Cities Tourism Guide - Barcelona La Rambla

La Rambla Barcelona, Las Ramblas Barcelona Attractions

Stroll with the crowds down Barcelona's famous La Rambla, thousands do and Las Ramblas is busy daily! Taking in the sights, street performances, museums and more along Las Ramblas is one of the best places to start in Barcelona, alongside a trip upto Montjuic and the cable car for panoramic views of the City for Castillo de Montjuic.

La Rambla is 1.5km/1 mile long, and you can easily fill a day with its many attractions, including numerous distractions slightly off the Las Ramblas track such as bustling Placa Reial, Gaudi's Palau Guell and the superb Barcelona Maritime Museum. La Rambla's conversion into a city street and its roots date from the 18th century. In medieval times it was sewage ditch flanked by medieval walls! Today it's a hub for Barcelona visitors and daily you can expect to see numerous street performances and a selection of innovative human street statues. The human art statues are particularly good on Las Ramblas. La Rambla marks the southwest boundary of Barcelona's Gothic quarter, and many visitors detour off to the Picasso Museum, Barcelona Cathedral and other attractions within Barcelona's old town Barri Gotic.

Pushing up Las Ramblas from the waterfront and Monument Colon, Las Ramblas highlights include the Gran Teatre del Liceu Opera House, the Palau de la Virreina and the 17th century baroque Mare de Deu de Betlem church. Note too the historic La Boqueria market otherwise known as Mercat Sant Josep near Liceu metro. Barcelona Museums either on or just off Las Ramblas include the Maritime Museum just near the exit from Drassanes Metro, the Museu De Cera wax works - always a hoot, the Museu De L'Erotica near Liceu Metro and the Museu Del Calcat museum of shoes, well worth a look also near Liceu. See more details on these Barcelona Las Ramblas Museums via the weblinks right.

Barcelona La Rambla Tourist Information Centre, La Rambla, 115, Barcelona. Open daily from 9am to 9pm. Barcelona's main tourist office is at the end of the Ramblas at Placa de Catalunya, 17-S. Open daily 9am to 9pm. Pick up good Barcelona City centre and Barcelona Las Ramblas/Old town detailed maps from these points.

Las Ramblas Barcelona Waterfountain, Liceu Theatre, Placa Catalunya, Joan Miro Mural, Monument Colon

One of the most famous meeting points on La Rambla is towards the top end on the Canaletas section. The cast water fountain here is where FC Barcelona Barca fans gather and if you have a sip of these drinking waters, the saying goes you'll return to Barcelona!

Joan Miro's 1977 floor mural along Las Ramblas, situated near the Liceu opera house also draws much attention along Las Ramblas.

The Gran Teatre Del Liceu, with its spectacular facade, dates from 1847, although it was damaged by a fire in 1994 so what you see today is a careful rebuild. Take tours of the spectacular Liceu theatre interior - see the Gran Teatre del Liceu webguide right for details. The Liceu is Barcelona's lavish operatic centre, with a capacity for 2300 spectators.

At either end of the 1 mile long Barcelona Ramblas are two of the cities most popular spots - Monument Colon the Columbus monument at the waterfront end, and bustling central meeting point for often concerts, events and stalls Placa de Catalunya. Placa de Catalunya serves as the Barcelona point where old and new town meets. North of Placa Catalunya you push into the wide streets and grid layout of L'Eixample (the extension). Placa de Catalunya plaza is a popular spot to chill, and bustles as it's a main convergence point for Barcelona national rail, buses, tourist buses and metro point, as well as being a very attractive square. Numerous shops, cafes, bars and restaurants surround this busy Barcelona Square. Down on the Waterfront, Monument Colon/Columbus Monument is one of Barcelona's most iconic historic monuments. Take tours upto the top for views, or move across to the roundabout on which it sits to view the base up close.