Exploring Barcelona city centre: 6 places you can’t afford to miss
There are so many great places of interest to visit in Barcelona city centre. All the different neighbourhoods, streets, buildings and parks make the Catalan capital one of the most visited and loved cities in the whole of Europe. Its culture, varied tourist attractions and favourable climate see over 80 million tourists come from all over the world to enjoy it every year. Today, we’re giving you a list of our top 6 unmissable places to see in Barcelona on your next trip. All set?
- The Sagrada Familia
This modernist-style monument is true a symbol of Barcelona, attracting more than 1,000 tourists every day. The Sagrada Familia was designed by Antoni Gaudí in 1883 using all his experience and the most innovative techniques of the day in its construction.
Although the basilica remains unfinished to this day, it was recently announced that works should be completed by 2026. By then, the cathedral will feature 18 towers and will be the tallest structure in the entire city. Currently, some of its best features are the 3 façades dedicated to the birth, passion and glory of Jesus.
If you’re looking to experience some real Barcelona tourism, a visit to the Sagrada Familia is simply a must. The best time to arrive is as early as possible. If you leave it until later in the day, you’ll find queues snaking for miles around the building and you may struggle to get tickets. But you can always buy tickets online in advance to save time. Remember the Sagrada Familia is open 09.00 to 20.00, March to October, and 09.00 to 18.00 between November and February.
- Paseo de Gracia: Barcelona city centre
Without doubt one of the most famous avenues in all of Barcelona, Paseo de Gracia is mainly known for its luxury department stores, modernist buildings and fabulous restaurants. Paseo de Gracia connects Plaza Catalunya with the Gracia Quarter, one of the most multicultural neighbourhoods you’ll find in Barcelona city centre.
As we’ve mentioned, the modernist buildings on Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona city centre, such as La Casa Batlló, La Casa Amatller, La Casa Mulleras and La Casa Lleó i Morera, make it a veritable street museum, where you can stroll and admire all the stunning façades at your own pace. At number 92, you’ll find La Casa Milá, more commonly known as La Pedrera, another of Gaudí’s masterpieces that has consistently attracted a million visitors per year since first opening to the public in 1987.
- La Rambla
Another of the main walks in Barcelona city centre, this route links Plaza Catalunya with Puerto Viejo. La Rambla is a busy street any time of day or night, and along its full 1.2 kilometres you’ll find newspaper kiosks, souvenir shops and flower stalls, as well as all manner of cafés and restaurants nestled between some fantastic terraces, shops, department stores, street artists, cartoonists and more.
If you’re not sure where to visit in Barcelona, we recommend you take a stroll along La Rambla to get your bearings, because very nearby you’ll find Barcelona Cathedral, the City Hall, the Palace of the Generalitat, the Gothic Quarter, as well as the world-famous Mercado de la Boquería market. All fantastic sights to see.
- Mercado de la Boquería
When you start to feel a little peckish, the city’s food and drink offering is enormous, but the most original and probably cheapest option is to head down to Mercado de la Boquería in Barcelona city centre. Located on La Rambla, here you’ll find all kinds of fresh produce at the market, including fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and plenty of sweet treats.
With more than 2,500m2 of space, more than 300 stalls sell all manner of goods, serving the city’s locals, tourists and restaurateurs alike. The biggest market in Catalonia, it also attracts the most tourists annually of them all.
And you won’t just find fresh produce here, there are several bars and kiosks serving up different types of food and drink to visitors, from Japanese and Italian cuisine to Arabic and more.
So if you don’t have time to stop off for a leisurely bite to eat, or you’re just not in the mood for a restaurant or café, the Mercado de la Boquería is well worth a visit. Somewhere you’ll find unlimited choice for a great price.
- The Gothic Quarter in Barcelona city centre
The historical centre of the city and the oldest neighbourhood in town, here you’ll find a range of amazing churches, squares and monuments. It’s also one of the most magical and charming places in the entire city. The Gothic Quarter is made up of several separate parts, but our favourite way to explore is simply getting lost in the narrow streets, time-travelling back to a whole different age where you can discover all the city’s secrets.
If you want to visit this neighbourhood in Barcelona city centre, you can get here in lots of different ways, but the easiest is usually by metro. Lines 1, 2, 3 and 4 all pass through. Remember, there are also some great accommodation options available nearby, such as the HCC Montblanc.
- Born
The Born neighbourhood – found near Parque de la Ciudadela and just 10 minutes from the city centre – is another treasure you simply can’t afford to miss if you’re here to enjoy some Barcelona tourism. One of the oldest parts of the city, many visitors compare it to New York’s fashionable Soho district. Restaurants, bars, shops and a variety of cultural attractions give tourists and locals alike plenty of great things to see and do here.
In Born in Barcelona, you’ll find several places of interest all full of charm, including Mercado del Born, Basílica Santa María del Mar, Palacio de la Música de Catalunya and the Picasso Museum, where some of the artist’s greatest works are on display. A unique, original and vibrant part of the city that absolutely nobody should miss out on.
Remember, these are just some of the ways to make your trip to Barcelona unforgettable, but the city always offers so much more… take a stroll and enjoy everything the streets have in store for you, discovering all the treasure of the Catalan capital as you go. You’re guaranteed to fall in love at first sight. Here, you can see all the places of interest in Barcelona for tourists.
Categories: barcelona
