Enjoy Barceona and don't miss anything with this FREE Travel Guide!

1. Discover the city by bicycle

Don't think your only options for getting around Barcelona are by a crowded tour bus, an expensive private tour or even public transport. Get outside when the weather's just right, see the sights in your own time, and get to know the city close-up. Though the Bicing bikes you see all around the city are for residents to cut down on car traffic, there are plenty of companies that hire out bikes by the hour or by the day. We give a list of some to keep in mind when you're itching to get out on two wheels.

Routes

1 hour duration (click the img)

2 hours duration (click the img)

2. Walk on the arty side

In Barcelona, taking a walk in the park is not only a way to relax, it can also lead you to discover some great art. Get up and get out for a walk around the lush gardens of the Teatre Grec and then head over to the Fundació Joan Miró, one of the largest museums in the world and home to a collection of over 225 paintings, 150 sculptures and graphic pieces by the Spanish surrealist painter, along with a number of works by his contemporaries. If smaller rooms are more your speed, stop in to the Palau Robert - it's free in, has some great exhibitions and the building itself is worth a gander. Also pay a visit to some of the smaller but influential galleries throughout the city, some of the most prestigious of which are ADN, Joan Prats, Galería 3 Punts and Toni Tàpies.

3.Get to know the City History

When visiting a new city, it's always good to learn a bit about its history in order to understand its architecture, its art, what makes it tick, and something of the character of its people. As an international city, Barcelona is full of diverse cultures and heritages, and with every step you take through its streets, you'll stumble upon some of its history. You can get an idea of this historical wealth at the Museu d'Historia de Barcelona (MUHBA) where the historical heritage of the city is preserved and put on display in the MUHBA's various locations (most importantly those of the Plaça del Rei, the Call, the Temple d'August, and Refugi 307), the brand-new Born Centre Cultural, the Columnas de Adrián (Pillars of Hadrian), the royal shipyards of the Museu Maritím, the various shelters that were built to survive the Civil War, the modernist Illa de la Discòrdia (Block of Discord, noted for its four modernist buildings on Passeig de Gràcia), and the Fossar de les Moreres, which was once one of the historical cemeteries near the Santa Maria del Mar church and is a war memorial for those who lost their lives during the siege of Barcelona (1713-1714).

MUHBA

Pl. del Rei Ciutat Vella Barcelona 08002 -Mon-Sat 10am-7pm; Sun 10am-8pm.

4. Enjoy a cocktail on a terrace

The best place to kick back and enjoy a cold beer in Barcelona is one of the many outdoor bars and cafés in the city's terraces. Bar Colombo is a little tapas bar with a sunny terrace overlooking the port, while the Australian-run Bar Kasparo offers outdoor seating beneath shady arcades overlooking a playground for children. Another option is Bar Calders, a friendly hole-in-the-wall with a terrace. There are also a number of bustling cafés with terraces along La Rambla, such as Quim de la Boqueria. And don't worry, the terraces aren't just for summer; they're open all year round.

Bar Lobo

Pintor Fortuny, 3 El Raval Barcelona 08001

Daily 9.30am-midnight; Thu-Sat 9am-2.30am.

Platja Ca la Nuri

Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 55 Barceloneta Barcelona 08003

Daily 1pm-4.30pm, 8.30pm-11pm; Sun 1pm-4pm.

5. Shopping and Architecture : “Passeig de Gràcia”

Shopping along Barcelona's grand Passeig de Gràcia means being right in the heart of the centre of town, where you'll be taking in a breathtaking modernist building one minute and the next dodging others out for a walk, in a hurry to get somewhere, or doing their own spending. From the biggest brand names to the most affordable, from the exclusive shops to those open to everyone, you're bound to find a treasure to carry home that suits your taste and fits your budget. A nice place to hang around, shopping and sightseeing The architecture of the buildings still preserved like “Casa Batlo” are a good option to discover one of the bests Barcelona´s avenues.

Casa Batlló

Pg. de Gràcia, 43 Eixample Barcelona 08007 - De lu. a do. de 9 a 21 h

6. Climb up the magical Montjuïc

Montjuïc mountain is the perfect place for a leafy stroll with great views, but it does take a bit of legwork to get up there, so it's less populated by tourists. Also, it's easily accessible by car or cable car. Aside from the natural surroundings and spectacular vistas, you'll find buildings from the 1992 Olympic Games, including the Palau Sant Jordi and the telecommunications tower designed by Santiago Calatrava. If you're feeling full of beans and you get to the top of the hill, you can check out the Olympic stadium and the Jardi Botànic. Plaça Espanya, at the foot of Montjuïc, is the most common access point to the mountain, and where you can also visit the Pavelló Mies van der Rohe and the CaixaForum cultural centre.

Jardi Botànic

Daily 10am-5pm (Jan-March); daily 10am-7pm (Apr-Sep); daily 10am-5pm (Oct-Dec)

7. Get lost in the Raval

It's a place where local businesses thrive, including shops like Les Topettes,Chandal and Fusta'm; it's also about urban culture, music and good food, the likes of which you'll find in Bar Kasparo, Lo de Flor and Dos Palillos.

The Raval is also where you need to go to get some of the city's essential culture nourishment, including the CCCB (Barcelona's contemporary culture centre, which hosts exhibitions, conferences and more), the MACBA(the city's contemporary art museum), the Biblioteca de Catalunya (library) and the refurbished Filmoteca art house cinema.

Like París, Barcelona also has a literary flavour. Many writers have been inspired by the lower Raval, which was once called the 'Barrio Chino', a name coined by an American journalist due to its underworld feel in the 1920.

MACBA

Plaça dels Àngels, 1 El Raval Barcelona 08001

Late June-Sept 24 Mon, Wed, Thur 11am-8pm; Fri 11am-10pm; Sat 10am-10pm; Sun 10am-3pm. Late Sept-June 23 Mon, Wed-Fri 11am-7.30pm; Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 10am-3pm. Guided tours in English Mon 6pm.

8.Take a dip in the Mediterranean

Barcelona has a little over four kilometres of beaches where you can spread out your towel, stab your umbrella into the sand, smear yourself with sun cream and find a very safe place for your rucksack. From the beach of Sant Sebastià, passing through Barceloneta, to the beaches of Nova Icària or Mar Bella - and each has its own selection of chiringuitos where you can get a refreshing respite from the sun (most also have a bit of nightlife later). And just a few minutes by train or a short drive in the car, you can take in other coastal towns with gorgeous beaches, part of the gift of the Mediterranean that just keeps giving.

9.Enjoy a really good party

Once you've got to know Barcelona by day, it's time to let it all hang out in the best clubs in town for an unforgettable night. You can't go wrong at Sala Apolo, with a differently themed party every day of the week (Nasty Mondays, Crappy Tuesdays, Cupcake); Razzmatazz has been the temple of nightlife for years, with parties and DJ sessions in it five different rooms;Sidecar is where indie rockers have been going to get their fix for 30 years; and Magic is the quintessential Barcelona rock club. If funk and hip-hop are more your thing, your best bet is Marula.

10. Picture the city of Picasso's youth

Picasso's Barcelona, where he spent his early years, was beautiful and vibrant. Follow the footsteps of the artistic genius as you visit the landmarks that shaped his youth. Walk down C/Reina Cristina and then cross over to number 3 on C/Mercè to see where his family lived, though the building was later destroyed. If you need to make a stop along the way, head to Els 4 Gats, where artists, including Picasso and Salvador Dali, gathered at the time to chat, eat dinner and have meetings about art. Finally, visit the Museu Picasso itself, a gallery that houses works from Picasso's formative years.

Museu Picasso

Montcada, 15-23 Ciutat Vella Barcelona 08003

Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun 9am-7pm (last ticket 30mins before closing). Thu 9am-9.30pm. Mon (not incl. holiday) closed.

Barcelona #10 Great Things to Do