Must See Sights and Landmarks in Barcelona Area

"Behold the insouciant creative dynamism of Europe's most bizarre cathedral. Often called "the last cathedral" (even though it's not technically a cathedral), the Sagrada Familia inspires, delights, torments, and disturbs in equal measure. It is Barcelona's Holy Grail of religious buildings."

"Start your day by going to Sagrada Familia first thing in the morning as the lines get extremely long and the place gets incredibly crowded."

"The basilica of Santa María del Mar, located in the Born district, is considered the best example of Catalan Gothic architecture thanks to its elegant and austere façade, its endless columns and the beauty of stone surfaces. The temple, which inspired the famous novel “The Cathedral of the Sea” by Ildefonso Falcones, was built between 1329 and 1383 and was funded by the parishioners of the neighborhood, who helped raise it with their money and hard work. As a curiosity, camouflaged between the beautiful windows of the basilica you can find a shield of FC Barcelona."

"Built between 1329 and 1383, Santa María del Mar is a remarkable basilica. It is considered by many as the best example of Catalan Gothic architecture."

"The Magic Fountain that leads up to the MNAC is used for lights and water shows perfectly choreographed to beautiful songs. Performances happen occasionally during the summer months but the most important one is the show used to close the celebrations of Patron Saint, La Merce, on the 24th of September which also includes fireworks. It is an exquisite show and extremely beautiful."

"Passeig de Gràcia was planned to be the most elegant and most beautiful avenue in Barcelona and it still remains so today. It features La Casa Batlló and La Casa Milà, both designed by the hugely celebrated Gaudi, as well as other impressive modernist buildings. The road itself can be traced back to the Roman era, but nowadays it is an extremely popular shopping street, with prestigious designer shops as well as more accessible brands."

"Continuing our homage to master architect Antoni Gaudi we take the purple line (L2) and a few short minutes later get off at Passeig de Gracia. Here we find the beautifully eccentric mansion called Casa Batllo and revel in its visceral, skeletal qualities. The tour takes an hour. This is my dream house and by the time you’re done with it it’ll be yours too."

"After crossing Las Ramblas you will reach Plaça de Catalunya, a civic and cultural area where are often organized different kind of activities and events that make it the heart of Barcelona. In addition, the plaza has gained commercial vitality in recent years and now you can find macro-shops of big companies such as Zara, Apple or Desigual, as well as shopping centers and the headquarters of banks and other companies. And not just that, Plaça Catalunya is the central axis of the main points of commercial interest of the city, also knowned as the Shopping Line of Barcelona: La Rambla, Rambla de Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia, Portal de l’Àngel and Diagonal Avenue."

"Placa de Catalunya is the pumping heart of the city, the place where all life begins, all nights end, and where LasRamblas and the Gothic Quarter also start and end. Impressive fountains, elegant statuary, large squares dotted with shops, and hoards of people from all over the world meet, greet and leave….Spend a little bit of time checking out the different shops and then head over to Las Ramblas."

"The largest shopping areas are Passeig de Gracia, Plaça Catalunya, Las Ramblas and Portal del Angel. If we’re allergic to shopping (I really am!) we really have to ask ourselves what Barcelona itinerary wouldn’t include a tour of historic Camp Nou stadium – home of Messi and that little squad called FC Barcelona."

"Opened in the 1970s, Yamadori restaurant is considered the first Japanese restaurant in Barcelona. Located in the heart of the Eixample district, this restaurant is decorated in the typical Japanese style with a sushi bar and offers a wide range of traditional Japanese dishes. Its most outstanding feature is simple: its authenticity."

"One of the lesser-known gardens on the list, meaning It’s an even quieter park to visit away from tourists, is the stunning Parc del Guinardó. Located not too far from the Parc Güell, so can be easily tied in as a double trip to the two, the park sits high above the city offering some of the best views of Barcelona. Both rustic and elegant, there are three different parts that make up the park: an urban section, the historical green space, and in its highest part, a lush forest area."

"Parc del GuinardóBarcelona, SpainKiller 360-degree views of the city. I stopped by at this tiny slice of paradise before reaching the very top. The park is located up in the steep hills and is a great alternative to the overly crowded parc Güell."

"One of Antoni Gaudí’s most famed works, and one of the most visited attractions in Barcelona, is the spectacular Park Güell. One of the city’s largest parks, it is a green space that is rich in biodiversity and offers panoramic views of the city at its feet. You can either take a stroll around for free in the natural areas or pay a fee to enter the ‘monumental zone’ where the core attractions of the park are."

"Park Guell receives more than ten million tourists every year. Within the park Antoni Gaudi built a residential complex, which became his masterpiece."

"In the five Chök stores in Barcelona you will find everything from truffles to muffins, delicious chocolates from Belgium, France and Switzerland, wafers and even chocolate salami and olive oil with chocolate. But the specialty of the house is the chök, a gourmet doughnut (with less sugar, less fat and less frying time) bathed in chocolate offered in up to 30 varieties. If you’re vegan, their shop at 26 Ramellers Street specialises in this type of product."