The 5 Best Places to Visit in Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe. Rich history enjoys the culture and unique architecture for which Barcelona is famous. Barcelona is one of the liveliest, funniest and most energetic cities in the world.
Barcelona is such a popular place that over the past few years, it has even had to fight over-tourism to reduce the number of visitors. From family travelers to the crowds of the cruise ship to those who backpack Barcelona in the summer months, Barcelona sees all types of tourists.
Gothic Quarter
It is filled with old winding streets and historic buildings. El Call, Barcelona’s old Jewish quarter, is one of the most beautiful areas of the Gothic Quarter. These are some of the narrowest streets in all of Barcelona, and they’re also filled with a dark history that dates back to the Middle Ages. The street of Sant Domenec del Call is at the center of everything.
The famous Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi also spent some time in the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona. One of his first projects after his graduation was the street lamps of one of Barcelona’s largest squares, the Plaza Reial. When Picasso arrived in Barcelona, he was just a young boy. He was admitted to the art school that once stood on Calle mainly.
La Boqueria
This public market has a fantastic selection of food stalls and restaurants. It’s right on La Rambla, a long, famous central thoroughfare, see below, so the market is usually bustling. There are bars around the market, selling both food and drink. The most famous of these bars is El Pinotxo, just to the right of the entrance.
However, if you’re struggling to find one of the coveted stools here, rest assured that the bars further back in the market are of the same quality. Food is similar to a quality restaurant. The fruit stands on the entire market sell freshly squeezed fruit juices of various types, a healthy and refreshing treat.
La Rambla
The famous 1.2 km long boulevard with a broad but crowded sidewalk in the center has many beautiful buildings, including the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the city’s opera house. The monasteries disappeared, and florists and kiosks set up their premises here.
As you walk along, you’ll see landmarks like Barcelona’s largest opera theater, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Palau de la Virreina, and the spectacular Boqueria market. This human river with its street performers, tourists and locals who still come here for a walk takes us on a journey through this microcosm of contemporary Barcelona.
Barcelona History Museum
Barcelona has one of the best museums for city history, including 4,000 square meters of Roman ruins under the museum that you can walk through. It also manages several historic sites across the city, most of the archaeological sites with remains of the ancient Roman city, called Barcino in Latin.
Some others date from the Middle Ages, including the Jewish Quarter and the Medieval Royal Palace, which is called the Palau Reial Major. The rest are contemporary, including old industrial buildings and sites associated with Antoni Gaud and the Spanish Civil War. Today the museum is one of the most critical places for researching and preserving the history of Barcelona.
Montjuic Hill
Explore Castell de Montjuic, a large 18th-century fortress, gardens, a Spanish village, and the Olympic Stadium. The Spanish village was built in 1929 to resemble a real traditional village with 117 buildings from different Spanish regions. When Barcelona hosted the Olympic Games in 1992, all the excitement revolved around the Olympic Ring: the Olympic Stadium, Palau Sant Jordi and the Olympic Esplanade.
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya houses Catalonian art, particularly Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque works. There are also various exhibits dedicated to handicrafts and contemporary art. The fountain in front of it has a spectacular free show that takes place on Fridays and Saturdays from 7 pm to 9 pm. Watching the sunset from here is also amazing.
