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.
Ready to go?
- Check out the Lonely Planet Barcelona City Guide app available via iTunes. Plus download our new Spanish Offline Translator app. Simply talk or type, and it translates. Available for iPhone, iPad and Android.
- See the best of Catalonia on a 4-day tour
- Discover the city of Gaudi with the City Hop-on Hop-off Tour
Last updated: 19-Jan-2012
Tips & articles
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The most annoying habits of tourists
13 December 2011
Are you embarrassed by the antics of your fellow tourists, or guilty of some travel sins yourself? It’s hard to...
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A dream trip for art lovers
1 December 2011
So you want to do the Louvre, the Metropolitan, the Hermitage. Okay. You could trot the globe touring the world’s...
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A dream trip for food lovers
1 December 2011
I’ve long considered ‘travel’ - you know, going to see stuff like museums and markets and fancy plazas with mimes - as...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Robbed in Barcelona - have you been there?
by Peejee 14 September 2011
Some day mac, I hope you will explain us your extremely complicated nick !
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RE: Robbed in Barcelona - have you been there?
by gawkabout 14 September 2011
Spanish robbers don't get violent unless you do. Period. Its a skilled trade with accomplices.
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RE: Robbed in Barcelona - have you been there?
by Peejee 14 September 2011
+I think It's absurd to compare Barcelona with the slash your throat, leave you naked on a street corner, favella rat type of crime one…
Barcelona
Things to do
- All things to do (848)
- Activities (126)
- Entertainment (208)
- Restaurants (178)
- Shopping (136)
- Sights (193)
- Tours (7)
Make it happen
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.
Our favourite Barcelona Blogs (beta)
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Berlin and Barcelona – The battle of the great B’s
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 28 January 2012
Both Berlin and Barcelona are often said to share a similar cosmopolitan, quirky and edgy city vibe. If you’re stuck in a rut and can’t choose between the two, I’ve put together a handy list of unique selling points for each city.
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Where to find truly great tapas in Barcelona
Blog: Heather on her travels - 19 January 2012
Few things are as synonymous with Spanish culture as tapas, and few things have origins as steeped in mythology. There is the story of the ailing King Alfonso X, known as El Sabio or The Wise, who was nursed back to health on a diet of wine and tiny morsels. Delighted with the remedy, he [...]
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Gaudi Architecture in Barcelona
Blog: Pommie Travels - 21 December 2011
Whether you’ve heard of Catalan-born architect Antoni Gaudi or not, you’ll instantly recognize a Gaudi building in Barcelona. His unique and [...]
