Plaça de Catalunya - A Square at the Heart of Barcelona's City Centre.
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Plaça de Catalunya – Considered to be Barcelona's most central point and the meeting point of both the old and modern city, this square is a favorite for social gatherings thanks to its wealth of shopping outlets and restaurants.
La Rambla is the boundary between the quarters of Barri Gòtic, to the east, and El Raval, to the west. Barcelona's safest areas tend to be the more affluent neighborhoods, such as Eixample, Poble Sec, and Poblenou.
Gràcia is the best place to escape the tourists, with its tranquil plazas and cafés full of locals and an appealing small-town atmosphere. Barceloneta has the closest beach to the center of Barcelona, within easy walking distance from Las Ramblas. It's also Barcelona's longest beach, and popular with families.
Las Ramblas is the most iconic Barcelona street. Take a leisurely walk down from Plaça Catalunya to the Mirador de Colón near the ancient harbor, and check out the shops, restaurants, flower stalls, souvenir shops, and ice cream parlors on both sides.
The Gothic Quarter is located in the historic center of Barcelona. You'll find it between two streets: the famous La Rambla (sometimes called Las Ramblas) and Via Laietana. You can easily get there by metro from the Liceu or Jaume I metro stations.
The Bari Gothic Quarter of Barcelona is arguably the most desirable area to stay in, which is why it gets so much foot traffic. It's close to many of Barcelona's most popular attractions and has many great restaurants—another reason why people love it.
Barcelona is a very walkable city. We could stroll through the differernt neighborhoods first hand and get a feel for the local markets and shops. Of course a stop at the open air market of La Boqueria is a must.
As mentioned, Cuitat Vella (The Old Town) comprises four main areas: El Raval, Barri Gotic, El Born, and La Barceloneta. The latter is an old fishing village which was built on the natural banks of the Mediterranean, and has its own distinct style, festivals and, for the sun-seeker, the city's closest beach.
You should also avoid staying outside of city center; it's not worth traveling into the city each day. In terms of safety, El Raval and El Born are most known for pickpockets and petty crimes, though El Born is still considered a popular place. How not to look like a tourist in Barcelona?
Public transport such as the metro, tram and FGC are the quickest, simplest, most convenient and most sustainable way of getting around Barcelona. You can choose from the different ticket types and travel cards. Bicycles are a healthy, clean and silent way of getting around the city.
Barcelona is an expensive city to visit in Spain, but it's considered semi-affordable in Europe. Comparing Spain's top two destinations, Barcelona is, on average, more expensive than the capital, Madrid. For a mid-range budget traveler, you can expect to spend approximately: $150 per day in Barcelona.
Las Ramblas, the main promenade through central Barcelona, is humming with activity 24 hours a day and – pickpockets and tourist scams aside – is considered safe. Late at night, the south end of the street may feel a little seedy but is still relatively safe (and pretty easy to avoid if you prefer).