Things to do in Barcelona
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La Rambla
Flanked by narrow traffic lanes and plane trees, the middle of La Rambla is a broad pedestrian boulevard, crowded every day until the wee hours with a cross-section of barcelonins and out-of-towners. Dotted with cafes, restaurants, kiosks and news-stands, and enlivened by buskers, pavement artists, mimes and living statues, La Rambla rarely allows a dull moment.
It takes its name from a seasonal stream (raml in Arabic) that once ran here. From the early Middle Ages, on it was better known as the Cagalell (Stream of Shit) and lay outside the city walls until the 14th century. Monastic buildings were then built and, subsequently, mansions of the well-to-do from the 16th to…
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Balthazar
Balthazar offers a spacious and buzzy dining atmosphere and an extensive menu of Catalan and Mediterranean dishes, which are good without being spectacular. Locals converge here for stylish, economical dining. After all, where else might you encounter a carpaccio de bou amb encenalls de parmesà (beef carpaccio with parmesan cheese shavings) for €6.60? The menú del día also wins the hearts of savers at €8.70.
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Lac Majùr
Inside this cosy slice of northwest Italy all sorts of home-cooking delights await, including the house pasta specials, gnocchi and trofie. The latter are twists of pasta, usually served with pesto sauce, from Liguria. Try the mascarpone and ham variant followed by, say, a saltimbocca alla romana (a veal slice cooked with ham, sage and sweet Marsala wine).
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Ca la Nuri
With its white and grey tones, and schools of silver fish shapes seemingly skudding like wind-driven clouds along one wall, this is a classic for Catalan seafood and rice dishes. They have various set lunch menus, such as fideuá, arròs negre and seafood paella. Another good one is the arròs de l’avia Nuri (Grandma Nuri’s rice), a paella-style dish in which all the seafood creatures have been peeled.
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Camp Nou
Among Barcelona’s most-visited museums is the Museu del Futbol Club Barcelona near the club’s giant Camp Nou (aka Nou Camp) stadium. Barça is one of Europe’s top football clubs, and its museum is a hit with football fans the world over. Camp Nou, built in 1957 and enlarged for the 1982 World Cup, is one of the world’s biggest stadiums, holding 99,000 people. The club has a world-record membership of 173,000. Football fans who can’t get to a game may find a visit to the museum, with guided tour of the stadium, worthwhile.
The best bits of the museum itself are the photo section, the goal videos and the views out over the stadium. Among the quirkier…
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Con Gracia
This teeny hideaway (seating about 20 in total) is a hive of originality, producing delicately balanced Mediterranean cuisine with Asian touches. On offer is a regularly changing surprise tasting menu or the set ‘traditional’ one, which includes such items as sopa de foie y miso con aceite de trufa blanca (miso and foie gras soup with white truffle oil) and a nice Chilean sea bass. At lunch, only groups are accepted. Book ahead.
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Cementiri de l’Est
The Cementiri de l’Est, created in 1773, was positioned outside the then city limits for health reasons. Its central monument commemorates the victims of a yellow-fever epidemic that swept across Barcelona in 1821. The cemetery is full of bombastic family memorials, but an altogether disquieting touch is the sculpture El Petó de la Mort (The Kiss of Death), in which a winged skeleton kisses a young, kneeling but lifeless body.
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Indochine
This uptown Asian eatery could almost pass for a florist. Once through the French doors and greenery you will be presented with a selection of Thai, Vietnamese and Cambodian dishes. Although somewhat westernised, the food is enticing. You could start with a light green-papaya salad and follow with pescado al estilo camboyano (Cambodian-style fish, lightly steamed and done in a vegetable sauce). Those with flexible legs can sit on the floor.
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Tablao Nervión
For very tourist-oriented flamenco, this place has unbeatable offers. Come along to the second show at midnight and the only obligation is to have a drink for €6. If you come at 11pm, you pay €12 for the show and a drink (beer or sangria). Or you can do the whole dinner and show thing from 10pm.
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La Bodegueta
For a homey Catalan atmosphere (complete with wine barrels, an old Frigidaire and gingham tablecloths), pop by this cheery spot. Options are limited to classic local favourites, including an array of charcoal-grilled meat dishes, such as a thick entrecot con Cabrales (steak with strong northern Spanish cheese). Balance with a graellada de verdures (mixed grilled vegetables) and wash down with a generous ceramic jug of house red.
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Els Pescadors
Set on a picturesque square lined with low houses and bella ombre trees long ago imported from South America, this bustling family restaurant continues to serve some of the city’s great seafood-and-rice dishes. There are three dining areas inside: two quite modern, while the main one preserves its old tavern flavour. Sitting outside is better. All the products – fish, meat and vegetables – are trucked in fresh from various parts of Catalonia.
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Carrer de Montcada
An early example of town planning, this medieval high street was driven towards the sea from the road that in the 12th century led northeast from the city walls. It was the city's snootiest address for the merchant classes. The bulk of the great mansions that remain today mostly date to the 14th and 15th centuries.
This area was the commercial heartland of medieval Barcelona. Five of the mansions on the east side of the street have been linked to house the Museu Picasso. Across the road, others house the Museu Barbier-Mueller d’Art Pre-Colombí and the Disseny Hub. Several other mansions on this street are commercial art galleries where you’re welcome to browse. The…
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Bubó
Carles Mampel is a sweet artist, literally. It is difficult to walk by his bar and pastry shop without taking a seat outside to try one of his fantasy-laden creations. Try saying no to a mousse of gianduia (a dark hazelnut cream) with mango cream, caramelised hazelnuts with spices, and a hazelnut biscuit.
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Concert De Carilló
Some 5000kg of bronze in 49 bells (a carillon) swings into action for free monthly ‘concerts’ in the seat of the Catalan government, allowing spectators a rare chance to get inside. In the pretty Gothic Pati dels Tarongers, an internal terrace lined with orange trees at the heart of the building, the audience is treated to a midday performance of just about anything, from classical through bossa nova.
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Casa Alfonso
In business since 1934, Casa Alfonso is perfect for a morning coffee or a tapas stop at the long marble bar. Timber panelled and festooned with old photos, posters and swinging hams, it attracts a faithful local clientele at all hours for its flautas (thin custom-made baguettes with your choice of filling), hams, cheeses, hot dishes and homemade desserts. Consider rounding off with an alfonsito (a miniature Irish coffee).
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Museu Egipci
Hotel magnate Jordi Clos has spent much of his life collecting ancient Egyptian artefacts, brought together in this private museum. It’s divided into different thematic areas (the Pharaoh, religion, funerary practices, mummification, crafts etc) and boasts an interesting variety of exhibits.
There are statuary, funereal implements and containers, jewellery (including a fabulous golden ring from around the 7th century BC), ceramics and even a bed made of wood and leather. In the basement is an exhibition area and library, displaying volumes including original editions of works by Carter, the Egyptologist who led the Tutankhamen excavations. On the rooftop terrace is a…
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Wine and Cava Day Trip from Barcelona
8 hours (Departs Barcelona, Spain)
by Viator
On this wine-tasting tour from Barcelona, spend a relaxing day in the countryside as you sample wine and learn about cava (Catalan sparkling wine). You will…Not LP reviewed
from USD$85.81 -
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Plaça de Sant Jaume
In the 2000 or so years since the Romans settled here, the area around this square (often remodelled), which started life as the forum, has been the focus of Barcelona’s civic life. Facing each other across it are the Palau de la Generalitat (seat of Catalonia’s regional government) on the north side and the Ajuntament (town hall) to the south. Behind the Ajuntament rise the awful town hall offices built in the 1970s over Plaça de Sant Miquel. Opposite is a rare 15th-century gem, Casa Centelles, on the corner of Baixada de Sant Miquel. You can wander into the fine Gothic-Renaissance courtyard if the gates are open.
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Universitat de Barcelona
Although a university was first set up on what is now La Rambla in the 16th century, the present, glorious mix of (neo) Romanesque, Gothic, Islamic and Mudéjar architecture is a caprice of the 19th century (built 1863–82). Wander into the main hall, up the grand staircase and around the various leafy cloisters, or take a stroll in the rear gardens.
On the 1st floor, the main hall for big occasions is the Mudéjar-style Paranimfo.
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Rosebud
Inspired in name only by the film Citizen Kane, Rosebud is an assault on the senses, with blaring music (mostly ʼ80s and ʼ90s) and flashing lights. Go-go dancers keep punters in rhythm and three bars operate inside downstairs, with another upstairs on the balcony and bar service in the garden. Those under 30-something may find it a little, well, ‘old’. From Tibidabo it looks like an enormous glasshouse.
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Bodega la Penúltima
There is a baroque semi-darkness about this dark timber and sunset-yellow place, which gives off airs of an old-time wine bar. In Spanish lore, one never drinks la última (the last one) as it is bad luck. Rather, it is always the ‘second last’ (penúltima) round. A mixed group crowds into the lumpy lounges around uneven tables at the back or huddles at the bar for endless second-last rounds of wine, beer or cocktails.
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Santa Marta
Foreigners who have found seaside nirvana in Barcelona hang out in this chilled bar back from the beach. A curious crowd of Rastas, beach bums and switched-on dudes chat over light meals and beer inside or relax outside over a late breakfast. It has some tempting food too: a mix of local and Italian items, with a range of filled rolls (bocatas) for €5, or a dish of mozzarella di bufala (buffalo-milk cheese) for €8.
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Lika Lounge
The publicity noise about Barcelona’s only ‘ice bar’ (a bar with a strip of ice to sit your drinks on) is a bit of a distraction. But this backstreet cocktail lounge is a low-lit, fashionable place to sip on creative combinations. The Pornstar Martini, with Cointreau, passionfruit and a side glass of cava, hits the spot. Through the back is a second smaller bar, and DJ sounds cover a broad, mainstream spectrum.
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Església de la Mercè
Raised in the 1760s on the site of its Gothic predecessor, the baroque Església de la Mercè is home to Barcelona’s most celebrated patron saint. It was badly damaged during the civil war. What remains is, however, quite a curiosity. The baroque facade facing the square contrasts with the Renaissance flank along Carrer Ample. The latter was actually moved here from another nearby church that was subsequently destroyed in the 1870s.
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Plaça de Braus Monumental
A decision by the regional Catalan parliament in July 2010 means that bullfight may be banned from January 2012, so aficionados need to get in a last look in the 2011 season. Fights are staged at around 6pm on Sunday afternoon in spring and summer. Tickets are available at the arena. Prices range from €20 to €120. The higher-priced tickets are for the front row in the shade – any closer and you’d be fighting the bulls yourself.
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