Travel Guide to Barcelona, Spain

In this city one can find not only ancient places of interest, but also modern ones, saying in other words Barcelona is a city that can suit needs and tastes of every tourist. The most comfortable way of visiting numerous sights of Barcelona is traveling by a special tourist bus, which stops at all the historical places of the city. The other way, which not less pleasant, is walking around the city.

Eixample area. If you go from the very centre of Barcelona, Plaza Catalunya, upward, you'll find yourself in Eixample area. This district was built in art nouveau style. You'll like the atmosphere of numerous posh shops, various cafes, bars and restaurants. We strongly advise you to go along beautiful and fascinating Paseo de Gracia street, where among a great number of monuments you can find some works of Gaudi. If you turn to the left from Diagonal Avenue and have a small walk, you'll get to Plaza de Frances Macia. To come back from that place, you should cross the road, turn to the right and go downward Rambla de Catalunya boulevard, and you'll turn out at Plaza Catalunya. On average all the itinerary takes about half a day, but still it depends on speed, fitness shape and your economic condition.

Gothic Quarter, Raval Quarter and boulevard de Ramblas. If you go downward from Plaza Catalunya, you'll come to ancient gothic Barcelona, on the right side you'll see one of the most famous boulevards in Europe – boulevard de Ramblas, you'll also face Raval Quarter with its Museum of modern art. On the left side Gothic Quarter with its marvelous Barcelona Cathedral is located. Without visiting this authentic part of the city your impression of Barcelona would be incomplete. There you can enjoy slow walk across numerous narrow streets, do shopping and also take pleasure of special international atmosphere and listen to various languages and dialects not only of the native, but also of tourists. All this helps to get a full idea of the city, of its past and future. If you get to boulevard de Ramblas, we vastly recommend you to go to the enormous shopping centre Maremagnum. It consists of a great number of restaurants, shops, cafes and clubs. Moreover, it's a good place for entertainment: there is a complex of movie theatres, aquarium and IMAX theatre.

El Born and the City Park (Parc de la Ciutadella). El Born is a very beautiful and calm area. Going from the ancient part of the city in the direction of Parc de la Ciutadella you'll surely pass by El Born, or as it's also called ‘Barcelona's Soho' (on analogy with the area in New-York). El Born is a typical example of new creative stream in Barcelona. As recently as 10 years ago this area was absolutely unpopular and of course it wasn't the place of interest for plenty of tourists. Because of the unique location (it's near Gothic Quarter, the beach and one of the most attractive parks in Barcelona Parc de la Ciutadella) first of all this place was liked by eccentric people: artists and students. Art workers started exhibiting their works and opened their shops. After that, enterprising investors realized the potential of this area and there started a great restoration campaign. There are a lot of amazingly beautiful buildings there, for example, this area can boast of world-famous Picasso Museum and the Museum of Chocolate, galleries, which exhibit paintings of native and foreign artists and various cheap restaurants that serve national cosine. More than that, there are a lot of traditional fashionable bars.

Barceloneta and Port Olympica Beach. Barceloneta is an old Catalonian fish quarter, which is located between the ancient part of the city and the beach. It goes without saying that there one can find the best fish restaurants, tapas-bars and small cosy shops. If you go along the boulevard to the north, you'll get to Port Olimpica Beach. Along with plenty of bars, restaurants and shops there are also situated some beach clubs. On the beach you can have a wonderful supper and enjoy the landscape and the sea.

Fort Montjuic. By rope-way one can get from Barceloneta to the other side of the city, so as to see Montjuic Mountain. This mountain was one of the most important places during the Olympic Games of 1922 in Barcelona. This mountain gives great opportunity for having good time, so here one can spend the whole day. On the top Fort Montjuic is situated. You surely should visit Poble Español, a miniature village, which was built in architectural styles of various provinces of Spain. It will be also very interesting to visit the National Palace at Plaza de Espania and cemetery, which is located on the very top of the mountain.

Mirador Colon panorama. At the end of La Rambla boulevard near Barcelona Port there is a 60-meter column, topped with the statue of Columbus. It is a very important place for Barcelona, which is familiar almost to everyone. Though it's almost impossible to pass by this column and it attracts a lot of tourists, only a few know that inside the column there is a lift, with help of which one can get to the very top, where a picturesque view on Barcelona and its ports can be enjoyed.

Read more about Barcelona:
Restaurants and cuisine in Barcelona
Local traditions and lifestyle
'Must visit' places in Barcelona
Nightlife and attractions in Barcelona
Preparing for Barcelona: Advices
Barcelona photogallery