If you’re looking to go on a culture-filled European city break, I definitely suggest that you consider Barcelona. Not only is it one of the largest urban settlements in Europe, but it also contains a wonderful array of tourist attractions that you are sure to find fascinating.
With so many great places to see, I think choosing which ones to see and in what order can sometimes be a little overwhelming. To help make things easier, I’ve put together a list of five landmarks you should make a particular priority to visit once you’ve taken an airport taxi into the centre of Barcelona.
Basilica de la Sagrada Familia
The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia is an eye-catching landmark, not only because the church features a captivating blend of Gothic and art nouveau architecture, but also as it’s one of the tallest structures in the city, though it is yet to be completed.
Although construction began in 1882, work on the building is still ongoing and it’s thought it will be finished during the first third of this century, but there have been numerous delays over the years. Despite this, there are still plenty of parts of the basilica that you can explore, including two stunning facades and the apse.
Head into the museum and you’ll get to see blueprints and scale models of Basilica de la Sagrada Familia created by iconic Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, as well as look at photographs illustrating how his plans have been interpreted since his death.
Casa Museu Gaudi
If you’re hoping to find out more about Gaudi, I suggest that you visit the Casa Museu Gaudi. Situated in Park Guell, the building was where the architect lived and worked for a number of years and is today dedicated to showcasing some of his most famous projects.
- Casa Museu GaudiMel Toledo / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Here, you’ll get to see railings taken from the Casa Vicens house that he designed and an iron cross that was placed on the Finca Miralles wall, while a bronze statue of Gaudi is situated in the hallway.
Museu del FC Barcelona
Sport lovers will definitely enjoy a trip to the Museu del FC Barcelona. Situated within the Camp Nou stadium – the home of Barcelona FC – this attraction gives you an insight into one of the world’s most famous and successful football clubs.
Featuring a great mixture of memorabilia, interactive wall displays and audiovisual broadcasts, the museum is not just a great place to learn more about the history of the club and its players, but also to find out how it has become a universal symbol of Catalan culture. Of course, you also have the opportunity to see the dozens of trophies that the team has won over the years, including the Club World Cup that was secured in 2009.
Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona
Fans of modern art will definitely enjoy a trip to the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona. As you’ve probably guessed, this is dedicated to contemporary culture and Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso and Henri Michaux are just some of the artists whose works are housed in the permanent collection.
- Museu d’Art Contemporani de BarcelonaPaco CT / Art Photos / CC BY-NC-SA
You can also take in an array of exciting temporary exhibits, with upcoming displays set to look at the drawings of New York artist Lawrence Weiner among other subjects.
Barcelona Zoo
Finally, if you’re keen to connect with nature, I recommend a trip to the Barcelona Zoo. Situated in Parc de la Ciutadella, this attraction houses some 7,000 animals, ranging from Humboldt penguins to dolphins.
If you’re taking a family holiday to Barcelona, make sure you stop by the petting zoo so the children can take pony rides and feed farmyard creatures.
If you’re planning a holiday to Barcelona, let us know which attractions you’re looking forward to seeing the most by leaving a comment below.