The Jewel of Catalan
Get to Know Barcelona
Known for its architecture, music, and exceptional art scene, Barcelona shines brightest at night. As the capital of Catalonia, the city is filled with hidden gems. Over the past few years, the municipality has been at the forefront of remaking the city for pedestrians, so pack your walking shoes—it’s one of the world’s most walkable major cities.
Barcelona Highlights
Since 2016, Barcelona’s leaders have been developing “superblocks”—3×3 grids of 9 city blocks that are essentially closed to cars. The result is a city that lends itself to leisurely wandering, always managing to reveal something unexpected.
Not many cities with over 1 million people can boast top-class urbanism and world-class beaches. But Barcelona is not just any city. If a morning full of museums and sightseeing wears you out, white sand beaches are a quick train or taxi ride away. The morning surf is quite good too.
Barcelona, and indeed all of Spain, can get both swelteringly hot and overwhelmingly crowded in the summer. If you can make a trip during the fall or spring, you will find far more mild temperatures and fewer crowds.
Nothing captures the Catalan passion like FC Barcelona. The love for the Blaugrana is inescapable in the city, and the monumental Camp Nou, with capacity for 100,000, is a cathedral to the world’s game.
The Best Things to Do in Barcelona
⛰ Take a Hike
No, really. Barcelona is more than just an urban landscape—it also has some outstanding dirt trails. Check out the Bunker del Carmel for top vistas of the city, or for a more intrepid escape, take a crack at the verdant Mount Tibidabo.
🥙 Eat Like a Local
Famous for their tapas, the streets of Barcelona come alive in the mid-afternoon. Check out Bodega 1900 for a unique spin on the classics.
🚶♀️ Visit Sant Antoni
For something a little more lively, head to Sant Antoni. Always brimming with life, this little sliver of the city is known for its markets and always seems to be in motion.
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