Places
La Boqueria
Barcelona´s best-known market has become somewhat of a tourist attraction thanks to its location on the bustling La Rambla. Hosting a wide range of fresh food, it’s the perfect stop to have a bite to eat while taking in the sites of central Barcelona.
- La Rambla, 89
- M: Liceu (L3)
- Mon-Sat 8am-8.30pm; Sun closed
CCCB
Spain’s largest cultural centre hosting worldly renowned exhibitions.
- Montalegre, 5, Raval
M: Catalunya (L1, L3) - Tue-Sun 11-20; Thu 11-22
- €4,50/€3 & Wed. 2 exhibitions €6/€5,60; free under-16s. Free to all 1st Wed of mth; 8-10 pm Thur; 3-8pm Sun
Palo Alto Market
This market has got it all: design, vintage, handmade, workshops, galleries, live music, and organic street food stalls. Great place to spend the Sunday.
- Carrer dels Pellaires, 30
M: Poble Nou (L4) - Early entry price online: €3,50
- Entrance fee at the box office €4,5
- Children under the age of 12 can enter for free.
La Pedrera
Described variously as rising dough, molten lava and a stone lung, Gaudi´s La Pedrera has become one of Barcelona’s best-loved buildings, and is adored by architects for its extraordinary structure.
- Provença, 261-265
M: Diagonal (L3, L5) - Feb 27 – Nov 2: Daily 9am-8.30pm; Last admission at 8pm.
- €20.50; €16.50 reductions; €10.25 7-12 years; free under-7s
Sagrada Familia
Big Ben, Eiffel tour, most cities have their own unique monument. Barcelona has Gaudí´s Sagrada Familia.
- Mallorca, 401, Eixample
M: Sagrada Família (L2, L5) - Opening hours: Nov – Feb: 9 am to 6 pm. / March and October: 9 am to 7 pm. / April-September: 9 am to 8 pm. / 25 and 26 December, 1 and 6 January: 9 am to 2 pm.
- Tickets from €17. Tour with guide €26. Self-guided audio tour €25
Plaça Sant Felip Neri
The romantic, slightly faded Plaça Sant Felip Neri is an unmissable corner of Gótico. Presided over by the baroque church from which it takes its name, the square features a number of historic elements that make it particularly attractive, especially when you view it in silence.
- Plaça Sant Felip Neri
M: Liceu (L3), Jaume I (L4)
Plaza la Virreina
On the last Sunday of every month, hundreds of locals and visitors alike try their skills out and swing dance the afternoon away at Plaça Virreina. The three cafés on the plaça offer plenty of seats to sit down with your caña, soak up the sunlight, and enjoy the bohemian energy of Gracia’s Plaça Virreina.
- Plaça Virreina
- M: Fontana (L3), Joanic (L4)
Plaza del sol
Plaza del Sol is Gràcia’s liveliest square at night-time. In the evenings, the square gets packed with bohemians, musicians and students who like to sit on the ground while enjoying a vermouth or beer that they bought at the local supermarket or from the vendors that always seem to walk around.
- Plaça del Sol
M: Diagonal, Fontana (L3)
Local Restaurants
Quimet i Quimet
Packed to the rafters with dusty bottles of wine, this classic but minuscule bar serves typical tapas such as ‘conservas’ (shellfish preserved in tins) and ‘montaditos’ (sculpted tapas served on bread). Get there early for any chance of a surface to put your drink on.
- Poeta Cabanyes, 25, Poble-sec
M: Paral·lel (L2, L3) - Mon-Fri noon-4pm, 7pm-10.30pm; Sat, holidays noon-4pm
La Plata
Also known locally as ‘Los Pescaditos’ for their delicious, freshly-fried fish. They serve Perucchi vermouth, one of the oldest brands in Catalonia. A Sunday aperitif here will make you feel like a king.
- Mercè, 28, Ciutat Vella
- M: Barceloneta (M: L4)
- 10pm-3.30pm, 6.30pm-11pm
El Pla
At this cosy, homely restaurant with its exquisite low-lit décor, the waiter sits down at your table and explains all the dishes, and which you feel have been made especially for you. Time Out Award 2010 Winner for best dining atmosphere.
- Bellafila, 5, Born
- M: Jaume I (M: L4)
- Mon-Thu 7.30am-midnight; Fri-Sun 7.30am-midnight
Casa Xica
Casa Xica (Small House in Catalan) is a little jewel of an eatery where you can offered a Chinese-Catalan fusion of food that will leave you with a Big impression.
- França Xica, 20, Poble-sec
- M: Poble Sec (L3)
- Mon 8pm-11pm; Tue-Sat 1.30pm-11pm; Sun closed
Bars & Dancefloors
Marseille Bar
Barcelona’s very first bar with regulars such as Picasso and Hemingway. While outside pimps, prostitutes and thieves cavort the night away, inside, local bohemians and brave tourists enjoy drinking the venue’s famed absinthe.
- Sant Pau, 65, Raval
- M: Paral·lel (L2, L3)
- Mon-Sun 21:30-2:30, Fri-Sa 21:30-3
El Xampagnet
Lined with coloured tiles, barrels and antique curios, this bar chiefly functions as a little slice of Barcelona history offering low-grade cava with a saucer of Cantabrian anchovies as house tapa.
- Montcada, 22, Born
- M: Jaume I (L4)
- Tue-Sat, noon-15.30; 19-23; Sun 12-15.30
Quilombo
If you like to sing, but not karaoke, Quilombo is the place to be. Every night, this local venue with delicious mojito´s and free popcorn gets packed with people playing maracas and singing to the live guitar.
- Carrer Aribau 194, Eixample
- M: Provenca (L6, L7), Diagonal (L3, L5)
- Wed-Sat 21:30-2:30
Raïm
Raïm bar looks just like Havana with flaking walls, black-and-white pictures of Cuban Son singing stars, layers of dust, speakers playing Cuban music, and enthusiastic staff serving up mojitos.
- Progrés, 48, Gracia
- M: Verdaguer (L4, L5), Fontana (L3)
- Daily 8:00pm to 2:30am
Barts
BARTS (short for: Barcelona Arts on Stage) is managed by promoters The Project, and has two rooms: the main one has a capacity of between 900 (seated) and 1,500 (seated and standing), and the club lounge holds up to 130.
- Av. Parallel 62, Poble Sec
- M: Parallel (L2, L3)
- Opening times depend on evening
Magic
Looking for a rock club in Barcelona? Magic has it all: counterculture, punk and new wave. On its two dancefloors, you’ll see a happy frenzy of tattoos, young party-seekers, techno-haters and vamps: anything goes, except smoking on the dancefloor.
- Passeig Picasso, 40, Born
- M: Barceloneta (L4)
- Thu-Sat & holidays eve 11pm-6am
Apolo
This concert hall/nightclub has become the city’s paradigm of indie clubbing and good live music in an informal atmosphere. Artists new to the scene as well as acclaimed pop, rock, folk and international electronic music stars grace the stage every day of the week.
- Nou de la Rambla, 113, Poble-sec
- M: Paral·lel (L2,L3)
- Opening hours according to season
Razzmatazz
This monster of a club with five distinct spaces is one of the best (if not the best) club in town. It’s the night-time playground of all young Barcelona with indie rock, tech-house, techno pop, electro pop and electro rock.
- Almogàvers, 122, Sant Martí
- Fri-Sun 1am-6am
- Price: 15€