Barcelona is one of the most popular cities in Europe. As the second largest city in Spain, it lies at the heart of the region offering holidaymakers a cosmopolitan break.
The hustle and bustle of the city means there are a vast range of fun things to see and do. There are many operators that offer coach holidays to Spain where you can stay on the outskirts of the cities such as Barcelona and take a guided trip into the city. This is a much cheaper option than staying in the centre and there are nearby resorts like Lloret de Mar and Salou if you want a more relaxing holiday.
Whether you are visiting for just a weekend or a week, you will be anything but bored. With so many attractions to explore and foods to sample, we have put together this handy guide on Barcelona’s top tourist hotspots.
- Sagrada Familia
Home to the awe-inspiring Sagrada Familia, this cathedral is a must-see. Gaze in wonder at the fairy-tale architecture, designed by the infamous architect Antoni Gaudi. Despite being constructed over 200 years ago, the building remains incomplete however; you can still take a lift right to the top to check out the breathtaking view.
- Music venues
If you enjoy visiting live music venues and concert halls, you will be spoilt for choice for evening entertainment. The Razzmatazz and Sala Apolo are highly recommended, as well as the Gran Teatre del Liceu. If you like jazz or classical opera, your holiday will be filled with the joys of great music from a range of incredible venues.
- Museums
There are a whole host of museums and art galleries to visit including the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) and the Picasso Museum. MNAC holds the world’s greatest collection of Catalan art throughout history; and the Picasso Museum has over 3,800 pieces of work from the famous 20th century artist, Pablo Picasso.
- La Rambla
This is one of the most famous boulevards in the world. Go for a gentle stroll down the tree-lined street and see vibrant flower stalls, trendy cafes, designer shops, artists, human statues and musicians. La Boqueria market is great for picking up a bargain!
- Pintxo bar
A popular culinary trend in Barcelona is to eat pintxos which is a platter of food served on bread. It is basically a Basque version of tapas. It is tradition to eat the food with toothpicks and when you are finished, you are charged for the number of toothpicks that you have used.
Alternatively, make sure you try some of Barcelona’s fresh seafood including oysters, squid rings, wedge clams and whitebait.
- Magic Fountain
It sounds simple but this fountain is truly spectacular. Coloured lights, music and water acrobatics are used to put on a magnificent visual display. You can check it out every half an hour on Thursday-Sunday evenings in the summertime.
Obviously, there are hundreds more fun things to do in the thriving city like visit the famous Olympic Stadium, Aquarium and Zoo. It is impossible to get it all done in just one day but that’s just an excuse to visit again and again.
