Visit Barcelona

Barcelona has become a top tourist destination over the last decade. It’s a vibrant city with an incredible number of things to do, places to see, buildings to admire, shopping streets and cozy markets to go spend all of your money, limitless bistros, superb restaurants, incredible tapas bars and alike to please your palate.. And there is plenty to do for the whole family. You will definitely not get bored while in Barcelona. In short it is a city you (and your family) must visit at least once (and you’ll probably return more than once).
barcelona panorama
Barcelona panorama

Districts of interest

Ciutat Vella

Literally Old Town is the historic heart of Barcelona and is only about 500 hectares in size. The city was protected by its medieval walls until 1854 when they were mostly demolished. The only part remaining is the maritime museum (Museu Marítim) which was part of the Portal de Santa Madrona. The oldest part of the Ciutat Vella is the Gothic Quarter. On the east side of the Via Laietana is the Born quarter. On the west side is the Raval, once the rural roads outside the city walls. To the south you will find the fishing district Barcenoleta.

Eixample

Eixample is a district that stretches from the Plaça d’Espanya almost to the river Besòs. Considered as the birth of modern rational urban planning and the modernista architectural style. It was a time of aesthetic refinement with lavish interiors and façades. Architects like Gaudí set the tone. Well-known buildings are f.e. Casa Amatller, Casa Milà (La Pedrera), Casa Batlló, and Casa Lleó Morera.
Several are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A visit to the Quadrat d’Or is a must because it offers amazing buildings presenting the best in modernism. Definitely worth a visit if you like. And don’t miss the shopping and eating out streets: Passeig de Gràcia and Rambla de Catalunya.

YOU’RE DEFINITELY IN FOR A TREAT!

Ciutat Vella
By Josep Panadero - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

If you want to learn more about all the things to see and to do in Barcelona, we can recommend: