Barcelona Area Guide

Because there is so much to see in Barcelona it is difficult to put together a one page area guide as really it should be the size of a small booklet. We have therefore decided to give you a quick guide which lists the top ten attractions ranked by the number of visits they receive annually.

Sagrada Familia (www.sagradafamilia.org) is a giant temple designed by the master architect Antonio Gaudi. It has been under construction since 1882 and there is still between 30 to 80 years to go (depending on funding and resources) before it will be finished.

L' Aquarium de Barcelona (www.aquariumbcn.com) at Port Vell is a great place to take the family.

Poble Espanyol de Montjuic small Spanish Village replicates the style of houses and architecture from different parts of Spain with specialist craft shops and workshops where you can see some traditionally made goods.

La Pedrera - Casa Mila is another of Gaudi's creations with his characteristic wavy brick work and colourful tiles.

Barcelona FC Museum is a must for football fans with wall to wall trophies, pictures and statues of the greats.

Barcelona Zoo (www.zoobarcelona.com) in the Parc de la Ciutadella has a wide variety of animals on show as well as a restaurant, picnic area, shop, electric cars, ponies and a mini-train.

Miró Museum is an art gallery which has a wide range of Miró's work dating back as far as 1914 including a good selection of sculptures, tapestries and early sketches. (www.fjmiro.cat)

Picasso Museum (www.museupicasso.bcn.es) exhibits his paintings in chronological order from the early days to final works. It gives you a fascinating insight into the development of Picasso.

Imax Cinema (www.imaxintegral.com) which is right next door to the Barcelona Aquarium so you can go and see the 3D movie "Killer Sharks" then go next door to see the real thing.

The Magic Fountain of Montjuic is a light, music and water extravaganza that just cannot be missed! Performances are nightly but times vary depending on the time of year.

Barcelona has hundreds of different things to do and see with literally hundreds of monuments, exhibitions and shows which offer something for everyone. We have written a guide to the most popular local attractions in Barcelona to make sure you get the most out of your trip to this vibrant city.

 

There are four excellent beaches in Barcelona, mostly around the Olympic Village, but they are often very crowded, so if you are looking for some peace and space it is better to hire a car and head out of the city. In you drive south for about 25 minutes the first beach you will come across is Casteldefells which is five kilometres of wide unbroken sand with good facilities, bars and restaurants, all within easy reach.

Barcelona belongs to the Catalonia region in Spain, which is known as one of the finest areas in Europe for playing golf, offering a great variety of top quality courses for all levels of players. The area has recently won the prestigious award of the “Number 1 Best emerging Golf Destination Worldwide” from the International Association of Golf Tour Operators. We have put together a list of the most popular golf clubs close to Barcelona together with their contact details.

Barcelona's cuisine is as varied as the city itself offering food and drink which has been influenced over the centuries by cultures including Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs. The spices, sauces, oils and meats are an indication of this. Most restaurants in Barcelona serve 'menú del día', which includes an appetizer, bread, a main dish, dessert and coffee or tea, which is an inexpensive way to sample the different dishes. Whether you like fresh seafood or prefer traditional Spanish, Chinese, Indian or Bengali cuisine with the help of our Barcelona restaurant guide you will find the ideal place to satisfy your cravings.

The shops in Barcelona normally open at about 10:00 am and close around 8:30 pm, Monday-Saturday. Small shops still have a siesta in the afternoon from about 2:00 pm until 4:30 pm. All are allowed to open on eleven Sundays every year, but most of the shops on Las Ramblas are open 7 days a week. We have put together some information on the mainBarcelona shops, together with a separate guide to Barcelona markets.

If you are looking for a great day out for all the family, then Port Aventura theme park in Salou is just an hour's drive south of Barcelona and offers plenty of attractions to keep everyone occupied. We have provided more information on Barcelona amusement parks, together with contact details.

 

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car. There are a number of car hire firms based at Barcelona Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

We also provide information on other sporting and leisure amenities in Barcelona including a Barcelona Area Guide, Barcelona shops , Barcelona Markets, Golf Courses in Barcelona, the different types of Beaches in Barcelona, Barcelona Amusement Parks for family days out, recommended Restaurants in Barcelona and Barcelona Local Attractions