Barcelona overview

• Essentials
  • Overview
  • Basics
  • Getting there
  • Getting around
• City sights
  • Top sights
  • Tourist trail
  • Offbeat sights
  • Nearby trips
  • Gaudi sights
  • Museums
• Things to do
  • Eating out
  • Cafe bars
  • Shopping
  • Nightlife
• Planning
  • When to go
  • Where to stay
  • Find a hotel

Barcelona overview

Barcelona is one of Europe’s most popular destinations for a city break holiday. Once a somewhat run-down city avoided by the crowds flocking to the Costa Brava, Barcelona got a seismic shot in the arm with the 1992 Olympic Games, an event which transformed the Catalan capital.

Now old and new architectural styles combine and contrast right across the city. Barcelona oozes traditional atmosphere while welcoming both the avant-garde and the bizarre.

A long-time Mecca for architects Barcelona is bursting with an array of oustanding modern buildings. The city's most famous son, architect Antoni Gaudi, made his mark here, not only with the incredible unfinished Sagrada Familia, but even in the lampposts and fountains.

Barcelona is also a major commercial centre, with ever improving transport links increasing its attractiveness. Tourism is one of the driving forces of the economy and nearly a third of all tourist trips to Spain now take in a Barcelona holiday.

There is a strong local desire to create an independent Catalan state with Barcelona at its centre, and visitors will hear Catalan spoken as much as Castillian Spanish. Local pride is never clearer than when a capacity 120,000 crowd at FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou football stadium cheers on a victory over arch rivals Real Madrid - and the city celebrates a victory in style.

Promenading down the famous Ramblas thoroughfare is a delight, though you need your wits about you as petty crime is an issue. The ancient heart of the city is still hugely atmospheric and there is a vibrant cafe and bar scene. Art fans will find much to see and admire with the city’s range of museums. The renaissance of the old port and the local beaches add to the appeal.

With a pleasant year round climate, Barcelona is worth a holiday break in any season and with cheap-flight budget airlines and vastly improved rail links, Barcelona is now one of the most popular short break city destinations in Europe.