4 – Las Ramblas
One of the most popular things to do in Barcelona is to take a leisurely stroll along Las Ramblas or La Rambla.
This one and a half kilometer avenue that runs from Plaza Cataluña to the Columbus Monument, is abuzz with tourists and activity at any time of the day in which in addition to seeing street artists at the end of the route, there are several highlights they deserve a time like the La Boquería market, which has numerous stalls selling quality products and restaurants for tapas.
You can also not forget to see the Miró mosaic and drink at the Canaletas fountain, famous for being the place where Football Club Barcelona fans celebrate the titles. Furthermore, they say that whoever drinks their water returns to Barcelona. You want to check it out, right?
What we do not recommend about La Rambla is to sit on one of its terraces to eat or have a drink, as the quality / price ratio is quite appalling.
In one of the adjacent streets of this street is the Palau Güell, another of Gaudí’s wonderful modernist works to visit in Barcelona. The journey through its interior to the terrace full of colored fireplaces is simply magical.
A very interesting option to get to know the history and not miss anything from this part of the city is to book this free tour with a guide in Spanish for free! or this tour of mysteries and legends, both located among the best tours and excursions from Barcelona.
Palau Güell visiting hours: from Tuesday to Sunday from April to October from 10am to 8pm; the rest of the months from 10am to 5:30 pm.
5 – Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
The Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, built between 1902 and 1930 by the modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner and his son, is another of the buildings to see in Barcelona declared a World Heritage Site.
Located a few meters from the Sagrada Familia, this old hospital surprised by a group of modernist red brick buildings and a large central square, which at the time helped, with a calm and beautiful environment, to heal patients. In 2009 the hospital and medical team were moved to new facilities located at the north end of the complex.
The visit can take between one and two hours, as there are several exhibitions to learn about the history of the hospital and although everything is very well explained, it may be interesting to book this guided tour.
To get to this hospital you can take metro line 5 and get off at Sant Pau or line 4 that leaves you in Guinardó.
A good way to get around Barcelona and save money is to buy the Hola BCN Card! for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days, which allows you unlimited access to public transport in Barcelona.
On the first Sunday of each month you have free admission, making it one of the best free things in Barcelona.
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from November to March from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April to October from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. On Sundays it closes two hours earlier.
6 – El Born, one of the places to visit in Barcelona
Located right next to the Gothic Quarter, between Vía Laietana and La Barceloneta, is one of the most fashionable neighborhoods to visit in Barcelona, El Born. Its narrow and cobbled streets are filled with tapas restaurants, charming cafes, boutiques, shops and places to have the first drink of the night.
Although there are many important places to see in El Born, the jewel is the magnificent Gothic-style Basilica of Santa María del Mar, famous for the literary work “La Catedral del Mar”. A good option to tour the scenarios where the plot of this book is set is to book this tour with a guide in Spanish.
Another of the best things to do in Barcelona and in this neighborhood is to enter the impressive Palau de la Música Catalana, a modernist building, built between 1905 and 1908 by the modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which has the only concerts declared a World Heritage Site. To enter the Palau de la Música you have to book a guided tour or buy a ticket to attend one of its music concerts and also enjoy its excellent acoustics.
Another of the neighborhood’s highlights is the Picasso Museum, with the most important collection made by the great painter during his youth. In addition to the places mentioned, before leaving the neighborhood, you cannot miss visiting the old Born Market, visiting the Passeig de Born and Montcada street, seeing the Marcus chapel and the Church of Sant Pere de les Puelles, eating at the Santa Catarina Market, to finish in the beautiful Estación de Francia.
Visiting hours Santa María del Mar: Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Visiting hours of the Palau de la Música: every day from 10am to 3:30 pm (July and August until 6pm).
Visiting hours for the Picasso Museum: Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Thursday to 9:30 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)