5 Places You Must Visit in Barcelona
Barcelona is usually high on lists of the most popular places in the world to visit. With a reputation for everything from brilliant architecture and beautiful scenery to excellent food and legendary nightlife, it’s a destination for tourists every single year. 2018 should be no different, so we’ve put together a list of places you ought to visit if you make it to the city!
PARC GUELL
Parc Guell (or Guell Park, depending on where you’re reading) is one of the most famous places in Barcelona and is responsible for many of the prevailing images of the city. Designed by Antoni Gaudi, it’s a bizarre but beautiful place, equal parts theme park, and Old Town, and as one write-up put it, as whimsical as parks can get. Parc Guell is largely considered to be a sightseeing destination (as well as a perfect place for photos in Barcelona), but it’s best to think of it as a place to spend an entire morning or afternoon. You can walk around the area, see some of the more famous constructions, and simply enjoy good weather in one of the more picturesque and unique places in Western Europe.
CAMP NOU STADIUM
Camp Nou has risen to become one of the more famous football stadiums on the planet, thanks in large part to the sheer quality of the FC Barcelona team of late. With several of the world’s biggest stars leading the way, Barcelona is always among the top teams in La Liga – the Spanish premier division – and 2018 will bring more of the same. The club is in the top position in the tables as of the outset of 2018, which should make Camp Nou just as festive and enjoyable as ever for the foreseeable future. It’s a sensational place to see a match, even if you aren’t a football fan or an FC Barcelona supporter.
CASINO BARCELONA
Barcelona isn’t known as a casino town by any means, and in fact, any expansion in this area has taken place largely online of late. Playtech, for instance, is one of the bigger names in online casino play and has established agreements with licensing bodies in Spain and other countries during years of rapid expansion, meaning there are more online games available to people in this part of Europe. However, don’t let the focus on internet gaming fool you. Barcelona has a wonderful brick-and-mortar casino as well. With various events and gaming offerings, on-site bars and restaurants, and even live sports betting, it’s a full-fledged entertainment hub. It may be particularly fun in 2018 as well, with the summer World Cup likely enhancing the activity to some extent.
FIRA BARCELONA for Sonar 2018
Fira Barcelona (sometimes called Fira Montjuic) is essentially a large indoor/outdoor trade fair venue that hosts numerous events throughout the year. It’s always a place to keep in mind if you’re curious about shows or cultural exhibitions in the city and has become best known for hosting Sonar – a major annual music festival. Once a relative unknown compared to other music festivals in Europe, Sonar is now compared to the likes of Ultra and Tomorrowland. It makes Fira Barcelona the place to be each June, though again this location also hosts many other interesting events throughout the year.
THE RAVAL DISTRICT
The Raval is a fascinating corner of the city that’s perfect for those who really like to get an authentic feel for a destination. It’s said that it was once a no-go area for tourists, and you can actually find articles still that refer to it as a “ghetto” of sorts. Now, however, the area is revitalized. In addition to showcasing some excellent architecture (which is something that can be said of many neighborhoods in Barcelona), it’s become a hot spot for things to do as well. There are trendy bars and restaurants, interesting places to shop, and crowds of locals and tourists alike that are always fun to mix in with. You may find to your surprise that the Raval winds up being one of your favorite parts of the city.
In case you are interested to explore Barcelona´s food side with a local food expert, check out our Eat Local experiences that drive through the most interesting aspects of local gastronomy. Our signature food tour at Sant Antoni and El Poble-sec district has been rated 5 stars by worldwide foodies who had experienced first-hand the roots of Catalan gastronomy by touring local food markets, wine bodegas, tapas bars, hidden restaurants and more while getting to know the city´s most delicious side!