What to do in Barcelona, Spain
- The Ciutat Vella, meaning “Old City,” is the oldest, most central and most tourist-visited neighborhood of Barcelona.
- Las Ramblas is the liveliest pedestrian walkway in town and is spelled in the plural because it is actually a series of streets (each one a “rambla”). Though crowded with tourists, Las Ramblas is tree-lined and beautifully lay out. All along the way, you will meet with interesting street performers, some of them doing stunts, some of them costumed and some of them offering to do pencil sketches.
- Placa de Catalunya is a square located in the very center of the city. It is the city’s transport hub and a favorite rendezvous point. The square is famous for its many fountains and statues, and it is lined by shops on every side.
- The Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter) is at the very heart of the Ciutat Vella. Here, you can see numerous buildings that date from medieval times as well as a few that go back to the Roman Period.
- In various parts of the Old City, you will find literally miles of beachfront boardwalks. These are worthwhile just to walk along- but you can also get in the water to swim or lay down for a tan on the sand.
- El Portal de L’Angel is a spacious pedestrian walkway lined by some of the most expensive and most in-style shops in all of Barcelona.
- In Sants Montjuic, you can ride high in the sky on a cable car that takes you from the sea coast all the way up to the mountain known as Montjuic.
- Also in Sants Montjuic, you can see a Flamenco Show, which is a traditional Spanish performance with guitar music, song and dance, at the Tablao de Carmen.
- Coastal tours of Barcelona can be had by sail boat and motor boat. The duration can be from 1 hour to a full-day coastal tour by “classic yacht.”
- Take a bike tour of Eixample to see its imposing Modernista architecture, some of it mimicking medieval style, and also stop of at the Japanese Library.
- Attend a football (soccer) match at Camp Nou, the home of FC Barcelona and the largest-capacity stadium in all of Spain, seating over 99,000. Besides football matches, concerts are also occasionally held there.
- Cruise miles of beachfront boardwalk starting from Barceloneta or get a tan on the beach.
- Sit on a wooden bridge to Maremagnum in Ciutat Vella and cool your toes at the water’s edge: with a book, sandwich or just for a short rest.
- Wander the Barri Gòtic in Ciutat Vella, the largely intact pseudo-medieval center of the city.
- Enjoy your Sangria at La Plaça Reial in Ciutat Vella, near the La Rambla Street. Great place to sit, relax and drink. While visiting La Plaça Reial.
- Walk in Born a very popular area with great restaurants and places to have a few drinks and uncover amazing history. If your accommodation is on Rambla, Born is a great place to escape the crowds, enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and meet off-the-beaten track travellers and non-tourist-industry locals–especially in the evenings.
- Ride the Cable Way to get from the sea front to Montjuïc mountain in Sants-Montjuïc
- Sit and sip on a coffee in Plaça dels Àngels in Ciutat Vella, while admiring the whiteness of the MACBA and the best street skate tricks in town.
- Catch a performance at the beautiful Teatre del Liceu or the Palau de la Musica Catalana both in Ciutat Vella.
- Visit a Flamenco Show in a real tablao. Although the dance is not local to Catalunya, one of the best Flamenco Shows in the city is Tablao de Carmen in Sants-Montjuïc. A cheaper alternative is in the jazzclub Jazz Si in Ciutat Vella.
- Rent a bike or join a Biketour and get to see the highlights of the city in a different way. Ride from the magic beaches of the Mediterranean, to Gaudí’s modernist buildings through the medieval atmosphere of the Old Quarter.
- Sail 3 hours to see Barcelona from the sea.
- Join a Barcelona photography walk or masterclass in English.
- Camp Nou (FC Barcelona stadium). If you are football fan, it is a must see attraction.
- Sail on a classic yacht. Enjoy a day trip sailing along the Barcelona coastline on a classic yacht.