Barcelona, Spain — Things to Do
Sightseeing in Barcelona
Legendary rocker Freddie Mercury once described Barcelona's beautiful horizon as 'a jewel in the sun', a prudent observation made evident when gazing upon the city's magnificent miles. Barcelona can best be described as a visual city. It is a sightseer's paradise from its seven beaches to the 10 hectares (25 acres) of municipal park land allotted throughout the city. From the hills of Montjuic and Tibidabo, one can take in the scope of Barcelona and look down on the scenic tree-lined La Ramblas boulevard, the iconic pedestrian mall running from the city center to the Port Vella, the city's oldest harbor.
Barcelona also carries with it a rich history. Founded over 2,000 years ago, the city's architecture reflects its Roman heritage, and carries the mark of various influences since. Particularly notable are the Catalan modernismearchitecture movement founded in Barcelona, and Gaudi's distinctive creations are among many of the city's buildings declared as World Heritage Sites.
Shopping in Barcelona
Non-EU visitors to Spain have a little extra incentive to bring souvenirs home: tax free shopping. So long as the goods bought are items that could be taken back to you country with you and the bill exceeds EUR90.15, you will make a saving of 16 percent on purchases.
In Barcelona, the city is a shopper's playground. A three mile (5km) shopping line tracks from Las Ramblas, through Placa de Catalunya along Passeig de Gràcia and up Avenue Diagonal. Most of it is pedestrianized and pleasant to navigate on foot. The Tomb bus is a service specifically tailored for shoppers in the city, covering all the major retail centers, it departs every seven minutes from Catalonia Square and makes 28 stops up until Placa Pius XII.
Barcelona is a very fashion conscious city and several big names such as Giorgio Armani, Burberry and Bally are represented in exclusive stores here while there are also local Spanish mega-fashion stores like Zara, Mango and Adolfo Dominguez. Travelers on a budget might want to take advantage of seasonal sales. Winter sales officially start around 10 January and summer sales around 5 July, savings are generally high, between 50 to 70 percent, during these times.
Shops open at about 9am and close between 8pm and 9pm daily. Some shops close for a lunchtime siesta between 2pm and 4pm.
Barcelona Nightlife
With a lunchtime siesta, there's no excuse for not having enough energy to make it through a long night of partying up a storm on the streets of Barcelona. Alfresco dining is a good way to start an evening of revelry and has become a way of life in many of the city's squares. Good spots to sip on a glass of wine and people-watch are the Plaça del Sol in Gràcia and Passeig del Born, Plaça del Pi and Plaça Reial in the Old Town. Barcelona is a trendy city with a fickle club scene that changes just about as often as its locals change their minds on what they'd like to drink. During the summertime, chiringuitos(beach bars) open along the white sands of Barcelona's urban beaches, each with its own vibe and music, and are popular with both locals and tourists alike. Key spots are Barri Gòtic and Las Ramblas which, despite its medieval atmosphere, boasts a great selection of bars and clubs to choose from, though keep your possessions close to your body as pickpockets operate in these areas. This is where you'll find some of Barcelona's most popular and trendiest nightclubs and bars. L'Eixample, north of the city, is the place to go for Barcelona's gay scene. Port Olimpic is great for night owls with plenty of bars, clubs and great seafood restaurants, while the yacht marina is a great place to enjoy sundowners on a warm summer's evening. With the rest of Europe right on its doorstep, Barcelona is dripping with culture and there are plenty of regular performances of ballet, music, dance and opera at various venues such as the Joan Miro Foundation and the Greek Theater, or the Liceu Opera House. And for a more relaxed evening, visitors can enjoy Flamenco at various venues throughout the city such as Tablao de Carmen and Travel Bar Flamenco Guide, which are both located in the old quarter's center.
Attractions for Kids
The historic city of Barcelona offers more to its younger visitors than meets the eye. Children traveling in Barcelona will have a grand time discovering all that this exciting city has to offer and the waterfront is a great place to start where old and new ships still dock and children can enjoy a sightseeing cruise to view Barcelona from a different angle. Children will also love the cross-harbor cable car, which offers an exhilarating ride over the harbor and spectacular panoramic views. Taking the children shopping while traveling in Barcelona is usually not a favorite pastime for parents or the children being hauled around, but stop off at one of the city's famous bomboneria(chocolate shops) and pick up an imaginatively shaped treat for the kids, such as a chocolate sailing ship, mushroom house or ferris wheel, and you've got yourself a deal. With beautiful warm weather for most of the year, and very mild winters, Barcelona is one of those cities blessed with plenty of outdoor attractions and activities. Take the kids to the beach to splash around in the turquoise Mediterranean, cycle round the neighborhoods of this bicycle friendly city, or jump on the city's hop on hop off tourist bus. Children will love the constantly changing scenery and exciting attractions to be seen along the way. When the weather cools down, why not head to one of the many museums dotted around the city, or the Barcelona Aquarium or Zoo where fun new learning opportunities abound and children can be captivated by the wonders of science and nature.
