Here are some personal tips, from a born and raised native of Barcelona, to enjoy our amazing city as an extra special guest instead of an ordinary tourist. 

Gaudi territory

Picasso and Dali - our city is not short of great artists. Some people would add Messi to this list... But the artist we are perhaps most proud of, the one who shaped our city and left his legacy all
over, is of course Gaudi the architect. His work is everywhere, not just at Sagrada Familia cathedral.

To enjoy his work, head for Eixample - the unusual district that is arranged all in perfect squares and straight angles, like a city of the New World. In the middle of Eixample stands Passeig de Gracia, one of the most elegant avenues of Barcelona. There you will find some of Gaudi's finest works – La Pedrera and Casa Battlo, in pure Art Nouveau style (by the way, in Catalan and in Spanish even, we say 'modernist'). This is not history, this is a living, vibrant neighbourhood.

In La Pedrera in particular the architecture is as spectacular inside as outside. In summer, on Fridays and Saturdays - and here is something even locals don't always know - you can enjoy jazz concerts on the terrace.

Time Savers

If tapas night is not too much for you from the night before, get to Eixample early in the morning – it gets very crowded later. You can also skip the line by buying your ticket on line in advance, here http://www.telentrada.com/Telentrada/en/Compra+on-line .
More unusual, you can also buy your tickets at any savings bank, Caixa Catalunya. Why? Because the Bank actually operates Casa Battlo.

Along Ramblas…

There are two ways to approach Ramblas - our famed boulevard. Most tourists stay right on ramblas, in search of human sculptures and painters. But you can also step off the Ramblas and on to the neighbouring streets - where it's much more quiet and intimate.

La plaça dels Ángles is home to our Museum of Contemporary Art MACBA (apologies for the acronym, not my invention). When the sun sets down, however, you can also see young skaters showing off their skills – it is said that the star skater of Cirque du soleil was first scouted on plaça
dels Angles.

On the opposite side of Las Ramblas is Petritxol Street - best spot for 'amb xurros' or hot chocolate and a charming oasis of quiet off Portaferrissa Street. The ultimate gem is at the end of the street -
Santa Maria del Pi church. If you’re lucky you will be able to attend an organ concert there…really emotional experience, I have wonderful memories of first running into this church.

Keep An Eye On The Time In Ramblas

Ramblas changes dramatically based on the time of day. Avoid evening when it is full of young tourists in heat looking for adventures to dream about when they are back home. Conversely, Ramblas is most charming in the morning, when flower sellers set up shop.

By the way, on Ramblas the locals are all walking along the sides of the streets, to move quickly through the crowds - spots the locals!

El Born

If you are out to catch local fashion, and to find fine foods, El Born is the neighbourhood for you. Don't go early - everything you've read about us living late at night is true - even more so than you'd
ever believe. El Born is fun, fashionable, and vibrant. Simply get lost on any of the small streets. They will lead you eventually to our city's ultimate gem - the waterfront. Our city was voted Best Beach City in the world, and all for a reason - we are city people but we also have authentic beach
culture.

'Barceloneta', little Barcelona, is the fishing village of our city. Don't forget your bathing suits at home, you just might regret otherwise. But make fish paella your first objective in Barceloneta.

Extra Special

There are many a great place to make your night in Barcelona very special. At passeig de gracia the bar of hotel La Casa Fuster is great for jazz performances – Woody Allen, who dreams himself a great jazz artist, loves to perform there when in Barcelona. And of course we all love the man of “Vicki, Cristina and Barcelona”.

Around El Born a favourite of mine is the roof terrace of hotel Wela. There was a time when the construction of this hotel stirred controversy but today the furore has gone and the view from the terrace has stayed.

These places will make yours a night to remember. I keep trying it, the magic keeps working...

Andrea, City Guide In Barcelona

Discover Walks run walking guided tours and adventures that aim to give guests a special moment in the company of a true local – whether in Barcelona, Paris, San Francisco, Prague etc. The kind of
experience you might share with a good friend who was a native – fun, informative and most of all, personal to you and your guide.

Our guides are young, energetic, educated, and most important fun. Most of our tours are free of charge – supported by tips from our guests. We operate every day, rain or shine. Advanced booking is not required.

In Barcelona, Discover Walks offer tours of Ramblas, Gaudi's World, and Trendy Barcelona/Born District.

Private tours at reasonable rates are also available on request.

www.discoverwalks.com/barcelona

 

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