Discover Barcelona and Beyond | City Guide & Local Highlights

Discover Barcelona And Everything Beyond the City

Barcelona is yours to explore. Its neighbourhoods, food culture, people, and layered history create a city that rewards curiosity. And when you feel ready to look beyond the city limits or simply escape for a day, you will find medieval villages, beautiful coastline, and an extraordinary range of natural landscapes within easy reach.

From rice fields and wetlands to vineyards and farmland, from the volcanic terrain of La Garrotxa to the dramatic peaks of the Pyrenees, Barcelona is the perfect base for both urban living and outdoor adventure.

The Gothic Quarter and the Old City

The historic heart of Barcelona is best explored on foot. A simple walk through the old city reveals centuries of history, hidden squares, and some of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

Start in Plaça de Catalunya and head down Las Ramblas. Walk alongside the old port, then return inland via Via Laietana. Turn left at Jaume I metro station and wander into Plaça Sant Jaume, the political centre of the city since Roman times. From there, follow the narrow streets toward the Cathedral and continue along Portal de l’Àngel to complete the loop back at Plaça de Catalunya.

Culture, Architecture, and Hidden Corners

Along this route, you will encounter the Palau de la Música Catalana, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the city’s architectural treasures.

Just across Via Laietana lies El Born, home to the beautiful Santa Maria del Mar. On the other side of Port Vell, Barceloneta offers a completely different rhythm of life, shaped by the sea.

Beyond the main sights, the old city rewards those who wander. Quiet squares, boutique shops, hidden cafés, historic churches, and narrow streets create a sense of discovery that defines Barcelona at its best.

Modernisme and the Birth of the Modern City

Until the late 1850s, Barcelona was confined to what is now known as Ciutat Vella. Everything changed with the approval of the Cerdà Plan in 1859. Over the next 50 years, the city expanded rapidly, creating the grid of wide streets and elegant apartment buildings that define modern Barcelona.

From the late nineteenth century through the early twentieth, this expansion attracted investment and creativity, giving rise to the Modernist movement and some of the city’s most celebrated architecture.

Passeig de Gràcia — Architecture, Shopping, and Style

Passeig de Gràcia runs from Plaça de Catalunya up to the neighbourhood of Gràcia and is one of Barcelona’s most prestigious boulevards.

Here you will find two of Antoni Gaudí’s most famous buildings: Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, alongside many other outstanding Modernist façades.

The avenue is also home to some of Barcelona’s best-known hotels, including Hotel Casa Fuster, the Mandarin Oriental, and the Majestic Hotel, as well as a wide selection of serviced apartments.

Luxury boutiques such as Cartier, Armani, Lladró, Santa Eulalia, and Chanel line the street, alongside international brands closer to Plaça de Catalunya. When it comes to dining, Passeig de Gràcia offers everything from casual cafés to destination restaurants, many with terraces perfect for people-watching. El Nacional, hidden just off the avenue, brings several bars and restaurants together under one roof.

A City Redefining Its Streets

Barcelona continues to evolve. The Superilla, or Superblocks, project is transforming many streets in and around the city centre. While construction has brought short-term disruption, the long-term vision is clear: fewer cars, lower emissions, and more space for pedestrians.

Traffic is being reduced to a single lane on many streets, allowing neighbourhoods to reclaim public space and encourage street life. The project has sparked debate, but it also reflects Barcelona’s ambition to prioritise liveability, sustainability, and community.

Whether the Superblocks fully deliver on their promise will take time, but they already signal a bold shift in how the city imagines its future.