Barcelona, Palau Sant Jordi

Palau Sant Jordi (English: St. George's Palace) is an indoor sporting arena and multi-purpose installation that is part of the Olympic Ring complex located in Barcelona.

It was opened in 1990 and designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki and the maximum seating capacity of the arena is 17,000 for basketball, and 24,000 for musical events.

Barcelona, Palau Sant Jordi

The Palau Sant Jordi was one of the main venues of the 1992 Summer Olympics hosting the artistic gymnastics, handball final, and volleyball final. Nowadays, it is used for all kinds of indoor sport events as well as for concerts and other cultural activities, due to its great flexibility.

The arena was the venue of the 1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics.

The arena was the venue of three Euroleague final four in 1998, 2003 and 2011. It also hosted the EuroBasket 1997 from the quarter-finals and the 2012 Spanish Basketball Cup.

Barcelona, Palau Sant Jordi

The final of 2000 Davis Cup was the 89th edition of the most important tournament between nations in men's tennis. Spain defeated Australia at Palau Sant Jordi on 8–10 December, giving Spain their first title. The arena also received the final of 2009 Davis Cup between Spain and Czech Republic with the victory for the Spaniards 5-0.

Barcelona, Palau Sant Jordi

The arena was the main venue of the 2003 FINA World Championships. A temporary, regulation swimming pool was installed for the occasion. It played the same role for the 2013 FINA World Championships, since the city of Barcelona hosted the Championships again after 10 years.

Barcelona, Palau Sant Jordi

The arena was one of six sites that hosted the 2013 World Men's Handball Championship including the Final. It also will be one of six sites to host the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

Barcelona Hop on Hop off Bus

Buy your ticket online and skip the line!

This is absolutely the most comfortable way to explore all the wonderful highlights that Barcelona has to offer!

Hop on the Barcelona Bus and discover all the highlights that make this Mediterranean city so special. From the Modernist Buildings and the great cuisine, right through to the Olympic city and the Mediterranean sea: it's all Barcelona  The Open-top double decker bus will take you there. With the Audio guide in 10 languages and individual headphones, all you have to do is hop on, listen and enjoy! Hop on and off as many times as you want between the three tour routes at 44 different locations. 

It can be very busy at the ticket offices, so buy your ticket online now and hop on at the location of your choice!

Schedule details

• Enjoy it every day of the year

• First departures: between 09:00 and 09:30 from any stop

• Last departures: 19:00 in winter - 20:00 in summer. See timetables posted at the stops

• Frequency: between 5 and 25 minutes, depending on the season.

Ticket is valid all year! 

Buy your ticket online and skip the line!

Thanks to our collaboration with Ticketbar, we bring you the most exciting and cultural attractions of Barcelona! 

See terms and conditions here. 

For any question about your booking do not hesitate to contact: customerservice@ticketbar.nl

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Barcelona, Eixample district

The Eixample (Catalan for 'extension') is a district of Barcelona between the old city (Ciutat Vella) and what were once surrounding small towns (Sants, Gràcia, Sant Andreu etc.), constructed in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Eixample is characterized by long straight streets, a strict grid pattern crossed by wide avenues, and square blocks with chamfered corners (named illes in Catalan, manzanas in Spanish). This was a visionary, pioneering design by Ildefons Cerdà, who considered traffic and transport along with sunlight and ventilation in coming up with his characteristic octagonal blocks, where the streets broaden at every intersection making for greater visibility, better ventilation and (today) some short-stay parking space. 

Barcelona, Eixample district

The grid pattern remains as a hallmark of Barcelona, but many of his other provisions were unfortunately ignored: the four sides of the blocks and the inner space were built instead of the planned two or three sides around a garden; the streets were narrower; only one of the two diagonal avenues was carried out; the inhabitants were of a higher class than the mixed composition dreamed of by Cerdà. The important needs of the inhabitants were incorporated into his plan, which called for markets, schools, hospitals every so many blocks. Today, most of the markets remain open in the spots they have been from the beginning.

Some parts of the Eixample were influenced by Modernista architects, chief among whom was Antoni Gaudí. His work in the Eixample includes the Casa Milà (nicknamed La Pedrera) and the Casa Batlló, both of which are on the wide Passeig de Gràcia, as well as the Sagrada Família. Other architects who made highly significant, and certainly more numerous, contributions to giving the Eixample its characteristic appearance include Josep Puig i Cadafalch, Josep Domènech i Estapà, Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas and perhaps above all Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia, responsible for a total of over 500 buildings in the city (not all of them in the Eixample).

Barcelona, Eixample district

The Casa Terrades, better known as Casa de les Punxes, is a spectacular building replete with Mediaeval allusions that stands at the junction of Av. Diagonal with Carrer Rosselló. It was built in 1903-5 by the Modernista architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, who used Nordic Gothic and Spanish Plateresque resources side by side, along with traditional Catalan motifs.

The Casa Batlló is part of a block called the Illa de la Discòrdia, along with two other notable Modernista works, Lluís Domènech i Montaner's Casa Lleó Morera and Josep Puig i Cadafalch's Casa Amatller. The block is so named due to the visual clash between the buildings; its Spanish name, Manzana de la Discordia, is also a pun on Eris's Apple of Discord - manzana means both "apple" and "city block".

Barcelona, Eixample district

The district is often divided for practical purposes in two: Esquerra de l'Eixample and Dreta de l'Eixample (left and right sides of Eixample, respectively). Traditionally and officially it is divided into five neighbourhoods. These are, in addition to the areas already mentioned, Sant Antoni, Sagrada Família and Fort Pienc, also known as Fort Pius. The latter has recently become notable for the number of Asian, chiefly Chinese residents and the proliferation of Asian shops.

Some parts of Eixample are rather well-to-do neighbourhoods, especially around the central areas such as Passeig de Gràcia, Rambla de Catalunya and the Avinguda Gaudi/Sagrada Familia vicinity, but it also contains many decaying buildings inhabited by lonely aged tenants on the verge of poverty, especially in the fringe areas. It also has a large proportion of immigrant population.

Barcelona, Eixample district

Passeig de Gràcia connects the central Plaça Catalunya to the old town of Gràcia, while Avinguda Diagonal cuts across the grid diagonally and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes runs across the entire city from southwest to northeast.

Other wide avenues in the area include Carrer d'Aragó, Carrer de Balmes and Passeig de Sant Joan.

There are five administrative neighborhoods:

L'Antiga Esquerra de l'Eixample (in the past, part of Esquerra de l'Eixample)

La Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample (in the past, part of Esquerra de l'Eixample)

Dreta de l'Eixample

Fort Pienc

Sagrada Família

Sant Antoni

Las Patatas Bravas: star of all tapas

Anyone coming to Barcelona, whether for the first time or not, will tell you: the first thing to do when arriving in the great Catalan city, is find a bar and eat some tapas. This is not an exaggeration – this is a fact.

Las Patatas Bravas: star of all tapas

Among the must-have tapas, you’ll find:

- ‘El pimiento del padrón’, a pimento cultivated in Galicia

- ‘Chipirones’, which are delicious calamari

- ‘Jamon Serrano’, the famous ham for Iberia

- And the classic, yet unforgettable ‘pan con tomate’

Las Patatas Bravas: star of all tapas

The undisputed star of tapas is however the “Patatas Bravas”. No, these are not simply potatoes with hot sauce like you can find in the supermarket. The Catalan patatas bravas are simply… different. These boiled and fried cubes of potatoes are then covered in a spicy homemade salsa, and they make them in such a way that they are crispy on the outside, steamy in the inside… my mouth is watering.

Las Patatas Bravas: star of all tapas

Not all bars serve ‘good’ patatas bravas of course, but you can usually tell. The sauce is so delicious you can tell it has just been made (with love), and they are a special shade of golden that lets you know that no other potato has ever been so good.

There are many tapas bars in Barcelona, here is a selection of the best bars, according to us:

Las Patatas Bravas: star of all tapas

- El vaso de oro

Adress: Balboa, 6, 08003 Barcelona

Metro: Barceloneta

Bus: lines 17, 40, 45, N8, stop at Plaza Pau Vila

- Pubilla del TaulatLa pubilla del taulat

Adress: c/ Amistad, 12, Barcelona 08005

Metro: Poblenou

Bus: lines 40, 42, B20,B25, N8, N11, stop at Pere IV-Bilbao‎

- El porronEl Porron

Adress: C/ Doctor Trueta, 225, Barcelone

Metro: Llacuna and Poblenou (L4)

Bus: line 26, stop at Taulat-Rambla del Poblenou‎

Barcelona Zoo

Away from the hectic city...

Enjoy a day out with your family members on a perfect trip to the Barcelona Zoo, a place that can be seen as a hidden gem in Barcelona. Enjoy the wide variety of species- this zoo accommodates over 2000 animals. Located in the oldest city park – Parc de la Ciutadella – it will make you forget about all the city traffic and your everyday problems! The lovely selection of wildlife, the entertaining performances of dolphins and sea lions, and the unique location in the centre of the city makes the Barcelona Zoo worthwhile.

Opening Hours:

Opening:

10 a.m. throughout the year

Closing:

1 January to 26 March: 5.30  p.m.

27 March to 15 May: 7 p.m.

16 May to 15 September: 8 p.m.

16 September to 29 October: 7 p.m.

30 October to 31 December: 5.30  p.m.

Location:

Parc de la Ciutadella

08003 Barcelona

Metro to Ciutadella - Vila Olimpica

Ticket is valid for 3 months from date of purchase! Buy your ticket online and skip the line!

Thanks to our collaboration with Ticketbar, we bring you the most exciting and cultural attractions of Barcelona! 

See terms and conditions here. 

For any question about your booking do not hesitate to contact: customerservice@ticketbar.nl

Adult  €19  - 12345678910 Child (3-12y)  €11,40  - 12345678910

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Passeig de Gràcia Barcelona

Passeig de Gràcia is part of the 5 KM shopping line and is an important road in Barcelona. The wide boulevards on either side of Passeig de Gràcia add to the feeling of opulence that this road gives you. Passeig de Gràcia is also home to two of Gaudí's most important creations here - La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.

Passeig de Gràcia Barcelona

Formerly known as Camí de Jesús ("Jesus Road"), it used to be little more than a quasi-rural lane surrounded by gardens joining Barcelona and Gràcia (then still a separate town), until the first urbanisation project in 1821 devised by the liberal city council, and led by Ramon Plana, who had to suddenly cancel his work due to the epidemics that were raging in Barcelona at the time. 

Passeig de Gràcia Barcelona

After the demise of the liberal government with the return of Absolutism in 1824, the project was taken up again by general José Bernaldo de Quirós, marquis of Campo Sagrado. The new avenue was 42 metres wide in 1827 and became a favourite place for aristocrats to display their horse riding skills and expensive horse-drawn carriages all through the 19th century.

Passeig de Gràcia Barcelona

In 1906 the architect Pere Falqués i Urpí designed the avenue's now famous ornate benches and street-lights. By that time it had become Barcelona's most fashionable street, with buildings designed by modernista/Art Nouveau architects of fame such as Antoni Gaudí, Pere Falqués, Jose Puig i Cadafalch, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Enric Sagnier and Josep Vilaseca.

Passeig de Gràcia Barcelona

The government of the Basque Country (Eusko Jaurlaritza) was based in Passeig de Gràcia, 60 during the Spanish Civil War. The Catalan poet Salvador Espriu resided in Casa Fuster (Passeig de Gràcia, 132).

Passeig de Gràcia Barcelona

How To Get There

Metro Passeig de Gràcia -(Green Line, L3) and (Yellow Line, L4) (southern most end) Diagonal (Green Line, L3) and (Blue Line, L5) Northern most end

Barcelona with children

Family holidays can often make for the best memories, but a lot depends on keeping the kids happy! Barcelona makes this an easy task as it’s a city that offers something for everyone, from beaches and parks to football stadiums and museums. To make your family holiday a stress-free experience, take a look at our guide to entertaining  children of all ages in the Catalan capital.

Barcelona with children 

Activities for young children

Barcelona’s Aquarium is an ideal way to spend the afternoon with younger kids. It’s an underwater kingdom housing almost 400 marine species including Nemo and Flounder look-a-likes which children will love spotting. Watch their little faces light up as they walk through the 360º glass tunnel called the Oceaneri – they might even spot a few sharks.

Barcelona with children 

As well as lions, tigers, elephants and gorillas, Barcelona zoo also has a great adventure playground where the children can run wild. We highly recommend the dolphin shows, which are great fun, especially when the dolphins launch balls for the audience to catch. Together with guided tours and workshops, the zoo houses a farm area with goats and rabbits for the younger kids to pet. The zoo is based in the Parc de la Ciutadella which is a nice spot for a family picnic. The park is beautiful, especially on sunny days when children can run around, feed the ducks and take a rowing boat out onto the middle of the lake.

Barcelona with children 

Hit the beach! Many people are surprised when they come to Barcelona for the first time and discover its vast stretches of beautiful beaches. Temperatures are warm enough for you to enjoy the beaches from March to October, so take the kids, let them take a dip and enjoy an ice cream. The closest beach to the city centre is Barceloneta and it can get quite overcrowded, so we’d recommend you heading a little further north to Bogatell Beach or Mar Bella for a bit more space.

Barcelona with children 

Activities for teenagers

CosmoCaixa is a great family day out, especially if you’re searching for something adults will also enjoy. Far from your average natural science museum, it’s an educational yet entertaining and interactive experience. The Amazon rainforest, complete with tropical downpours and alligators, is a particular highlight. You can conduct your own experiments, create sandstorms, and see animal species from all over the world.

Tibidabo is where you will find Cosmo Caixa and is great for slightly older children. It offers unrivalled panoramic views of the Catalan hinterland, the city and the Mediterranean Sea, while its funfair and amusement park are guaranteed to keep kids entertained for hours. Dare them to go on a few of the rides or simply buy some candyfloss and enjoy the view – either way, they will have an adrenaline- fuelled day out!

Barcelona with children 

FC Barcelona Museum and Camp Nou Tour is an absolute must if you have teenagers who are interested in sport and would appreciate seeing the home of one of the greatest teams in the world. This legendary tour takes you behind the scenes; you get a glimpse of the president’s box, the changing rooms and can even walk through the players’ tunnel. The tour also includes entrance to the interactive museum which has over 100 years of memorabilia on show. If you’re lucky enough to be here when FC Barcelona are playing at home, then why not take the family to see a game?

Barcelona with children 

Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia is the most visited attraction in Spain so it’s no wonder many families take their children to see it while on holiday in Barcelona. The Basilica, which isn’t set to be completed for another 20 years, is vast and dream-like. The inside is breathtaking and is full of models, photographs and plans from its humble beginnings in 1882 through the decades.

Barcelona with children 

Shopping! Trawling the shops with kids in tow can be hard work, but it’s something most teenagers enjoy (especially if the spree is on mum and dad!). Barcelona is fantastic for a bit of retail therapy so why not spend an afternoon strolling up and down Passeig de Gràcia or Avinguda Portal de l’Àngel. Or if you fancy something a little different, wander down the side streets of the Born and Gothic Quarter and discover a huge range of independent boutiques.

Barcelona, Antoni Gaudi's City

This is a Catalan name. The first family name is Gaudí and the second is Cornet.

Born 25 June 1852

Reus, Catalonia, Spain

Died 10 June 1926 (aged 73)

Buildings Sagrada Família, Casa Milà,

Casa Batlló

Projects Park Güell, Church of Colònia Güell

Antoni Gaudí i Cornet was a Catalan architect of Spanish nationality born in Reus or Riudoms, in Catalonia, and figurehead of Catalan Modernism. Gaudí's works reflect his highly individual and distinctive style and are largely concentrated in the Catalan capital of Barcelona, notably his magnum opus, the Sagrada Família.

Much of Gaudí's work was marked by his big passions in life: architecture, nature, religion. Gaudí studied every detail of his creations, integrating into his architecture a series of crafts in which he was skilled: ceramics, stained glass, wrought ironwork forging and carpentry. He introduced new techniques in the treatment of materials, such as trencadís, made of waste ceramic pieces.

After a few years, under the influence of neo-Gothic art and Oriental techniques, Gaudí became part of the Modernista movement which was reaching its peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His work transcended mainstream Modernisme, culminating in an organic style inspired by nature. Gaudí rarely drew detailed plans of his works, instead preferring to create them as three-dimensional scale models and molding the details as he was conceiving them.

Gaudí's work enjoys widespread international appeal and many studies are devoted to understanding his architecture. Today, his work finds admirers among architects and the general public alike. His masterpiece, the still-uncompleted Sagrada Família, is one of the most visited monuments in Catalonia. Between 1984 and 2005, seven of his works were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. 

Gaudí's Roman Catholic faith intensified during his life and religious images permeate his work. This earned him the nickname "God's Architect" and led to calls for his beatification.

Port Aventura Theme Park

It’s Sunday morning, 8 o’clock, and the alarm goes off: today the kids are coming back!

We have a look at the times, our destination being Port Aventura , Barcelona’s theme park and comparable to Thorpe Park or Chessington World of Adventures in Britain.

Port Aventura Theme Park

At the entrance (which also acts as an access point for the adjacent water park, the “Caribe Acquatic Park”) there is quite a significant queue. However, after about half an hour we manage even to overcome this particular obstacle and finally we reach the entrance.

Port Aventura Theme Park

Upon entering, the sight that greets our eyes is a vision straight from a fairy-tale: a huge river, bordered by rocks and thick, luxuriant vegetation which frames the whole Park, which then evolves into different themes the further you delve in to the park. There are Mediterranean, Polynesian, Chinese, SesamoAventura and Mexican themes all the way to the Wild West.

Port Aventura Theme Park

We decide to go straight in to the first ride: ‘Furious Baco’, a capsule which promises to simulate acceleration equivalent to that of a jet taking off. However, thanks to the information panels, placed at the entrance to each ride letting you know the waiting times, we realise that we would have to wait approximately one hour and 30 minutes, which causes us instead to head over to the following attraction, ‘Gran Canyon Rapids’. As you can easily guess from the name, this ride is an adventure through water rapids imitating those of the Grand Canyon, considered as ‘moderate’ on the signs next to each of the rides. We wait roughly 30 minutes, get on board and enjoy the ride. We were refreshed by the sprays of water which are sprayed from the obstacles throughout the duration of the ride.

Port Aventura Theme Park

Getting off the ride, we see an extremely tall tower, which is the symbol of ‘Hurakan Condor’. This time, the queue is practically non-existent, so we get straight on board and are lifted upwards to the top of the tower, to an altitude of 100 metres, hearts suddenly beating fast, and then…down! In 2 seconds flat we are already back to the ground. We make our way around the park and end up trying loads of the other rides, some of them really fun, others less so, but all of them giving the impression that, at least for the day, we had once again become kids.

Port Aventura Theme Park

The park is really crowded…everybody from families with kids; groups of elderly people, to groups of children all of which are in a general spirit of happiness. At times, the queues are rather long, but if you arm yourself with a good dose of patience (as well as the right kind of company), time flies by quickly, with comments exchanged between those in front of and behind you and by the time you get on the ride, they will have become your best friends!

Port Aventura Theme Park

The lunch break is a needed rest from the frenetic adventure, and this you can spend in one of the very numerous themed bars which are located inside the park, or in the shade of the palm trees which line the bank of the river.

Port Aventura Theme Park

It’s 6.30 p.m and we are tired, hungry but also very satisfied, and well in advance of the park’s closing time (from the 25th of May to the 26th of September the park closes at 8 p.m.).