Barcelona is one of the most visited cities in Europe, with 32 million tourists passing through each year. This is significantly more than many other Spanish destinations like Benidorm and even the Spanish capital, Madrid, which sees around 7.6 million tourists visit the city annually.
The climate makes sure that it’s warm all year round, dropping slightly to a range of 9-15 degrees C with little rain in the winter months. For this reason, Barcelona is a popular city for tourists all year round.
Its rich culture and wide range of sights and attractions also make it an attractive tourist destination with plenty of things to see and do.
So if you’re planning a trip to the Catalan capital and can’t decide what to see first, why not put these places on your list?
Park Güell
Park Güell is one of the most famous spots in Barcelona. It is a park that contains gardens and buildings that have been styled in mosaic patterns by Antoni Gaudí. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers incredible views over the city.
There are multiple areas within the park, including the famous serpentine benches that were designed by Gaudí to promote private group conversations in such a large open space. There are also large structures with columns that hold up viaducts around the park. Be sure to look up as you walk under them as you’ll spot Gaudí’s tiled mosaics on the ceilings.
Bunkers of Carmel
Park Güell used to be a free public park but was recently converted into a paid tourist attraction to help fund the park’s upkeep. If you’d like to enjoy the spectacular views it offers over Barcelona, looking over famous landmarks like La Sagrada Familia and out into the sea, then head to the Bunkers of Carmel.
They were originally built as anti-aircraft fortifications, with large cannons mounted into the concrete. Today the weaponry has been removed, but the fortifications remain. They were renovated in the 2000s after decades of decay.
Although the site is now much better known, it remains a much less-trafficked area than other tourist hotspots in the city.
Casino Barcelona
Casino Barcelona has hosted a round of the European Poker Tour for most of the competition’s history; this makes it a popular destination for poker fans who want to follow in the footsteps of their favourite players.
Visitors to Casino Barcelona can enjoy one of the best gaming experiences in Europe. Not only can they place bets on more than 20 different sports, play classic casino games and several different types of poker, but they can also enjoy excellent food and drinks in the casino’s bars and restaurants.
If that’s not enough, Casino Barcelona hosts regular events including comedy nights and live music.
Sewer Tours
Now, from the highs of the hills around the city to the depths of its underground sewers. While the city’s sewer system was first built during the Roman Empire and then expanded in the 14th century, it didn’t get a modern network until the 19th century.
Today, you can head underground and take a tour of this network. You’ll be shown around by local experts who will teach you about the technical achievements of the sewer construction, environmental activities in Barcelona, and the history of the city.
While it may not be for everyone, it’s an excellent way to escape the busy streets and explore something that most others don’t.
Font Màgica de Montjuïc
Font Màgica de Montjuïc is a large fountain located outside the National Museum of Catalan. If you approach it from the Espanya metro station and the Plaça d’Espanya between the two giant towers, then you can truly admire its grandeur.
It’s a popular area for tourists around the clock. During the day, you can admire the fine details of the design and construction of the fountain and the steps, while at night you can watch the “Magic Fountain” light up in a range of colours and dance in 7 billion different combinations. These water acrobatics are set to music, creating a spectacular show.
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