Barcelona Highlights

It’s difficult to say which are the top 5 highlights in Barcelona even If you’ve lived here all your life! I’ve been thinking a lot and here you have them: the definitive Barcelona Highlights. (From my personal point of view…of course!)

1. Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia is the ultimate Barcelona highlights most visited building in town and the second one in Spain. It IS a must; you can’t leave Barcelona without visiting it. It’s an amazing church designed and started by Antoni Gaudí, one of the most important artist we ever had in Catalunya.

It’s a clear example of the modernism style very popular in Barcelona in the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th. Sagrada Familia is not finished yet but still is worth going inside and admiring its majestic structure and its beautiful windows with beautiful colors. It’s very useful to buy the tickets online, this way you can skip the long line.

2. Barri Gothic

The Gothic Quarter is one of the most beautiful areas in Barcelona. It’s in the city center very close to Plaça Catalunya and next to Las Ramblas. Which are the landmarks that you should look for there? Plaça Sant Felip Neri, where there was a bombing in 1938 and the walls still have the marks of it, Plaça Sant Jaume, where you’ll find the city hall and the government of Catalunya, the Roman Temple with more than 2000 years of history, the Call (Jewish Neighborhood) and it’s old synagogue and the Cathedral of Barcelona which is just “WOW”. Don’t miss the Barri Gotic as you’ll find there some of the most important Barcelona Highlights.

3. El Born and Santa Maria del Mar

Santa Maria del Mar is my favorite church in Barcelona. In fact, I think that every single girl living in this city wants to get marry there…I guess that’s why there’s such a large waiting list! It’s a beautiful Catalan gothic style construction that it’s a clear symbol of the entire neighborhood. Nowadays El Born is a trendy area, but in the past it was a sailors and working class quarter. In fact, the neighbors were the ones who constructed the church with their own hands and money! I guess that’s why it’s so important for them still nowadays.

4. Passeig de Gràcia and the modernist houses

The work of Antoni Gaudi is spread all over the city, especially in the Eixample Quarter, which by the way has a very impressive shape. In the late 1800’s the city started to grow and this new neighborhood appeared. The rich people of Barcelona, the ones who where starting to make money thanks to the Industry Revolution, wanted to show off and start asking for amazing houses in the new wealthy area.

Several of those houses where constructed following the trendy style: modernism. In Passeig de Gràcia (a very good street to go shopping, by the way) you will find two of the most impressive works of Gaudi: Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. Two of the Barcelona highlights that you can’t miss!

5. Montjuïc

Montjuïc is one of the mountains surrounding Barcelona. Its name means “The mountain of the Jews” and it used to be very the cemetery of the Jewish community of Barcelona. It’s the perfect place to enjoy beautiful views of the city and also to walk and relax. In this area you’ll find some interesting spots such as the National Museum of Catalunya, the Miró Fundation, the Montjuïc Castle or the Magic Fountains.

Well, here you have them, the top 5 Barcelona highlights from the point of view of a local. But don’t worry I’ll keep recommending to you, more and more spots to see and things to do in Barcelona so you can enjoy this beautiful city at its best!