Plaça Reial

Created in 1984 by the artist Antoni Tàpies to promote the study and knowledge of modern and contemporary art.

Situated on the Montjuic, it exhibits archaeological findings from Catalunia from different periods. Under 16 and 65+ free. €3 for others. Special discounts for other groups.

The stadium and its surroundings built in 1927 and renovated for the 1992 Summer Olympics provides nice architectonic and city views. Since it's not too crowded outside sport events, it's usually a pretty calm place.

Palace designed by Gaudí for the industrial tycoon Eusebi Güell. There is a basement and three levels of the palace to explore, the highest featuring a small exhibition. It is in a different style to Gaudi's apartment blocks La Pedrera and Casa Batlló, as well as being cheaper and less crowded than those sites. The rooftop of Palau Güell features the more standard Gaudi style chimneys, and views across El Raval.

Urban park created from redeveloping industrial land. It covers 14 hectares and includes seven areas like a children's play area, a lake with sculptures and a central plaza.

The main Gothic church in Barcelona. The cloister is maybe the most interesting part.

A fake village built in 1929, with replicas of characteristic buildings in Spain (like the Avila walls, the Vall-de-roures town hall, etc.). The village hosts the Fondation Fran Daurel, where you can enjoy an interesting Modern Art collection boasting Miró, Picasso, Tapiès and other, mostly Spanish and Catalan, contemporary artists. The audio tour is very worthwhile there. Also worth seeing - the flamenco show at Tablo de Carmen. You can also step into several of the workshops to see craftsmen at work such as glassblowers and leather workers.

One of the most unusual landmarks in this otherwise ultra-modern area is this 19th-century (finished in 1882) brick water tower. Standing 62 metres tall, it is now overshadowed by neighbouring residential, office and hotel towers and easy to miss unless you know where to look for it.

One of the most representative examples of Catalan Gothic architecture, it features a sombre but beautiful interior. The upsweeping verticality and lightness of the interior are especially surprising considering the blocky exterior surfaces. Built between 1329 and 1383, it was once was home to a Christian cult in the late 3rd century. The church is dedicated to Saint Mary of the Sea, since the quarter was dedicated to the jobs related to the sea, from sailors to harbor works, commerce, even coin exchange. The inside was burned during the civil war, but it is still very interesting. Next to the church, you can see a monument, called Fossar de les Moreres, which is the place where many fighters where buried after the Barcelona defeat in 1714, so it is an important monument for Catalan nationalism.

Museum dedicated to the FC Barcelona. It occupies 3,500 m² and attracts 1.2 million visitors a year, ranking it second to the Museu Picasso, which attracts 1.3 million visitors, as the most visited museum in the city of Barcelona. All of the Barcas trophies and jerseys of many famous players of the team are exhibited. The museum can be visited by booking the Camp Nou Experience package, which includes also a stadium tour. The stadium tour is not fantastic and the audio guide is not really worth it either, but for a quick recent history of matches played there, consult the backs of the doors in the cubicles. Most have a lot of graffiti championing the team that played there. It is also unfortunate that the home team changing rooms are not open to the public, only the somewhat dated guest's team dressing rooms, which are not that impressive.

A beautiful Gothic monastery near the university, there are a museum which depicts the monastery life, a church, and a marvelous chapel covered with medieval frescoes.

Placa d'Espanya was created for the 1929 World Exhibition, on a site once used for public hangings. The fountain in the center of the square is a great attraction and plays music during the summer. Plaça Espanya is located at the base of Montjuic hill.

The university has many interesting buildings, libraries and courtyards.

This former hospital is an architectural masterpiece that is now open for visitors. Inpatient wards (and most outpatient facilities) have been moved to a new building of Nou Hospital, but in terms of touring the area, that makes it all the easier. One of "small hidden features" is a network of underground passages where small carriages can be seen, you can get there near WCs on a central square, between Banc de Sang and Quiròfans.

A complex of two pavilions by Antonio Gaudi. 2024 closed for renovation.