A high up yet simple castle. We came for the free admission every Sunday at 3pm. Get the free…read moretickets in advance online so you can bypass the long line that forms for the walk-ins. It's also free every first Sunday of the month. There's some great views, videos, and history displayed. You could get up here via cable car, cab, or walking, which we did, and it was exhausting.

My family spent a pretty fun day here we walked both in and out, which is definitely a hike. Bring…read moreyour stroller if you have a baby thank goodness we had ours, but it's really a pretty walk-in and there's places in the park to look at the flowers and the ponds and little play areas for the kids so honestly, I wouldn't do it any other way. The castle itself is pretty cool. We had a nice time exploring. We did not get on one of the guided tours just because of when we visited and stuff like that but those can be a little tough with young kids anyway we ended up eating in the restaurant on site and I walked away with terrible terrible food poisoning from the croquettes. It happens but definitely made the rest of our trip not quite as fun.

This is one the most recognizable landmarks in Barcelona and it was built as the main entrance to…read morethe 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition. One interesting fact about this arc is that unlike many triumphal arches that celebrate military victories, this one was designed as a symbol of progress and welcome. The red-brick architecture stands out beautifully, and the wide pedestrian promenade leading to the arch is lined with palm trees; suitable walkway. The atmosphere around this landmark is very lively. Locals and visitors gather here to walk, cycle, relax, and enjoy street performances, giving the area a lively but laid-back feel. It's also just a short walk from Parc de la Ciutadella, so it's easy to visit both at the same time.

It is an arc near downtown Barcelona What else can you say…read moreabout the arcs? Came here because others insisted, took a picture and walked away.nice Mood cafe is nearby, go there next?

At the heart of Barcelona, Plaça de Catalunya is where the city really comes together. It's a…read morelively square that's always full of people and is surrounded by shops, cafés, hotels, and major streets. It's also one of the easiest places to start exploring, with quick access to La Rambla, Passeig de Gràcia, the Gothic Quarter, and several metro, train, and airport bus connections. It's nice to simply sit by the fountains and take in the atmosphere. It's a great place to rest, people-watch, or grab a coffee before continuing your day.

A place to meet in the Heart of Barcelona…read more Placa de Catalunya is where my family most recently went to meet our tour guide Luke from Barkeno for the Ultimate Gaudí Experience. Since I had been to Placa de Catalunya in the past, it's a stop on the Barcelona Turistic Bus tour, I felt confident meeting there. Enter the most popular running race in Barcelona. Cursa de Corte Ingles is a free race that goes a little over 10K as it weaves through Barcelona. It goes through the Olympic stadium where you can live out your Olympic dreams as you run through the stadium and then cross the finish line in, you guessed it, Placa de Catalunya. It was really interesting to weave through the runners as we navigated our family of five to meet Luke and get our headphones for our Barkeno Guru Walk. We even used the underground Metro station twice to cross under the race. It was much harder when we were in a group of 25! Love the energy and spirit of both visits. Two different days. Very unique experiences. A beautiful place in the Heart of Barcelona.

Took a free architectural walking tour with Barkeno Tours in Barcelona. Love how the group was…read moregiven headphones for one euro to be able to hear the information. Casa Lleó Morera is one of the three most important modern buildings in Barcelona's famous Illa de la Discòrdia, the Block of Discord on the Passeig de Gràcia. Along with Casa Batlló and Casa Amatller, the trio are known for their unique, contrasting styles. The Casa Lleó Morera was designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. In 1902, Francesca Morera commissioned Lluís Domènech i Montaner to remodel Casa Rocamora which was built in 1864. It was fashionable at the time to reimagine the "ancient" apartments that were out of fashion. Each family seemed to try to outshine their neighbors. The Casa Lleó Morera was a collaborative project. The inspiration? Natural and organic motifs that are infused in the mosaics, sculptures, and decoration. Since the Morera's family name means mulberry tree, that was used extensively in the decor. So, what is the meaning behind Barcelona's Manzana de la Discordia, or the Block of Discord. The city block's nickname originates from the Judgment of Paris, a famous Greek mythological tale. The Greek gods held a wedding but didn't invite Eris, the goddess of discord, as she spread misery wherever she went. Outraged, Eris arrived anyway. Her gift? A poisoned golden apple inscribed with the words "for the fairest." As Eris anticipated, the goddesses each fought to claim the apple for being the most beautiful. Ultimately, Paris, the Prince of Troy, chose Aphrodite (who promised him Helen of Sparta) over Hera and Athena. When Paris took Helen to Troy, the Greeks invaded Troy to bring her back. This huge conflict or discord was known as the Trojan War. In Spanish, the word "manzana" can be interpreted as either a city block or an apple. On the Manzana block, there was a fierce architectural rivalry, akin to the golden apple as the three Modernist buildings on the Passeig de Gràcia competed for the title of the fairest building. In fact our guide had us vote for our favorite. As a fan of Antoni Gaudí, Casa Batlló earned my vote and captured the majority of votes on our tour. If you appreciate art and architecture, add this beautiful city block to your list of places to explore in Barcelona.

This building on the Block of Discord is a perfect example of the beautiful modernista style…read morebuildings in Barcelona. The decadent decorations left me breathless in every room I went into. They just opened this building to the public a few months ago, and when I went they were limiting tours to about twenty people and only once or twice a day. This makes the experience much more enjoyable than some of the Gaudi buildings because you can ask any questions of the guide and really take your time looking around without distractions. A must-see!

Plaça d'Espanya, which means Plaza of Spain, is a public square that was built for the Barcelona…read moreInternational Exposition in 1929. A tour guide briefly took my husband and me to this plaza, and he told us a little about its history. The plaza is located at a roundabout junction of major roads, and during our visit, some construction was occurring on the roadside, but the former bullring that is now a shopping center looked quite impressive. We also enjoyed seeing the two tall towers and a fountain.

Other reviews have mentioned the history of this roundabout, the monumental fountain and the…read morebuildings adjoining the square. Aside from the aforementioned joining of roads, I'll just add that it's a an impressive joining of public transit routes for both bus lines, the metro, and around a 13-15 minute walk, a short bus ride or two stops on the metro over to Sants station (Pl. Espana stop to Sants Estació stop), which is the main train station in Barcelona. Additionally, airport shuttle buses (Aerobus) stop at Plaça d'Espanya about once every 20 minutes or so. You can buy a ticket on the bus (used to be cash only but I believe they take card now). The neighborhood directly around the square is a mix of residential and commercial, there is a good mix of casual mom and pop restaurants and mostly smaller establishments though that's just from some very cursory strolling in the area.

Stun-ning. No other word for this hidden gem of an architectural site that was once a hospital when…read moredesigners cared about the aesthetics of a hospital and not solely function. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site for good reason. The campus alone is one example after another of exquisite brickwork, mosaics, color, and Catalan ingenuity. If you loved Casa Battlo and Parc Guell, and you didn't know about this heritage site, do yourself a favor and swing in for even half-an-hour to buzz through and photograph the exquisite buildings collected herein. 10 min walk from Sagrada Familia. Mamma mia. Jaw dropping inside and out. How wise of Spain to recognize -- and preserve, and share -- this breathtakingly artful site.

In a city more known for Gaudi as the modicum of architecture, it was quite a pleasant surprise to…read morevisit this hospital as it represents the modernist style of Lluis Domenech. It's also a UNESCO site now. For a while, this used to be a fully functioning hospital. Now, people can come and visit several (I think 8) of the pavillions connected by underground galleries. I don't think everything is open but you can see a lot of the history in what is. I enjoyed the courtyard where you can see all the buildings and their architecture from the outside. It's quite mesmerizing to see. You can learn a lot about the history behind the hospital. At 17 EUR, it wasn't cheap, but it's worth the price. It's also about a 10 min walk away from La Sagrada Familia so it can be planned accordingly.

The Gothic Quarter is the oldest section of Barcelona. My husband and I hired a guide to take us on…read morea private tour of Barcelona, and one of my favorite parts of our tour was walking around the Gothic Quarter. We enjoyed seeing the remains of a Roman wall, the Barcelona Cathedral, the Mercado de La Boqueria, the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, cobblestone alleyways, public squares, stores, restaurants, and more. If you are planning a vacation for Barcelona, then I highly recommend that you stroll through the Gothic Quarter.

Most of my adventures through the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona were of historic buildings and…read morechurches which are surrounded by retail shops and unique tapas and cafe eateries. The wife and I got the pleasure to take a four hour food and wine tour throughout the Gothic Quarter providing us the opportunity to taste true Barcelona at four different locations. The area has a dark, wet and slightly unsettling gloomy atmosphere with lots of unsanctioned wall graffiti, although gave it added character to the area.

The statue of Christopher Columbus is here, in this area. It's a congested area with pedestrians…read moreand vehicles and it's close to a main bus and train station on the water. Just like many other areas and things in the city, vandals have tagged portions of it with their nasty graffiti.

Located at the end of Barcelona's Rambla near the sea…read more The Mirador de Colom or Columbus Column, was designed by Gaietà Buïgas, and built in 1888 for the Universal Exhibition as a tribute to Christopher Columbus' departure from Barcelona to America. The 51 meter column is made of cast iron in the Corinthian style. On its top is the statue of Christopher Columbus holding a navigational chart in his left hand, and pointing to the route to America with his right. This monument contains Barcelona's first ever lift. This original lift was replaced by a more modern electric lift that takes just 30 seconds to ride to the top. From there if you look north, you can see the Gothic Quarter, the Cathedral, Santa Maria del Mar and LaRambla. Towards the sea you'll see the Olympic Marina and the modern Forum. The south view gives you Montjuïc Hill. And the west, the vast green Collserola Natural Park.