Tour around the Ramblas - 1 day

With this tour "Around the Ramblas" you have for one day a very varied programme.

You begin the tour at the upper end of the Ramblas, the Plaça de Catalunya. This place you will meet several time of your stay due to its central location.

If you have not eaten in the hotel, you can take your breakfast in the department store El Cortes Inglés on the northeastern side of the square. From the restaurant on the top floor, you can observe wonderfully the busy goings on the court.

An alternative to the restaurant of the department store can be found in the small streets on the left side of the Ramblas (from Plaça de Catalunya seen). There are several cafes and restaurants.
 
The Rambla itself is divided into several sections. The top two sections are called "Rambla de Canaletes" and "Rambla dels Estudis. Here are mostly the stands of magazine buyers.
 
Approximately 300 meters from Plaza de Catalunya, on the right side there is located the Mercat de la Boqueria ( "Butchers"). You acknowledge the entrance of the modernist elements. It is the most famous market in Barcelona and top chefs buy here. In any case, a place for all the senses.

When you return from the market, go about 120 meters right along Ramblas and then left into the Carrer de Cardinal Casañas. Again, after 120 meters, there is the Plaça del Pi with the small Gothic church of Santa Maria del Pi, you can take a look into it, it is very beautiful.

Go the Carrer de Palla directly to the square in front of the Cathedral of Barcelona. It's worth to visit it and go along the cloister. From the perspective right in front of the cathedral, the Carrer de Bisbe leads directly on the Plaça de Sant Jaume. From there it is about 350 meters along the Carrer de Ferran to the Rambla. There, where this road leads into the Rambla, is located on the other hand, Barcelona's famous opera Gran Teatre del Liceu. Look once into the concert hall. Then towards the sea, about 80 meters you see on the left side if you look towards the sea, the entrance to the Plaça Reial.
Directly opposite, on the other side of the Rambla is the Carrer de Nou de la Rambla. At the very beginning on the left side, there is one of the early buildings of the architect Gaudi, the Palau Güell.

Towards the end of the Rambla, you will see the Columbus monument. At the top of the metro station Drassanes there is on your left hand a small alley. There is the wax museum. It is not as well known as Madamme Tussauts waxworks in London, but it has its own charm. From waxworks come directly to the Cafe de la Bosc Fades, in English  "fairy-tale forest". It is also decorated with dwarves, mermaids and fountains.
 
Then go to the Columbus monument. You can use a lift to the viewing platform.

On the right hand side you can see the Museu Marítim, accommodated in the former shipyard. Here is the history of seafaring of all eras. Highlight is a replica of the original galley from the year 1571. The storm simulation on a ship will inspire children. The Museu Marítim has a nice café for a break.

It is already the afternoon. Go over the "Rambla del Mar" to Maremàgnum. There you can wonderfully spend your money in one of the many shops. Do not stay too long. Must be seen is one of Europe's largest aquariums, the Aquàrium. The highlight is the drive through the shark basin. The Aquàrium is located close to the Maremàgnum.

Now go to Moll d'Espanya in the direction of the district Barceloneta. This district is famous for its fish restaurants. There are very good, but also some dubious restaurants. Just go into a restaurant you like.

When it gets dark ever so slowly, through the Gothic Quarter-lit atmosphere at the church of Santa Maria de Mar go to the cathedral and from there directly to the Plaça Catalunya.