Published on : 07 July 20205 min reading time
It only takes 2 or 3 days to visit Barcelona’s main places of interest. A weekend in Barcelona is the guarantee of not being bored. Between visits and holidays, your schedule will be full! Here are the must-see visits not to be missed during your stay in Barcelona. Be careful not to become addicted to this city, you might want to move to Barcelona!
#1 Visit to Barcelona: Ramblas
Even if it is the most touristic place in Barcelona and preferred by pick pockets, it is a must-see trip. It starts from the port of Barcelona where the famous statue of Columbus stands and winds its way to Piazza Cataluña. By day and by night, it is always very lively with its street shows, its living statues, its markets… Going up the Ramblas, you will pass in front of the magnificent Boquería market, the Liceu, Barcelona’s famous opera house, the Plaza Real, which will take you to the Gothic district. The Ramblas are also bordered by many bars and restaurants but a good advice, avoid them! The prices are often exorbitant, and the food is of poor quality. In short, real tourist catchers. To find our good deals, check out our selection of restaurants in Barcelona.
#2 Visit to Barcelona: La Sagrada Familia
Often mistaken for Barcelona Cathedral (wrongly), the Sagrada Familia is the temple designed by Gaudi whose still unfinished construction began in 1882. The work was financed by donations from the faithful, which explains the slowness of the works. They continue according to the precise plans of the modernist artist. La Sagrada is Barcelona’s first tourist site with 2 million visitors every year: a must visit during your weekend in Barcelona!
#3 Visit to Barcelona: see a FC Barcelona match
What would Barcelona be without its passion for football and its famous Barça team? The blau grana club was founded in 1899 and continues to thrill crowds. The matches of FC Barcelona – Real de Madrid are part of the history of Spanish football. With 98,000 seats, the Camp Nou stadium is the third largest in the world. If you visit Barcelona on the day of a match, try to buy a ticket in the club’s official shops, all over the city and in the Sants railway station. Otherwise, head for the first bar equipped with giant screens, a fresh “cerveza” and you’re ready for a lively evening.
#4 Visit to Barcelona: Guell Park
A little off-centre and on the heights, Parc Guell was born from Count Guell’s mad project to build a residence for the city’s rich industrialists. He entrusted the heavy task to the architect of the time, Antonio Gaudí. Given the astronomical budget required, the project was abandoned before it could be completed. Today, it is a public park far from conventional! A house in the form of cream cakes, mosaic dragons… From the esplanade, you can rest on the long winding bench and enjoy a superb view of the city and the sea. There are two metro stops to get there but we advise you to stop in Vallarca because there are escalators to get to the top of the park. Notice to Sunday athletes like me!
#5 Visit to Barcelona: La Pedrera
La Pedrera, or Casa Mila, is one of the houses built by Gaudí. It is in the heart of the bourgeois district of Eixample, on the beautiful Avenue du Passeig de Gracia. From the outside alone, it does not go unnoticed with its strange shapes and futuristic fireplaces. Inside, you will learn about Gaudí’s life and the works he has spread throughout Barcelona. It’s a good introduction to modernism. You will learn that Gaudí was one of the first designers and a genius. As you climb onto the roof, you will discover the surprising fireplaces that remind you of Star Wars masks! Would Georges Lucas have been inspired by it or pure coincidence? A few steps away, you can continue your day in Gaudí through Casa Battló, another house reviewed and corrected by the Catalan artist. The exterior is much brighter and more colourful, but the entrance is also more expensive… It’s up to you depending on the budget! If you must choose one, it will be the Pedrera for us…
#6 Visit to Barcelona: The Gothic Quarter
This is the old historic district of the city, Barrio Gotico. That’s when it all started. To discover it, the best way is to get lost in the maze of its alleys. That’s how we often discover the prettiest corners, isn’t it? It is full of shops, restaurants and bars. As for visits, there is Barcelona Cathedral, the Picasso Museum or the Palau de la Música. If you are looking for a place to celebrate in Barcelona, we recommend that you continue to Le Born, a neighbouring district. You will find many very nice night bars there.