Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, making navigation through it a bit tricky. Fortunately, traveling in and around Barcelona isn’t too difficult if you become familiar with the most important sections of town. While
Barcelona is divided into several sections, these are a few of the most important ones that tourists should be familiar with:
Ciutat Vella
Ciutat Vella, or ‘old city’ represents some of the oldest sections of Barcelona. A stroll through Ciutat Vella is like a stroll back in time. Today, many of the buildings and streets retain the old world look. It is in Ciutat Vella that many of the most popular tourist attractions in the Barcelona are located. Included in these are Parc de la Ciutadella (one of the main parks in Barcelona), Palau de la Música (popular music venue), La Rambla (the central street in Barcelona) the Harbor and much more.
Eixample
Eixample has a different feel to it than Ciutat Vella in that it is the most modern part of Barcelona, a result of an economic expansion in the the 19th century. Today, this part of Barcelona is inhabited mostly by the middle and upper class. Notable attractions in Eixample include Sagrada Familia (noteworthy church since its construction began in 1882), Hospital de Sant Pau (hospital founded in 1401) and much more.
Gracia
Gracia is young and modern section of Barcelona which is considered to be less-touristy than some of the other districts. The residents in this area are typically younger and well to-do. Gracia is the ideal place in the city for art, shopping and nightlife.
Barceloneta
Barceloneta is the main beach-area closest to the city center. With a boardwalk feel, Barceloneta boasts a number of restaurants, shops, bars and a wide variety of outdoor activities. Barceloneta is a beach frequented by both tourists and locals alike making a great spot for people-watching and relaxing.
Once you’ve got a feel for the layout of the city, there are several options for getting around. In certain parts of the city, walking and bicycling are a fairly effective and common ways to get around. These are great options if you’ve got time to explore and don’t mind getting a little lost. If you’re not feeling that adventurous, a pretty reliable public transportation system makes getting in and around Barcelona easy to do. Both the metro and bus system offer access to every major attraction in the city. Regardless of your preferred mode of transportation, a little geographical knowledge can go a long way when planning your daily transport.
