A city to enjoy
Barcelona has the dynamic and open personality of a Mediterranean city. It is the perfect city to relax in, stroll around and enjoy. Barcelona has its own way of life which makes it unique.
Located in the north-east of Spain, the Mediterranean Sea nudges the coast of the city of Barcelona, while the Collserola ridge (part of the Serralada Litoral) borders the west of the city, with pine and oak woodland, fields and meadows, as well as wetland vegetation.
The Catalan capital, 166 kilometres from the French border and 120 kilometres south of the Pyrenees, is on a plain bordered by two rivers: the Llobregat in the south and the Besòs in the north.
The climate in Barcelona is typically Mediterranean. Summers are hot and humid, winters mild, and most of the rainfall is in spring and autumn. July average temperature is 29 degrees Celsius (84.2 F)
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A multifaceted city Barcelona is a Mediterranean city facing the sea, with exceptional urban beaches and harbour sporting facilities. All the beaches and ports have quality facilities and all the services you need. Barcelona is the only major European city with urban beaches. It has excellent sporting harbours that make it the ideal destination for a summer holidays: good weather and good beaches. |
 Olympic Village Beach, by by Espai d'Imatge © Turisme de Barcelona |
Despite its limited physical space, Barcelona's geographical position is unlike that of other major European cities, with either sea or mountains. The city has two mountains with various kinds of attractions for tourists: monuments, culture, nature and sport. These are Montjuïc and Tibidabo, two large, natural spaces that are well worth a visit because they offer exceptional views of the whole city. Montjuïc and Tibidabo are two giant belvederes overlooking Barcelona.
Barcelona view from Tibidabo mountain, by Espai d'Imatge © Turisme de Barcelona<
 Magic Fountain, Montjuïc, by Espai d'Imatge © Turisme de Barcelona |
Green Barcelona, with its large parks and smaller outdoor public spaces, has plenty of interesting things to offer. Discovering these spaces will give you all the more pleasure from your visit to Barcelona. They're also great places for your kids to have fun in. Montjuïc is the greenest area of the city, a mountain full of parks and gardens which was the centre for the International Exhibition of 1929 and the 1992 Olympic Games. Lovers of nature will particularly appreciate the gardens of Montjuïc, where you can enjoy the parks and gardens with the added attraction of the castle, the museums, the viewpoints and the cultural and sports centers. |
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Park Güell: Count Eusebi Guell bought in 1899 a large farm in the "Muntaya Pelada"(Bare Mountain). He wanted to build a Garden-city and the works were commissioned to Antonio Gaudí. The initiative was a failure, the area was opened to the public in 1922 as a park for its beauty. The park covers an area of 17.18 hectares (0.1718 square kilometers). The design clearly demonstrates the architect's hand, and the peculiar style of Gaudi is evident in any element. There are corrugated ways, like rivers of lava, and walkways covered with columns that have forms of trees, stalactites and geometric shapes. Many of the surfaces are covered with pieces of pottery or glass as a mosaic of colors, which is called Trencadís (brittle). In 1984 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. |
 Park Güell, by J. Trullàs © Turisme de Barcelona |
 Labyrinth of Cypress |
Parc del Laberint d'Horta: This park is home to the oldest garden in the city and it’s an example of the neoclassical gardens of the 18th century, with a touch of Italian physiognomy. Its name comes from the labyrinth of cypress bushes that is located at the lower part of the park. Getting “lost” within its labyrinth can turn out to be an unforgettable experience if you are with children! |
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Also worth visiting is the magnificent Serra de Collserola Natural Park, a massif rising up over Barcelona Metropolitan Area, almost touching the city, a much-loved and immensely valuable natural area and great privilege for the huge population that lives around these mountains to enjoy. Collserola is a well-preserved, 8,000-hectare natural area (over 20 times larger than New York Central Park) in which forest predominates but which also includes a variety of other plant formations that provide a habitat for valuable biological diversity.
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 Collserola Park |
Barcelona is also synonymous with culture and sports. This city has so many cultural events and activities to offer that you'll only ever be able to take in a fraction of them during a single visit. Music, theatre, museums and public festivals, big and small, plus a series of events to make your stay in the city a veritable pleasure.
