Unravelling Places That Are A Must To Visit In Barcelona

View Of Barcelona

Barcelona is always counted among the best locations in the world, and there are plenty of reasons that prove why the place deserves such praise and admiration of people. To begin with, the atmosphere of the place is so mesmerizing and charming that tourists invariably fall in love with the place as soon as they visit it. People are always intrigued by the live performances and musical shows on the streets everywhere. The warmth and love extended by the locals is simply unimaginable. Besides, there are a number of breathtaking spots in Barcelona that offer ultimate experience to the visitors. So, some of these spots are included here.

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia is among the most unique and famous spots in Barcelona. It is basically an unfinished cathedral that brings about the rich history of the place. Moreover, there is a unique past and future connection that never fails to attract the attention of the curious visitors. And, this is the reason behind its roaring popularity.

Barcelona Cathedral

Barcelona Cathedral is basically ‘The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia’ which has stood its ground since the 13th century. So, one could really expect to explore some of the greatest historical facts after visiting this brilliant spot in Barcelona.

Montserrat

Montserrat has always been the best spot to visit for nature lovers, especially because of the challenges involved in reaching the spot. However, the stunning landscape and pristine beauty of the place make the effort of reaching the spot worthwhile. So, the unparalleled beauty of the area makes it a huge hit among the visitors.

Park Guell

Park Guell has earned a huge popularity among the photographers who are invariably amazed to see the great beauty of Barcelona from this spot. And, thousands of photographers have captured the true essence of Barcelona from this spot. The vivid imagery captured by photographers has now come to associated with the city itself.

Palau Guell

The buildings and architecture in Barcelona is greatly influenced by Gaudi, one of the best architects of all times. And, Palau Guell is one such masterpiece of the great personality. Basically, Gaudi was commissioned by the affluent businessman Eusebi Guell to build a mansion for him. And, Gaudi certainly did his best to create this unimaginable masterpiece.

Arc De Triomf

Triumphal Arches are ubiquitous all over the Europe actually, but this Arc De Triomf in Barcelon certainly surpasses other when it comes to the architectural beauty. So, the spot is worth visiting for tourists.

Casa Mila

Again, Casa Mila is another great creation of Gaudi. It is also called La Pedrera and has always been a great tourist spot ever since Gaudi made it in the 1900s. The best part about the building is its unmistakable modernist architecture.

Gothic Quarter

Visit to Barcelona is never complete without exploring the old part of the city. Gothic Quarter represents that unique part in Barcelona that offer completely different experience to tourists. It is worth getting lost in those labyrinthine streets to discover something great about the place every time one gets lost. One gets to experience the true essence of Barcelona after visiting the spot.

Exploring Top Class Buildings In Barcelona Designed By Gaudi

View Of Barcelona

Barcelona has always been a magnet attracting millions of tourists every year, simply because it offers a great mix of culture and fun in a truly modern setting. Besides, the adorable markets and musical environment of the city there is a dazzling array of attractive buildings that are a treat to watch. And, Antoni Gaudi, the famous architect, has a lot of influence over the city, as he was instrumental in designing some of the well known iconic buildings in Barcelona. He was a gifted and talented architect who gave Barcelona some great creative buildings. Tourists could identify great Gaudi buildings in Barcelona after they begin to understand his creative genius. So, here are top class buildings in Barcelona that were designed by Gaudi.

Casa Vicens

Casa Vicens is one of those projects of Gaudi that he prepared for the wealthy aristocratic families in Barcelona. It got built in around six years starting from 1888. It is an imaginary and thoroughly creative residential project that has beautiful ceramic decorations. Moreover, there are traces of Islamic architecture as well in some of the rooms of the building.

La Pedrera

La Pedrera symbolizes one of those rarest creations of Gaudi that immortalized him. This imaginative house is one of the rarest of its kind in architecture’s history. In fact, the popularity of this building can be gauged from the fact that it was recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO in 1984.

Parc Guell

Again, Parc Guell has also been included in the World Heritage sites by UNESCO. The façade of most of the building is ‘trencadis,’ implying ceramic pieces have been used to cover the surfaces at times. Tourists are invariably amazed by serpentine shapes in the terrace and the colonnaded hall. The park offers a great site for enjoying the great artwork as well as the natural beauty of the area.

Palau Guell

Palau Guell has sober façade which is quite unlike the ones designed by Gaudi. However, the roof and the interior are easily seen to have the Gaudi effect. The design is spellbinding as one could see the roof counts that are full of conical vents and chimneys that resemble fir trees.

Colonia Guell

It took Gaudi around 26 years to complete this amazing oval church. Five aisles characterize the interior of this crypt. There are the unmistakable four cardinal virtues that are depicted by ceramic composition. Tourists invariably love the archaic appearance of the church which is lent by basaltic stone bricks that are adorned with mosaics.

Casa Batllo

Casa Batllo got built in 1877 when Gaudi made it with the aim of representing the Modernist art, as there are a lot of stone, ceramics, and forged iron used in the construction. It was one of the most unconventional buildings of its times; however, Barcelona City Council appreciated the innovative style of Gaudi and bestowed it with the best building of the year award once.

La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia is one of the most idealistic works of Gaudi. Its construction started in 1892, and is expected to continue till 2030. One could either climb its tower to witness sweeping views of the city, or take one of those popular audio tours of the church.

Uncovering Benefits Of Getting Barcelona City Pass

View Of Barcelona

Barcelona is a great place in Spain that has its unique culture and rich heritage. Tourists are always intrigued by the unique culture of the place. People take pride in their language and culture here, and the walls in the street clearly exhibit the rich tradition of the place. So, the place is always inundated with a sea of humanity that comes here to witness the breathtaking beauty of the place. However, the rush makes it impossible for the tourists to enjoy their visit to different spots sometimes. So, people could always go for Barcelona City Pass that can help them in more ways than one.

Hassle Free Entrance Into Topmost Museums

People are spoilt for choice in Barcelona, since there is dazzling array of incredible architectural marvels in Barcelona. Barcelona City Pass enables a person to get uninhibited entry into all the major museums in Barcelona. One could get into a number of museums including Antoni Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia, unmistakable museum of Gaudi in Park Guell, Fundacio Joan Miro Art Museum, and Jardi Botanic de Barcelona, to name a few.

Fast Track Access To Iconic Attractions

Another benefit of Barcelona City Pass is that one could have hassle free entry into the iconic attractions of Barcelona, as one is not required to stand in queue with other people. Some of the top class iconic attractions that can be easily explored by the pass holders include Fundacio Joan Miro, Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona CCCB, Museu d’ Art Contemporani de Barcelona MACBA, and La Sagrada Familia, to name a few.

Unlimited Access To Public Transport

Another amazing benefit of Barcelona City Pass is that it allows one to have unlimited access to the public transport. One definitely needs to use the trains and buses in order to get around the city, and this option makes the lives of tourists truly convenient. The best part is that one could go to the city airport as well by taking the train. Tourists always like all these features.

Chance To Cruise Through The Mediterranean

If everything mentioned above was not enough, one also gets a chance to cruise through the Mediterranean with the help of the Barcelona City Pass. Tourists always love this aspect, since they are provided with a beautiful boat tour that takes them to the glitzy harbour of Barcelona. This gives them a chance to get stunning views of the city from the wide expanse of the sea. The feeling of floating amidst billionaire yachts in the Mediterranean is simply unsurpassed.

Unlimited Use Of Sightseeing Bus

Tourists are taken in sightseeing bus in Barcelona, and tourists get a chance to hop on to this sightseeing bus on some designated days if they have Barcelona City Pass. It is a great tour for the first time visitors since they are provided with valuable information via the audio commentary, while they are witnessing the astonishing beauty of great architectural sites in Barcelona.

Other Offers

There are some other offers as well that one gets on availing Barcelona City Pass. One gets a chance to buy tickets at reduced rates for various things including guided walking tours, sailing tours, and music concerts, to name a few.

BEST BEACHES IN BARCELONA

Barcelona Beach, Spain

Barcelona, the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, is a popular vacation spot in Europe and is famous for its gorgeous beaches. Crowds are often the thickest from April to October because of the warm water. No matter what you want to get out of your beach day, Barcelona has a shoreline for you.

LOVE PEOPLE WATCHING:

Barceloneta Beach is the most well-known beach in the city, making it one of the busiest as well. Barceloneta is almost a mile long, and is rarely a calm spot. The hordes of visitors make this beach perfect for those who want to take in people watching. Barceloneta is easy to get to via public transportation and offers plenty of activities such as bike rentals, cafes, and palm tree-covered walkways. This beach also offers a view of the famous Frank Gehry sculpture in the Hotel Arts Barcelona.

STAY CLOSE TO THE CITY:

Bogatell Beach is the ideal destination fr people wanting a beach experience with an urban twist. Bogatell Beach is often much quieter than the popular Bareloneta Beach, and is generally visited by an older crowd. Locals frequent the beach thanks to its sense of tranquility and calmness. Bogatell Beach offers visitors lifeguard service, wheelchair accessibility, and showers. The beach was originally built for the 1992 Olympic Games, and has visually interesting sculptures throughout.

TRAVEL WITH A FAMILY:

If you’re traveling with children, Nova Icaria is the beach for you. It is a kid-friendly location within walking distance of the Olympic Port. The beach offers activities to keep kids busy such as water and beach sports. The water is warm enough for swimming and parents can lounge on the sand. The area is also riddled with restaurants nearby to suit every taste.

BARE IT ALL:

Nova Mar Bella Beach is one of two nude beaches in Barcelona. It is incredibly private, and mostly sees a younger crowd. The beach is popular with the residents of Sant Marti and very well-liked by the gay community of the area. It’s quiet and far from the city center of Barcelona, making it a secluded retreat for visitors. Nearby, in Rambla del Poblenou, there are a plethora of cafes and restaurants to eat at. Some eateries offer fresh fish caught by local fishermen.

GO WHERE THE LOCALS GO:

Barcelona locals often cite Castelldefels Beach as the very best beach in the Barcelona area. It is out of the city limits, and takes 20 minutes by train to reach, followed by a short walk. Castelldefels Beach is a quiet way to escape the fast pace of the city. Even further from the city center than Noval Mar Bella Beach, it is perfect for water activities like wind and kick surfing, and offers great swimming spots. In the surrounding areas, there are lots of beach shacks and cafes where visitors can grab a bite to eat.

5 UNIQUE PLACES TO STAY IN BARCELONA

Traditional architecture in Barcelona

HOTEL 1898

Formerly headquarters of the Philippine Tobacco Company, this exceptional hotel is located in Las Ramblas, in the center of Barcelona, where luxury and small pleasures, in a colonial style, remind you 19th century Spain. Featuring a rooftop seasonal swimming pool, suites with private terraces, a spa and a heated indoor pool as well. Work out your tensions in a well-equipped cardio gym with sauna and steam room, or relax with aromatherapy, massages, or reflexology. The multilingual staff, concierge service, and 24-hour front desk are happy to help you. The hotel also offers an array of amenities to the business traveler. The business center, conference room, meeting rooms, provide ample space to complete business. The facility also offers an audio-visual room and free Wifi. A restaurant, 2 bars and 2 coffee shops are on site for the use of the guests of this 169 room hotel.

LE MERIDIEN BARCELONA

A 231 room hotel situated on the famous Las Ramblas Street in the heart of Barcelona’s bustling and historic district. Relax with a fine selection of cocktails in Le Pop Cocktail Bar or dine in the Centonze Restaurant with products bought from local markets. The non-smoking rooms are family friendly, allow pets, are wheelchair accessible and air conditioned. For the business traveler, laundry services, dry cleaning services, and a business center with internet access are available. The hotel has 7 meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 126 guests as well as a banquet room. After a long business meeting or a day of sightseeing, relax with excellent room service or work of the tension in the fitness center with gym, workout room or spa. The multilingual staff is happy to assist you.

OLIVIA BALMES HOTEL

A modern hotel deemed as an oasis in the heart of Barcelona. The modern amenities are designed to satisfy the most choosy travelers. With soundproof windows and enclosed balconies, you will be able to relax but all the while enjoying Barcelona. This 128, all-exterior, room hotel boasts of modern, cutting edge materials used to made each guest rooms an unforgettable experience. The air-conditioned, family-friendly rooms are wheelchair accessible and spacious. Soak up the Barcelona sun in the rooftop outdoor pool and terrace or work off your tensions in the new 7th-floor fitness room. Business travelers will not be disappointed with the conference rooms and small format meeting rooms with state of the art technology and free Wifi. The Seventeen Restaurant, Bar and Lounge offers a combination of Mediterranean and Catalan cuisine with the tranquility of large windows to let in bountiful natural light and ambiance.

ALMA BARCELONA

This 72-room hotel in located in the heart of bustling Barcelona, in an elegant building that dates back to the start of the 20th Century. Contrary to the exterior, words such as modern, chic, and stylish and used to describe this hotel. Only a 3-minute walk from the Barcelona’s Passeig de Gràcia metro station, it is easy to navigate the city from here. The individually decorated, modern rooms are air-conditioned, offer free Wifi, and feature stylish furnishings and even bathrobes and slippers. Relax after a hard day in the indoor pool or sauna or arrange a soothing massage. Business travelers will appreciate the meeting rooms, free high-speed internet, and service. The hotel has a restaurant, a café, bar, and a garden terrace.

EL PALACE HOTEL

This 5-star hotel, located in the center of Barcelona, is very close to Las Ramblas and the city’s main attractions. The elegant 125 guest rooms are tastefully and individually decorated with historic significance in mind. This pet-friendly hotel also offers child care and entertainment for younger guests with on-call medical staff. El Palace has a parking service but also offers luxury vehicles with private chauffeurs. The fitness buff will be awed by the fitness center, gym, and workout rooms. The business traveler will be inspired by the 24 business center with free internet, printers and materials.