Dona i Ocell

Barcelona

　　Rising 22m from a reflecting pool, Joan Miró's phallic Dona i Ocell (Woman and Bird) sculpture was installed in the early 1980s in the Parc de Joan Miró. Its red, yellow, blue and green tiles were added by Miró's collaborator Joan Gardy Artigas. ...

Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria

Barcelona

　　Launched in 2013 as part of the events held for the tercentenary of the Catalan defeat in the War of the Spanish Succession, this cultural space is housed in the former Mercat del Born, a handsome 19th-century structure of slatted iron and brick designed by Josep Fontserè. Excavations in 2001...

Casa Lleó Morera

Barcelona

　　Domènech i Montaner’s 1905 contribution to the Illa de la Discòrdia, with Modernista carving outside and a bright, tiled lobby in which floral motifs predominate, is perhaps the least odd-looking of the three main buildings on the block. It's now occupied by luxury fashion store Loewe. ...

Parc de la Ciutadella

Barcelona

　　Come for a stroll, a picnic, a lake boat ride, a tour of Catalonia’s parliament or to marvel at the swirling waterfall-fountain in which Gaudí had a hand. This is the city's most central green lung, born in the mid-19th century on the former site of the much-hated huge fortress...

Parc de Joan Miró

Barcelona

　　This palm-filled park is worth a look for its massive phallic 1980s Miró sculpture, Dona i Ocell (Woman and Bird), whose red, yellow, blue and green tiles were added by Miró's collaborator Joan Gardy Artigas. 　　Locals know the park as the Parc de l’Escorxador (Abattoir Park), after the slaughterhouse that...

Castell de Montjuïc

Barcelona

　　Enjoying commanding views over the Mediterranean, this forbidding fortress dominates the southeastern heights of Montjuïc. It dates, in its present form, from the late 17th and 18th centuries, though there's been a watchtower here since 1073. For most of its dark history, it has been used as a political prison...

Mercat de la Llibertat

Barcelona

　　Opened in 1888, the ‘Market of Liberty’ was covered in 1893 by Francesc Berenguer i Mestres (1866–1914), Gaudí’s long-time assistant, in typically fizzy Modernista style, employing generous whirls of wrought iron. Despite a considerable facelift in 2009, it remains emblematic of Gràcia: full of life and fabulous fresh produce, and...

Font Màgica

Barcelona

　　Originally created for the 1929 World Exposition, this huge colour-lit fountain has again been a magnet since the 1992 Olympics, shimmering on the long sweep of Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina to the grand Palau Nacional. With a flourish, the ‘Magic Fountain’ erupts into a feast of musical, backlit...

Plaça Reial

Barcelona

　　One of the most photogenic squares in Barcelona, and certainly its liveliest. Numerous restaurants, bars and nightspots lie beneath the arcades of 19th-century neoclassical buildings, with a buzz of activity at all hours. The lamp posts by the central fountain are Antoni Gaudí’s first known works in the city. 　　The...

Mercat de Sant Antoni

Barcelona

　　Just beyond the western edge of El Raval, this glorious iron-and-brick market was originally completed in 1882, but reopened in 2018 with 250 stalls following a nine-year renovation job. It's a great place to stock up on seasonal produce or grab a bite in between browsing the fashion, textiles and...

Barça Stadium Tour & Museum

Barcelona

　　A pilgrimage site for football fans around the world, Camp Nou is a must for FC Barcelona fans. On this tour, which can be guided or self-guided, you'll get an in-depth look at the club, starting with a museum filled with multimedia exhibits, trophies and historical displays, followed by a...

Bellesguard

Barcelona

　　An entrancing work that combines Gothic and Modernista elements, this lesser-known Gaudí masterpiece was rescued from obscurity and opened to visitors in 2013. Built between 1900 and 1909, the private residence (still owned by the Guilera family) has a castle-like appearance with crenellated walls of stone and brick, narrow stained-glass...

Camp Nou

Barcelona

　　The massive stadium of Camp Nou ('New Field' in Catalan) is home to the legendary FC Barcelona. Attending a game amid the roar of the loyal crowds is an unforgettable experience; the season runs from August to May. Alternatively, get a taste of all the excitement at the interactive Barça...

Palau de la Música Catalana

Barcelona

　　A fantastical symphony in tile, brick, sculpted stone and stained glass, this Unesco-listed, 2146-seat concert hall is a high point of Barcelona’s Modernista architecture. Built by Domènech i Montaner, with the help of some of the best Catalan artisans of the time, between 1905 and 1908, for the Orfeo Català...

Platja de Sant Sebastià

Barcelona

　　At the far southern end of the beach fronting La Barceloneta, this is a handy stretch of white-gold sand for a bit of sun and surf action when you need a quick break from the old city. There's a string of beach bars, restaurants and shops in front of the...

Mercat de Santa Caterina

Barcelona

　　Come shopping for your tomatoes or pop in for lunch at this extraordinary-looking produce market, designed by forward-thinking architects Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue to replace its 19th-century predecessor. Completed in 2005 (sadly after Miralles' death in 2000), it's distinguished by its undulating, kaleidoscopic roof, suspended above bustling produce stands,...

La Catedral

Barcelona

　　Barcelona’s central place of worship presents a magnificent image. The richly decorated main facade, dotted with gargoyles and the kinds of stone intricacies you would expect of northern European Gothic, sets it quite apart from other Barcelona churches. The facade was actually added from 1887 to 1890. The rest of...

Casa Vicens

Barcelona

　　A Unesco-listed masterpiece, this angular, turreted 1885-completed private house was Gaudí’s inaugural commission, when the architect was aged just 30, created for stock and currency broker Manuel Vicens i Montaner. Tucked away west of Gràcia’s main drag, the richly detailed facade is awash with ceramic colour and shape, including distinctive...

El Poblenou Platges

Barcelona

　　A series of beautiful, broad, sandy golden beaches dotted with xiringuitos (seasonal beach bars) stretches northeast from the Port Olímpic marina. They're largely artificial, but that doesn't deter the millions of sunseekers and swimmers from descending in summer, especially for beach volleyball – and they're still quieter than the sandy...

Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau

Barcelona

　　Domènech i Montaner outdid himself as architect and philanthropist with the Modernista Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau, renamed the 'Recinte Modernista' in 2014. Built between 1902 and 1930, it was long considered one of Barcelona’s most important hospitals, but was repurposed into cultural centres, offices and...

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya

Barcelona

　　The spectacular neobaroque silhouette of the Palau Nacional can be seen on Montjuïc's slopes from across the city. Built for the 1929 World Exhibition and restored in 2005, it houses a vast collection of mostly Catalan art spanning the early Middle Ages to the early 20th century. The high point...

Casa Delfín

Barcelona

　　One of El Born's culinary delights, Casa Delfín is everything you dream about Catalan–Mediterranean cooking in a traditional-style. Lined with wine bottles inside, the service is spot-on and creative presentation lends a contemporary touch. Menus change depending on market produce, but might offer salt-strewn Padrón peppers, plump anchovies from L’Escala,...

Palau Güell

Barcelona

　　Built off La Rambla in the late 1880s for Gaudí's wealthy patron the industrialist Eusebi Güell, the Palau Güell is a magnificent example of the early days of the architect's fevered architectural imagination. This extraordinary neo-Gothic mansion (one of few major buildings of that era raised in Ciutat Vella) gives...

Gran Teatre del Liceu

Barcelona

　　If you can’t catch a night at the opera, you can still take in the awe-inspiring architectural riches of one of Europe’s greatest opera houses. Opened in 1847, the Liceu launched Catalan stars such as Josep (José) Carreras and Montserrat Caballé, and seats up to 2300 people in its grand...

La Rambla

Barcelona

　　La Rambla is a tree-lined boulevard featuring a wide array of architectural delights, beautifully decorated flower stalls and particularly talented (and certified) human statues. Foodies will definitely enjoy the tapa joints at Mercat de la Boqueria, considered by many to be the best gourmet food market in Europe. 　　It is infamous for...

Fundació Joan Miró

Barcelona

　　Joan Miró was a Catalan painter and sculptor born in Barcelona who combined abstract art with surrealism. He is considered one of the most influential painters in the world from the first half of the 20th century. 　　When you visit the Catalan capital, it’s difficult to miss the legacy that...

Museu Picasso

Barcelona

　　Located along the grand, medieval street of Carrer de Montcada, the Museu Picasso is dedicated to one of the world’s greatest artists, Pablo Picasso. Born in the Andalusian city of Málaga in 1881, Picasso moved to Barcelona at age 14, where he spent his adolescence, youth and formative years with...

Mercat de la Boqueria

Barcelona

　　With its banquet of fresh local produce, always-lively atmosphere, distinctive Modernista design and over 800 years of history on plane-tree-shaded La Rambla, Barcelona’s oldest market ranks among Spain’s most memorable experiences. 　　Around every corner, La Boqueria’s counters overflow with the freshest locally sourced ingredients, from pungent cheeses to salt-tanged seafood...

La Pedrera

Barcelona

　　Sitting firmly in the top tier of Antoni Gaudí's many achievements, this madcap Unesco-listed Modernista masterpiece (officially called Casa Milà) was created in 1905–10 as a combined apartment and office block. 　　La Pedrera’s entirely unique use of light, space and movement remains just as astounding today as when Barcelona’s premier...

Casa Batlló

Barcelona

　　An unmatched architectural treasure in a city defined by its otherworldly Modernista buildings, Unesco-listed Casa Batlló is undoubtedly one of Antoni Gaudí’s great jewels. 　　Created between 1904 and 1906 for the wealthy Batlló family, the once-private home on glamorous Passeig de Gràcia combines a shimmering tile-covered facade, bone-evoking stone columns,...

Park Güell

Barcelona

　　Visitors and locals alike love Park Güell. The waving balcony and the colorful Guard’s House, with the imposing Barcelona skyline and sea in the background, is the city’s favorite postcard. It's also a great summary of what the Catalan capital is like: a creative, cosmopolitan city with a Mediterranean lifestyle....

La Sagrada Família

Barcelona

　　The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family) is considered to be the symbol of Barcelona by many residents, and the one place you shouldn’t miss when you visit the Catalan capital. 　　Initially intended to be a simple Roman Catholic church dedicated to Jesus, Mary and Joseph,...