In this report, I write about the public spaces, main buildings, and the largest park in Barcelona that I visited.
In part 1, I provided general information and presented the main museums, and in part 3, I will write about Gaudí’s works!
Table of Contents
Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau
The importance of this former hospital lies not in its history, but in its buildings. The main building visible from the street is already outstanding, but the inner courtyard reveals its true face.
We can learn about the hospital’s past, but it’s the domes and roof sections of the buildings that are a must-see. They are so ornate, as if covered with colorful tiles. I spent about an hour here. It’s worth sitting on a bench and admiring the buildings.
Arc de Triomf
The promenade leading to Ciudadela Park starts here; it’s a great structure for photography. It’s definitely worth starting your walk here and enjoying the screeching of parrots. 🙂
Ciutadella Park
Barcelona’s „City Park” where the Catalan Parliament building can also be seen.
The center of the green area is a large fountain, with a beautiful structure and an equestrian statue above it. There’s also a lake where you can go boating.
If we go further, we reach a garden, and on its left side, we see the Parliament. The southern part of the park belongs to the zoo, and beyond that is the beach.
Old Town
The old town area is La Rambla and its surroundings, all the way to Ciutadella Park, where you can find alleys and streets with a good atmosphere.
On the side of the cathedral, there’s a charming Gothic arch, the El Pont del Bisbe. Although it’s just a small part connecting two buildings, it’s worth walking to see it.
I should also mention the columns remaining from Roman rule, found in a small courtyard called Temple d’August. It’s really interesting how three columns just stand there on their own.
Below, I highlight several notable sights separately.
Cathedral
This wonderful church is the center of the old town, always crowded. It’s no wonder, as even its exterior is impressive. I especially liked its ornate portal.
Standing in front, you can buy tickets on the left side. Unfortunately, I didn’t go inside because I didn’t have much time, but if it’s as beautiful inside as it is outside, it’s definitely worth visiting!
Santa Maria del Mar Basilica
We can enter this other beautiful church in the old town for free. I took advantage of this, sitting down one evening for some contemplation.
The interior is much more beautiful than the exterior: the huge ceiling height and beautiful colors create a very good overall impression.
It’s definitely worth popping in here for at least a few minutes!
Plaça de Sant Jaume
I also walked to this square a few minutes from the cathedral, where two impressive buildings stand. One of these is the city hall, the other is the Palau de la Generalitat, the seat of the Catalan government. It’s an atmospheric square, let’s stop by during our old town walk!
La Rambla
I don’t think I need to go into much detail about this. Barcelona’s main pedestrian street, with lots of vendors and people.
Strangely, it doesn’t offer anything extra for me. It’s a straight street lined with trees, but nothing fascinating beyond that. Regardless, of course, you should definitely walk along it once!
Plaça Reial
Along La Rambla, this is an iconic square with a beautiful fountain in the center.
It’s a very atmospheric, enclosed square with tall palm trees, restaurants, and cafes. This is more of a sight to see than La Rambla.
Mercado de La Boqueria
You can’t leave Barcelona without popping into a market. La Boqueria is the most touristy market, so it’s always crowded.
You see almost only tourists here, no wonder it’s along La Rambla. That’s why it’s not so authentic; I myself only visited once, even though I’ve been to the city three times.
If you want to see a truly local market, I recommend Mercat de Sant Antoni. There are fewer people, and many locals shop there.
Columbus Monument (Monument a Colom)
At the end of La Rambla is the tall statue of the famous explorer. This closes off the pedestrian street at the southern end.
The statue also functions as a viewpoint. I didn’t go up, as there are many viewpoints in the city and there are much better ones.
Poble Espanyol
A few minutes’ walk from the National Museum of Catalonia is this open-air museum, where we can see replicas of many Spanish buildings.
I visited here on a Tuesday early afternoon, there were quite few people. It actually consists of a few streets and a large square, but there are indeed many beautiful buildings. There are also cafes and restaurants, it’s a very atmospheric and peaceful place for a little rest.
It wasn’t on the list of must-do programs, but I absolutely didn’t regret visiting here. It’s worth taking a close look at the buildings to see which original they’re replicating.
Olympic Stadium
From Poble Espanyol towards the hilltop is the stadium, which is currently the home of FC Barcelona due to the renovation of Camp Nou. Otherwise, it was one of the main venues of the 1992 Olympics.
Open gates welcome you, part of the stadium is freely accessible. There’s also a cafe, although the stadium is in quite a run-down state, so I skipped having coffee here…
Barceloneta
Barcelona’s beach area, which for me is one of the best urban beaches. Wide sandy area with beautiful panorama, many cafes, and many people resting and doing sports.
It’s about 2 km long section, bordered by a palm-lined promenade, no wonder it’s a popular part of the city. I also walked along it slowly, enjoying the sunshine.
Plaça d’Espanya
One of the city’s important junctions, from where we can also see the National Museum of Catalonia. The square is actually a roundabout, with an impressive statue in the middle.
What many people don’t know is that there’s also a great viewpoint here. On the northern part of the square, you can see a former arena that is now a shopping center (Arenas de Barcelona). Its roof is an excellent open viewpoint with a 360-degree panorama, so we can see all parts of the city. From the outside, we can go straight up with an elevator, but this is paid. Inside the mall, the escalator and elevator are free.
It’s worth walking from the square to the National Museum, it’s about a five-minute walk.
