Barcelona Things to Do

Walking down Barcelona’s famous shopping street Passeig de Gracia, you’ll come across more than just stores, but also one of the city’s most iconic structures: La Pedrera. With an undulating façade decorated with leafy-like wrought-iron balconies, it’s a sight to be seen both inside, outside and from above.

If you’re looking for Christmas with a twist, then Barcelona might just be the place to find it. Forget snow and loads of Christmas trees — for the most part, anyway — and prepare yourself for some of the most intriguing holiday traditions around.

Most people find their Barcelona sight-seeing nirvana in the miniature alleys of the Gothic Quarter or while scouting out Gaudí architecture along the Paseo de Gracia. But over the last century many people have found inspiration in the gritty barrio of El Raval; the densely populated neighborhood known for its lawless lifestyle and seedy past.

The Gothic Quarter is the oldest part of Barcelona and retains its medieval layout of narrow crisscrossing streets and squares in which awe-inspiring churches are crammed. No trip to Barcelona is complete without really exploring this lively mix of history and contemporary life.

A golden rule of travel is to remember that you are leaving your own home and going to someone else’s. That means remembering that they may do things a bit differently than you, so fitting in isn’t always easy. You should always try to accommodate the local customs, as it’s respectful and it’s also less likely to get you into trouble.

The Spanish know how to live. They take such joy in life and one of the reasons, I think, is the food. Is it cause or effect? I don’t know. But when you head into a marketplace in Spain you understand why they take such joy in eating – because they have such wonderful and abundant foods with which to prepare meals.

The history of Barcelona stretches way back to the ancient Romans and beyond, but most visitors to this Mediterranean port have just one name on their mind: Antoni Gaudi. The exuberant and eccentric architecture of this devout Modernista artist has become a signature byword for the city, from the spiky towers of La Sagrada Familia to the snaking roof line of Casa Batllo.

Gracia is a barrio (district) of Barcelona that you must not miss. It has a fantastic community spirit and seems to have endless street festivities throughout the year. March 3rd is one of the most fun especially for kids, because it’s all about candy.

From all over Barcelona you can see Montjuic, the hill rising greenly above the city. It makes sense then that from Montjuic you get great views over Barcelona and its harbor.

Antoni Gaudí – visionary or madman? This Catalan architect – whose legacy in Barcelona is one of the city’s most important draws for tourists – designed buildings with virtually no straight lines to be found in them. He was all about the organics of life and the shapes of nature.

His apartment buildings, such as the La Pedrera, are all twisting shapes and curving walls; Parc Guell, perched on a hilltop with its great views, is full of colorful ceramic tiles and has two lovely little gatehouses; and his masterpiece, the basilica La Sagrada Familia, is famous for its beyond-Gothic spires and heavy ornamentation. And for being left incomplete.