommodation prices do not change much throughout the year due to the steady flow of visitors throughout the year. season to this very popular tourist city and surrounding resorts.
DINING
In addition to the restaurant, you can dine at the bar where you will enjoy tapas (small snacks – three or four pieces of fish, meat or vegetables, or a salad, which is usually served free with a drink) or raciones (larger ones). The bar options could be a lot more interesting, allowing you to wander around and sample local specialties. Generally, the average cost for a two-course meal and dessert will be around 25 Euros. Travelers on a very tight budget can do well for themselves by making use of the excellent markets, bakeries and deli and filling sandwiches and snacks. Decent restaurants and cafes can easily be found throughout the city, although you will probably do most of your eating where you do most of your sightseeing, in the old town, especially around La Rambla and in Barri Gotic. Search for the best and most authentic seafood restaurants in Barceloneta, the seaside neighborhood. The Gothic Quarter neighborhood is home to some of the city’s oldest and most traditional restaurants. Gracia is a very popular area among young people during the weekends, it leads the way in terms of exotic restaurants (Lebanon, Egypt, Thailand etc).
TRANSPORTATION
Barcelona has an excellent transportation system consisting of the metro (subway), buses, trains and a network of cable cars and cable cars. You can find links to transport maps at the end of our guide. On all city public transport, you can buy one ticket each time you drive, but even for just a few days, it’s cheaper to buy a targeta – discounted ticket discount. The Targeta T-10 is valid for ten separate trips on the metro, bus and train. This ticket can be used by more than one person at a time. Metro is the fastest way to get around Barcelona. For black-and-yellow taxis there is a $2 euro minimum fee. You will obviously have more freedom if you rent a car. Main roads throughout the city are generally good, and traffic is generally well behaved, although Spain does have one of the highest incidences of traffic accidents in Europe. It also has some of the lowest fuel prices on the continent.
SHOPPING
Barcelona, one of the most stylish cities in Europe offers great shopping, from designer clothes and accessories to household goods. You’ll find the city reasonably priced for many items, especially if you coincide with the annual sales (rebaixes in Spanish) that run from mid-January to late February, and throughout July and August. The best shopping areas in Barcelona are the old streets at the top of the Ramblas. Souvenirs include ceramics, which are widely sold on the streets around the cathedral; leather goods; city deli, especially cooked Catalan meats and sausages; a porron (long spouted glass water bottle); CDs and cassettes of Catalan rock and pop, sardana music, Spanish rock or flamenco. If you’re looking for original gift ideas, some of the best hunts can be found in any city’s museum shops, where you’ll find affordable and unique examples of Catalan differences (graphics), and other original items from postcards to art replica.
We wish you a pleasant journey!
