Places with charm

La Roca Village

Just 40 minutes from Barcelona discover the most exclusive shopping centre where you will find 130 fashion boutiques of the best brands with discounts of up to 60% on the original price throughout the year.

Facilities: free parking with spaces reserved for blue badge holders and electric charging points, ATM, resting areas with mobile chargers, contemplation room, wheelchairs and pushchair loan, free wifi, dog kennelling, children’s play areas, baby changing facilities and bottle warmers, shopping services and much more.

Enjoy a free chic coach service from the centre of Barcelona to La Roca Village the first Sunday of each month.

La Roca Village is open from Monday to Sunday from 10AM to 9PM.

PortAventura World

Discover PortAventura World Parks & Resort in the heart of the Costa Dorada, just 110km from Barcelona.

Opened in 1995 it is the 1st park in Spain and the 3rd largest in Europe. Enjoy the PortAventura Theme Park with 41 attractions and 40 shows spread among its 6 themed areas: Mediterranean, Polynesia, Mexico, China, Far West and SesamAdventure. Its aquatic park Caribe Aquatic Park has 14 attractions to enjoy with family.

This year 2017 has opened the 3rd theme park of the enclosure, Ferrari Land, with 11 exclusive attractions where you can know more about the Italian team and the world of F1.

Arc de Triomf (Triumphal Arch)

The Arc de Triomf (Triumphal Arch) is a monument designed by architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas, which served as the entrance to the site of the first Universal Exhibition (1888) held at Ciutadella Park.

The brick structure, in Neo-Mudéjar style, is 30 metres high and decorated with sculptures and tiles. Unlike most arches, this is not a triumphal arch of military glory but was built as a tribute to artistic, scientific, and economic progress.

Barcelona Cathedral

Construction of the Cathedral took place over six centuries, beginning in 1298 on the site of a three-nave basilica, destroyed by Al-Mansur in 925. The main facade and the tower were completed in 1890, in the Gothic style. The interior of the Cathedral is surprising, with its 25 side chapels, the 14th-century cloister and the choir stalls. It also has a pulpit and a crypt, where the remains of Santa Eulalia lie, one of Barcelona’s patron saints and to whom the Cathedral is dedicated.

The Latin-cross plan and ribbed vault, along with the stained-glass windows, fill the interior of the Cathedral with light.

The Ramblas

The Ramblas is located on the site of a former stream and takes its name from the Arabic word ‘Remla’, which means ‘sandy ground’.

The Ramblas emerged with the advent of modernity, when, in 1766, an avenue was marked out alongside the medieval wall that ran through this part of Barcelona after the 13th century. In a city of narrow winding streets, the Ramblas was the only suitable place to see and be seen and for the enjoyment of all citizens. As it was a central thoroughfare, people of all classes congregated there.

Along its 1,200 metres, its main attractions include: the Canaletes Fountain, where legend has it that anyone who drank from the fountain would always return to Barcelona; the Liceu Theatre; Moja Palace; the Church of Bethlehem; Virreina Palace; the Boquería market; the Wax Museum; Santa Mónica Art Centre; and the viewing platform of the Columbus monument at the end of the Ramblas.

Strolling along this important street, you will come across an interesting mix of ‘human statues’, flower stalls and stalls selling animals, especially birds.

Liceu Theatre

The Liceu Theatre was built on the former site of a Capuchin monastery, in order to house the Music Conservatory and to create a space where the high society of Barcelona could enjoy opera, which was very popular around this time.

The Liceo became an important symbol of the city.

The theatre was destroyed in a fire in 1994 and didn’t reopen until 1999. Its original appearance was restored and new, state-of-the-art stage technology was incorporated.

Today the theatre is one of the biggest in the world, with 2,292 seats distributed over five tiers. The opera, dance and music season runs from September to July and guided tours are available throughout the year.

Some interesting features of the Liceu include the Sala Gran, the Foyer, the Saló dels Miralls (Hall of Mirrors) and the Círculo del Liceo (a private club).

Christopher Columbus Monument

The monument to Christopher Columbus was inaugurated in 1888 for the Universal Exhibition held in Barcelona that year. It was designed by Gaietá Buïgas i Monravá.

The entire sculpture stands 60 metres tall, with the figure of Columbus measuring seven metres. The statue depicts the explorer’s full body, in a standing position. In his left hand he holds a navigational chart and with his right hand he is symbolically indicating the route to America.

Santa Mónica Art Centre

The building in which the Centre is located was originally an Augustinian convent and over the years was used as a straw warehouse, the headquarters of the French gendarmerie, and even as a centre for military operations. In 1984, the building was renovated and converted into an art centre but didn’t open until 1988. In 2003, a new entrance to the cloister was created, via the entrance gates on the Rambla, as well as a second exhibition hall.

The Santa Mónica Art Centre combines the past and the present. The past is reflected in its Renaissance cloister, with semicircular arches supporting the balconied first floor; and the present can be seen in the modern ramp linking the exterior to the interior of the building.

Dedicated to contemporary art, the Centre promotes 21st-century culture and aims to be a centre for studying, performing, producing, and exhibiting the future art of the city.

Golondrinas (Pleasure Boats)

The ‘Golondrinas’ (meaning ‘swallows’) are a nautical attraction and first began operating in 1888, for the Universal Exhibition held in Barcelona that year.

The boats are moored at the original location, the port, opposite the monument to Christopher Columbus.

Two different routes are offered: one lasts 35 minutes and takes you around the port itself; the other route lasts 1hr 35mins and goes from the Columbus monument to Port Forum and back again.

Maremagnum / Aquarium

The Maremagnum is located on the former Muelle de España, the pier that was originally used for loading and unloading goods.

Today it is a leisure, cultural, and commercial centre, located in a large, architecturally-innovative space where water is the dominant feature.

The Barcelona Aquarium is also located in this area. This incredible recreational and educational marine centre is the largest in the world with a Mediterranean theme. Consisting of 35 tanks that include 11,000 examples from 450 different species, it also has an 80-metre long underwater tunnel, 6 million litres of water, and an immense Oceanarium, the only one in Europe, making this centre a unique entertainment reference which has already been visited by 14 million people.

World Trade Centre

The Barcelona World Trade Centre is a business park that was opened on 22 July 1999. It is located in the Port of Barcelona, just a few minutes from the centre. It has 40,000 square metres of office space to let, as well as a centre for conferences, conventions and meetings, with a choice of 20 different rooms.

The building was created by Henry N. Cobb, who designed the original structure inspired by the shape of a boat; emphasised by the fact that it is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. The arrangement of the four buildings that comprise the Centre create a spectacular central courtyard measuring 2,500 square metres, where the shopping and restaurant area is located. The four towers house the offices, the conference centre and the luxury 5 * Grand Marina Hotel.

The WTC, with a total surface area of 130,000 square metres, has become one of the most important economic centres in the city.

Aerial Tramway

The Aerial Tramway was built for the Universal Exhibition of 1929 by Carles Buïgas. It is an original means of urban transport connecting two historically-related sites: the mountain of Montjuic and the port of Barcelona. During the Civil War the line was taken out of service and didn´t operate again until 1963.

The route runs from the Costa i Llobera Gardens on Montjuic to the St Sebastian Tower, making a stop at the highest point along the route, the St Jaume I Tower, near the Barcelona World Trade Centre.

From the tramway, you can enjoy magnificent views of the city.

The Forum Area

As a result of the Universal Forum of Cultures held in Barcelona in 2004, the city inherited a new space known as Forum Park.

The area covers 17 hectares of reclaimed land beside the sea, and its various elements include: the Esplanade, where fairs, music festivals and large-scale events are held; the triangular-shaped Forum Building, which is the undisputed icon of Barcelona’s new architecture and is now a museum; the CCIB (International Conference Centre of Barcelona), one of the most modern in Europe with a capacity of 15,000 people; and Auditorium Park, a large open space in front of the sea, comprised of a spectacular solar panel, the Port Forum marina and a bathing area.

Rambla de Catalunya

This is one of the most central streets in the city. It begins in Plaza Catalunya and continues as far as Diagonal Avenue. Along its length are numerous fashion stores, as well as a wide variety of bars and restaurants.

Situated at each end of the street is a sculpture by the architect Josep Granyer: the bull sitting on the corner of Gran Via and the flirtatious giraffe on the corner of Diagonal.

In 1990, the pavements were widened and improvements were made to the entire central promenade.

Passeig de Gracia

This is one of the main avenues in Barcelona and one of the city’s most important shopping and business area. It follows the old road that used to link the Town of Gracia (now a city neighbourhood) and Barcelona.

Over the years, major international luxury boutiques have sprung up. Along the street we can find impressive modernist works from prominent architects such as Gaudí, Puig i Cadafalch, Domènech i Montaner and Enric Sagnier. Of these, not to be missed are Batlló House and La Pedrera (World Heritage Sites), Amatller House, Fuster House and Robert Palace.

In 1906, architect Pere Falqués i Urpí designed the famous ornate mosaic benches and street lamps dotted along the avenue.

FCB Stadium / Camp Nou

Camp Nou is the name of the stadium which is home to FC Barcelona. It has the maximum status of 5 stars, awarded by FIFA. The stadium has the largest capacity in Europe, catering for 99,354 spectators. It occupies an area of 55,000 square metres and has a height of 48 metres.

The stadium opened in 1957 under the name of FC Barcelona Stadium but was popularly known as Camp Nou. Because of this, during the 2000-2001 season a vote was held, which resulted in the stadium officially being named Camp Nou.

In 1984, the Barça Museum was incorporated, and since then it has become the most visited museum in Catalonia. Apart from football matches, the stadium has also been the venue for many concerts. Some of the many artists who have performed there include: Bruce Springsteen; Frank Sinatra; Michael Jackson; U2; Julio Iglesias; and the Three Tenors.

Sea Palace (Palau de Mar)

The Sea Palace was built between 1880 and 1890 to house the old general trade warehouses. The building is typical of port architecture in the 19th-century.

It now houses the Museum of the History of Catalonia and the Department of Social Welfare and Family of the Catalan Government.

Olympic Village / Beaches

The Villa Olímpica neighbourhood was born as a result of the Olympic Games held in Barcelona in 1992, as it was here where most of the participating athletes were accommodated.

Located in a former industrial area in Poblenou, known as Icaria, this new construction also gave rise to new beaches, large green areas and public facilities for the city.

Prominent features in the neighbourhood are the two skyscrapers rising above the Olympic Port – the Mapfre tower and the Hotel Arts, standing at 144 metres high. Below them is an enormous golden fish designed by Frank Gehry.

The Olympic Port area offers a wide range of nautical activities and water sports, as well as over 40 bars, restaurants and clubs.

Just beside the port is Nueva Icaria beach, which is 400 metres long. It is considered a quiet beach, frequented by families and groups of friends There is a diverse range of facilities for all ages, including a playground, a ping-pong table, volleyball courts, drinking fountains, toilets, showers, bins, kiosks selling drinks and ice cream, sun loungers for hire, lifeguard stations and first-aid points, parking for cars and bicycles and an area adapted for people with reduced mobility, among others..