Barcelona Districts: Where to Explore...

For a trip to Barcelona it is useful to know which areas are worth a visit and what may be in store for you. Here is the quick rundown of the most popular areas and what you might find there.

Gothic Quarter

This is the ‘old city’ in the heart of Barcelona with cobbled ancient streets, picturesque architecture, Gothic Cathedral and The Museu d'Història de Barcelona which shows remains of the Roman city. It has the mix of old and new, and it is very easy to get lost among all the little streets. Here you will also find one of Gaudi’s first projects, the street lamp in one of the grandest squares- Plaça Reial.

Las Ramblas

This is the central most Boulevard which goes though the city centre and is a very busy promenade, shopping and café area. The Northern end is more popular with tourists and is worth a stroll to take in the sights and sounds of this vibrant area

Barceloneta

This is the seafront of Barcelona of which the beach is the main attraction and where you will find some of the best seafood on offer. The aquarium, the biggest in Europe, is also located here as well as the Catalunya History Museum and the Montjuïc Cable Car where from the top you get stunning views over the whole city.

Montjuic 

Translated it means Jewish Mountain and the impressive castle at the top offers fantastic views over the city and holds the military museum. It is also home to the Barcelona Pavilion by German architect Mies Van de Rose, the MNAC museum with its largest collection of Catalan art in the world and the spectacular Palau Nacional. The Magic Fountain, in front of the Palau Nacional, beautifully lights up in different colours to classical music.

Eixample 

This area is a newer part of the city where you will find the international designer shops and expensive restaurants as well as some of Gaudí’s buildings; Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà.

El Born

One of the more fashionable areas, it has a medieval street and is home to the Picasso Museum and the Textile Museum.

Sants

A 10-minute metro ride out of the centre of town, Sants is mainly a residential area with excellent direct train connections to the airport. You could walk to the Camp Nou, Barcelona FC ground, the impressive Plaça España square and Montjuïc.

Villa Olympica/Ciutadella and Bogatell

The 1992 Olympics transformed this area from warehouses and docks into one of Barcelona's most modern and architecturally ambitious districts. There are two beaches which are popular for windsurfers and sailing overlooked by a giant goldfish designed by Frank Gehry for the 92 Olympics. Bogatell is less modernized with its old narrow roads and traditional small Catalan cafés. In the Parc Ciutadella you will also find the Barcelona Zoo and its dolphins.

Inspired? Our college and school trips to Barcelona are suitable for many subjects including Art & Design, Fashion, Sport, Travel & Tourism, Spanish Language as well as a general Cultural & Enrichment tour.

Give us a call and start planning your school trip to Spain with European Study Tours today.