Become bewitched by Barcelona

The must-visit Spanish coastal city is home to extraordinary art, design, architecture and food. Brian Berkman suggests where to stay and what to do.

- Brian Berkman

With Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé belting out Barcelona, the rock-operatic hit that was the city’s Olympic song, still able to produce gooseflesh, it isn’t surprising that Spain’s important coastal city remains a must-visit for tourists.

Since the 1992 games, the Olympic village that was built to house the participants has been converted into a residential suburb that provides easy access to the beaches, Barcelona’s main attractions and, mostly, comes at a more affordable price point than staying in the old city, or Gothic Quarter, as it is known.

La Rambla, a pedestrian walkway, cuts through the centre of the city and is the main shopping and dining route.

La Boqueria is the globally famous covered food market that was established in 1836. It leads off La Rambla, which also intersects with the Gothic Quarter and its narrow and winding streets.

HOW TO GET AROUND 

The red Hop-on, Hop-off bus is a great way to see the city and to bookmark the areas to return to.

Although Uber is not available in Barcelona, the Uber app can be used to hail a metered taxi. Travellers always have stories about their taxi experiences but Farmer’s Weekly found the Barcelona taxi services easy to use and affordable.

TRADITIONAL DISHES 

Spain is where tapas, or small-plate eating, hails from and much like the country’s most famous dish, paella, has regional variations.