Top Ten Sightseeing in Barcelona - strolling the city
Discover Barcelona visiting our favorite places - the top ten attractions and sightseeing in Barcelona city.
By Fabiola Chirinos
05/19/2017
The capital of Catalonia is the most visited city in Spain. There are astonishing Gothic, modernist and some surrealistic constructions distributed within the city. Gastronomy is celebrated with dishes and ingredients that any visitor should try. Furthermore, its climate invites everyone to go out and enjoy the city. It is usually a very warm climate, pleasant for visiting the beaches of Barcelona and spending a day enjoying the sea and the sand.
If it is the first time you come to Barcelona, below we share a brief description of the most emblematic sites of our city so you know where to start. If you have already traveled to Barcelona before, you will surely want to take another stroll using our suggestions.
1. Sagrada Familia. Sagrada Familia is the most visited site in the city, and for a good reason. The construction designed by Gaudí has a unique facade that tells the biblical story in a modernist style. It is an architectural gem that is still under construction. There are different ways to visit the place, you can find them on the official website and select the one that best suits your plans. Some of the towers have public access, and offer a different view of the construction and the city. We recommend you buy the ticket in advance, check the weather before you go and spend some time in the Plaza Sagrada Familia, from there you will find an enviable view of the basilica.
2. Parc Güell. Parc Güell was designed as a garden city, but the residential spaces were never completed. The park is one of our favorite places. One of its areas has a free entrance where you can spend a nice picnic afternoon. You will have to buy tickets to get to know some of the most important spaces, including the dragon staircase, the hypostyle construction, which was planned as the market of the urbanization- and the wavy bank of mosaics.
3. Casa Batlló. Casa Batlló, has an impressive façade that is difficult to overlook. It is also the work of Gaudí with predominant curved lines. Inside you will see the old residence of the Batlló family, the roof and chimneys, Visitors are allowed from 08:30 am. You can buy your ticket there. Watch for events scheduled during your visit.
4. Casa Milá. Casa Milá is also known as La Pedrera, it is a building designed by Gaudí that has become a benchmark of architecture worldwide. Inside you will find Espai Gaudí, a museum dedicated to exploring the life and work of the architect. You can also see a floor that recreates the life of a family of the twentieth century bourgeoisie. It is very close to Casa Batlló. You can buy your ticket there or through the official website.
5. Hospital de Sant Pau. Hospital of Sant Pau is a visit that we always recommend for being one of the most impressive modernist buildings. It was designed by Lluis Domènech i Muntaner and is located near the basilica of the Sagrada Familia, and is often overlooked by visitors. But if you enjoy the architecture of the city, this complex will give you a different perspective on Catalan modernism.
6. Palau de la Música Catalana. Palau de la Música Catalana is located on the street Sant Pere més Alt, in the Gothic Quarter. This building is an emblem of the modernist architecture of the city, it is very appreciated by the locals. It was built by Lluis Domènech i Muntaner and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. It houses important artistic happenings throughout the year. But if you do not find an event that interests you within your schedule, you can always take a tour to know its interior.
7. La Rambla. Strolling through La Rambla has a particular charm at any time of the day. It connects the Plaça Catalunya with the monument to Columbus. Along the way, you will find kiosks of books, flowers, sweets and more. Get hold of the good energy that abounds in the environment. On one side you will have the Gothic Quarter, and throughout the tour you will find sites of great interest. Like the Gran Teatro Liceu and the market of La Boquería.
8. La Boquería. This market has earned a special place in the collective memory of the Catalans and is one of the favorite visits of travelers who enjoy gastronomy. Inside you will find fresh and high quality ingredients, so much so that some of the most popular restaurants in town buy their ingredients here. From sea food, to vegetables and sweets, you will surely find what you are looking for. There are bars, tapas places and restaurants and some of them have been consolidated among the best places to eat in the city, such as the Pinotxo Bar.
9. Barri Gòtic. Getting lost in its narrow streets is one of the most interesting things to do in Barcelona. The Gothic Quarter is full of architectural monuments and history. If you can sign up for a tour, you can know some of the secrets that are hidden there. Within the Gothic Quarter you will find town squares and churches, among them, the church of Santa Maria del Pi (“The cathedral of the sea”), located in front of the Plaza del Pi, where there is a handicraft market. Within this neighborhood you will also find the Cathedral of Barcelona and the Plaza del Rey.
10. Plaça Reial. Plaça Reial is located within the Gothic Quarter. The square closes our list because it is one of those unique sites that can only be found in Barcelona. It is surrounded by restaurants and is inspired by French models. Adorned by palm trees that create an environment which is difficult to replicate with a fountain of stone in the center, with two giant Gaudí lamps at the sides. Just a few steps away you will find Las Ramblas.