Attractions in Barcelona
The formal spice of attractions in Barcelona. No one can be here on vacation and say they did not find attractions and sights that did not suit them. For many, happiness is to follow in the footsteps of Gaudi. For others it is to relax in the beautiful parks and look at the life on the seafront and up La Rambla. Still others draw to the many museums that Barcelona offers.
La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia [see photo first in article] is the main attraction in Barcelona and appears as the very symbol of the city. The church is the work of the world-renowned architect Gaudi. The work started in 1882. Experts expect it will still take approx. 50 years before you can say that the church is completed.
You will find the Sagrada Familia on Calle Mallorca Street. It also has its own subway station with the same name. You have to buy entrance tickets, but if you have children under 10 then it is free for them. It is open from 0900 in the morning to 2000, (or until 1800 in the winter). Four times a day you can join a guided tour in English, the first at 1100.
Guellpalasset
One of our favorites is the Palau Guell, or the Guell Palace. Gaudi is the architect of this strange but fascinating building. The palace also has a museum. Palau Guell is located on the street Nou de la Rambla 35.
Milahuset (La Pedrera)
The Mila House is actually called La Pedrera and is perhaps the most well-known work of Gaudi, with the exception of the Sagrada Familia church. The building is a symbol of Barcelona’s modern art and culture. Visitors can enter the building and look at the interior, which is at least as exciting as the fantastic facade.
The Mila House is located in the Eixample area of Barcelona, on the street Carrer de Provenca 261-265.
Church of Santa Maria
Santa Maria del Mar is a magnificent 13th-century Gothic church and is located in the La Ribera area, more specifically on Calle Montcada Street. The church plays an important role in the historical novel Sea Cathedral of Ildefonso Falcones, which is one of the best-selling books in Spain ever. (And we can highly recommend this novel, whether you are going to Barcelona or not. It is historically accurate, educational, interesting and exciting).
Catedral de la Seu
This 1298 cathedral is a magnificent Gothic-style building. It took more than 100 years to build the cathedral. Catedral de la Seu is located on P laca de la Seu square.
Sant Pau del Camp
This church is known to be Barcelona’s oldest church. The church is said to be the city’s most important Roman monument. You can find it at Calle Sant Pau 101. There is free entrance.
Placa Sant Jaume
At this square you will find, among other things, the building of the Catalan authorities and the town hall. Throughout history, Placa Sant Jaume has always been a political center of power.
Placa de Catalunya
Perhaps the most important square in Barcelona is the Placa de Catalunya, located at the top of the main street La Rambla. The space has plenty of seating and great fountains. You will always find something to look at here, as well as being close to some of the best shops in Barcelona.
The maritime museum
In the avda de les Drassanes street you will find the Museu de Maritim, which exhibits ship history items from Spain’s impressive maritime history. The most important object of the museum is a reconstructed version of the galley used by Don Juan of Austria in battle in the 16th century.
Picasso Museum
The Picasso Museum or the Picasso Museum is located on Calle Montcado Street. This is one of the major tourist attractions in Barcelona and displays a large collection of Picasso’s most important paintings.
Erotic Museum
West of La Rambla and opposite the Boqueria Market you will find the Erotic Museum, (Museu de L’Erotica). The exhibition encompasses all of the sex-related issues up through the centuries. The address is La Rambla de Sant Josep 96.
City History Museum
The Museu Historia del Ciutat shows a complete overview of Barcelona’s history. The museum is located at Placa del Rei in the Barri Gotic area.
Boqueria market
This market is an attraction in itself. You will find the Boqueria market, that is the large food and vegetable market, just west of La Rambla. Here everything is bought and sold, from kittens to goat heads. Close by you will find a large fish market.
L’Aquarium
You will find Europe’s largest aquarium in Barcelona. You will walk through tunnels with glass walls and have the opportunity to study all kinds of fish and sharks up close. The aquarium is located at Moll d’Espanya down by the harbor area, behind Imax which is easily visible.
Parc de la Ciutadella
This main Barcelona park is located northeast of Barri Gotic, not far from the port area and Port Olimpic. It dates from 1888. In the park area you will find several museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Zoological Museum and the Geological Museum.
Camp Nou
Camp Nou is the home ground of FC Barcelona, one of the world’s best football teams. The stadium facility attracts nearly 100,000 spectators and has guided tours and a football museum as well as great football matches.
The football field is located a short distance west of the center of Barcelona, but you can easily catch both trams and trains.
Olympic Stadium and Olympic Museum
Barcelona hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1992. At the Olympic Stadium you will find the Olympic Museum, which all sports enthusiasts will enjoy. The area also offers several other stadiums of high architectural quality.
Tourist in Barcelona
There are tour buses where you can buy day passes and jump on and off as you see fit. Such a day card costs quite a lot, but if you use it actively, you will get a lot of value for money. However, central Barcelona is not that big, so if you are in good shape, you will have the best experience on foot.
Day 1 in Barcelona Attractions and Tourist
Amazing Sagrada Familia
Start your day by visiting the Sagrada Familia. There are many people here, so it makes sense to get here early. If your hotel is far from the church, take the taxi or subway (Metro). After you finish the visit, you go east, that is along the Carrer De Marina street towards the sea.
Just before you meet the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanas (you have walked about 500 meters), you will see the Plaza Toros Monumental. This is Barcelona’s bullfighting arena. Although there are no more matches here, the arena is well worth a look.
Barcelona’s most beautiful park
Then go Gran Via de les Corts Catalanas to the right (west) until you reach Placa de Tetuan. There you will find, among other things, a large statue of former Barcelona mayor, Dr. Robert Bartolome. He stands as an important symbol of Catalan autonomy.
From here take the Passeig de Sant Johan street until you reach the Arc de Triomf, see the picture first in the article. Continue down Passeig de Lluis Companys until you are inside the park Parc de la Ciutadella. This is perhaps the most beautiful park in Barcelona. In any case, the most significant. Here you will find the geological museum, the zoological museum and the modern museum. In addition, Barcelona’s very beautiful zoo is located here.
The seafront in Barcelona
When you finish the park visit and any museum visits, you exit in the northeast direction of the park. Then you will reach the Passeig Maritim street, which leads you down to the seafront and the beach. Here is a good opportunity to swim, relax with a lunch and look at the public.
Around Port Olimpic there are several nice restaurants where you can get good food and drink.
La Rambla
Follow the beach in a southeast direction along the boardwalk. After approx. In just over a kilometer you will reach Palau de Mar, where you will find the aquarium (Europe’s largest) and various shops. Go to the Placa Portal de la Pau, where you will be able to see the Colom Monument (Colombus Monument). The monument stretches as far as 60 meters to the weather, and at the top, Colombus, where he looks out over the sea.
From here you walk up the La Rambla all the way up to Placa de Catalunya. Enjoy the public life up La Rambla, have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. When you arrive at Placa de Catalunya, visit the El Corte Ingles department store before traveling to the hotel and prepare for a long and enjoyable evening at the tapas bar or restaurant.
Day 2 in Barcelona Attractions and Tourist
We suggest starting the morning at the La Boqueria Market on the El Raval side of La Rambla. The market can be found directly above Liceu Metro Station, which is at La Rambla.
Picasso Museum
After the market visit, cross La Rambla and follow the Carrer Boqueria street into the Barri Gotic area. Let yourself be charmed by this old town. Carrer Boqueria is a street with many nice shops, so take the opportunity to do some shopping as well.
At the end of the street, continue to Carrer Del Call street until you reach Placa St Jaume. Also in this street and around this place there are many exciting shops. Once at Placa St Jaume you will be able to see the huge cathedral, Catedral la Seu. The church must be visited!
Return to St Jaume and continue along Carrer Jaume I and Carrer Princesa streets until you see the signs for the Picasso Museum. The Picasso Museum is a cultural landmark that you simply must bring with you when you visit Barcelona.
After the Picasso Museum, we propose three alternatives for the afternoon:
If you are interested in shopping and want to have fun, head to Passeig de Andreu Nin and Heron City. You can easily reach this giant shopping center by public transport (subway or bus). This entertainment center has concerts, cinemas, shops, restaurants and much more. Here are people all day and far into the night.
If you are interested in sports, visit Camp Nou (home of Barcelona) and / or the Olympic Park located in Montjuic in the south of Barcelona. There are also amusement parks and many other sights.
Relax on the beach and end the day with a visit to L’Aquarium, Europe’s largest aquarium. It is located along the seafront, directly behind Imax. When you reach the streets of Passeig de Colom or Cinturo del Litoral, you will see it.