Gaudí’s legacy and Barcelona’s Modernisme

Seven World Heritage sites built by Antoni Gaudí are located in and near Barcelona. Park Güell has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. A green space rich in biodiversity, it offers areas to relax and meet for outdoor activities, surrounded by nature. The Sagrada Família offers another perspective on Barcelona’s architectural history: the basilica is still under construction.

The Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a distinction it received in 1997. The complex comprises twelve pavilions, surrounded by green spaces and connected by one kilometre of underground galleries. During a visit, you can see the Casa de Operaciones and the Pabellón de San Rafael. They feature a historical reconstruction and the exhibition “Patient and Doctor: From Narrative to Objectivity.”

The Palau de la Música Catalana was built between 1905 and 1908 to designs by Lluís Domènech i Montaner as the home of the Orfeó Català. The building is considered an outstanding example of Catalan Modernisme and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more than a hundred years, its concert hall has been an important venue for symphonic and choral-symphonic music in Barcelona. The MNAC, meanwhile, is housed in the Palau Nacional de Montjuïc, built for the 1929 International Exposition.

Museums offering different perspectives

At the Museu Marítim, the exhibition “Shipyards and Galleys” explores the history of the Reales Atarazanas. It features objects from the museum’s collection, building models, galley models, and audiovisual and interactive elements. The museum itself is housed in the Reales Atarazanas, an important example of civil Gothic architecture. Those interested in crafts can visit Poble Espanyol, an open-air museum with craft workshops. The Fundació Joan Miró houses more than 14,000 works.

The Museu de la Ciència CosmoCaixa is a science education centre offering educational activities and dynamic programmes. At the Bosque Inundado, you can experience a reconstruction of an ecosystem from the Amazon region near Santarém, Brazil: the installation presents a 1,000-square-metre section of tropical rainforest. There, you can discover some animal and plant species typical of the Amazon. In Barcelona, these very different ways of experiencing art, architectural history and nature complement one another.

Gardens, coast and local products

The Parc del Laberint d’Horta is a historic garden with a maze formed by cypress hedges, and is considered Barcelona’s oldest surviving garden. Guided tours provide insight into its history. The park is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. Barcelona’s beaches are also accessible to people with reduced mobility; individual facilities may change.

The Mercat de la Boqueria has been documented since the 13th century. Its offerings include local products as well as goods from around the world. Water activities such as kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and catamaran trips are available. Operators and availability may change; if you plan to take part in one of these activities, check the current offerings in advance. The mix of historic markets, museums, gardens and coastal experiences can be tailored to your interests, without assuming a one-size-fits-all itinerary.

Getting around the city

Barcelona’s public transport network includes the metro, tram, buses and FGC. The metro, tram and FGC are considered easy and sustainable ways to get around the city. Several high-speed train lines connect Barcelona with the rest of Spain and France; there is also an extensive network of commuter trains. Individual services and timetables may change, so check times for your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Mas Carbó, L'Estany, La Múnia, Castellar De N'hug, Sant Bartomeu Del Grau, Capolat, Castellbell I El Vilar, Sant Joan De Vilatorrada, Les Roquetes, Olesa De Bonesvalls, Viver, Sant Marçal, Teià, El Corral D'en Cona, Cantallops, Barcelona, Cabrera De Mar, El Masnou, Olivella, Sant Pere De Ribes, Sant Andreu De Llavaneres, Sant Sadurní D'anoia, Sant Salvador De Guardiola, Sant Vicenc De Montalt, Sitges, Vacarisses, Viladecaballs, Vilanova I La Geltrú, Vilassar De Mar, Arenys De Mar, Arenys De Munt, Calella, Calonge De Segarra, Canet De Mar, Malgrat De Mar, Pineda De Mar, Sant Iscle De Vallalta, Sant Pol De Mar, Tordera, Bagá, Bellprat, Berga, Fonollosa, La Llacuna, Moia, Montmajor, Montseny, Pacs Del Penedès, Piera, Pruit, Sant Martí Sarroca, Sant Esteve De Palautordera, Sant Marti De Tous, Sant Pere De Torelló, Sant Pere Sallavinera, Tavèrnoles, Torrelles De Foix, Viladrau, Castell De L'areny, Jorba, Sant Martí Sesgueioles, Sant Pau D'ordal, Aiguafreda, Mataró, Collbato, El Pla Del Penedès, La Pobla De Lillet, El Bruc, Sant Pere De Vilamajor, Cubelles, Canyelles, Els Prats De Rei, Vic, Torelló, Terrassa, Seva, Sant Just Desvern, Sant Juliá De Vilatorta, Santa Perpetua De Moguda, Sant Quirze De Besora, Sant Joan Despí, Sant Cugat Del Vallès, San Celoni, Sant Andreu De La Barca, Sabadell, Rubí, Pontóns, Mollet Del Vallès, Masquefa, Martorell, Manresa, La Llagosta, La Garriga, Igualada, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Granollers, Gavà, Cervelló, Castelldefels, Castellbisbal, Cardona, Capellades, Cabrils, Borredá, Begues, Badalona, Argentona, Barbera Del Valles, Cerdanyola Del Valles, Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Montcada, Els Monjos, Santa Susanna, Sant Mateu De Bages, Carme, Sant Vicenç Dels Horts, Folgueroles, Vilafranca Del Penedès, Montmeló, Argençola, Rupit, Veciana, Caldes De Montbui, Sant Fruitós De Bages, Sant Cebrià De Vallalta, Sant Jaume De Frontanyà, Bellver, Fígols, Sallent, Olèrdola, Vallgorguina, Santpedor, Sant Agustí De Lluçanès, Alella, Sant Boi De Lluçanès, Puig-Reig, Òdena, Guardiola De Berguedà, Artés, Premià De Mar, Sant Pere De Riudebitlles, Castellterçol, Castellfollit De Riubregós, Talamanca, Tavertet, Saldes, Sant Quirze Safaja, Vilobí Del Penedès, Abrera, Campins, Taradell, Gironella, Castellfollit Del Boix, Les Masies De Voltregà, Santa Eugènia De Berga, Santa Maria De Palautordera, Molins De Rei, Viladecans, Premià De Dalt, Ripollet, Monistrol De Calders, Vallcebre, Els Hostalets De Pierola, Castellar Del Riu, Casserres, La Torre De Claramunt, Calders, Bigues I Riells, Palafolls, La Pobla De Claramunt, Llinars Del Vallès, Tiana, Mediona, L'espunyola, Montclar, Sant Cugat Sesgarrigues, Roda De Ter, Gualba, Tagamanent, Sant Adrià De Besòs, La Palma De Cervelló, Vallromanes, Sant Llorenç Savall, Pujalt, Rajadell, Dosrius, Lavit, Vilanova De Sau, Tona, Castellnou De Bages, Santa Maria de Corcó, Manlleu, L'ametlla Del Vallès, Sant Sadurní D'osormort, Monistrol De Montserrat, Avinyonet Del Penedès, Santa Eulàlia De Ronçana, Cercs, Navàs, Les Corts, Gelida, Balsareny, Can Cartró, Parets Del Vallès, Montornès Del Vallès, L'avellà, Rellinars, Avià, Llerona, Santa Eulália De Riuprimer, Súria, Avinyó, Lliçà D'amunt, Castellgalí, Sant Feliu De Codines, Garraf, Vilassar De Dalt, Guardiola De Font-Rubí, Santa Coloma De Gramenet, Olost, Orpí, Collsuspina, Alpens, La Ràpita, Perafita, Rubió, Bellavista, Castellet i la Gornal, Cardedeu, Oleiros, Santa Maria De Merlès, El Papiol, Pallejá, Castellví De Rosanes, La Batllòria, Castellví De La Marca, Caldes D'estrac, Les Masuques, Les Fonts, Mongat, Mas Ram, Collsacreu, Santa Coloma De Cervelló, Canoves, Torrelavit, El Vallès Oriental, Canovelles, Vilada, Centelles, Puigdàlber, Malla, Cantonigròs, Can Trabal, Sant Fost de Campsentelles, Lliçà de Vall, La Beguda Alta, El Pont de Vilomara, Esparreguera, Olvan, Fogars de la Selva, Corró d'Avall, Sant Vicenç de Castellet, L'Alt Penedès, Baix Llobregat, Valldoreix, La Floresta, Granera, Muntanyola, Prats de Lluçanès, Vilanova del Vallès, Viladellops, Sant Joan Samora, Sant Pau de la Guàrdia, Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, La Quar, Gurb, Palau-solità i Plegamans, Mosqueroles, Sant Llorenç d'Hortons, Ca l'Avi, Vallirana, Sant Feliu Sasserra, Castellolí, Font-rubí, Lluçà, Sentmenat, Oristà, Matadepera, Castellar del Vallès, Gaià, La Roca del Vallès, Santa Margarida de Montbui, Vilalleons, Mura, Gallifa, Calaf, Fals, Torrelletes

Back to the regional travel overview: Catalonia.