Tips on What To Do in Barcelona
A vital element of Barcelona's identity is its rich architectural and artistic tradition, so you can spend much of your time touring through the city's spectacular cultural attractions. Highlights include touring the work of Antoni Gaudí, especially at La Sagrada Familia, a vaulting tribute to the city's rich Catholic tradition that's found in the Eixample neighborhood. If you haven't had your fill of Gaudí, you can also check out Casa Milà, a famous apartment complex. Other popular art attractions and museums include the Museum of Contemporary Art in El Raval, the Picasso Museum in La Ribera and the National Art Museum of Catalonia near Parc d'Atraccions (Montjuic).
Parc Güell in Gracia is another place worth exploring. Travelers recommend taking escalators up to the top of the hill, especially if you're not used to arduous climbs uphill.
Barcelona also has a vibrant nightlife, with an assortment of bars and clubs throughout the city, especially near Las Ramblas. You can also find several beachside clubs and bars on the waterfront.
Beaches
Barcelona's beaches, just west of La Ribera, aren't the cleanest or best in Europe but they still offer an exciting and often bizarre diversion for travelers. Few large cities have beaches in their backyard, and Barcelona's are filled with eccentric characters, exciting bars and nightclubs and great music.
Nightlife
Considered one of the top nightlife spots on the planet by many, Barcelona sticks to a strict regimen: Eat dinner at 10, hit your first bar at midnight, and then find a club (or clubs) to spend the early morning hours. Luckily, many of the streets are safe for night strolling.
You can also find traditional Spanish dancing and cuisine throughout the city. Popular spots for drinking and dancing in Barcelona include Barri Gòtic, Las Ramblas and Eixample.
Las Ramblas
Barcelona's most popular street is also one of its most entertaining, packed with an assortment of street vendors, performers, theaters and the general hustle-and-bustle that you'd expect from this vibrant, artistic metropolis. A word of warning: Mind your pockets and handbags while walking around Las Ramblas, as pickpockets are commonplace.
Shopping
Barcelona's shopping opportunities are as abundant as those in Paris and London, but the city's shopping scene enjoys a more artistic and experimental reputation than its European counterparts. You can also visit and shop in flea markets and street markets throughout the city and definitely around Las Ramblas.
