Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain’s second city is one of Europe’s most visited cities. Host to the 1992 Olympics, it is cosmopolitan, quirky and effortlessly cool, a charming mix of culture and modernity. The Catalan capital could easily be labeled the Continent’s most livable and lovable city!

Begin your exploration of the city with a stroll down the collection of pedestrian streets famously known as Las Ramblas. A good place to start would be at the Plaza Catalunya and walk all the way up to the monument of Columbus at the harbour. You will also happen to cross the La Boqueria market, so famous for its fresh produce that it sees a host of Barcelona’s chefs every morning at the crack of dawn.

La Sagrada Familia: Construction of this Roman Catholic basilica commenced in 1882 and is still a work in progress. The final stone of Gaudi’s unfinished work is scheduled to be laid in 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death. Though incomplete, the Sagrada Familia is a magnificent work of art.

The Passeig de Gracia is a catwalk to designer labels. You can also find local boutiques stocking off beat fashion, vintage clothes and old records. The outstanding landmark of this area is the ‘Block of Discord’. Built in the early years of the 20th century, these four works by Barcelona’s famous modernista architects clearly clash with the each other in terms of style.

Casa Mila also known as La Pedrera is a corner building made by Gaudi. This building is unique for the fact that it has no straight lines. Built in 1912, it was designed as an apartment building but now houses a large collection of Gaudi’s work.

Parc Guell : Originally designed to be a housing estate, this is now a public park . The gardens bear the distinct stamp of Antoni Gaudi’s style with irregular shaped stone structures, vivid colored tiling and the Gaudi dragon right at the park entrance. Gaudi made his home in the park and lived there for 20 years after which it was converted into a museum and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gothic Quarter: Ask your Barcelona guide to show you around the Gothic Quarter. The cobbled streets of the quarter give an informative and enjoyable glimpse of history. Visit the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar, a 14th century example of Catalan architecture. Also don’t miss the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia. While in this section, make it a point to see Picasso’s early work housed in Picasso Museum.

The Spanish Village: This unique must-see was designed at the time of the 1929 World Fair as an example of Spanish architecture. It has been fully preserved ever since, and is now home to cafes, restaurants, shops, concerts and events.

The Flamenco experience: Though Barcelona is not the natural home to the Flamenco, artists from Catalonia and Andalusia have flocked here to stage some of the most spectacular shows. You can visit a famed “tablao” or the gypsy caves for rapturous evening of foot thumping music.

National Museum of Art of Catalonia: This museum, also built for the World Fair, is on the same hill as the Spanish Village and the Magic Fountain. Interestingly, it was a highlight during the 1992 Summer Olympics as well. This museum is sizeable and on a national level, containing collections from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque eras and the 19th and 20th centuries.

You don’t have to be a football fan to go visit this stadium. It is a pilgrimage that just has to be taken. The third largest in the world and Europe’s largest; the Barcelona Football Stadium has a capacity of a hundred and ten thousand people. It is also a museum of sorts with a huge collection of displays, photos, jerseys, balls and boots. A football fan could easily spend a lifetime in this haven of football! Owing to its capacity, the stadium is also used for concerts and major events.

Once you’re done sight seeing, its time to find out why Barcelona is on the gastro map. Restaurants with inspired menus and interiors cluster in elegant neighborhoods. And when you are done with the sightseeing by day, the real party in Barcelona begins at midnight! So dress up and put on your dancing shoes, because there’s enough and more for the traveler who wants it all!