Visiting Barcelona

(Barcelona, Spain)

The city of Barcelona has long been one of Europe's most visited cities and deservedly so. Barcelona not only offers an enviable coastal location and superb weather with mild winters, but it is also full of character, charm and tourist appeal.

With a host of top attractions, historic Catalonian buildings, Gaudi and Art Nouveau architecture, and many sandy beaches, Barcelona is also home to a lively nightlife and numerous friendly Tapas bars, serving traditional bite-size Spanish snacks.

Hotels are generally easy to come by in the city, although when large trade fairs are taking place, the demand for accommodation understandably rises. Some of the cheapest hotels close to the action are based within the Barri Gotic and El Raval areas, with Barcelona apartment rentals providing an affordable alternative. The L'Eixample neighbourhood tends to features more top-end hotels, the majority of which are just a short distance from the charms of the Old Town.

Visiting Barcelona: Places to Visit

• Walking tours of Barcelona, led by friendly local guides and offering a real insight into the city's past, with English-speaking guides available
• Bus tours of Barcelona, departing from the Ronda Universitat and taking in many of the city's most acclaimed sights, including the main attractions around the Gothic Quarter and beyond
• Casa Mila, a stylish and eye-catching apartment block designed by famous artist Gaudi
• Platja de Sant Sebastià, the nearest beach to central Barcelona, with a scenic coastline and good amenities
• L'Aquàrium, a popular sea life aquarium attraction full of marine life, including large tanks, sharks and many colourful fish
• Barcelona Zoo, housing over 7,000 different animals, with large cats, monkeys and exotic birds, located on the Parc de la Ciutadella and popular with all ages
• Plaça Catalunya, the main public square in Barcelona, surrounded by magnificent buildings and close many shops and lively restaurants
• Magic Fountain, known locally in Barcelona as the Font Màgica, first constructed for the 1888 Expo World Fair and famed for its nighttime illuminations
• Port Olímpic, Barcelona's famous port which was completed in 1992 in time for the Olympic Games, now home to many world-class entertainment venues, shops, clubs and two tall skyscrapers
• Anella Olímpica, with a large an interesting exhibition about Barcelona's 1992 Olympic Games, together with a number of sporting venues, including the Picornell swimming pools
• Torre de Collserola, a tall and striking contemporary tower, offering superb views across much of Barcelona, standing atop Collserola Hill and connected by a funicular railway
• Rambla de Canaletes, an iconic tree-lined avenue known for its endless shops, street cafés and cultural attractions, known in Barcelona as simply 'Las Ramblas'
• Arc de Triomf, once the important gateway to Barcelona's 1888 Expo World Fair, with intricate stone carvings of significant historical interest
• Tibidabo, Barcelona's only theme park, located on Collserola Hill and offering more than 30 fast rides and roller coasters, together with a big wheel, landscaped gardens and impressive city views