What to see in the Old Town of Barcelona?

• Barcelona is a city with one of the largest historical centers in Europe, the one here is referred to as Ciutat Vella
• The center of the Old Town is the famous street La Rambla, which has an immigrant neighborhood on one side El Raval and the original on the other Gothic quarter (Barri Gotic)
• In a broader context, the Old Town also includes other districts in the center – Barceloneta, a neighborhood in the ancient past inhabited mainly by fishermen, a the born, where merchants and trading companies had their headquarters.

Where exactly can you find Old Town in Barcelona?

A map that shows the individual districts falling within the Old Town. 

These are the best things to see in Barcelona's Old Town.

Neighborhoods, streets and places

• Barri Gotic, El Raval, Barceloneta, the born
• Carrer Montcada – a historic street where tourists go mainly because Picasso Museum
• La Rambla – the famous promenade where you can find street performers, markets, cafes and monuments such as the Mercat de la Boqueria or the Liceu.
• Plaça del Rei – the square with Gothic buildings where it is located Barcelona Museum of History (Barcelona History Museum) with underground excavations.
• Plaça Reial – a picturesque square lined with palm trees and arcades with lively restaurants and bars, a popular place for an evening stroll.
• Plaça de Sant Jaume – the political heart of the city where it is located town hall and the Catalan government, often the center of demonstrations and events
• Pla de la Seu – the square in front of Barcelona's majestic cathedral, where street performances and markets often take place.

Museums and galleries

• Museu d'Art Contemporani (MACBA) – museum of contemporary modern art
• Museu d'Art Modern (MEAM) – museum of modern art
• Museu Frederic Marès - Frederic Marès museum
• Museu de Geologia – museum of geology
• Museu d'Història de la Ciutat - museum of the history of the city
• Museum Marítim a Drassanes – maritime museum
• Picasso Museum – museum of the artist Pablo Picasso
• Museu de Zoologia – museum of zoology
• See also other Barcelona museums

Port

• Aquarium – a trip to the world of marine flora and fauna for young and old
• Golondrinas – small cruise ships that take you around the harbor or take you out to sea
• Maremagnum – a shopping center in the port
• Monument and Columbus – Christopher Columbus monument
• Port Olímpic – the Olympic port where you can find sailboats
• port vell – the old port at the end of La Rambla, where you can find cruise ships

Monuments, churches and historical buildings

• Arc de Triomphe – Barcelona's triumphal arch
• Palau Guell – one of the few Gaudí buildings in the Old Town, the city palace for Count Güell
• Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar – a beautiful church in the Catalan Gothic style
• Basilica de Santa Maria del Pi – a smaller historical church
• Casa de l'Ardiaca – a medieval building with a beautiful little garden
• Casa de la Ciutat – Barcelona City Hall
• Cathedral – You can find La Seu Cathedral in the heart of the Old Town
• La Llotja de Mar – a historic building from the Gothic period just a few steps from the sea
• Palau de la Música Catalana
• Palau Reial Major – a complex of several historic buildings in the center where the nobility had their residences

Parks and Gardens

• Ciutadella park – the main city park
• Parc Zoological – Barcelona Zoo