Las Ramblas of Barcelona, the famous street in the centre of the city
Las Ramblas is an emblematic passage of the city of Barcelona that runs between the Plaza de Cataluña and the old port. In addition to be the best-known street in the city of Barcelona and an essential visit for your trip, it is a place that does not go unnoticed by anyone for its beauty, color and joy. Whenever you visit it, doesn’t matter if it’s a Sunday or holidays, you will enjoy the people, the atmosphere and all the stalls, flowers, music, art, mimes and terraces.
We like it so much, we have selected the 6 most interesting points to visit in Las Ramblas. The best way to start would be going to the Plaza Catalunya Metro Station and starting from the top, going down the avenue towards the sea. Following this route, you will stumble upon with monuments and benchmarks such as:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What to do and see in Las Ramblas, Barcelona
Font de Canaletes
Where is it? Rambla de Canaletes, 08002 Barcelona (the upper part of La Rambla, near Plaça de Catalunya)
If there is a fountain in Barcelona that is famous in Spain and in the rest of the world, that is Canaletes. This 19th century iron fountain with four jets crowned by a lamp with four lights, has a great symbolism for the Catalan people. For years it’s been a historic meeting point since it is in a very prominent spot of the Ramblas avenue. In addition to this, Canaletas is famous for being the celebration spot for all the FC Barcelona fans. This tradition goes back to the thirties, when at the height of Canaletes, the editorial office of the sports newspaper La Rambla was installed. At that time, it was difficult to learn about the results of the matches and people were concentrating there to see the results written on a blackboard. In addition, the legend tells that whoever drinks water from Canaletas, always returns to Barcelona.
La Boquería Market
Where is it? La Rambla, 91, 08001 Barcelona
The Mercado de San José, popularly known as “La Boquería”, is the municipal market of Las Ramblas. In it you will find all kinds of fresh products to taste (and buy). This traditional market used to be a regular market for people to buy groceries, but with the pass of time, it has become a tourist attraction given its architectural beauty and history. Our recommendation is looking for the Catalonian Food stand, which, as the name suggests, is specialized in Catalan cuisine, and the Bar Pinotxo, famous for their tapas. Both places are inside the market, so now you have a great excuse to visit it!
Mosaic del Pla de l’Os from Joan Miró
Where is it? La Rambla, s/n, 08002 Barcelona
Right in the center of Las Ramblas, you will find this tiles mosaic, an artwork by the renowned Catalan artist Joan Miró, one of the great painters of the twentieth century and great exponent of the Spanish surrealist movement. This Miró Mosaic symbolically welcomes visitors to the city, at least the ones who arrive by sea from the old Port. It has been displayed since the year 1976 thanks to the City Council, who expressly claimed that the mosaic could be stepped on by travelers.
The Gran Teatre del Liceu
Where is it? La Rambla, 51-59, 08002 Barcelona
The Gran Teatre del Liceu is the oldest active opera house (1847) and one of the most prestigious in the world, not only for the artists that have performed here, but for its beautiful architecture. If you have the opportunity, it is worth visiting one night and enjoying one of its wonderful shows. Check their website for the schedule of concerts, operas and theatre plays.
Museu de Cera – The Wax Museum
Where is it? Passatge de la Banca, 7, 08002 Barcelona
The Wax Museum of Barcelona, The Museu de Cera in Catalan, is a private museum that exhibits an important collection of more than 200 wax figures of important and emblematic characters of history (real and fictional). This museum receives almost 200,000 visits per year and is in the former headquarters of the Barcelona Bank, in a building built in 1867. Open every day of the week and with a cost of less than 15 euros.
If you like Lord of the rings, Game of Thrones and other types of epic fantasy, this is the place for you. Just inside of the bar of the Wax Museum of Barcelona you will find El Bosque de las Hadas (The Forest of the Fairies), a very popular and curious place that emulates an enchanted forest. Its lighting is dim, and its decoration is full of trees and vegetation and even has a beautiful waterfall, responsible for the background music. Divided into different rooms, it is full of places where you can relax and have fun with your couple or as a group. Try their cocktails, they taste like fairy dust!
Christopher Columbus Statue
Where is it? Plaça Portal de la Pau, 08001 Barcelona
At the end of Las Ramblas, you will find the Monument to Christopher Columbus, navigator known for discovering America, on October 12th, 1492. The renowned 7-meter-long bronze statue, work of the sculptor Rafael Atché, shows Columbus standing with the extended right arm and the index finger points the exit of the port towards the sea on a hemisphere that remembers the new discovered part of the Earth. The author made the finger of Columbus bigger in relation to the rest of his body so that the people of the street did not overlook this detail.
Something that few people know is that inside the main column of the monument is a small elevator (pioneer in Barcelona), with capacity for four people. It allows access to a 360-degree circular viewpoint, almost imperceptible from the sidewalk. The cost is 4 euros and from that spot, you can enjoy one of the greatest panoramic views of the port and the gothic district of Barcelona.
