The Sagrada Familia

We don’t have to remind you how beautiful and well-known Gaudi’s work is. Initiated in 1882, and nature themed, this cathedral is still to this day in construction. You will be able to visit it for 10€. It opens at 9 am and closes at 2 pm. 

Montjuïc Hill

This vast park possesses many touristic places and activities, some of these including the castle, the Olympic stadium, the old Spanish village (that you can visit for 6- 9 euros), Miro’s foundation, the Greek theatre and many others. This is a nice hill pleasant for long strolls under a fresh marine wind during a hot summer´s day.

The Ramblas

Barcelona’s Champs Elysées, this avenue is a central place for touristic shops. The statues (human disguised) most definitely animate this street situated close to the Gothic areas.

The “Paseo de Gracia” 

Take a walk down this road where, in the olden times, rich and famous Spanish people went to walk at the weekend to boast. It is now still a famous passage where you will be able to find the Pedrera House (entry costs 11 Euros), the Battló house (between 15 and 18 Euros for a visit) and various luxury shops such as Chanel, Burberry, Yves Saint Laurent…

The Picasso museum

Although much of his work is kept for private collections, this museum displays numerous paintings of this famous painter. Located in calle Montcada, between Jaume I and Arc de Triumf metro stations, this museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am till 8 pm.

The Gothic area

It is a small pedestrian area and this part of Barcelona is very typical and home to many small bars, and restaurants. There you will find Barcelona´s cathedral and the Pie’s church which possesses the largest European rosette. 

The park Güell

Known worldwide, this park was created by the famous Barcelonese architect Gaudí. Initially built as a luxury park which would have regrouped beautiful properties, it was finally turned into a gorgeous park where you can admire Gaudi’s work (mosaic sculptures, aqueducts…).You will be able to visit the Gaudí museum located in the park Güell. The entry is free; it opens at 10 am and closes at 9 pm.

The Spanish village

Testimonial of the architectural history from all Spanish regions, this small village located in Montjuïc Park, near the national museum of Catalan Art, was built in 1929, for the international exposition. It opens Monday to Sunday, from 10 am till 6 pm.

The National Museum of Catalan Art

You can get to thismuseum via the Montjuïc Park or the “plaza de España”. Its slogan, which resumes the entire museum, is “one museum, 1000 years of art”. Come to admire paintings and sculptures by the best Catalan artists. The price of the visit is 8.5€; the museum opens at 10 am and closes at 7 pm between Tuesday and Saturday. It opens from 10 am to 2.30 pm on Sunday.

El Camp Nou

On November 29, 1899, Hans Gamper founded Futbol Club Barcelona, along with eleven other football enthusiasts, a sport that was still largely unknown in this part of the world. With a capacity of 98,800 seats, Camp Nou has the largest seat capacity in Europe!  It is located in western of Barcelona, approximately 5km from the city centre, in Arístides Maillol Avenue, in the Les Corts district of Barcelona. You are sure to enjoy a true Camp Nou experience when you go there: it opens at 10 am and closes at 5.30 pm. The price is 18.10€ per person.  

 El Born area 

El Born is a small, fashionable, but also very authentic village. Glassmakers and designers are located everywhere. Feel free to engage in dark alleys to discover the old Barcelona. It grew in the 13^th Century due to a commercial prosperity, El Born (The Ribera) along with the old Gothic Area makes up the old of Barcelona.

Come to see this cultural city and book your apartment with ComeToBarcelona.

As you may know, Barcelona is divided into multiple different neighborhoods or "barrios", each with its' own vibe and defining characteristics. Depending on what you're looking to experience, a certain neighborhood is sure to provide just that.

L'Eixample is a pleasant, upscale neighborhood just outside of the middle of the city. The name means "extension" in Catalan and was originally created as a place to live for those who could not afford to live in the center of Barcelona. However, almost the opposite had happened by the end of its' creation and it is now one of the posh, wealthy areas of Barcelona. Streets are lined with stores of international designers such as Armani, Chanel, and Burberry, but there is much more to see than just these high-end shops.
Passeig de Gracia is home to two of Antonio Gaudí's works of art, Casa Batlló and Casa Mila. Also, a couple blocks further down the road is one of Gaudi's unfinished masterpieces, The Sagrada Familia. The unfinished church has been worked on by various architects throughout the years and has come to be known as one of the important symbols of Barcelona. If you're looking to experience some brilliant architecture and do some shopping, this is the place for you.

Near L'Eixample is the neighborhood Gracia, which begins at the intersection of Avingunda Diagonal and Passeig de Gracia and goes north. It was originally a village of its' own but was connected to the rest of Barcelona when L'Eixample was created. However, it has a different feel than L'Eixample, with an active community that has a more relaxed attitude.Various different plazas throughout the neighborhood help provide a sense of authenticity that the neighborhood maintains. The gem of Gracia is Park Güell, a must-see for anyone visiting Barcelona. The elaborate park features various creations of Gaudi and an experience of art unlike any other. Gracia is the place to go to experience the real sense of neighborhood here in Barcelona.

Heading in the other direction, el Born is one of the more modern neighborhoods in Barcelona. What began as a settlement for medeival fairs and celebrations has become a haven for small boutiques and excellent tapas bars. The different cafes and stores provide a relaxing way to spend the day as well as good places to go at night. El Born is also home to the Picasso Museum and the Textile Museum, as the original textile mills were located here. One of the most fascinating pieces of el Born is the church of Santa Maria del Mar, an elegant church showcasing some of the gothic architecture seen throughout the city. El Born also provides the ideal location for those looking to experience cultural aspects of the city as well as the beach. A ten minute walk to the city center and a ten minute walk to the beach make it one of the ideal places to stay in Barcelona.

For those looking to experience the beach and an exciting night scene, Barceloneta is the place to be. One of the largest beaches in Barcelona, it has over 1,000 meters of beach for one to enjoy. Frequented by tourists, Barceloneta is the perfect place to spend the day lying in the sun and eating at one of the many restaurants located on the boardwalk. The boardwalk is also home to many extravagant bars and nightclubs, with stellar views of the beach. Barceloneta provides both fun and sun.

No matter what it is you're looking for, Barcelona is bound to offer it. Pick your favorite barrio and book your apartment there now!

There are many great things about summer and fall in Barcelona. Of course; there's the beach, the parks, and the late sunsets. These are all irreplaceable aspects that make this city a place we love so much. Our favorite part of this time of the year, however, are the parties. Yes, the parties. No, not those to be found in the smoky bars and glamorous discos of Barcelona (though we like those too...), but rather the public festivals put on by the various neighborhoods of the city. These community parties are organized by neighborhood party comissions and truly bring out the best and most festive elements of each area. In our opinion, the best 'Festa Major' in the city is that which is held from the 15th to the 21st of August in the neighborhood of Gràcia.

Official poster for this year's party

The Gràcia festival (Festa Major de Gràcia or Festes de Gràcia in Catalan, Fiesta Mayor or Fiestas de Gràcia in Spanish) is one of the most popular annual festivals in Barcelona. This party is certainly not only for the neighbors of the area. Locals from all over the Barcelona province and foreign visitors alike all join together to partake in this week long celebration. The party goes all day, and well into the night as free cultural events and concerts of all type take place on the narrow streets and picturesque plazas of this formerly independent city (it was annexed by the sprawling Barcelona in 1897).

The highlights of the festival are two-fold. First, the nightly cultural events and musical concerts in the plazas of the neighborhood are highly anticipated and draw huge crowds of revelers. Second, and most important, are the stunning whole-street decorations that are the symbol of the week's festivities and the focus of an immensely popular competition. Each year the neighbors of each street, that is participating in the year's contest, completely transform their entire street- decorating it in a unified and visually stunning manner. At the end though, the streets become thoroughly packed with festival-goers and these stunning works of street art become spaces for eating, drinking, and dancing for the thousands of festival-goers. Although the competing streets vary from year to year, be sure to check out Carrer de Verdi and its surreal ornamentation, as the decorations on this street are consistently amazing, and the street is a perennial favorite to win the best decoration award (the contest is judged by a jury made up of neighbors).

One of the many decorated streets of Gràcia during a previous festival

Every year tens of thousands of people descend on this otherwise quaint village within the city and transform its calm streets to vibrant celebratory spaces; filled with music, joy and revelry. That said, it is advisable to arrange your accomodations well before your arrival, as many out-of-towners come to Barcelona specifically to join in on the fun. Click here to find the perfect home base for enjoying this year's Festes de Gràcia, and be sure to look for ComeToBarcelona out at the festival- you're sure to see some of our staff there!