Barcelona Old Town
About Barcelona Old Town
Barcelona’s Old Town, otherwise known as Cuitat Vella is formed by four distinct areas. It is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city. The four parts are: El Raval, Barri Gotic, El Born and La Barceloneta. They all have their own character, but the area as a whole attracts tourists and locals alike. As a result, it is almost always busy and with a buzzy atmosphere. The buildings and narrow streets are like a little maze to wander around and get lost in – part of the area’s charm. It’s a must see destination for any trip to this vibrant coastal city.
The Barcelona Old Town Area
The area begins at the coast with La Barceloneta. It’s popular thanks to the harbour, many luxury hotels and the beach. Despite how grand many of its buildings are now, it first started its life as a fishing village.
From La Barceloneta, the wider Old Town starts to begin. El Born is closest to the harbour area which is primarily pedestrianised – perfect for ambling around getting to know the area. It is home to stunning buildings with centuries’ old architecture some of which date back to Roman times.
From El Born, visitors will discover Barri Gotic which is also predominantly pedestrianised. It is home to some of Barcelona’s biggest tourist attractions such as the Picasso Museum and the Cathedral of Barcelona. It is also home to Las Ramblas – arguably Barcelona’s most famous street.
While Las Ramblas is technically in the area of Barri Gotic, it borders the Old Town’s final quarter: El Ravel. El Ravel is encapsulated by an old Roman wall. Despite its ancient history, the area is a hotbed for innovation in the city – with plenty of new bars and restaurants opening year-round.
The entire area of the Old Town, or Ciutat Vella, is only a small part of Barcelona, but it is home to so many of its most famous spots. It’s serviced by many different Metro lines – making getting to lesser known parts of the city easy. It also has train lines running through it, plus plenty of buses and taxis to quickly flag down. However, one of the joys of this part of Barcelona is how well set up it is for walking. There are huge parts of the area that cannot be accessed by car. Simply discovering the area by aimlessly walking around it – discovering tapas bars, cafes and restaurants along the way – is a wonderful experience.
Sports and activities in Barcelona Old Town
Being so close to the hubbub of such a popular part of the city means there is always something to do in this area of Barcelona.
Outdoor excursions
While so much of the Old Town is built up, it is home to the large Parc de La Ciutadella and the beach at Barceloneta. It means that a day at the beach is possible, even if you had an entire city break planned. The Park is a must visit however with the Zoo being housed there. Finally, Barceloneta is also home to parc de la Barceloneta and a few small green plazas if you simply want to ‘promenade’ like the Spanish do so well.
Probably one of the best things to do around Barcelona’s Old Town however is simply to stroll around it. While it’s busy, no trip to Barcelona is complete without walking down the entire stretch of Las Ramblas. You’ll see so much to keep your eyes and ears entertained. There are many performers, artists and caricaturists there.
Finally, what’s great about this area is that the two harbours have many different sailing experiences or boat tours that visitors can try out. Going along the coast to get a panoramic view of Barcelona is great if you can manage to squeeze it into your trip or if you live there, into your day to day life. Plus, it’s simply a great way to get some fresh air away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Shopping
If you walk along Las Ramblas, you may get a little overwhelmed by all the tourist souvenirs that many of the shops sell. However, if you meander around the smaller side streets, you’ll find a number of boutiques that will often draw you in. Being in Spain, there are plenty of shops dedicated to leather goods, but there will be other independent shops selling unique clothes, as well as home accessories and large outlets of Zara and Mango – Spain’s stalwart high street shops.
Eating out in Barcelona Old Town
If you walk down Las Ramblas, you’ll likely come across a varying array of quality when it comes to restaurants. Many have poor standards to try to get the most money out of the rolling tourist trade from which they can make the most money. However, there are many restaurants that definitely do manage to hit culinary excellence, despite being full to the brim most hours of the day. If in doubt, pick a restaurant crammed with locals.
One must-do when walking down Las Ramblas is visiting La Boqueria, the famous food market. It caters for every taste with absolutely everything you can imagine, food-wise, on offer. It really is a sight to behold! Remember to allocate a suitable amount of time for one’s first visit there. Just half an hour simply won’t be enough.
Eating out in this area, though, is far more than just Las Ramblas and La Boqueria. Head down to Barceloneta and you’ll soon find some fantastic seafood restaurants for authentic paella and tapas. The proximity to the harbour means that all fish is as fresh as can be – highlighted with the sculpture El Peix, of a giant goldfish by Frank Owen Gehryon the beach near the Hotel Arts.
El Ravel is a fantastic place to head to for a real mix of international cuisine. Thanks to its hugely diverse community, many of the restaurants draw on its influence from Morocco in North Africa all the way to the Middle East and even on to Pakistan.
Culture in Barcelona Old Town
There are a plethora of things to do for ‘culture vultures’ in Barcelona’s old town. A few of them have already been mentioned above, such as the Picasso Museum or the Cathedral of Barcelona. However, visitors to the city should definitely try to go to Guell Palace, the MACBA Modern Art museum and Liceu Opera House. The Contemporary Culture Centre of Barcelona in El Ravel is also a must see, while Barcelona’s Conservatory of Music is also in Ravel where wonderful concerts can be enjoyed. Its influence spills out into the surrounding area where late night music venues can easily be found.
Another big draw for some tourists if they’re that way inclined is to visit the Erotic Museum, which often has an interesting exhibition or two.
Family life in Barcelona Old Town
How busy Barcelona’s Old Town is, makes this area a difficult one to call when it comes to its quality of family life. Some families will absolutely love it – making use of all the culture, fantastic restaurants and cafes, green spaces and beach on their doorstep. However, to others, its hustle and bustle may be too frenetic so that visiting families only spend a short time walking around the winding streets that characterise the area.
Down by Barconeleta, however, families are a little better catered for. The wide expanse of sand is an obvious attraction, but many of the apartment blocks do not have elevators, which is perhaps a consideration if you are looking to stay with young children.
Real estate market in Barcelona Old Town
The diversity of the four separate quarters in the Old Town makes the real estate market unique. The location’s architecture often means that real estate here is often characterised by apartment blocks. For example, in La Barceloneta, residential homes are all in multi-storey buildings in narrow streets laid out over a tight grid system. Apartments here, and around the Old Town on the whole, are usually only one to two bedrooms large. The benefit of being in La Barceloneta is that the beach is so close by, outdoor space is easily accessed.
However despite many of the apartment blocks, particularly in Barri Gotic, being in older style buildings, many will have been newly renovated with contemporary designs which make the most of the space available. Other properties would require a complete renovation, but the city centre location makes it well worthwhile. Plus, many of these properties have beautiful original features like vaulted beamed ceilings, cornicing or exposed brick walls.
Barcelona’s Old Town
Quite rightly, the Old Town in one of Spain’s most exciting cities is hugely popular with residents and tourists alike. The vast amount of culture on offer, alongside some excellent restaurants, cafes and bars, make it difficult not to find something to enjoy doing. Whether you are on your first visit to the Old Town, or you live there all year round, there will be new things to see and do all the time. The area’s diverse communities and historic roots make it an area that has to be visited by all on a trip to Barcelona.