Barcelona
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Exuberant Barcelona brims with life and energy. Spain's second largest city and the capital of Catalonia, it is characterised by wonderful architecture by Antonio Gaudi and the infectious enthusiasm of the Catalan people.
Getting around
Like most cities, you often see more on foot. Barcelona is no exception and is a great city for strolling around and admiring the beautiful buildings, especially those on Las Ramblas and in the Gothic Quarter. Barcelona also has two fast and clean Metro services and taxis are plentiful. If you wish to explore further afield there's an efficient bus and rail network.
Must sees
Las Ramblas is the main boulevard that runs from the Columbus Monument by the seafront to Plaça de Cataluñya and acts as a magnet for visitors. Gaudi's presence is felt more or less wherever you go, most notably in the mask-shaped balconies of Casa Batllo, the Casa Mila apartment building, the pillars and pavilions of Park Guell, the lampposts on the Plaça Real and, of course, the magnificent Sagrada Familia Church.There's plenty more for art lovers in the Picasso Museum, and if you haven't had enough of Gaudi - the Casa-Museu Gaudi.Montjuic Hill has a range of attractions, including the art museum of Cataluñya and The Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village) where you can see replicas of over 100 buildings found throughout Spain and browse round the wide range of crafts that are for sale.Take a look, too, at the Romanesque Bishop's Palace and its imposing courtyard. Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, the Barri Gotic, is a maze of twisting streets and little squares with honey-coloured stone houses, merchants'mansions and the dominant cathedral dating from 1298. In contrast to all this history, the Olympic Stadium has brought the city bang up to date and has breathed new life into the seaport areas, especially around Barceloneta and Port Olympic.
Must buys
Deeply style-conscious, Barcelona is often dubbed 'the Paris of Spain'for its sophisticated shops.The main shopping areas are in Passeig de Gracia, Avinguda Diagonal, Carrer Pelai for shoes, the Gothic Quarter for pottery and antiques, and Las Ramblas for flower shops and bookstalls. Leather and lace are good quality and make excellent souvenirs or gifts and the local brightly coloured ceramics are often reasonably priced.
Must tries
No holiday is complete without sampling the local cuisine. Tapas bars are everywhere and include speciality Catalan dishes. Sausages with white beans, stews, fish and Jabugo ham also feature in the local cuisine.Try crema Catalana, a delicious Catalan dessert, and perhaps order a bottle of cava, the famous Champenoise sparkling wine.
Getting around
Like most cities, you often see more on foot. Barcelona is no exception and is a great city for strolling around and admiring the beautiful buildings, especially those on Las Ramblas and in the Gothic Quarter. Barcelona also has two fast and clean Metro services and taxis are plentiful. If you wish to explore further afield there's an efficient bus and rail network.
Must sees
Las Ramblas is the main boulevard that runs from the Columbus Monument by the seafront to Plaça de Cataluñya and acts as a magnet for visitors. Gaudi's presence is felt more or less wherever you go, most notably in the mask-shaped balconies of Casa Batllo, the Casa Mila apartment building, the pillars and pavilions of Park Guell, the lampposts on the Plaça Real and, of course, the magnificent Sagrada Familia Church.There's plenty more for art lovers in the Picasso Museum, and if you haven't had enough of Gaudi - the Casa-Museu Gaudi.Montjuic Hill has a range of attractions, including the art museum of Cataluñya and The Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village) where you can see replicas of over 100 buildings found throughout Spain and browse round the wide range of crafts that are for sale.Take a look, too, at the Romanesque Bishop's Palace and its imposing courtyard. Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, the Barri Gotic, is a maze of twisting streets and little squares with honey-coloured stone houses, merchants'mansions and the dominant cathedral dating from 1298. In contrast to all this history, the Olympic Stadium has brought the city bang up to date and has breathed new life into the seaport areas, especially around Barceloneta and Port Olympic.
Must buys
Deeply style-conscious, Barcelona is often dubbed 'the Paris of Spain'for its sophisticated shops.The main shopping areas are in Passeig de Gracia, Avinguda Diagonal, Carrer Pelai for shoes, the Gothic Quarter for pottery and antiques, and Las Ramblas for flower shops and bookstalls. Leather and lace are good quality and make excellent souvenirs or gifts and the local brightly coloured ceramics are often reasonably priced.
Must tries
No holiday is complete without sampling the local cuisine. Tapas bars are everywhere and include speciality Catalan dishes. Sausages with white beans, stews, fish and Jabugo ham also feature in the local cuisine.Try crema Catalana, a delicious Catalan dessert, and perhaps order a bottle of cava, the famous Champenoise sparkling wine.
Traveller Guide Book
Our guide provides all the latest information on accommodation, eating out and local attractions in Barcelona.
Barcelona Traveller Guide Book
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