Go To Barcelona

Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell

Both parts of Antoni Gaudi’s playful impact on the city, Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell are worth a visit.

In about thirty minutes you can walk from one to the other, although there are multiple transport options too.

Formally known as the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, the Sagrada Familia is famous because it’s still – nearly 150 years after being started – not finished. Seeing it, you can understand why, each surface and spire is intricately carved and modelled. If you plan on going inside, we’d recommend buying a ticket in advance as queuing in the midday sun is never a nice experience.

Parc Guell is a public park on a hill just behind the city. The climb is steep but well worth it for the views. Most of the park, including some excellent views, are accessible without a ticket, despite what tour operators will tell you. If you want to sit on Guadi’s famous serpentine bench though, then you’ll need to get one. The park was opened in 1926 and has been declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

La Ramblas is the tourist heart of Barcelona.

Over a kilometre long, the wide, tree-lined street is home to many alfresco restaurants, street performers and kiosks selling anything you could need. La Ramblas is vibrant and exciting, especially after dark.

If you find the chaos of La Ramblas all a bit too much, or want something a little less expensive, head into the twisting lanes of the Gothic Quarter. In this medieval area, you’ll discover trendy bars, intimate restaurants and vibrant night clubs. Prepare to get lost in the labyrinthine passages though!

Spain has two of the best football teams of all time, and one of them is right here in Barcelona.

If FC Barcelona is playing during your visit, then get down to Camp Nou and cheer them along with nearly 100 thousand other fans.

Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s stadium, is a sight to behold itself. The largest stadium in Europe, it’s hosted a whole range of events including the FIFA World Cup in 1982 and the Olympics in 1992.

The Olympic Port

Home Of Sporting History And Now Glorious Port

For sports fans, a visit to Barcelona wouldn’t be complete without a look around the site where the city hosted the 1992 Olympic Games. There are several shopping malls in the area, and it’s close to the sea. Take a wander around the area that was, for a few weeks, the centre of the sporting world.

Sunrise or Sunset

With a multiple iconic building nestling down to the glimmering ocean...

... you haven’t seen the city of Barcelona until you’ve done it at sunrise of sunset. Climb to the top of the Montjuic, the MNAC museum or if you’re feeling adventurous, Tibidabo Mountain to get a breath-taking view of the city as it sinks into the night.

Tibidabo

Tibidabo Mountain at 512 metres, is the highest peak of the Collserola Mountain Range...

It’s just a few miles from the city centre. With a short hop on the metro, you can climb the mountain in a couple of hours. It is steep though, so not of the fainthearted. The breath-taking views of the city and the glimmering Mediterranean sea make the view from the top well worth it.

Sitting proudly at the top of the Mountain, you’ll find the Cathedral del Sagrat Cor (Cathedral of the Sacred Heart). Entrance is free, but for a couple of euros, you can climb to the top – if you’ve not climbed enough already – to get an even better view of the city.

Bizarrely, the top of Tibidabo Mountain is also home to an amusement park. That’s right, there’s a Ferris wheel and a roller coaster 500 metres above the city. Opened in 1901, it's one of the oldest theme parks in Europe. Thankfully, many of the rides have since been replaced.