Sagrada Familia

The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia or simply Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, is one of Barcelona's most popular tourist attractions. Construction on this church will continue at least until 2041, but it has already become Barcelona's most important landmark.

The Nativity façade and the Crypt of the Sagrada Família, are recently declared "World heritage" by the UNESCO. The church of the Sagrada Família is in process of construction and consequently the interior is open and submitted, the same as the outside, to the weather inclemencies. In spite of it, in general the building is in good conditions.

Even though the Sagrada Familia is far from finished, the remarkable church is well worth a visit. You can visit the crypt were Gaudí is buried. A museum tells the story of this great architect and the history of the church.You can also visit the towers. A lift and a long walk will lead you to the top of a tower from where you have a magnificent view over Barcelona. The climb is not recommended for those with fear of heights or for people with claustrophobia!

Want to rent an apartment to enjoy Gaudí's work?

Business accommodation

Barcelona is a city where you can find a lot of conferences and business meetings all over the year.

The most famous conferences such as Bread & Butter (fashion show), GSM (mobile phone convention)... are located in "la Fira de Barcelona" near the "Plaza España".

If you are looking for a business accommodation, this apartment can accomodate up to 6 or 8 people, indeed it has 3 doble bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and also a sofa bed. The kitchen is fully equiped and gives to the ample living room. The apartment is very well located, in the city center, from there you can easily go to "la Fira de Barcelona" and all Barcelona's conferences.

Do you plan to go to Barcelona for a business trip? Rent a business accommodation

Born

El Born - or just "Born" as it's known in Barcelona is an up-and-coming trendy area with stylish bars, cafés and restaurants that has an atmosphere uniquely its own. El Born is definitely old town architecture but with a "new town" feel and it's this combination that gives this area of Barcelona an irresistible appeal.

Despite humble beginnings as a settlement built on top of a medieval area of jousts and celebrations El Born has grown into being one of the most fashionable places in the city.

Every day the cafes are packed and at night people move along to Passeig de Born, which according to locals was the site of the jousts, to sample the many bars, all of which serve up a mean mojito. Also on Passeig de Born there is claimed to be the best pizza place in Barcelona, and at 1.50 Euros a slice you can’t complain.

Nevertheless El Born isn’t just about the nightlife, there is plenty of culture to be had as well. It can be seen that Calle Montcada was also a medieval street, which is now home to the Picasso museum and the Textile Museum which has a great little café with a terrace attached to it. The textile museum is located here because in Born´s early days it was home to the textile guilds of Barcelona. There is also a beautiful cathedral which you can wander around in, sometimes even when there is a wedding going on!

Nowadays people are attracted to Born for the shopping which consists of some beautiful but pricey boutiques and shoe shops which are great to find that one-off piece. Some of the trendiest shops around such as Brazilian company Colcci have chosen Born as their home.

El Born is sandwiched between Via Laietana and Barceloneta and is served by the metro stops Barceloneta and Jaume 1 which are on the same line. Las Ramblas and the very centre of the city are a pleasant 10 minute walk away.


The beach is also just a 10 minute walk away so you can have both a beach holiday and a city break in one. Plus you are quite close to the Parc Ciutadella which is a relaxing place to sit in the afternoon and watch the hippies play their bongos. The Barcelona zoo is also located in Parc Ciutadella.

As you can see El Born is perfect for families as well as tourists. Renting an apartment can even be cheaper than hotels, and you get all the modern conveniences of home. Noise could sometimes be a problem depending on where you are but it’s not as bad as in the very centre of town. It is a picturesque and cultural part of the city with a vibrant café culture and bar scene.

Budget accommodation

If you are looking for an apartment in Barcelona for holiday but don't want to spend all your money in the rental there is a solution: a budget accommodation.

This apartment situated in the city center, near the famous "Ramblas" and is perfect for small budget and fully equiped. Indeed it is a cosy apartment, with a double bedroom and convertible sofa-bed in the living room, wardrobe, washing machine and kitchen totally equiped.

Booking this type of accommodation not only will make you feel more as a local, also will allow you to walk around the city center without the need of taking public transportation. Most places of interest are within walking distance.

If you are looking for a budget accommodation for your holidays in Barcelona, click here.

Raval

Barcelona's Raval was historically the red-light zone and a slum of Old Barcelona. However, it’s quickly becoming the city’s new “in” area. Numerous bars and clubs frequented by young artists and bohemian types now fill formerly sketchy alleyways. If you’re into an alternative scene, the Barcelona Raval is where it’s at… but it’s still a good idea to keep a close watch on your wallet and pocketbook at night.

A good gateway to Raval tourism from Las Ramblas is the Mercat de la Boqueria. This vibrant modernista market holds all kinds of food stands and tapas bars, and is a great place to simply wander around or stock up.

Just behind the market you'll find the Antic Hospital de la Santa Creu, medieval Barcelona's central hospital, now home to the National Library of Catalunya.

One of the streets that meets the hospital is Carrer dels Angels. It's a straight shoot northwest up to the Plaça dels Angels, home of the neighboring CCCB and MACBA, Barcelona's two main contemporary art and culture centers.

All the way at the southern end of el Raval, about a block west of Las Ramblas, is Palau Güell. Commissioned in the 1880s by Eusebi Guell, this is one of Antoni Gaudí's more subdued works. It's also among the few examples of Catalonia's Art Nouveau style, "modernisme" in the Old City, or "Ciutat Vella."

Young, artsy types and a significant immigrant population have moved in over the past two decades, inaugurating El Raval as the new hip center of Barcelona culture. The plaza in front of the MACBA serves as a makeshift skate park, while vegetarian restaurants, small bars housing art exhibits and intimate concerts and a handful of second-hand stores define El Raval's fomerly seedy landscape.

El Raval is alive all through the day and night so you will never be without an eaterie to entice you in the early hours of the morning!

El Raval offers a central location within walking distance of many of the other popular areas such as the Gothic Quarter and Eixample. The nearest metro stops are on Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s most famous street which runs up one side of El Raval.

Would you like to stay in this area during your holidays in Barcelona? Stay in an apartment overlooking the "Rambla del Raval ". Click here: stay in the Raval

** The International Music Festival, SONAR takes place in the Raval area. Many concerts are held in the "MACBA" and outdoors at the "Rambla del Raval".

Looking for accommodation for the next SONAR Festival in Barcelona?

Barcelona Zoo

The Barcelona Zoo is based in the Parc de la Ciutadella the best way to find it is to go to Ciutadella park and to follow the signs to the Zoo. The zoo has a wide variety of animals on show: a collection of some 7,500 individual animals belonging to more than 400 species from all over the world.

Barcelona Zoological Park first opened its gates on 1892.. The Zoo also has a restaurant, picnic area, a shop, electric cars, ponies and a mini-train. Its biggest attraction was an albino gorilla nicknamed Snowflake who was born in 1964 and died en movember 2003. The gorilla was found in Equitorial Guinea in 1966, he was the only albino gorilla known to man.

A nice place to go especially if you are travelling with children.

Rent an apartment to spend a family holiday in Barcelona and discover all the activities the city offers.

Sightseeing bus

If you are coming to Barcelona for the first time, or if you are planning to stay in the city for a short time, this is one way of getting to quickly see the city’s monuments and most important tourist sights of interest. The "Bus Turístic"(as it's officially known) offers you an easy and quick way to start your visit to Barcelona and gives you an easy way to "find your feet" so that you can gain an overview of the main sights and then go back more depth later if you wish.

The "Bus Turístic" runs every day of the year, except on the 25th December and the first of January.You'll enjoy three different routes, to discover the main tourist and cultural places of Barcelona, from the two storey buses. What's more, all the routes are now accessible with the same ticket!!!

Journey takes between 40 minutes and two hours, depending on the route. Bus frequency varies between 5 and 25 min.Timetable: from 9:00 a.mYour ticket may be of 1 or 2 days. Along with it, you will receive a complete paper guide in 6 languages featuring the places you may visit at each stop, and also a leaflet with discounts coupons valid at the main monuments, and also at a number of selected shops in the City.

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Route North

Plaça de Catalunya -> Casa Batlló- Fundació Antoni Tàpies -> Pg de Gràcia-La Pedrera ->
Sagrada Familia -> Gràcia -> Park Güell -> Tramvia Blau Tibidabo -> Sarrià ->
Monestir de Pedralbes -> Palau Reial -> Fútbol Club Barcelona -> Francesc Macià-Diagonal ->
MACBA-CCCB

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Route South

Plaça de Catalunya -> Casa Batlló- Fundació Antoni Tàpies -> Pg de Gràcia-La Pedrera ->
Francesc Macià-Diagonal -> Estació de Sants -> Creu Coberta -> Plaça d'Espanya ->
CaixaForum -> Pavelló Mies van der Rohe -> Poble Espanyol -> MNAC -> Anella Olímpica ->
Fundació Joan Miró -> Funicular de Montjüic -> Miramar Jardins Costa i Llobera -> World Trade Center -> Colom -> Museu marítim -> Port Vell -> Museu d´història de Catalunya -> Port Olímpic -> Platja del Bogatell -> Cementiri del Poblenou -> Parc de la Ciutadella-Zoo ->Pla de Palau -> Barri Gòtic