Hotel W Barcelona: Iconic Architecture and Unbeatable Sea Views
At the far end of Barceloneta beach, a curved glass sail rises from the sea — the unmistakable silhouette of the Hotel W Barcelona, known to locals simply as the…
Poble Espanyol: An Open-Air Village of Spanish Architecture on Montjuïc
Built for the 1929 International Exposition and intended as a temporary exhibition, the Poble Espanyol has somehow survived for nearly a century and become a permanent fixture of Barcelona's cultural…
Antic Hospital de la Santa Creu: Gothic Gardens and Books in the Raval
A minute's walk from the Boqueria market, through an arched gateway in the Raval, lies one of the most peaceful and least-visited spaces in central Barcelona. The Antic Hospital de…
Rambla del Poblenou: Barcelona’s Authentic Neighbourhood Promenade
Everyone knows La Rambla. But Barcelona has another rambla that the guidebooks rarely mention — a tree-lined promenade that serves its neighbourhood rather than the tourist industry, and gives an…
Plaça del Sol: Gràcia’s Liveliest Gathering Place
Of all the squares that give the Gràcia neighbourhood its character, Plaça del Sol is the liveliest and most social. Surrounded by terrace bars on all sides, it functions as…
Plaça de la Virreina: The Soul of Barcelona’s Gràcia Neighbourhood
If Gràcia is Barcelona's village-within-a-city, then Plaça de la Virreina is its village square. Flanked by the 18th-century church of Sant Joan, lined with terrace cafés, and filled with local…
Plaça del Diamant: Gràcia’s Quiet Literary Square with a Hidden History
In the maze of narrow streets that make up the Gràcia neighbourhood, Plaça del Diamant is a modest, shaded square that would be easy to pass without a second glance…
Mercat de Sant Antoni: Barcelona’s Most Beautiful Iron Market Reborn
After a decade-long renovation completed in 2015, the Mercat de Sant Antoni returned to Barcelona's Eixample as one of the most spectacular market spaces in Spain. Built between 1876 and…
Mirador de l’Alcalde: A Hidden Montjuïc Viewpoint with City and Sea Views
While the Castell de Montjuïc and the MNAC terrace draw most visitors seeking hilltop views, there is a quieter, more intimate alternative just a short walk from the main Montjuïc…
Observatori Fabra: Stargazing and Science Above Barcelona
Halfway up the Tibidabo hill, looking out over the city through a stand of pines, the Observatori Fabra has been measuring the stars, the weather, and the seismic activity beneath…