One city, three days: Barcelona

Let’s go: About Barcelona

Barcelona reminds us of our own city, Istanbul – its coastal setting, lively atmosphere and multicultural texture. Also like Istanbul, Barcelona has a rich historical past yet is very much a dynamic living city. Keep reading to discover more about Barcelona!

• Barcelona, Spain’s largest city after Madrid and the capital of the Autonomous Region of Catalonia, is certainly one of the most beautiful cities we’ve ever seen. If you have a window seat (you can select your seat here☺), you’ll see Barcelona’s lovely beaches as the aircraft lands!

• Essentially, modern Barcelona was planned by the pioneering Catalan engineer, Ildefons Cerda. According to a 2016 article in The Guardian, a UK newspaper, by the early 19th century, the city of Barcelona had grown too small for its growing population. Ildefons Cerdà came up with a plan for a “large, grid-like district outside the old walls, called Eixample (literally, ‘expansion’). In the process, Cerdà also invented the word, and the study of, ‘urbanization’.”*

Best times to visit Barcelona

It is always a good time to visit Barcelona: The milder temperatures of spring and autumn are ideal for walking around the city and visiting historical and cultural sites, while the hot, dry summer months are prime time for sea, sand, sun and urban beach parties – and tourism. The weather is colder and wetter in the winter season, but still relatively mild, with low temperatures rarely exceeding 9 °C. The advantage of a winter visit is that the city may be less crowded.

Places to visit in Barcelona

Historical sites in Barcelona

Sagrada Família

Much has been written about the Sagrada Família (known as Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família in Catalan). Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, the cornerstone of this majestic, expansive and truly unique structure was laid in 1882; its construction is expected to be completed by 2030. La Sagrada Família features Gothic, Catalan modernism and art nouveau elements integrated with Gaudí’s signature curved lines and mosaics. In 2005, the Basilica’s Nativity façade and the crypt of the Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Família were declared UNESCO World Heritage sites.

https://sagradafamilia.org/en/home

Park Güell

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984, Park Güell was also designed by Gaudí. In addition to being one of the largest green spaces in Barcelona, the Park offers hiking and bicycling paths, playgrounds and relaxation areas. The Monumental Area of Park Güell includes various Gaudí-designed structures, including the Serpentine Bench, and the Gaudí House Museum. At this time, tickets are required for entrance into the Park.

https://parkguell.barcelona/

Casa Batlló

In 1904, textile industrialist Josep Batlló y Casanovas hired Antoni Gaudí to renovate his mansion. Set on Passeig de Gràcia, the fabulous Casa Batlló is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The house serves as a museum as well as an exhibition and event space.

https://www.casabatllo.es/en/

Barri Gòtic

Originally founded around 133 BC as a Roman settlement, Barri Gòtic – the Gothic Quarter – is where most of Barcelona’s museums and medieval-era structures can be found, including the Gothic-style Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, also known as the Barcelona Cathedral. The Gothic Quarter also encompasses El Call (the Jewish District). Barri Gòtic is known today for its narrow streets, as well as its boutiques, cafes and lively nightlife.

Barcelona museums

Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA)

In Barcelona’s Ravel neighborhood, this strikingly designed museum focuses on contemporary art from the second half of the 20th century to the present. Works from the 1920s avant-garde movement are also exhibited. The Museum’s permanent collection includes works by Catalan, Spanish and international artists. There’s also a Library and a Special Collections room.

https://www.macba.cat/en

Fundació Joan Miró 

Set amid landscaped gardens, the Fundació Joan Miró has a vast collection of the works of Joan Miró, as well as works by other contemporary artists. The museum building was designed by a friend of Miró’s, architect and city planner Josep Lluís Sert, and it is considered one of Barcelona’s finest examples of rationalist-style architecture.

https://www.fmirobcn.org/en/

Museu Picasso

Set in Barcelona’s La Ribera district, the Picasso Museum was opened in 1963. The museum itself is set in five palaces dating from the 13th to 15th centuries; now restored and refurbished, the structures are considered stellar examples of the Catalan civic gothic style. More than four thousand works by Picasso and his contemporaries are on display at the Museum.

http://www.museupicasso.bcn.cat/en/

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) 

Set in the Neo-Baroque Palau Nacional atop Montjuïc Mountain, the National Art Museum of Catalonia has the world’s largest collection of Romanesque frescoes as well as important collections of Catalan art, Gothic frescoes and ancient coins. The Museum also exhibits works from the Baroque and Renaissance periods. We should note that the dining facilities at the Museum include a restaurant set in the palace’s former throne room, and café with a terrace that overlooks the city.

https://www.museunacional.cat/en

Popular areas and activities in Barcelona

The Camp Nou Experience

FC Barcelona is one of the world’s most famous football teams and Camp Nou is the team’s home stadium. The Camp Nou experience offers football fans an opportunity to take a tour of the Stadium – which includes the FC Chapel and the FC Barcelona Museum, along with the pitch, lockers and other areas. Tickets should be purchased in advance, as the tour is quite popular.

https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/tickets/camp-nou-experience

La Rambla

More than a kilometer long, La Rambla is a lively, tree-lined pedestrian street in the center of Barcelona with Port Vell at the southern end and Plaça de Catalunya at the northern end. Thousands of locals and tourists stroll along La Rambla daily – there are hotels, restaurants and bars, museums and shops, and even a sidewalk mosaic by Joan Miró.

La Boqueria

Set on La Rambla, the vast La Boqueria is the city’s most famous market, with around two hundred stalls offering all sorts of edible and drinkable products, from fresh produce, eggs, meat and seafood to local specialties and alcoholic drinks.

http://www.boqueria.barcelona/

Passeig de Gràcia 

This stately boulevard has existed in various forms since the 14th century but came into its present state in the mid-1800s, when Cerdà’s urban plan was implemented. The upscale Passeig de Gràcia is now home to luxury brand boutique, high-end hotels and upscale restaurants, along with historic structures such as the Gaudí-designed Casa Batlló and Casa Milà.

https://barcelonapaseodegracia.com/en/

El Born

Also in La Ribera district is el Born, an artsy area featuring a number of museums, including the Picasso Museum and the Museu de la Xocolata (Chocolate Museum), along with Parc Ciutadella and the Barcelona Zoo. The narrow streets of el Born, particularly the neighborhood’s main arty, Passeig del Born, are lined with boutiques, cafes and pubs – the area is known for its vibrant nightlife.

Barceloneta

This dynamic seafront neighborhood gets even livelier in the summer, when residents and visitors flock to the beach for sunbathing and beach parties; the beachfront boardwalk is lined with seafood restaurants, tapas bars and nightclubs. The upscale Port Olímpic complex is adjacent to Barceloneta Beach. There’s also a small museum and cultural center, Casa de la Barceloneta 1761, with exhibits on the history of the area.

https://casadelabarceloneta1761.barcelona.cat/ca

Tibidabo

As one of the highest points in the city, Tibidabo Hill offers panoramic views of Barcelona and the coastline. Other points of interest include the neo-Gothic Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor (Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus), a majestic Catholic church. The basilica’s first stone was laid in 1902 and the structure was completed in 1961. It is administered by the Society of Saint Francis de Sales (Salesians of Don Bosco). In addition, the Tibidabo amusement park, built in the late 19th century, features rides such as a Ferris wheel. A tram provides transportation halfway up the Hill, where there is a plaza, viewing platform and cafes; a funicular provides transport to the top of the Hill.

Dining in Barcelona

There is no shortage of dining facilities in Barcelona. Visitors can find virtually every type of cuisine here, but our favorites are the famous paella, the rice and seafood dish; patatas bravas, which are cubed fried potatoes with spicy sauce; and of course, tapas – small plates of hot or cold savory dishes consisting of seafood, vegetables, cheeses and more!

Practical information about Barcelona

Official language: Catalan, Spanish

Currency: Euro

Socket type: I, C, F

Useful Phone Numbers

Area Code: +34 

Barcelona City Code: 93

Barcelona International Airport: +34 93 21 10 00

Emergency Number: 112

Consulate General of Türkiye: +34 93 317 92 31