Barcelona City Tourist Guide
Spain

From: Spectacular Earth Travel Guide

See also: Madrid Travel Guide • Canary Islands • Balearic Islands


Barcelona
The modern city of Barcelona offers plenty of history, culture, art and attractions which include miles of stunning beaches and no end of striking architecture from Antonio Gaudi including the famous Sagrada Familia and Guell Park.

The city also boasts a wealth of parks, gardens, museums and monuments with the city's historic Gothic Quarter also centrally located and closely surrounded by the city's chic upmarket shopping areas selling the very latest fashions and accessories.

Location
Barcelona is located along mainland Spain's northeast coastline and borders with the Mediterranean Sea.

Travel Guide
Barcelona has an excellent transport network, both into the city from other parts of Spain as well as internationally.

Climate
Barcelona has a subtropical Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers that often average around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and mild winters that average between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the winters in Madrid are prone to frosts in some of the higher areas of the city and there have even been recordings of snow, with the wettest months usually being September and October.

Shopping
Barcelona has a wonderful variety of shops from the ultra chic boutiques that are bursting with all the latest fashions to large department stores, bustling markets, antiques and book shops are all amongst a small fraction of what's on offer.

Three of the most popular areas in Barcelona can be found off the main Placa Catalunya square which is in itself well worth a visit and is also where the Arenas Shopping Mall can be found and which also contains several shops and restaurants. The Passeig de Gracia is well known for its fashionably upmarket shops that have some of Barcelona's most well known fashion brands and is well known as one of the most expensive areas to shop.

The La Rambla offers a more tourist friendly approach with plenty of entertainment along the way in the form of art sellers and street entertainers who line the long pedestrianized boulevard which is flanked by shops and market stalls selling a wide range of goods from flowers and paintings to clothing.

The Avinguda del Portal de l'Angel is the street for many more popular fashion brand names and offers plenty of choice depending on your budget and requirements with jewellery, clothing and footwear a prominent features along this street.

And the vast Maremagnum Shopping Mall within Port Vell offers just about everything from jewellery and designer clothing to technology, toys, home ware and plenty of cafes to help keep you going. The Maremagnum is only a short walk away from La Rambla boulevard and a pleasant walk through the marina along the boardwalk.

Cuisine
Barcelona has a wonderful selection of top end Michelin starred restaurants throughout the city leaving visitors to the city somewhat spoilt for choice when it come to dining out, with plenty of opportunities for stylishly modern and creative Spanish cuisine as well as firm Spanish favourites.

Food in Barcelona is a wonderful blend of fresh meat and seafood dishes with plenty of fruit, herbs and vegetables and the all important accompanying sauce that often result in wonderful aromatic dishes that are full of flavour and colour.

Popular dishes can include the ever poplar paella as well as tapas and Escudella a meat and vegetable stew, Suquet de Peix a seafood casserole and Mongetes amb botifarra which is porc sausages with beans and you will also find served with many meat dishes a garlic sauce known as Allioli.

When it comes to dessert's one of the most famous creams used is Crema Catalana which is often added to fruit and pastry dishes.

Festivals
Barcelona has a vibrant mix of festivals and events that include energetic music and dance events, religious festivals as well as cultural and sporting events... more about Barcelona Festivals and Events

Barcelona Regions

Barcelona Attractions
The city of Barcelona has a wide range of sights and attractions from its striking Gaudi architecture to museums, parks, concert halls and churches that include the famous Sagrada Familia.


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