Barcelona has a culture and history unrivalled in Spain, as well as a modern cosmopolitan attitude that makes it a special place to be.

It's perhaps because the Bourbons of Spain absorbed the independent kingdom in the eighteenth century that the locals of this city stubbornly hold on to traditions the way they do. They refuse to stop speaking the Catalan language despite pressure from the rest of Spain, they hold raucous festivals to the patron saints of the city year 'round and they take care that the monuments and remains from all the different stages in the city's history still stand.

Barcelona is particularly proud of the Modernist architectural genius Antonia Gaudi, whose buildings have been designated as sites in the World Heritage List. Güell Park and Palace and the the Mila Home are particularly revered in Barcelona, as is the unfinished but stunning Church of La Sagrada Familia.

The oldest region in Barcelona is the Gothic Quarter, an oval-shaped region loaded with Gothic style buildings like its Gothic cathedral, old City Hall Building, the Episcopal Palace and the splendid Palace of the Generalitat, home of the Catalan government. La Rambla, on the other hand, is the most famous and typical street in Barcelona, and therefore one of the places that is most frequented by visitors.


The best way to introduce yourself to Barcelona is to stroll along the boulevard night or day and soak up the sights of the meeting-plazas, the open-air markets, the florist stalls, the historical buildings. Or you could just watch the world go by from any one of the green plazas filled with locals and guests.


Although Barcelona has many hotels, another option is Barcelona Apartments, which are high quality but at affordable prices.

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One of the most famous areas located in the old part of BARCELONA is the Las Ramblas district. It is around 1.2 kms in length and is basically divided into two areas, one is the seedy part at the southern end and the other which leads up to the Placa Catalyuna. The local council have restricted the movement of vehicles along Las Ramblas which makes it an ideal pedestrian walkway at anytime during the day or night. It is littered with artists, flower and animal stalls and many other local characters who frequent this romantic and intriguing part of the city.

Top Tourist Destinations in Barcelona

La Sagrada Familia - probably Gaudi's most well known and visible masterpieces. It is the most visited tourist attraction in Barcelona with over 2 Million visitors each year . It is a structure and ongoing building of immense proportions and respected by architects around the world. It was started in 1882 and will not be finished for another 20 to 25 years !!.

Gothic Quarter: ( Bari Gotic Area ) Located in the old quarter of Barcelona, on the right hand side of the Las Ramba area, it is well known for its cobbled streets and high old buildings. Picasso lived and worked in this area from 1895 to 1904 and famous local artist Joan Miro was born here and where he spent much of his youth.

Las Ramblas – is one of the most famous streets in Barcelona. Just over one kilometer in length is lined with established trees and has all kinds of shops, bars, restaurants , there are street performers and local characters, it really is a great place to stroll around until the early hours.

Calle Feran – is one of the most important streets in Barcelona and offers a wide selection of great shops and an excellent choice of quality bars and restaurants. It also has easy access to Las Ramblas.

Placa de Catalyuna – One of the most emblematic plazas in Barcelona and regarded as the central point of the city. For all lovers of local architecture, sculptures and pretty fountains, it is also a favorite spot for chilling out in the heart of the city.

The Barcelona Cathedral – an enormous gothic structure and a main focal point in the zona Gotica. Along the front of this impressive cathedral you will find more than a smattering of fine shops, bars and restaurants and be entertained by many of the street performers which frequent this area.

Casa Batllo - was designed by Gaudi for a wealthy Barcelona aristocrat and is often overlooked by travelers who are visiting the nearby La Pedresa ( another Gaudi treasure ) . Much of the house used to be rented out but is now thankfully a museum and is well worth a visit if you are in the area. What made Gaudi such an impressionable artist, well by visiting some of his most famous works around the city it may help you to understand this unusual and brilliant artist.

Port Olimpic – as the name suggests was completely rebuilt for the 1992 Olympics held in the city. It is now a beautiful and classy marina with an excellent selection of Bars and restaurants, flashy boats and yachts and connects the two large beaches either side.

Barcelona Football Club – for all footy lovers this really is a must visit. A regular home crowd of around 100.000 noisy fans makes this one the biggest football stadiums in the world.

Placa de Juanme - This is where Barcelona Town council and the regional government headquarters are based. Use the yellow line to get there. On Sundays it is home to the Sardana dance, a traditional dance performed by local Catalans.

The Olympic Stadium - ( Estadi Olimpic ) This was the main stadium used for the 1992 Olympics and is now open to the public who have access to all areas where the games took place. ( Use the Green Line on the Metro )

Barceloneta Beach – Is the nearest beach to the cities centre and around 15 minutes walk from the Ramblas area. For sea food lovers this is the place to enjoy some of the freshest fish and sea food dishes anywhere in Spain. ( Take the Yellow Line on the Metro )

Park Guell – is another one of Gaudi's unusual creations and is located in the northern part of the city. Sculptures, mosaics and tiling are all on show in this picturesque and leafy park . The park was cleverly built on land high above Barcelona which gives visitors superb views over the city.

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BARCELONA is one of the top three tourist destinations of the WORLD !! and as such offers every kind of hotel and other accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets.

Some of the most popular Hotels in Barcelona include the Grupotel Gran Via 678 is a stylish hotel situated just off Plaza Catalunya in central Barcelona and features an outdoor pool with a sun terrace. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Modern rooms at this design hotel include satellite TV and a minibar. The private bathroom is complete with a hairdryer. Grupotel Gran Via 678 offers a restaurant which serves Mediterranean and international cuisine. Guests can enjoy meals on the terrace. Other recommended hotels include the Acta Atrium Palace

To get a real experience of Barcelona, stay in Barcelona apartments. Bright, spacious and stylish Citybase Apartments have a great range of apartments for you to choose from with something to suit every taste, need and budget. Apartments provide a comfortable base to return to after exploring this exciting city, an ideal Barcelona accommodation choice for travellers, tourists or couples alike.

If your looking for good quality guided tours during your stay in Barcelona then I would highly recommend the Barcelona Guide Bureau

The Barcelona Guide Bureau (BGB) is a tour operator founded in 1990 by a group of local expert guides who wanted to perfect the tour services offered to tourists and travel agents. Since then we have steadily grown, with a highly efficient office staff, training programs, quality control and online booking service.

BGB specializes in guided tours in and around Barcelona and we are known for our quality service and reliability. All our guides are local licensed experts and are friendly, interesting and considerate people who will make sure you have the best possible tour.

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