Introducing Barcelona
Set on a plain rising gently from the sea to a range of wooded hills, Barcelona is Spain's most cosmopolitan city and one of the Mediterranean's busiest ports. Restaurants, bars and clubs are always packed, as is the seaside in summer. You might get the impression it's dedicated exclusively to hedonism, but it's a hard-working, dynamic place hoping to place itself in the vanguard of 21st-century Europe with a heavy concentration of hi-tech and biomedical business.
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It regards its long past with pride. From Roman town it passed to medieval trade juggernaut, and its old centre constitutes one of the greatest concentrations of Gothic architecture in Europe. Beyond this core are some of the world's more bizarre buildings: surreal spectacles capped by Antoni Gaudí's Sagrada Família church.
Barcelona has been breaking ground in art, architecture and style since the late 19th century. From the marvels of Modernisme to the modern wonders of today, from Picasso to the likes of Susana Solano, the racing heart of Barcelona has barely skipped a beat. The city's avant-garde chefs whip up a storm that has even the French reaching for superlatives.
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a region with its own language, character and history – many Catalans think of their home as a separate country. The city itself could keep you occupied for weeks but just outside it are sandy beaches, Sitges and the Montserrat mountain range - so be sure to make time for a few day trips during your stay.
Make it happen
- Book author reviewed and recommended hotels in Barcelona
- Search and compare cheap flights to Barcelona
- Take the Barcelona City Hop-on Hop-off bus to explore the city
- Take a half day trip to visit the Montserrat Royal Basilica
Last updated: Feb 25, 2010
Tips & articles
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Where to go in September
26 July 2010
Planning your September vacation? Consider one of these spots from Lonely Planet Magazine’s article...
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Barcelona’s surreal world of art
18 July 2010
Barcelona is a city that has embraced art like no other and it’s reflected in the buildings, across the...
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Catalan cuisine
13 July 2010
Sure, Barcelona has become a cauldron of culinary kookiness, with the foams and froths of master chef...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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looking for female to travel to Spain with in Sept.
by amotravl 0 replies, last post 01 August 2010
female looking for female to travel to Spain-(Barcelona & Madrid) with in Sept. for about a week.
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N. Africa transit
by soulsurvivor713 1 reply, last post 30 July 2010
So, I've seen a Q similar to this in another thread, but no good answer, so I'll try it here. Maybe better luck. Anywhoz! So, I'm planning…
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'Cruel' bullfighting banned in Spain's Catalonia!! Good day for Spain!!
by vaninka 51 replies, last post 31 July 2010
Hello! I´m from Madrid (Spain) and I want to share my happyness with travellers of all the world. Sure you know that bullfights are typicall…
Barcelona
Recommended things to do & see
- Entertainment (73)
- Restaurants (64)
- Shopping (63)
- Sights (99)
- Hotels & hostels
Our Top Picks For Barcelona
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1 Gaudí wonderland: Park Güell
Just try to resist falling under magical Park Güell's spell. With its enchanting gingerbread houses, much-loved ceramic-clad lizard, curvy mosaic bench and panoramic views, this is one of the world's most delightful public spaces
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2 Vintage cool on Carrer de la Riera Baixa
This little street in El Raval is a bonanza of groovy vintage boutiques and second-hand record shops, with the nicely restored Bar Resolis perfectly situated for a mid-shop pit stop.
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3 Get high at Monserrat
Get a spiritual lift in the strange soaring mountains of Montserrat
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4 Museu del Calçat
So you're in shopping heaven, Barcelona, but you've blown your budget? Shoe fiends should head to the Museu del Calçat, where they can admire a range of historic and 'celebrity' shoes without harming their wallet.
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5 Miró magic
Perched at the top of Montjuïc, Fundació Joan Miró is a beautiful, light-filled gallery with enough eye candy to keep you buzzing for hours. Don't miss the sweeping rooftop views.
Fast Facts about Barcelona
- Variety of mojitos on offer at Gimlet Classic, coffee, ginger, red fruit, cumquat, passionfruit, perilla (shiso)...¡Salud!
- Titles won by FC Barcelona last season
Spanish League, UEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey
- Population
1,615,908
- Most famous fictional Barcelona detective
Pepe Carvalho (created by Manuel Vázquez Montalbán)
- Pepe Carvalho's favourite restaurant
Casa Leopoldo, El Raval
- Official Languages
Catalan, Spanish
- One big happy family
Barcelona has a bevy of sister cities. Its illustrious siblings include Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Sarajevo, Havana, Montevideo, Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Gaza and Shanghai.
- Before Vicky Cristina Barcelona
...there was All About My Mother. Pedro Almodóvar's Oscar-winning film takes place in Barcelona, and features a cast of transsexuals, drama queens, and Penelope Cruz as a pregnant nun.
Related Groups
Our favourite Barcelona Blogs (beta)
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Friday Flashback: Barcelona!
Blog: GoBackpacking - 30 July 2010
Visiting Europe on my ’round the world trip, I was trying to catch up with some popular spots I missed my first time around back in 1998. Switzerland was one, and Spain was the other. Barcelona kept me busy with Gaudi’s buildings and Picasso’s art. The beaches were almost empty, however I found plenty of [...]--------- Join Travel Blog Success today and learn to build a better travel blog. Membership includes 12 lessons, community forum, audio interviews, and a blog.
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Las Ramblas, Barcelona – Things To Do
Blog: As We Travel - 27 July 2010
Las Ramblas also known as La Rambla, is one of the most famous streets in Spain (it is really a sequence of 3 boulevards/streets joined together), and attracts millions of tourists every year.
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Park Guell in Barcelona: Stepping Into Gaudi's Fantasy Land
Blog: Travelogged - 23 July 2010
Could it really have been three years ago that I went to Barcelona? Wow, it feels much more recent than that.
