Barcelona Travel Guide

On the eastern coast of Spain lies one of the world’s most lively cities: Barcelona. Pay a visit to this coastal metropolis and you’re sure to be mesmerized by all it has to offer: stunning paintings in one of its many galleries; restaurants serving scrumptious Catalan cuisine; or even just the beautiful scenery that permeates the city.

Barcelona Tourist Attractions

Among the plethora of Barcelona tourist attractions, there are about five that are particularly popular. Top of the list is the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s finest work which stands in the center of the city, occupying an entire block. Next is the Ramblas, a bustling street lined with cafes, shops, restaurants and with rows of trees on either side. Other city attractions include the Gothic Quarter, Barceloneta Beach and Parc Guell – another of Gaudi’s creations. Being famous for its pedestrianized areas, the city is perfect for taking a stroll and viewing everything that makes it so famous.

As a major European city, hotel rooms and accommodation are in abundance. From chic youth hostels to five-star establishments, there really is something appropriate for everyone. The same can be said for eating out, with literally thousands of restaurants and cafes offering a wide variety of international dishes. A particularly worthwhile visit is by the harbor or Port Olimpic, where seafood is obviously a specialty.

The Best Time to Go to Barcelona

Weather-wise there is no ‘bad’ time to go to Barcelona. Of course, it’s at its most alive during the summer months, when daytime temperatures hover at about 28ºC (82.4ºF) in July and August. May, June, September and October are also good months to visit, when the temperature is still very warm, but not unbearably hot for walking around a city, although you should bear in mind that September and October are both months with significantly higher rainfall than the yearly average, and consequently higher humidity. Daytime temperatures during winter are rarely below 13ºC(55.4ºF), but can drop to about 6ºC(42.8ºF) at nighttime.The upside of winter, however, is the impressive Christmas market that adorns the streets of the La Seu area every year.

If you did want to visit the city during a festivity, then you won’t be disappointed, for Barcelona has many important events throughout the year that are always celebrated in some way or another. The Festes de Santa Eulalia (one of Barcelona’s patron saints) falls in February, marked with fireworks, dances, parades and parties. Then in the last week of May is Barcelona’s premier music festival, Primavera Sound, which hosts music from both Spanish and international artists. Barcelona’s largest traditional festival occurs on 24^th September, a public holiday on which parades and firework displays are held.

If you get there and find you need some help, then head over to the Barcelona tourist information office, located at Plaça de Catalunya.