Parc Güell is one of Barcelona's must-see places. This work by the famous Antoni Gaudí is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally, it was an urbanization project for wealthy families, close to the "El Carmel" district. The park is located in a quiet area and has a splendid view of the city of Barcelona.
The construction of this park started in the 1900s. For economic reasons, only two houses and the entire park could be built. In fact, the famous architect of the park lived in one of these houses. The park has 20 hectares of beautiful gardens and buildings. You can enjoy the spectacular view over the whole of Barcelona.
How to visit it?
In order to plan your visit, we invite you to consult the following website: https://parkguell.barcelona/fr.
There you can find out more about Parc Guell and its history, and you can also buy your tickets in advance.
How to get there?
- By clicking on this link, you will be redirected to a map showing the exact location of Parc Guell: https://g.page/ParkGuellOficial?share
- By metro, take the green metro line (L3) and get off at the Lesseps or Vallcarca stations. From these stations, walk for about twenty minutes.
Please note: The Vallcarca metro station is located at the top of the park. The Lesseps station is further down the park.
2. CIUTADELLA PARK.
If you are near the El Born district, you should definitely make a stop at the famous Parc de la Ciutadella. This park is perfect if you want to go for a walk, a run, have a picnic with friends, or just enjoy the fresh air and nature.
So where does the name 'ciutadella' come from?
The name ciutadella comes from the citadel created for King Philip V in the 1700s. This magnificent park was built for the 1888 World Fair. The famous artist Antoni Gaudi participated in the construction of this park.
What to do in the park?
You can stroll through the park, enjoy the peace and quiet and admire the magnificent features such as the monumental waterfall.
As you may know, in the heart of the ciutadella park is the Barcelona Zoo. This zoo was built in 1892. At that time, a rich banker decided to bequeath his animal collection to the city council. The city council then set up the park to provide a suitable place for these animals. Barcelona Zoo occupies more than 14 hectares of the park and has more than seven thousand animals of 400 different species.
Hours :
- 1 January to 28 March: 10.00 - 17.30
- From 29 March to 15 May: 10.00 - 19.00
- From 16 May to 15 September: 10.00 - 20.00
- 16 September to 24 October: 10.00 - 19.00 10.00 - 19.00
- 25 October to 31 December: 10am - 5.30pm
- 25 December: 10am - 12pm
Address of the park: Passeig de Picasso, 21.
3. PORT VELL AND BARCELONETA.
Port Vell, or the old port of Barcelona, is located close to Barcelona city centre. It is accessible via the ramblas. It is located behind the Columbus statue. The port of Barcelona is a reference in terms of cruises. The port is the 4th largest tourist port in the world. It is a place to see. The port receives more than 2.5 million visits per year. You can take a walk along the harbor and admire the beautiful ships that are there. You can take a stroll along the Plaça de la Barceloneta, which is close to the Port Vell. You can enjoy the various restaurants and bars around the beach.
Activities at port vell:
If you are walking around near the Port Vell, you should not miss the Barcelona Aquarium. The Barcelona Aquarium is home to 8,000 marine species and nearly 6,000m3 of recovered seawater. If you want to visit this aquarium here is a link that will be useful: https://www.aquariumbcn.com/?utm_source=googlemaps&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=maps
Address of the aquarium: El Port Vell, Moll d'Espanya, s/n, 08039 Barcelona
You can also make a diversion to the Maremagnum shopping centre, which houses fashion shops, restaurants, bars and an 8-screen cinema. It also has views of the sea and the port of Barcelona. Finally, the centre is open all year round, on Sundays and on public holidays.
Address of the maremagnum shopping centre: Moll d'Espanya, 5, 08039 Barcelona
4. PLAZA ESPAÑA & MONTJUIC :
Plaça Espanya is one of Barcelona's must-see squares. This square is perfectly situated between the Las Arenas shopping center and the Museum Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (National Art Museum of Catalonia), which is located next to the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. The Plaza de España was built in 1929 for the International Exhibition.
Activities nearby: There are several activities to do and/or see if you pass by the Plaza de España.
- Las Arenas shopping centre. This was once the old Barcelona bullring. It has since been converted into a large shopping centre, while retaining the original façade. The center has a 360° terrace. You can enjoy the breathtaking view of the Montjuic hill and the restaurants and bars on this rooftop.
- There is the Poble Espanyol which is a place to see. It is an open-air museum representing Spanish architecture. This museum features Spanish buildings and typical streets from all over Spain. Note that this place also hosts nightclubs and musical events during the summer.
MONTJUIC:
The most emblematic place near the Plaza de España is the Montjuic hill. Used since ancient times as a strategic military surveillance post, Montjuic Hill is one of the highest hills in Barcelona.
What to see in montjuic :
- There is the Montjuic Magic Fountain. Between the Plaza de España and the Museu d'Art de Catalunya is the Montjuic Magic Fountain, which features water and light shows at nightfall.
- At the top of Montjuic hill is the castle. It is a great place to look out over the city. The castle can be reached on foot or by cable car.
- There is the Anella Olimpic, or also known as the Montjuic Olympic Ring. Originally built for the 1992 Olympic Games, it is a large open-air space where you can see the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, the Sant Jordi Palace, the swimming pools and the telecommunications tower.
- The botanical garden, which has more than 2000 species of plants. This garden is located in the old municipal dump.
Addresses of the places:
- Arenas Shopping Centre: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 373-385, 08015
- Poble Espanyol: Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 13, 08038 Barcelona
- National Art Museum of Catalonia: Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc, s/n, 08038 Barcelona
- Montjuic Magic Fountain: Pl. de Carles Buïgas, 1, 08038 Barcelona
- Montjuic Castle: Ctra. de Montjuïc, 66, 08038 Barcelona
- Olympic Ring: Carrer l'Estadi, 48, 08038 Barcelona
- Botanical Garden: Carrer Doctor Font I Quer, 2, 08038 Barcelona
- Montjuic Funicular: Accessible by the underground para-lel (L2 and L3)
If you want to buy tickets:
We will do another article soon with other places to visit
In the meantime, the Happy Place Barcelona team wishes you an excellent stay in Barcelona.
Maëva.