CITY GUIDE Get some insider tips
on the cool Catalan capital
1 | Oh-Barcelona.com city guide | Introduction
Bienvenidos a Barcelona Spain’s second city and the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona is a class act. It’s a real melting-pot of culture, cuisine and climate, offering visitors a unique combination of sun, sea and city all in one. Barcelona is universally renowned for its Modernista style of architecture, epitomised by the work of Catalan genius Antoni Gaudí.Of course, it’s also celebrated for its vibrant street vibe and extravagant nightlife. With a wide selection of shops, Barcelona is the ultimate designer city. The glamorous Passeig de Gràcia is home to top-name brands such as Chanel, Tiffany and Burberry. Equally famous for its football, the city is also home to FC Barcelona. The team’s home ground is the magnificent Nou Camp stadium, which can hold over 90,000 people.
Fast Facts > Time: Central European Time (CET), GMT + 1, Summer Time GMT + 2. > Currency: The euro. > City population: 1.6 million in the city itself, but around 4 million taking into account all surrounding metropolitan areas. > Official languages: Catalan, generally spoken in all of Catalonia, and Spanish (Castilian). English is also widely spoken. > Climate: Thanks to its location in the north east of Spain, Barcelona has a lovely Mediterranean climate. This means that summers are generally warm and dry and winters are usually mild. Check out the weather in Barcelona for more details.
3 | Oh-Barcelona.com city guide | Must-sees
Must-sees | The best of Barcelona
> Las Ramblas Barcelona’s most famous street, Las Ramblas, brims with life, and walking along it is something of a heady experience. Filled with cafes, colours, restaurants and raconteurs, it also plays host to many street performers. Las Ramblas leads on to the medieval quarter, which is known as the Gothic quarter.
> The Gothic quarter The Gothic quarter is the still-beating heart of the old town – the original hub from which the city originated. Take time to wander around its historic streets and enjoy both the architecture and atmosphere.
> The Boquería market The Boquería market is a welcome assault on the senses. Countless fruit and vegetable stalls vie for your attention, providing an ideal way to sample some of Spain’s freshest food. It’s also a useful place to find rare spices and exotic foods that you might be struggling to find in the supermarkets. Take a look at our Boquería video for a better view.
> The Magic Fountain
This spectacular display of light, music and aqua acrobatics epitomises Barcelona - erupting with passion and leaving a lasting impression.
> Parc Güell Another of Gaudí’s brainchildren, this is an intriguingly surreal area to the north of the city. Gingerbread houses and a mosaic salamander welcome you at the entrance, and the whole place is full of colourful quirks to discover. Gaudí’s old house sits within the park and has now been turned into a museum.
> Montjuïc This proud mountain (some might say hill) sits to the south of the city, and offers unrivalled views over Barcelona. At its summit is an old fortress that used to guard the entrance to the port. You can reach it easily by cable car.
> The Sagrada Família One of the most well-known churches in the world, Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece has always been a talking point. Its distinctive spires can be seen from all around the city. A world heritage site, the church was proclaimed a basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.
> Nou Camp (FC Barcelona’s home stadium & museum) Home to FC Barcelona and the largest all-seater stadium in Europe, this is an absolute must for any football fan. The museum gives you insights into the history of the club and access to areas you wouldn’t normally see from the sidelines.
4 | Oh-Barcelona.com city guide | Must-sees / Events
> Barcelona’s beaches The city actually has a total of seven beaches, providing an excellent way to escape the heat in summer and a pleasant place to relax and unwind in the winter. There are beaches to suit every taste - Barceloneta for the crowds and parties, Nova Icaria for beach volleyball and Mar Bella for nudists.
Events It has to be said that Barcelonans love to party. There are a lot of high-profile festivals that take place throughout the year, so it’s easy to time your trip to catch one of them. Here are some of the highlights.
> Day of Sant Jordi – 23 April Known as ‘Day of the Lovers’, this is Catalonia’s take on Valentine’s Day. The city smells particularly sweet as opportunistic rose sellers set up stalls to tempt the men of the city into making a purchase for their beloved. In return, it’s traditional for women to gift their partners a book. Celebrate Catalonia’s patron saint by attending one of the many book readings throughout the city, or just take a stroll down the Ramblas and soak up the scent of love.
> Sant Joan Fiesta – 23 June Perfect for all you pyros out there, this fiery festival brings in the summer in true Catalan style. The night before the feast of Sant Joan is called ‘La Nit del Foc’ (the night of fire), and is characterised by bonfires, fire crackers and fantastic firework displays all over the city. Beach restaurants are heaving as everyone celebrates the summer solstice and looks forward to the bank holiday the following day. > Sonar Festival - mid-June 2011 This cutting-edge 3-day festival features a full line-up of talent from the worlds of music and multimedia art, with concerts, exhibitions and chill-out dance venues. Artists are both emerging and established. The perfect start to the summer.
> Fiesta Mayor de Gràcia – mid-August For one week in August the residential neighbourhood of Gràcia takes on a new identity – think colourful parades, giant carnival figures, human pyramids and mass street celebrations. Lots of feasting and lots of fun.
> La Mercè – around 24 September Held in honour of our Lady of Mercy, this is Barcelona’s biggest festival. A carnival mood takes over the city, helped by copious amounts of Cava, and the place is full of fire-breathing dragons, processions of devils, music, dancing, and all-round revelry. Guaranteed to put you in the party mood!
6 | Oh-Barcelona.com city guide | Districts
The different districts There are a few things to consider when you’re choosing your ideal barrio in Barcelona. The city’s compact nature and efficient public transport mean you’re never far from something exciting, but each area definitely has its own special character. Here’s a quick rundown of the main ones you might be thinking about.
> L’Eixample (Left and Right) Modern and Modernista, L’Eixample contains some of the city’s best designer shops. Laid out in a grid-like structure, it’s close to many major attractions, including Gaudí’s La Pedrera, Casa Batlló and, of course, the Sagrada Família.
> The Gothic quarter (El Gótico) With its quaint, windy streets, this is the bustling old part of the city where there’s always something cool happening when you turn the corner. Not ideal if you’re after a peaceful night’s sleep, however.
> El Raval If you’re up for a bit of late-night revelry then this is the spot for you. This oldtown area has acquired a certain edgy notoriety, but various regeneration and gentrification schemes have been a big success.
> El Borne El Borne has an identity all of its own (sorry). Lots of eateries, bars, small independent art galleries and designer boutiques. Rapidly gaining a name for itself as the epitome of cool, the area is a fashion magnet by day and party central by night.
> Gràcia Ah, Gràcia. This charming district towards the north of the city offers a more laid-back way to enjoy Barcelona (although it is a bit further away from the beach). Trendy but not touristy, it’s a good choice if you want to escape the crowds.
> Barceloneta The former fishing port of Barcelona is perfect for those who want easy access to the beach. Plenty of places to eat and drink, and a congenial corner to retreat to when the city centre crowds get too much.
8 | Oh-Barcelona.com city guide | Nightlife
Nightlife Whether you’re seeking the full fiesta experience or a more civilised culinary excursion, Barcelona really does have it all. Here are some highlights.
> Top five bars Espit Chupito: An extremely popular bar that serves over 500 different types of shots - some are even set alight along the bar. A sure-fire way to start your night with a bang. Champañería: There’s usually standing room only at this lively champagne bar, where you can sample some fantastic cava and tapas. Oveja Negra: The ‘black sheep’ is a gem of a place and a favoured haunt for students. Serves good-value drinks including three litres of beer or sangria for only 20 €. Manchester Bar: For those of you who are just dying to relive those brilliant Britpop moments, this is the perfect place to chill with a mojito while soaking up that indie scene. Ice Bar: An appealing antidote to the city’s sun, this is, indeed, a bar made completely out of ice. Don’t worry, though - you’ll be given warm gloves and a thick jacket before you go in.
> Top five clubs Shoko: One of the trendiest clubs in Barcelona, this eastern-style venue is right on the beach front. Great for house music. Opium Mar: Frequented by a slick, cosmopolitan crowd, the party atmosphere is inspired by a beautiful location overlooking Barceloneta’s beach front. Razzmatazz: Always a popular choice, this club has five rooms, each with a different genre of music - pop, indie, techno, electro and disco. Take your pick. Apolo Club: This former ballroom has moved with the times and now boasts some of the top DJs in Barcelona. ‘Nasty Mondays’ is one of the best club nights to visit. La Terrrazza: This is the only open-air club in Barcelona, set up on Montjuïc hill. Don’t be disappointed – it’s only open during the summer months.
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9 | Oh-Barcelona.com city guide | Accommodation / Transport
Accommodation There’s no shortage of accommodation to choose from in Barcelona. Whether you’re after a 5-star hotel, a cosy apartment or a cheap-andcheerful hostel, you won’t be struggling to find what you want. Take a look at our accommodation page for an idea of what’s on offer. You might also want to ready our guide to booking Barcelona apartments for some insider tips. As an added extra, you’ll benefit from a wide range of discounts to use on city tours and activities when you book with us. Bear in mind that you really do need to book your stay in advance, especially in the spring and summer when the city is heaving!
Transport
> Getting here The city’s main airport is El Prat, located just 12km to the south west of the city centre. Various budget airlines now operate from the airport, including Ryanair, easyJet and WizzAir. Reaching the city centre from El Prat is pretty simple. Via public transport you have a choice of the airport bus, which makes various stops on its way to the central Plaça Catalunya, or a train from Terminal 2 followed by the metro. Reus and Girona are two of the other airports that visitors to Barcelona sometimes fly to (both are over 100 km away). If you’re flying into Girona airport you can catch the bus for a one-and-a-quarter hour journey that ends at Barcelona’s Estació del Nord. From Reus airport, there’s a public bus operated by Hispano Igualadina, which will drop you off at Barcelona’s main Sants station. If you’d rather grab a cab, there will be plenty of the city’s distinctive yellow and black taxis ready to ferry you onwards from El Prat. Or you could arrange a transfer in advance by phoning Fono Taxis. They’ll pick you up from any of the major airports (El Prat, or even Reus and Girona) and drop you off wherever you want in Barcelona.
> Exploring the city The city has great public transport links so getting around isn’t a problem. The most popular form of transport is the Metro – it’s fast, clean and efficient, and will take you to all of the major tourist sites and beyond. There’s also a decent local bus service, that’s fairly cheap and reliable. That said, one of the best ways to see the city is definitely on foot. Barcelona’s gorgeous modernista architecture and sunny disposition make walking around a real pleasure.
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10 | Oh-Barcelona.com city guide | Get in touch with us
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