Hans Christian Andersen had the following to say about Barcelona back in 1862, and his words are as true today as they were 153 years ago: “We crossed wide streets, with buildings that resembled palaces. On La Rambla the shops were well lit and there was movement and life… I decided not to go to bed, even though I wanted to, so I could get up early and contemplate, during the day, this city, unknown to me: Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia.”.
Barcelona is still the capital of Catalonia and is now the second largest city in Spain. The city is beautifully situated on the Mediterranean Sea with higher mountains in the background and fine sandy beaches stretching along the sea. Barcelona is today a tourist resort of hysterical proportions (in fact, restrictions have recently been introduced on the rental of housing to dampen tourism somewhat) and in Europe only Rome and Paris have more visitors annually.
In this guide to the city, we go through everything from attractions and shopping to hotel deals and general tips on what not to miss, what to avoid, etc.
Nightlife Barcelona
Barcelona, like so many other large Spanish cities, truly never sleeps and it is never empty on the main street La Rambla (don't miss the world's most powerful food market La Boqueria) and the surrounding area. In short, Barcelona can boast perhaps the most vibrant nightlife in all of Europe.
As the city of Barcelona is, there is no central entertainment scene, but the range of restaurants, bars and other entertainment venues is spread out throughout the city. Some tips, however, are the Barceloneta district, which has a wide range of good restaurants with fish and seafood on the menu, and Port Olímpic, which is an area with both restaurants, pubs, bars and nightclubs. Note that these areas have a large focus on tourists and for a more authentic feel of Barcelona, it may be an idea to visit other parts of the city, such as the sizzling El Born!
Tip: Unlike most other Spanish cities, you don't get free tapas when you buy a drink at a bar. If you want something to eat, you have to order it separately. Some bars have buffets, which you can take as much as you want, but sooner or later they will come to your table with the bill.
Attractions Barcelona
The attraction that Barcelona is perhaps best known for, the basilica The Sagrada Familia, is located in the Eixample district, about three kilometers from the city center. La Sagrada Familia is a unique sight and the basilica is a must-see.
La Rambla is the perfect starting point for a sightseeing tour of Barcelona. The street, an attraction in itself, runs from the Columbus statue at the port, through Plaça de Catalunya and another kilometer or so north through the city.
Along La Rambla are several of the city's more exciting neighborhoods. The Barri Gòtic, Barcelona's old town, is a colorful and charming place with plenty to see. La Ribera, home to the Picasso Museum, is another landmark.
Another unique attraction is Parc Güell in the northern part of the city.
Barcelona's beach, which stretches from Barceloneta to the Fórum, was created in connection with the 1992 Olympics. Before that, the area was known as “Barcelona’s Manchester” and was one of the largest, old industrial areas in the world. However, they completely demolished all the industrial buildings and dumped them into the sea, and then filled the area with sand, sun loungers, volleyball courts, shower areas, cycle paths and chiringutios ( beach restaurants). A real story of sunshine. Incidentally, the beaches are cleaner than the above anecdote makes them appear to be…
To go and see FC Barcelona at the mighty Camp Nou is another thing you can't miss if you visit Barcelona. It's actually quite easy to get tickets as it's rarely crowded.
Museums in Barcelona
The Picasso Museum has works from the artist's early, and according to many, most exciting, period.
If Pablo's surrealist paintings aren't your thing, visit the Catalan Museum, which has a world-famous collection of art from the Roman era, among other things.
The Barcelona History Museum has, among other things, a rich collection of Roman artifacts.
The museum that, in our opinion, stands out the most in the city is the maritime museum, which is the world's best-preserved medieval port.
If you love chocolate, you must visit the chocolate museum Museu de la Xocolata, which tells the story of chocolate - from the Aztec Empire to Europe, via Barcelona - the port where chocolate imports began in 1528.
History of Barcelona
- Barcelona has a mythical history as well as a more scientifically proven one. According to the myth, it was Carthage (a prominent culture, headquartered in North Africa, which was later completely destroyed by the Roman Empire) that founded the city around 236 BC. However, historians believe that it was the Romans who built the city, on a city structure built by the Iberians.
- Barcelona became a county under Wilfred the Hairy in 878, and through this the city became an administrative center of Catalonia. With the unification of Aragon and Catalonia in 1150, Barcelona's position was further strengthened, and the city has been a central city for the entire Mediterranean region ever since.
- Looking at its more modern history, Barcelona was one of the first industrial cities in Spain and it was the emerging cotton industry in the first half of the 19th century that put the city on the map. During the Civil War, Barcelona was the capital of the Republicans in the fight against Franco. The contradictions, which intensified during this period, between Madrid and Barcelona still lives on today, not least when the cities' two biggest football teams clash in "El Clásico".
- The city is rich in art history, and it was here that Picasso had his heyday, even though he was born in Malaga, and later moved to Paris. However, Catalonia's great son in terms of art is Salvador Dalí (his museum is located in his birthplace of Figueres, 2 hours north of Barcelona).
When it comes to architecture, Barcelona has produced several historically prominent architects, and we think above all of Antoni Gaudi – perhaps the world's most prominent architect ever. His buildings, parks and monuments characterize the entire cityscape of Barcelona, not least his great vision la Sagrada Familia. This enormous and fantastic basilica is planned (although no one really understands how it will work) to be completely completed in 2026, 100 years after Gaudi's death.
Shopping in Barcelona
This is undoubtedly one of the best cities in the world for shopping. There is everything from small shops selling spices, olive oils and wines to exclusive flagship stores for the biggest fashion houses. However, the city is best known for home decor and art.
Shopping districts you should visit are the Barri Gótic and Placa de sant Josep Oriol. If you like big department stores and chains, walk down the street Avinguda Portal de l'Angel. Here you will find Zara, El Corte Inglés and all the other big Spanish chains. If you like to shop where the locals shop (at least the trendiest ones), visit the El Born district. Many of the streets there are lined with boring shops for tourists, but if you go into the side streets you will find a whole world full of really cool, quirky shops.
Avoid the touristy Carrer de la Portaferrissa neighborhood, which is located between the cathedral and Las Ramblas.
Accommodation in Barcelona
Although the city is the most expensive in Spain, there is still a lot of cheap accommodation in Barcelona. However, book well in advance, especially during the summer.
Tip 1: more expensive hotels that otherwise target business people are generally cheaper during the summer and on weekends. Here is a link with the best deals on hotels in the city right now (hotels.com)They also have a nice selection of holiday apartments and villas.
Tip 2: If you want to stay a little quieter and not be disturbed by the partying night people, you should rather request, when booking, a room that is “tranquilo” (quiet) and not “con vista” (with a view). This applies especially to the slightly cheaper hotels.
Do you want to rent an apartment for a longer period (at least 6 months) in the city? We are collaborating with one of Spain's largest banks, which has its headquarters in Barcelona. They have started renting out apartments for a few years now at a very good price for long-term rentals (long stay). Write to info@spanskafastigheter.se and we will get back to you with more information.
Flights and other Public Transport Connections
Public Transport Connections with flights from Sweden to Barcelona are excellent and you can fly both regularly and with slightly cheaper airlines. With regularly scheduled flights you land at Barcelona-El Prat International Airport. From this airport you can get to town center by bus or train (both modes of travel take about 30 minutes, and are clearly cheaper alternatives than taxis). Tips for cheap flights to Barcelona, among other places.
Some low-cost airlines also operate from this airport, but most of the low-cost airlines have other smaller airports nearby (Girona and Reus to take two examples) as bases. Ryanair is based in Girona, which is about ten miles from Barcelona. There are buses to Barcelona about 20-25 minutes after landing. Taxis cost over 100 Euros.
Many of the sights in Barcelona are within fairly easy walking distance, but it may be good to know that the city has both a metro and a well-developed bus network. We do not recommend renting a car during your visit to the city.
Weather in Barcelona
Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate with warm summers and temperate winters. It rarely gets below five degrees, even in January, and in summer the average temperature is fairly stable at over 25 degrees.
The housing market in Barcelona – expensive but bank repossession are affordable
- As we mentioned earlier, we are working with a Spanish major bank, which is headquartered in Barcelona. They therefore always have plenty of apartments in the city and surrounding areas.
- Subscribe to our newsletter with properties in Barcelona.
- We would like to point out that it is expensive in the central parts of the city, even when it comes to bank repossession (the alternatives are, however, too expensive for most people).
- Price example of the cheapest apartment for sale (bankruptcy property) in the central parts of Barcelona at the time of writing: Apartment with 3 bedrooms, 51 sqm , year of construction 1966, last renovation 2001, costs 51000 Euro. It is located in the Horta-Guinardó neighborhood.
Are you looking for a home in the Barcelona area? Write to info@spanskafastigheter.se and we will get back to you shortly.
