Barcelona is the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region. It sits in northeast Spain on the Mediterranean coast. It has a population of 1.6 million in the city limits. This grows to 4.8 million when you include the greater Barcelona city area.
Barcelona is extremely popular with tourists. Over 27 million people visit each year. Of these, around half stay at least one night.
Barcelona’s most famous street is Las Ramblas. It runs gently downhill from Plaça de Catalunya to the Christopher Columbus Monument near the waterfront.
The street can be incredibly busy during summer as tourists stroll the street taking in the sights and sounds of the city.
As you walk down Las Ramblas, on your left is the Gothic quarter. This is the centre of the old city. In its historic alleyways you will find buildings dating to the medieval period.
On your right is the El Raval district. In the past this was a more downmarket part of town but is now more creative and edgier.
About halfway down Las Ramblas on your right you will find Mercado de La Boqueria. This market is a haven for foodies and one of Barcelona’s top attractions. The market has produce from across Spain as well as takeaway foods and drinks. There are also about a dozen small restaurants serving some fantastic food. These restaurants are very busy and you will be sitting on stools, when one becomes free, but the food is amazing.
Barcelonas most famous landmark is the Sagrada Família. Construction start on this magnificent building in 1882 but it is still not finished. It was designed by Gaudi and you can see other examples of his work scartered around the city. These include Casa Batlló, Casa Vicens and Casa Milà which have all been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Camp Nou is a must see for soccer fans. This massive stadium is home to Barcelona Football Club and tours are available.
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is the Catalan museum of visual art. It contains pieces from the middle ages through to modern pieces. It is one of the largest museums in Spain.
Barcelona Cathedral is a spectacular gothic cathedral dating back to the thirteenth century. Its rich architecture is well worth seeing.
The Magic Fountain is a spectacular water and music display which delights the whole family. Originally built in 1928 for the Barcelona International Exposition it is a free daily event.
Barcelona is unusual for a large city in that there are fantastic beaches right there in the city. Playa Sant Miguel is just a 20 minute walk from the Columbus memorial at the end of Las Ramblas. Several more beaches run north from here so depending on where you are staying you might only be minutes from the water.
“My tip for Barcelona is to try and visit outside of the main summer and tourist months of July and August.”
April to early May are particularly good because the weather is great and there are fewer tourists. After summer, the tourist numbers are lower but hospitality staff can be exhausted after a busy summer. So pre-summer is the way to go.
Barcelona Carnival happens in February or March each year. The exact dates depend on the moon so check each year. The carnival spans 7 days and there is something for everyone to enjoy. This includes a parade, food events, and traditional ceremonies.
Feria de Abril or April Fair is a celebration of the end of winter and features a range of activities over 10 days.
Primavera Sound Festival takes place in June. If you are into music this is a great time to be in the city. The festival features performances by bands and artists across the city.
Also in June is the Sonar Festival. This focuses on electronic music, art and design. There are different themes during the day and night so there is a range of sights and sounds to entertain you during the festival.
Pride Barcelona is usually held in June and celebrates acceptance, diversity and freedom. There are a range of events across the city.
Festival Grec de Barcelona is held from mid-July to early August. It features music, dance, art and theatre. Open-air theatre and warm summer nights make for a perfect combination to entertain you while in Barcelona.
In August Fiestas de Gracia is celebrated with street decorations and a range of festivities. Streets compete to do the best decorations so it is a great time to stroll around checking out the sights.
La Mercè is celebrated in September. It features processions, feasts and events throughout the city.
The Barcelona Independent Film Festival happens in November. If you are into films and a bit of celeb spotting its a good time to visit.
Of course, like the rest of Spain, Barcelona celebrates many Saints Days and religious celebrations. These include three kings day and Epiphany in January and Saint George’s Day on April 23.
Barcelona’s El Prat airport is the second busiest in Spain. You can get flights from almost every major city in Europe and connecting flights from anywhere in the world.
Flying time from London to Barcelona is 2 hours 10 minutes.
From New York, the flight takes 7 hours 45 minutes.
Spain’s High-speed rail connects Barcelona to Madrid with a trip of just 2 hours 30 minutes.
The trip from Zaragoza to Barcelona takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.
The trip from Valencia to Barcelona takes about 2 hours 40 minutes.
Driving from Madrid will take you between 6 and 7 hours.
The drive from Zaragoza will take about 3 hours 40 minutes.
Driving from Valencia will take around 4 hours.