Original post by: Andy Hayes, PlanetEye Traveler

La Rambla (or Las Ramblas, as it is more commonly known) is a central boulevard that cuts through Barcelona, and is the city’s most famous street.  You’ll no doubt find yourself along it during your visit, and you might end up staying nearby!  Rambla roughly means a water flow or an intermittent water stream, and that’s kind of how you’ll feel walking down it – things move at a slow yet enjoyable pace.

It’s overwhelming because it is one of those streets that has one of everything.  Here are some of my favorites and a guide to what to see and what to skip.

Cruise Las Ramblas for a day and get lost in the sites.

 

Attractions

Several tourist attractions can be found on Las Ramblas, ranging from the beautiful to the tacky.  I’ll let you decide how you feel about Font de Canaletes, a beautiful fountain with an ornate lamp in the center.  The saying is that if you drink from the fountain, you’ll come back to Barcelona – I’m not so sure you’ll want to do that if you notice the proximity of the pigeons, but I hate to stand in the way of tradition.

Another monument-type attraction is the can’t-miss Christopher Columbus monument, known as the Colon.  As you can see, he’s pointing out to the sea, and if you’re here that’s the direction you should head to explore the marina area and to put your feet in the sand if you wish.

La Boqueria is probably Barceona’s most famous street market.  It’s a wonderful place to take some great pictures, and you’ll find lots of yummy snacks and restaurants in this area (see below for more suggestions).  La Boqueria has been around since the 1200′s!

The main attraction, though, is something I can’t be specific about.  That’s because why I really like Las Ramblas is for the people watching.  The street performers and the artists painting.  The random dancers and singers.  It’s like a miniature carnival.    If you see someone interesting, stop.  Otherwise, carry on as there will no doubt be someone else of interest further along.  There’s no rush to get from one end to the other, and if the sangria calls, go for it.

Shopping

Las Ramblas, rather unsurprisingly, has more than its fair share of souvenir shops and tawdry clothing stores.  I’m going to take a stance and tell you not to shop on Las Ramblas, but head up to the north end of the street, where you’ll find El Cortes Ingles.  This is Spain’s flagship department store, and you’ll find everything from groceries to toiletries to clothing.  Despite it being a “department store,” I find the prices to be very reasonable and the selection very good.

As a plus, you’ll get great service.  Unlike American or UK stores, often you’ll have to pay when leaving one area and before leaving another.  So, if you buy some cheese, you’ll have to pay before going over to the pharmacy, and then pay again before picking up a sweater.  It’s slightly confusing by design (sort of like a Vegas casino – they want you to get lost and shop more), but it’s a great experience.

Food and Drink

Tapas and sangria.  Together they are two of my favorite things to enjoy while I’m in Spain.  Having said that, most cuisines are well represented in the area.  Here are some suggestions, though it seems restaurants change often, so it might be worth asking your accommodation for a suggestion:

  • Escriba:  known for the pastries.  Slightly touristy, but try the cakes and you won’t complain.  Their hot chocolate also seems to be quite popular.
  • El Quim: their speciality is squid with fried eggs, which is very yummy, but all their dishes are made with fresh ingredients.
  • Bilbao Berria: tasty tapas.  Just look at the pictures on their website – they are hard to argue with!  You may see on the menu the word “pintxos” – this is the word for tapas used in the Basque areas of spain, such as Bilbao and San Sebastien.
  • Granja Viader:  known for their ‘horchatas’, a lovely iced drink that is perfect on a sunny Barcelona afternoon.

Note, the busier a place is, the better.  There are a lot of ‘tourist traps’ around here so if you see locals gathered en masse, squeeze in and enjoy.

A Note on Safety

While I love Spain, I have to say that in recent years, the pickpocket situation has escalated to the point that you almost have to feel paranoid.  Not to say that you should be paranoid, but I’d ask you to please be mindful while you are in Barcelona, and in particular on Las Ramblas.  That means passports and money tucked away tightly, no dangling purses, unzipped backpacks, and no wallets in back pockets waiting to be pilfered.

Barcelona is a safe city, but the pickpockets are just rife, particularly at night.  So please, watch yourself.

While you’re visiting Barcelona, make sure you find your very own Barcelona short term rental. It’s a great way to explore the neighborhoods and be more budget-friendly while traveling!

Photo Credit:  Yellow.Cat