The exciting Barcelona has many activities to offer no matter what a tourist wishes to spend time seeing or doing.
A visit to the impressive Mediterranean city of Barcelona, Spain needs to be planned for at least a few days and longer if at all possible. It is not the kind of city in which to plan a "quick stop" on the way to somewhere else because there are so many things to see and do. Whether you are looking for family activities or nightlife, plenty of things to do for anyone's tastes abound in this port city in the northeast of Spain.
There are a few basic things that are important or just fun to know before traveling to Barcelona. There is an international airport here for your flight needs. The winter Olympics where held in Barcelona in 1992 and visitors usually enjoy a visit to the Olympic Village. The official languages for Barcelona are Castilian and Catalan. (Both Spanish, but quite different.)
Barcelona is set up in various diverse sections. There is an old city area and a Gothic section, the Waterfront area, a medieval section and even an old fishing area.
If you enjoy the paintings and other artwork of Pablo Picasso, the artist had strong ties with Barcelona and there is a museum of his works located here. It is rather extensive with more than thirty five hundred pieces of his art permanently housed in the museum. There are also temporary exhibits. The Museu Picasso is located on Montcada Street and opens at 10 a.m. every day except Monday (and a few major holidays) when the museum is closed.
A stop for a few hours at the Barcelona Zoo is always time well spent. The atmosphere of the zoo centers around a garden and this establishment is more than a century old. More than seven thousand animals are represented. Visitors will see more than 400 different species. One of the celebrity residents of the zoo is the albino gorilla named Snowflake. Be sure also to see the dolphins, big cats, the aviary, terrarium where reptiles and amphibians are housed. The zoo opens at 10 a.m. daily.
The Barcelona Aquarium offers twenty-one large aquariums filled with thousands of marine species, more than eight thousand to be precise. Fossils, penguins, alligators, and activities that are interactive for children and adults are found here. Many of the city buses and tourist buses stop near this area as well as the metro to transport aquarium visitors.
If it is history that interests you as a visitor to Barcelona, be sure to spend some time at the Barri Gotic (the Gothic Quarter). This is where the old town area is located. The narrow streets of cobblestone lead to many of the historic sites in Barcelona.
Be sure to see the La Sagrada Familia, a landmark church that is a Antoni Gaudi design. Not only is the church unfinished now for over one hundred years, but it is also the final resting place of Gaudi. This is only one of the many historical religious sites, cathedrals, and churches that are found all over the city.
Gaudi actually has quite a heavy influence in many parts of Barcelona. His sculptures appear in Guell Park, and there is a building here called Casa Batllo that he designed to have the appearance of St. George's Dragon. Much of his artwork and architecture is found around town.
If your travel to Barcelona finds you near Avenue Reina Maria Cristina on a weekend, try to see the Fonts Luminoses. Translated to Illuminated Fountains, there is a main fountain that is nicknamed Magic Fountain, or Font Magica. The fountains are always lovely to see, of course, but on the weekends, music and colored lights offer quite a lovely display.
As spectacular as the city is, if you feel a need to escape the hustle and bustle for a while, spend some time at Tibidabo Mountain. Be prepared to walk some scenic trails and don't forget a camera. There is an amusement park at the top of the mountain, and the Temple of the Sacred Heart is built here, too. The church can be seen from all over Barcelona when it is lit up after dark. Observation decks and trolleys are available.
Although there are endless things to do in and around Barcelona, tourists should make time to relax on a Mediterranean beach. Swim if the water is warm enough, or just relax with a book and your sunscreen. Typical beach activities and water sports can be enjoyed here.
For something perhaps not so typical, think about taking scuba lessons and have an excellent diving experience in the beautiful waters of the Mediterranean.
If you have spent enough time at the beaches or the time of year isn't right for those activities, you might decide to take a special train from Barcelona that will take you to Molina. From Molina, you will be taking a shuttle to a skiing village in the Pyrenees Mountains. The distance is about a hundred miles, so be prepared for the train ride to take about three hours.
If your interest is spectator sports, there are four major sports complexes and arenas in Barcelona. If there is an interest in the arts, there are many theaters, concerts, and performances located in every part of the city.
There are many places to shop, and museums of some of the world's greatest art pieces are found in Barcelona. There are neighborhoods where some of those artists loved spending time, and superior restaurants are plentiful.
A vacation to this part of Spain will be very memorable, and the only word of caution is to make sure to plan enough time to spend here.
