Location

The Top 5 must-see places in Barcelona

Barcelona, one of Europe’s most historic capitals, is a vibrant city full of culture. Whether you have little or a lot of time, here are 5 places in Barcelona you mustn’t miss.

1. Paseo de Gracia. One of the city’s main avenues, famous for being home to important emblematic buildings and the most exclusive shops.

2. The Sagrada Familia. Gaudi’s famous Basilica, still unfinished.

3. La Rambla. A stroll along Barcelona’s most famous street, which also houses the Boqueria Market.

4. Park Güell. Another Gaudí masterpiece. A small retreat with beautiful views of the city.

5. Plaça de Catalunya. The meeting point and junction between the city’s different districts, undoubtedly a historic and iconic square.

Modernism

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the development of Modernism, an artistic movement that in Barcelona had a great influence on architects the likes of Gaudí, Lluís Domènech i Montaner and Josep Puig i Cadafalch. This influence led to the construction of buildings such as the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Hospital de Sant Pau, Palau de la Música Catalana, Palau Macaya and Casa Ametller.

The Modernist Route is one of the city’s main attractions and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The itinerary features a tour of the Catalan capital that takes in its principal Modernist creations. It’s well worth the walk.

Shopping

Another of Barcelona’s attractions is its wide variety of shops and businesses of varying styles. Streets such as Portaferrissa, Portal de l’Àngel and Plaça Catalunya are home to different areas where you’ll find everything from small shops to large department stores.

Paseo de Gracia is known for the most international, luxurious, exclusive boutiques. If you prefer shopping centres, check out L’Illa, La Maquinista, Les Glòries or Diagonal Mar. Or discover the authenticity of street markets such as the Mercat dels Encants in Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes and the Mercat de Sant Antoni, among others.

Music

Over a period of many years Barcelona has become the European benchmark in terms of quality musical offerings, and not just because it host performances of all genres, but also because of its historic venues, which include the Palau de la Música Catalana, L’Auditori, the Gran Teatre del Liceu and the Sala Apolo. While these venues may differ greatly, they all boast very distinguished histories.

Check the schedule of concerts and world tours by your favourite artists or groups; they may coincide with your stay in Barcelona. The many concert halls feature performances throughout the year.

Music festivals in the Catalan capital have hosted many well-known artists and welcomed performers of many different nationalities. The best known are Primavera Sound, Sonar, Festival Grec, Summercase, Cruïlla Barcelona…

Beaches

The nearest beaches to our hotel are those of El Prat de Llobregat (16 km), Castelldefels (17 km) and Sitges (33 km).

We also recommend that you visit the beaches of Barcelona and its Olympic port, where leisure and restaurants are never far away.