Welcome to El Raval
The once down-and-out district of El Raval is still seedy in parts, though it has seen remarkable rejuvenation in recent years, with the addition of cutting-edge museums and cultural centres, including the Richard Meier–designed Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona. Other highlights not to be missed include El Raval's bohemian nightlife and the sprawling culinary delights of Mercat de la Boqueria.
Top experiences in El Raval
Amazing hotels and hostels
We've pre-picked the best hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.
Travel guides
Starting at $36.39
El Raval activities
Barcelona e-bike Tour: Gaudí and the Catalan Modernism
Meet-up with your guide at Plaça Reial in late morning or afternoon, collect your gear and hop on an electric bike to get to know some of Gaudí’s best work within the context of Catalan society of the 1800s. Be surprised by the double face of the Port Vell, old and romantic on one side, new and shiny on the other. Relax while cruising through the Ciutadella Park, the beautiful green lung of Barcelona, and then reach Gaudí’s grand masterpiece, the Temple of Sagrada Família. After that, climb up to Park Güell, an unforgettable spot that lies on top of the city, and a perfect place for a nice rest to refresh and admire the genius of Gaudí’s decorative talent. Glide downhill through the charming Gràcia neighborhood watching the magnificent façades that ornate the elegant Passeig de Gràcia one by one. Appreciate the multicultural atmosphere of El Raval district and admire Gaudí’s extravagant Palau Güell before ending in Plaça Reial, the city center’s beating heart with its bustling terraced cafes and restaurants.Head back to the plaza for tour's end.
Expert-Led Barcelona Market Tour
The reigning queen of Barcelona’s vibrant market network, La Boqueria attracts Michelin-starred chefs and local grandmothers equally. As the center of the city food scene and epicenter of Catalan gastronomy, La Boqueria offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the sites, smells, and tastes of culinary Barcelona. During this three-hour walk, we’ll explore the market and its surroundings, tracing the history of food in this culinary city, and getting a basic overview of regional Catalan gastronomy. We begin at the intersection of Carrer de la Boqueria and La Rambla, the ancient seat of La Boqueria, which was founded in the 13th century, making it one of Europe’s oldest markets. As we head toward the modern market, which has been relocated to a modern glass and steel structure nearby, we’ll discuss the long history of public markets in this city, from the medieval period to their revitalization in the 1990s. We’ll spend the majority of our time together under the glistening canopy of La Boqueria itself, where we will sample typical dishes at such famed tapas bars as Pinotxo or El Quim. We’ll venture into the briny, wet stands area, stopping to examine freshly hunted wild mushrooms or to inhale the salty aromas of cured jamon and embotits. Along the way, our guide, a trained food critic and historian, will explain some of the origins and provenance of these foods against the backdrop of Catalonia’s rich culinary history and diverse geography. Catalan cuisine is as innovative as it is economical: No part of the animal is thrown out. Unusual combinations like rabbit with snails (conejo con caracoles) or pigs feet with nuts and peas (pies de cerdo con piñones y guisantes) illustrate the experiments of ancient Catalan cooks. From this lineage of contrasting flavor profiles and economical exploits, Catalonia leads the world in culinary innovation, boasting many Michelin star restaurants and forging new frontiers with the wildly popular molecular gastronomy. The final leg of the walk will take us out of La Boqueria into the stone streets of El Raval where we’ll visit a couple of specialty food shops and pass by several notable restaurants in the burgeoning culinary scene of Barcelona. We’ll pay particular attention to neighborhood restaurants that specialize in “market cuisine” in order to highlight the dialogue between market and restaurant, produce and chef. We will stop briefly to discuss the role of seasonality and the continued globalization of our food markets. Depending on the time of day, our walk will end at either Granja Viader, a local "dairy" that serves the afternoon merienda of chocolate, or the famous bakery Escriba, two deeply rooted Catalonian institutions that will serve to punctuate our experience.
Tapas bike tour
First, ride, and just after that, eat, right? NO!We start our Tapas Tour in a local bar next to our shop on the street Balboa 1c. You will get to taste real Spanish food eaten by everyday people from the area of Barceloneta - one of four oldest areas of the city, and an area which was built especially for the fishermen. After that, we will hop on our bikes and we will move to an older area called El Borne, also known as the “father” of Barceloneta. Here, while you listen the stories of the city, you can also try a little bit of Tapas.Next, we will take you to a local bar where tourists never go in the stunning Gothic Quarter. With beautiful architecture, legends and facts about Gothic Cathedral, George Orwell Square, Felip Neri Square, Churches Santa Maria del Pi and La Merce, and, of course, tapas.The Final Tapas that you will try, will be in El Raval. An area which used to be the home of many drug dealers, but is now an area of art. Experience this epic transformation as you taste some wonderful Tapas.This tour is one for the foodies out there. Discover our delicious city through your taste buds at some of the best eateries in town, and we’re sure you and your stomach will wish you could stay in Barcelona for ever, eating Tapas, and listening to our stories.