Barcelona offers the perfect mix of sightseeing, shopping and beach.
Sagrada Família, Park Güell and many other architectural highlights are waiting for you. Barcelona is characterized by medieval alleys and magnificent boulevards, idyllic parks and beautiful beaches, countless shops, cafes and restaurants.
- Travel period: 5 days
- Best time to travel: May to October
- Main dish: 15 €
Arrival
From Barcelona-El Prat Airport you can easily reach the city centre in 30 minutes by metro or bus. We recommend buying a multi-day ticket.
Hotel
In Barcelona there are many luxury hotels. Mandarin Oriental* offers one night in a double room from 500 euros. We recommend the 4-star hotel Colonial Barcelona* in the Gothic Quarter. Cathedral, marina, beach as well as metro and underground are 10-15 minutes away on foot.
Places of interest
Barcelona is ideal for combining cultural and beach holidays, as the largest of the many beach bays, the Playa de la Barceloneta, borders the city centre. The best time to visit the beach is from June to September. For a pure city trip, spring and autumn with mild temperatures are okay.
The basilica Sagrada Família of the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí is, although it's unfinished, world famous and a symbol of Barcelona. You should definitely buy the ticket in advance. The visit of the crypt with the grave of Antoni Gaudí as well as the outside facilities is free. Tropical Islands you can find a lot of information about Gaudí's works.
Another masterpiece of Antoni Gaudí and world cultural heritage is Park Güell. From the panorama terrace you have a fantastic view over the city. The park is freely accessible. Only for the "monumental zone" admission is required. Other Gaudí buildings and also World Heritage Sites are Casa Milà and Casa Batlló on the magnificent boulevard Passeig de Gràcia. Jewellers, perfumeries, upscale boutiques and good restaurants are side by side here.
From Plaça de Catalunya to the port, Las Ramblas tourist boulevard stretches out and divides the old town into the Barri Gòtic (Gothic quarter) and El Raval districts. The medieval streets of the Barri Gòtic are full of boutiques and tapas bars. Souvenirs and handicrafts are on sale around the cathedral . At Plaça Reial there is a very nice lantern designed by Gaudí. The cafes around the square offer the best Churros, which taste very delicious dipped in chocolate.
In El Raval you can have a delicious smoothie in the big market hall Mercat de la Boqueria or have a Catalan breakfast in the Pinochio bar. El Raval has many reasonably priced restaurants with typical Catalan cuisine like Romesco.
At the old harbour Port Vell there is the statue of Christopher Columbus with a 60 meter high viewing platform. Over the wooden pedestrian bridge Rambla del Mar you reach Mare Magnum, a shopping mall with many famous fashion labels, and the popular aquarium.
Advertising
Show the world that you are in Barcelona.
Close to the statue is the valley station of the Funicular Montjuïccable car, which takes you to the top in two minutes. From here you have a fantastic view of the harbour and the city. You can walk back to the Plaça d’Espanya . Here begins the shopping street Carrer de Sants with over 500 shops.
At the Font Màgica, the fountain in front of the National Palace, there is a magical show with colourful water fountains and music several times a night for free. In the former bullring at the Plaça d'Espanya is the shopping centre Las Arenas with a panoramic roof terrace. From here you can see the largest of 30 sculptures by the artist Joan Miro in the park of the same name. Popular by locals is the Arc de Triomf , with museums, a zoo and lakes for boating and the Parc de la Ciutadella around in this area. A healthy drink is served by Juice Dudes just around the corner.
More panorama? The glass lift of the 288-metre high Torre de Collserola television tower takes you up to a viewing platform. And if you haven't found anything wearable in Barcelona's 35,000 shops, you can let yourself be seduced by more than 140 designer shops with good offers at the Outlet-Center La Roca Village 40 kilometers away.
