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USABarcelona is capping cruise growth and closing city-centre docks, but with fast shuttles from the main terminal, it’s still easy to explore this vibrant Catalan city.
Barcelona is capping cruise growth and closing city-centre docks, but with fast shuttles from the main terminal, it’s still easy to explore this vibrant Catalan city.
Barcelona owes much of its fame to art nouveau genius Gaudí, and you aren’t short on places to glimpse his legacy. Especially unmissable is the Sagrada Família – the indomitable basilica with mind-bending spires that have been under construction since 1882.
Twisted columns, symbolic towers and quirky additions such as glittering fruit sculptures make this unconventional church a must-visit, and it’s even more impressive on the inside, with a kaleidoscope of light pouring in through its striking stained glass windows.
It’s far from Gaudí’s only success story; head to the UNESCO-listed Casa Batlló and the nearby Casa Milà (also known as La Pedrera) to see more of his wavy, whimsical work, with brightly coloured staircases, intricate mosaic tiling and skeletal roof terraces offering a further glimpse into the architect’s creative prowess.
Afterwards, pay a visit to Parc Güell, a verdant hillside park designed by the architect that offers sweeping sea views flanked by dragon-inspired, sparkling mosaic walls. While you’re here, check out the Sala Hipóstilla, where stone columns rise beneath colourful tiled ceilings, then stop by Casa Museu Gaudí, a house-turned-museum where Gaudí lived for 20 years.
It’s not just the Gaudí influence that attracts visitors to Barcelona, of course; the city’s origins date back more than 2,000 years, with Roman ruins and medieval streets clustered around the atmospheric Ciutat Vella, or Old City.
At the heart of the Old City is the Gothic Quarter (or Barri Gòtic), an atmospheric, step-back-in-time maze of narrow lanes and cobbled plazas – among them the lively, palm-clad Plaça Reial.
Wander over to the Plaça de la Seu to see the Catedral de Barcelona (Barcelona Cathedral), a Gothic, gold-bedecked masterpiece housing a lavish Baroque altar, then head to Las Ramblas – Barcelona’s most famous thoroughfare, where bars, restaurants and souvenir shops sit beneath leafy trees.
Close by, the Mercat de la Boqueria food market has gained legendary status for its rows of fresh produce, while the El Born neighbourhood charms with local restaurants and coffee shops tucked down hidden alleys.
There’s more in the way of history in the neighbourhood of Montjuic, crowned by its hilltop, namesake castle. Originally built in the 17th century, the fortress was used to defend the city and later housed prisoners, including republicans who were executed there during the Spanish Civil War. Today you can access it by taking a cable car up from the Telefèric de Montjuic station, reached by funicular from the Paral-lel metro stop.
While you’re in the area, linger on in the evening to catch the Magic Fountain of Montjuic – a spectacular light, sound and music show that takes place throughout the year and has become one of the most popular things to do in the city (though it’s worth noting the show is currently suspended due to drought).
If you’re done exploring and fancy a lie-down, head to Barceloneta – the city’s go-to stretch of sandy beach, located a 15-minute walk from the Gothic Quarter and flanked with lively bars and restaurants serving fresh paellas and cervezas. If you’re after a quieter spot, wander along the seafront promenade to reach the lesser-visited beaches of Nova Icària and Bogatell.
For green space, Parc de la Ciutadella is the city’s most famous park and for good reason, with its elaborate, sculpture-bedecked fountain and an idyllic lake where you can hire rowing boats.
While you’re here, check out the Arc de Triomf – a red-brick answer to Paris’s Arc de Triomphe – and the 18th-century Palau del Parlament de Catalunya, the seat of the Catalan parliament.
If you’ve had your fill of the big hitters, dig a little deeper by exploring some of the city’s lesser-visited spots.
For colourful streets, trendy boutiques and quirky cafes, the bohemian neighbourhood of Gràcia, in the north of the city, is well worth a visit; you’ll find an independent village feel here, with regular live performances on its myriad of plazas.
Elsewhere, the Sant Antoni neighbourhood is becoming a foodie hotspot for those in the know, centred around a recently restored food market that’s now the largest in Catalonia.
Up on a hillside overlooking the city, Mount Tibidabo meanwhile dominates the skyline with an elaborate, neo-gothic basilica and one of the world’s oldest amusement parks (the surrounding area is also a hotspot for hiking).
For more in the way of picturesque vistas, Bunkers del Carmel – a hilltop viewpoint a 20-minute walk north of Parc Güel – is something of a locals’ secret and an idyllic spot from which to see the sun set over the city.
