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Barcelona, Spain
Photo: Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Inland Suburbs are the districts that ring the main part of Barcelona. To the southwest, it includes Les Corts and Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, and to the northwest it includes Horta-Guinardo, Nou Barris and Sant Andreau. These areas are mostly residential but there are some good attractions for those who want to explore the districts outside of Barcelona's centre.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Hospital de Sant Pau
This former hospital is an architectural masterpiece that is now open for visitors. Inpatient wards (and most outpatient facilities) have been moved to a new building of Nou Hospital, but in terms of touring the area, that makes it all the easier. One of "small hidden features" is a network of underground passages where small carriages can be seen, you can get there near WCs on a central square, between Banc de Sang and Quiròfans.
Monastery of Pedralbes
A beautiful Gothic monastery near the university, there are a museum which depicts the monastery life, a church, and a marvelous chapel covered with medieval frescoes.
Güell Pavilions
A complex of two pavilions by Antonio Gaudi. 2024 closed for renovation.
The museum has limited opening hours but the park it is situated in is also interesting. Check website before going to the museum as it will eventually relocate to The Can Bagaria building.
If you're a football fanatic, then you can't miss a visit to this football temple, the home ground for Barcelona's biggest and most popular team and one of Europe's greatest footballing 'cathedrals'. During the Franco era, FCB was the only way that oppressed Catalans could vent their anger against his dictatorship. Because of that, it became and still is a symbol of Catalan identity. Camp Nou is the biggest stadium in Europe with a capacity of 98,600 people, with shops and a museum of the club's history. Match tickets start at about €42 and games hardly ever completely sell out, unless it is a match against the hated rivals Real Madrid (a match commonly dubbed El Clásico), one of the other top teams (Atlético Madrid, Valencia or Sevilla) or in the Champions League. With the quality in the current team, there are always a few goals, and it is nearly always a resounding win for Barça. For stadium tours check the entry below.
Camp Nou Experience
Museum dedicated to the FC Barcelona. It occupies 3,500 m² and attracts 1.2 million visitors a year, ranking it second to the Museu Picasso, which attracts 1.3 million visitors, as the most visited museum in the city of Barcelona. All of the Barcas trophies and jerseys of many famous players of the team are exhibited. The museum can be visited by booking the Camp Nou Experience package, which includes also a stadium tour. The stadium tour is not fantastic and the audio guide is not really worth it either, but for a quick recent history of matches played there, consult the backs of the doors in the cubicles. Most have a lot of graffiti championing the team that played there. It is also unfortunate that the home team changing rooms are not open to the public, only the somewhat dated guest's team dressing rooms, which are not that impressive.
Gardens of Pedralbes Royal Palace
Isaac Newton 26; Perhaps one of the best science museums in Europe. Order tickets online to avoid the queue. Depending on your level of interest, you can spend there up to half a day. Plenty of fun interactive elements. Weekends may be crowded.
Located on the mountains of Barcelona (farther north from Gracia) and offers a spectacular view of the city (532 m high). This is a place where according to some legends, the Devil tempted Jesus Christ offering him the whole world in exchange for his worship. At the top there is an awesome church, which offers panoramic views of the city. The church is almost completely surrounded by a big amusement park. You will also find an observatory and an ascendable communications tower nearby. The beautifully scenic walk down is lined with some un-missable Spanish architecture for your photo album. You can not take photos very well from the tram, but the walk is wonderful. The cafe con leche at the cafe near the church is terrible. Try at the bottom of the funicular.
blue tramway
It is an old tram (beginning of the 20th century) connecting Av. Tibidabo metro station and Funicular station at the foot of Tibidabo. As of November 2017, closed for maintenance. Use bus 196 instead, which is also cheaper and covered by metro tickets. Bus station are located 50 meters up the hill from the Tramvia Blau station.
Tibidabo funicular
It connects the terminus of Tramvia Blau at the Plaça del Doctor Andreu with an amusement park at the summit of the Tibidabo mountain. It's an underwhelming ride. Trees block the view throughout the ride.
Vallvidrera Funicular
A much cheaper (and still fast) way is to take suburban train to Peu del Funicular, then ride up to Vallvidrera Superior by the Vallvidrera Funicular (a free connection in Peu del Funicular train station). From there, take bus No 111 (also a free connection) to the top of the mountain.
Try out the labyrinth in the centre of this park. The park also has a nice waterfall, a romantic canal and gardens. A quiet place to relax for several hours away from the busy city. Wheelchair accessible. Free of charge on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Green Round
Bike, run or walk along part of the Ronda Verde, which runs around the edge of the hills to the north of the city and offers great views.
Vegetarian restaurant with varied menu that uses seasonal ingredients from local markets.
A very traditional Catalan restaurant favored by locals. Menu in Catalan, but it's worth the risk, the food is delicious.
Not really in Gràcia, but next to it, it's one of the restaurants of the Tuset street years, when the Gauche Divine was the cool group in the city. This restaurant was made as a cool bar during the late 1960s and it remains unchanged. The food's good (omelettes is the speciality and the cheapest option).
One of the most promising cuisines in Barcelona with excellent wine service.
One of the best known tapas restaurants in Barcelona, there's usually a long queue outside.
This quiet street holds a few bars and restaurants to choose from. La Porteria is nothing fancy, but seems to keep a steady local crowd. They have a menu del noche (like the menu del dia), which provides a good value and the proprietor served his own wine from the "Ribera" (del duero) region of Spain. The selection of 3 olive oils with bread before the meal was a pleasant bonus.
Food and service are average but the stunning views make up for it with floor-to-ceiling windows providing a sweeping view of Barcelona. Popular spot with locals for a drink and some romantic ambiance.
Cachitos Diagonal is a tapas restaurant on a cool, avant-garde stile. Bright and spacious, with large blackboards and ivy climbing on the walls, creates a warm, chic and stylish atmosphere.
Bathroom ensuite, TV, satellite, air-conditioned, Wi-Fi.
Halfway between an Ibis and a Mercure, this simple hotel offers very attractive rates, which compensate for it being slightly out of the way (yet still close enough to explore Gràcia and Eixample), and quite basic rooms. The cheapest rooms are quite worn, and the level of renovation increase with price. The hotel's restaurant is more of a cafe, offering very basic dishes (mostly pre-prepared) at reasonable prices. A selection of packaged snacks and drinks can be bought at the reception from what they call a "mini bar".
A very small AC with very small 36 rooms and not much in terms of amenities - but comes handy if you have business in the area.
A suburban aparthotel brought up to AC standards, with large rooms, a pool and not much to do in the neighbourhood - but only 600 m from the Metro station.
R2 km to Barcelona City Centre and only 1 km from Sants Rail Station.
C/ Aribau 201. A 3-star hotel at the business and shopping hub of Avinguda Diagonal.
C/ Deu i Mata, 69-99. A hotel designed by the world-renowned architect Rafael Moneo at the Avenida Diagonal/Numancia axies, Barcelona's commercial and financial centre.
Rooms with double windows to keep out street noise. Like many European hotels, neighbor rooms can still be heard. Moderate to expensive in price, probably geared more towards the business traveler. Great continental buffet breakfast included with room.
formerly known as Princesa Sofia Hotel
A member of the Hyatt hotel chain
This hotel has great views over the city.
Popular designer clothing brand.
A nice modern shopping mall located on Avinguda Diagonal, Barcelona's main transport artery. Contains many mid-range to high end brands.
Northern suburbs
The three northern suburbs -- Horta-Guinardo, Nou Barris and Sant Andreau -- are well integrated with the metro system.
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