Activities in Barcelona

1. What to do in the city

**Gaudí.** The Sagrada Família is a Catholic basilica still under construction, designed by Antoni Gaudí, with the Nativity and Passion façades and an interior of columns like tree trunks under coloured stained glass. It is a working church, with a dress code: knees and shoulders covered, no flip-flops and no see-through clothing. Park Güell, on Carmel hill, is a Gaudí park with the Dragon Stairway, the Hypostyle Hall and the trencadís-mosaic bench with views over the city. Other Gaudí works in the city are Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, on Passeig de Gràcia.

**The old town.** The Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic), in Ciutat Vella, is the historic core: narrow medieval streets, remains of the Roman walls of Barcino, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, Plaça Sant Jaume, Plaça del Rei and Plaça Reial, with its lampposts designed by Gaudí. Beside the quarter, La Rambla links Plaça de Catalunya with Port Vell, and halfway along stands the Mercat de Sant Josep, known as La Boqueria, a 19th-century food market. In El Born, north-east of the Gothic Quarter, stands the church of Santa Maria del Mar, in Catalan Gothic style.

**Montjuïc and the museums.** Montjuïc hill holds the castle, the Fundació Joan Miró, with the largest public collection of Miró's work in a building designed by Josep Lluís Sert, and the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC), in the Palau Nacional above Plaça Espanya, with Catalan art from medieval times to the modern period. On the hill are also the Jardins de Laribal, terraced with pergolas and ponds, and Poble Espanyol, an open-air museum of architecture. In the centre, the Museu Picasso holds Picasso's work, and MACBA, the contemporary art museum, stands in El Raval.

**The sea and the parks.** Barcelona has about four kilometres of beaches. Barceloneta, beside the fishing quarter of the same name, is the most central. To the north-east, Bogatell is the sports beach, with volleyball, beach football and basketball; Nova Icària, beside Port Olímpic, is central and relaxed; and Mar Bella has a marked naturist area. Parc de la Ciutadella, with its lake where boats can be rowed, is the large park of the centre, and Parc Natural de Collserola, with 8,000 hectares of woodland, rings the city to the north-west.

2. Seasonal notes

The sea sets the calendar: bathing and beach life belong mainly to summer and a good part of spring and autumn, when sky and sea play along. In summer, the central beaches, above all Barceloneta, are the most crowded; the north-eastern beaches, such as Bogatell and Nova Icària, are quieter for families.

Walking the old town and visiting museums works all year, and Montjuïc and Collserola are also enjoyed outside summer, with fewer people and milder temperatures. In winter the cold is relative and the city stays active, but bathing stops being the main activity and the weight shifts to museums, markets and walks. No festival or event dates are given here, because they change every year and should be checked in the city's official calendar before travelling.

3. Practical notes

• **Book Gaudí sites ahead.** The Sagrada Família and Park Güell sell tickets online and sell out in high season; book the date and time before going, and allow time for the security check at the entrance.
• **Respect the dress code at the Sagrada Família.** As a working church, it requires knees and shoulders covered and bans flip-flops, see-through clothing and hats in the nave.
• **Wear comfortable shoes for the old town and Montjuïc.** The Gothic Quarter's streets are narrow and cobbled, and Montjuïc is climbed on foot or by funicular; flat shoes avoid most problems.
• **Mind your belongings in crowded places.** La Rambla and Barceloneta draw large crowds; carry only what you need and leave the rest at your accommodation.
• **Water and shade in summer.** Summer heat in Barcelona is strong: carry water, seek shade at midday and mix the beach with museums and tree-lined parks.
• **This page does not sell tickets.** It gives no prices or hours, because they change: check each museum, park or site on its official website before visiting.