Barcelona
Old art or young design? Haute cuisine or home cooking? Village charm or metropolitan flair? Gallery hopping or luxury shopping? In Barcelona, you can safely cross out all the question marks and replace every single "or" with an "and". Anything is possible is the motto of this crazy city, which somehow even manages to reconcile separatist aspirations and multicultural life. Barcelona inspires because, despite the imposing local mountains on one side and the Mediterranean on the other, it refuses to be constricted. Because it is constantly reinventing itself. And because there is so much to discover here.
Barcelona inspires because despite the imposing local mountains on one side and the Mediterranean on the other, it refuses to be constricted.
What makes the latter so pleasant is that Barcelona, with its 1.6 million inhabitants and many a steep climb, is a pedestrian city. This doesn't mean that the traffic noise on the wide boulevards can't get on your nerves, but it also means that it takes no more than 20 minutes to stroll from A for old town to B for beach, for example. Which brings us to C for Carmel: for me at least, this is the most beautiful (and still the least touristy) place to get an overview of the entire city. From the metro station of the same name in the north of Barcelona, supported by two public open-air escalators and a glass inclined elevator, you walk up to Carrer de Mühlberg and from there through a beautiful park to an old bunker complex with a breathtaking 360° view. Whether it's the Sagrada Familia, Parc de la Ciutadella, the marina, Torre Glòries or the striking skyscrapers on Barceloneta beach - the Catalan metropolis is literally at your feet from up here.
Less spectacular, but no less worth seeing, are the surrounding streets and alleyways with their houses and huts built into the slopes, flowering front gardens, steep stairs and sunny roof terraces. If this reminds you of Rio or southern Spain, you're not wrong - the majority of Carmel's inhabitants actually come from Andalusia or South America and maintain the old customs and habits of the Spanish north. Down into the city and up to the next mountain: most visitors reach Montjuic by taking the
port cable car, whose imposing supports have long since become landmarks. However, this sounds more comfortable than it is, because in the gondolas of the Transbordador Aeri del Port, built for the 1929 World Exhibition, you feel like you are in a floating sardine can. Much more pleasant and varied is the ascent through the trendy district of Poble Sec with its small stores, galleries, tapas bars and ceviche restaurants. As an alternative to El Born, which was once hip but is now seen as all too slick and gentrified, the district is particularly popular with young Barcelonans in the evening. During the day, on the other hand, things are more sedate.
Plenty of opportunity to sip a cortado in the pedestrian zone Carrer de Blai or indulge in the rediscovered craving for a glass of vermouth in the shady Placa del Sortidor. Once at the top, those with sporting ambitions can walk around the entire outer walls of the castle and enjoy the changing views of the city, beach, cruise liners, main cemetery, industrial port, Torre Teléfonica and Olympic Stadium. On the descent down the north side of Montjuic, it is worth stopping off at the Fundació Joan Miró, which the master himself witnessed open (www.fmirobcn.org). A visit to the nearby Mies van der Rohe Pavilion is a must for Bauhaus fans. The prototype of the legendary Barcelona Chair, which was specially designed for a visit by the Spanish royal couple, can also be found here. Incidentally, the fact that el rey y la reina once spurned the elegant armchair and wanted to sit on a more throne-like seat is said to have hurt the great architect and designer at the time (www.miesbcn.com).
Anything is possible, is the motto of the metropolis
Fancy another tour off the beaten tourist track? Then follow me through Eixample, the actual city center district, which is a must-see anyway, because the most luxurious hotels, finest restaurants, classiest stores and some of the most magnificent buildings of Catalan Art Nouveau are lined up here like pearls on a string in an area of just 7.5 km2. My favorite street here is Carrer d'Enric Granados, which runs parallel to Passeig de Gràcia. With its wide sidewalks, shady trees and fantastic Modernisme façades, it invites you to stroll along - and to stop and marvel again and again. On the way from the secluded university garden (a real insider tip that even many locals don't know about!) up to the lively Avinguda Diagonal, you will pass countless galleries, bespoke tailors, award-winning gourmet temples, designer stores, antique dealers - but also simple cervecerias, traditional artisans, shoemakers, second-hand stores and family-run bakeries with the aroma of pan paysano, bombones and almond croissants. If you want to go further, first turn right on the Diagonal and then, a few hundred meters later, turn left at Plaza del Cinco de Oros. This is where the Gràcia district begins. An atmospheric tour leads from Carrer de Goya to Placa de Rius i Taulet and from there via the Carreteras de Francisco Giner, Diluvi, Siracusa and Desemparats to the Mercat Abaceria, one of a total of 40 market halls in Barcelona. From here, you return to Carrer Gran de Gràcia and the city center via Placa de Virreina and Carrer de Asturies. This walk takes less than two hours and is actually more like a balancing act between old-established, alternative and avant-garde, transporting you not only to another world, but also to another time. Gracias Gràcia - and thanks also to the other nine districts of Barcelona, which impressively prove at every corner that in the city between the mountains and the sea, apparent contradictions actually dissolve into the most beautiful harmony and simply everything is offered to everyone ...
Barcelona has wanted to be one of the greats for over a century. But artists have left their mark on the Catalan metropolis more than a world exhibition and the Summer Olympics. Today, the city proves to be an enchanting conglomerate of sensory impressions, in which the maritime element has recently become more noticeable.
! Photo: © Mandarin Oriental Barcelona, Fine Dining Rooftop Terrace!
Highlights
Connoisseur special tip:
Palau de la Música Catalana is an "ode to Catalonia", created by Lluis Domènech i Montaner for the folk music of Catalonia organized in choirs. A masterpiece of Modernisme, Catalan Art Nouveau, with an astonishing façade now protected by a glass porch. But the architect also gave free rein to his imagination inside. The inwardly curved dome made of colored glass is absolutely unique. International music stars and orchestras perform in the Palau almost every day. However, the ceiling covered in flowers and vines, dragon heads and mystical figures make it difficult to concentrate on the musical performances. If you want to devote yourself to the beauty of the building alone, you can do so on guided tours practically every day until 3.30 pm.
www.palaumusica.org
DIPLOMATISCHE VERTRETUNGEN
in Germany
Spanish Embassy
Lichtensteinallee 1, 10787 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 2540070
Fax: +49 30 25799557
E-mail: botschaft.spanien@t-online.de
www.spanischebotschaft.de
in Austria
Spanish Embassy
Argentinierstraße 34, 1040 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 1 5055788
Fax: +43 1 505578825
E-Mail: emb.viena@maec.es
www.botschaft-wien.com/spanische.html
in Switzerland
Embassy of Spain
Kalcheggweg 24, 3000 Bern, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 31 3505252
Fax: +41 31 3505255
E-mail: emb.berna@maec.es
www.exteriores.gob.es
Lage
Spanien
Sprache
Spanisch (regional Katalanisch, Galizisch, Baskisch und Aranesisch)
Anreise
Der internationale Flughafen Barcelona-El Prat liegt stadtnah und wird u.a. von Lufthansa, Swiss oder Eurowings angeflogen. Der Preis für ein Taxi in die Stadt sollte nicht mehr als max. € 30 betragen.
Religion
about 97 % Roman Catholic
Weather
Das Klima in Spanien kann grob in 6 Zonen gegliedert werden.
Das atlantische Klima an der nördlichen Küste ist durch milde Sommer und Winter gekennzeichnet, während das ozeanisch-kontinentale Klima im Zentrum und das kontinentale Mittelmeerklima im Südosten heiße Sommer und kalte Winter mit sich bringen, wobei Niederschläge im Winter und im Norden häufiger sind.
Beste Reisezeit
regionsabhängig. An den Küsten im Osten und Süden Mai bis Oktober, wobei es im Hochsommer sehr heiß werden kann. Im Norden die Sommermonate Juni bis September, da bis ins späte Frühjahr mit Niederschlag zu rechnen ist. Im Landesinneren wird es im Hochsommer sehr heiß. Als Küstenstadt am Mittelmeer hat Barcelona ein mediterranes Klima. Für einen Besuch Barcelonas eignen sich die Monate April-Juni und September bis Oktober am besten.
Klima
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Max. Temperaturen | 14 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 22 | 18 | 15 |
| Min. Temperaturen | 6 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 7 |
| Sonnenstunden | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Regentage | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Wassertemperatur | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 15 |
Zeitverschiebung
Mitteleuropäische Zeit (MEZ) mit europäischer Sommerzeit
Währung
Euro
Visa
Der Aufenthalt für Einwohner von EU-Ländern ist unbegrenzt visumfrei möglich. Notwendig ist ein gültiger Reisepass, für einen Aufenthalt bis zu 3 Monaten ist auch die gültige Identitätskarte ausreichend. Angaben ohne Gewähr. Nähere Informationen bei Ihrer Botschaft.
Vaccinations
none
Catalonia's delicious capital
1881 per Sagardi
Restaurant located on the roof terrace of the Museu d' Historia de Catalunya with great views over the Port Vell. It serves uncomplicated Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on delicious rice dishes as well as meat and fish from the charcoal grill. Our tip: the seafood soup from Barcelona's fish market followed by the lobster rice for 2!
Placa de Pau Vila 3, 08003
Barcelona, T. +34 932 21 00 50, www.gruposagardi.com
ABaC
Alongside Lasarte in The Monument Hotel (see p. 111), this is the second restaurant in Barcelona to be awarded three stars by the Michelin Guide. The young star chef Jordi Cruz describes his kitchen concept as follows: 50% tradition, 50% avant-garde, 100% product. That sounds good and tastes even better - for example, when oysters are served with fermented kale or turbot with grilled watercress and pickled vegetable seeds. Delicious, and worth the week-long wait for a table in the evening!
Avenida de Tibidabo 1,
08022 Barcelona,
T. +34 933 19 66 00 www.abacrestaurant.com
Born to cook Barcelona
The address for passionate amateur chefs and anyone who has always wanted to know how to prepare the classics of Catalan cuisine properly (and really deliciously). At around 10 o'clock in the morning, the chef takes you to the Mercat Santa Caterina in the trendy El Born district, where fresh ingredients are bought and tasted. Afterwards, they chop, cook and eat together at the large table in the cooking school in the former home of the Columbus family from the 14th century. The regular 5-course menu consists of gazpacho, patatas bravas, braised onion carpaccio with xató sauce, paella and crema catalana. However, courses for molecular cuisine or ceviche are also offered. The maximum course size is ten participants. Our verdict: a wonderfully sensual experience that brings you closer to the local cuisine and is also great fun for families with children;
Carrer dels Mirallers 9,
08003 Barcelona,
T. +34 932 80 97 13, www.borntocookbarcelona.com Ciudad Condal
Many Barcelonians consider Ciudad Condal to be the best tapas bar in the city. Whether it's true? Purely a matter of taste. What is certain, however, is that the huge selection of small, delicious snacks, sparkling cavas and local beers is just as unique as the lovely ambience. It's a real institution that's very busy from early in the morning until late at night and where you can always meet the most diverse and interesting people.
Rambla de Catalunya 18,
08007 Barcelona,
T. +34 933 18 19 97
Disfrutar
The three owners of Disfrutar can look back on almost five decades of combined cooking experience in Ferran Adria's cult restaurant El Bulli. No wonder that some of the classics from back then are still on the menu here today. Located directly on the Mercat del Ninot, Disfrutar, which has been awarded two Michelin stars, not only surprises with its transparent ravioli, but also with its extraordinary ambience. Our recommendation for anyone coming to Disfrutar for the first time: be sure to order the 26-course Gran Classic menu - and most importantly: reserve a table months in advance!
Carrer de Villarroel 163,
08036 Barcelona,
T. +34 933 48 68 96, www.disfrutarbarcelona.com MediaManga
Most of the food served on the beautifully laid tables at MediaManga comes from the restaurant's own gardens in Val d'Aràn or from small producers in the region. The constantly changing dishes, which are accompanied by first-class local wines, are correspondingly seasonal.
Carrer d' Aribau 13,
08011 Barcelona,
T. +34 938 32 56 94, www.mediamanga.es Rilke
Opened just a few months ago and already the talk of the town: Rilke is a chic, very cosmopolitan mix of cocktail lounge and restaurant. Dining takes place in an elegant salon with magnificent tapestries. Drinks are mixed in a former private chapel. The inner courtyard with its babbling fountain and Venus de Milo statue is a very special kind of hideaway. To ensure that everyone really gets the full flavor at Rilke, the individual dishes are also served in small tasting portions, of which you are welcome to order several.
Carrer de Mallorca 275,
08008 Barcelona,
T. +34 937 64 89 53, www.rilkebcn.com
BARRI GOTIC & EL BORN
The Gothic quarter between Las Ramblas and Via Laietana is best visited in the early hours of the morning. After that, the beautiful alleyways belong to the crowds of tourists. The adjacent El Born district is quieter and more stylish.
Aire Barcelona
Located directly on Paseo Picasso, this wellness temple offers top treatments and a thermal pool with an antique look. A wonderfully relaxing experience. www.beaire.com
Casa Gispert
Time seems to have stood still in this delicatessen since it opened in 1851. Nuts, dried fruit, oils, coffee, tea, jams and sweets of outstanding quality are sold in a historic setting. www.casagispert.com
MoMu&Co
Here you will find beautiful leather & canvas bags that are designed and made on site. The store in a medieval townhouse is a studio, workshop and salesroom all in one. www.momuandco.com
mx - Museu de la XocolatA
Chocolate museum housed in a former monastery with a small store. The delicacies purchased can then be enjoyed in the nearby Parc de la Ciutadella. www.museuxocolata.cat
The Perfumery
A tiny store in the Barri Gotic (branch in Eixample) that only sells particularly exclusive fragrances from all over the world. A sensual shopping experience www.theperfumerybarcelona.com
Vila Viniteca
The Vila family has been selling excellent wines in Carrer dels Agullers since 1932. Just opposite, they have opened the delicatessen La Teca, with first-class jamon, more than 350 types of cheese and a few tables for tasting. Delicious! www.vilaviniteca.es
RAVAL & POBLE SEC
The artists and creatives live on the other side of the Ramblas. Multicultural flair and secluded spots make these two districts a favorite destination for strollers who prefer to avoid Barcelona's usual tourist attractions.
Antic Hospital de la Santa Creu
The Gothic building with its beautiful inner courtyards is one of the oldest hospitals in the world. Where the sick once lay, the Escola Massana, Spain's most renowned art school, now resides. Some rooms on the first floor serve as public exhibition halls. Sipping a cortado under the orange trees here is a quick way to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind you;
Gran Teatre del Liceu
Barcelona's opera house is considered one of the city's cultural flagships - which is also due to its unconventional repertoire and cross-genre concept. The plush, golden ambience, which dates back to the 1850s, is at least as spectacular as some of the productions. www.liceubarcelona.cat
Placa del Sortidor
One of the most beautiful and authentic squares in Barcelona
The restaurant of the same name with fine tapas and a reasonably priced lunch is a classic and especially popular with the locals. grupfilomena.com
Wellness Barcelona - Relax in one of the most beautiful cities
If you come to Barcelona, you shouldn't miss the chance to relax and unwind in one of the city's best spas. Many luxury spas are located directly in the city, but you can also find some good wellness temples in the suburbs. Enjoy
wellness and beauty offers in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Spa at the Mandarin Oriental:
In the beautiful spa of the "Mandarin Oriental" with a state-of-the-art
fitness center, everything is ready for health and relaxation.
Couples can indulge themselves in the "Mandarin Suites", while the
Oriental rooms are furnished with Thai futons, while the heat and water oasis
relax tense muscles in the heat and water oasis. Adjacent is the
garden area with the "Café Mimosa Garden", and the biggest hit is the
roof terrace with pool and magnificent panoramic views over the city.
Passeig de Gràcia 38-40, Barcelona, Tel.: +34 93 1518888www.mandarinoriental.com/"">www.mandarinoriental.com
Our tips for other leisure activities:
The posh inner-city district is laid out like a chessboard, making it almost impossible to get lost. Most of the sights - and the city's most luxurious stores - can be found here in just 8 km².
Loewe
The flagship store of the Spanish luxury label, which is primarily known for its bags and leather goods, is located in Casa Lleó i Morera, one of the masterpieces of modernism. Worth seeing from the outside - and from the inside.
www.loewe.com
Massimo Dutti
Right on Passeig de Gracia, the global textile giant with headquarters near Barcelona has treated itself to a spectacularly beautiful flagship store. The small roof terrace with pop-up café from spring to fall is one of the well-kept secrets on the boulevard.
www.massimodutti.com
The Outpost
Barcelona's trendiest men's store stocks shoes and accessories from labels such as Kitsune Paris, Tomas Maier and Thom Browne. The extremely tastefully designed store alone is worth a visit.
www.theoutpostbcn.com
ON THE ARTFUL TOUR
Duda Faria is not only a big art fan, she also loves pedaling. She combines her two passions with her company Art Bike Tour. On bike tours lasting several hours, the native Brazilian shows her guests the city's most interesting contemporary art galleries - mostly hidden places that would otherwise be hard to find. On site, you not only get a good overview of the scene, but can also chat with the gallery owners. In addition
street art or public art tours are also on the program, which take you to the best graffiti or selected sculptures by Picasso, Dali & Co in public spaces. The start and end point is the Fábrica Moritz, the spectacular headquarters of the Moritz brewery designed by Jean Nouvel with a concept store, bakery and cool restaurant.
www.artbiketour.com
IN THE BOOK OF BARCELONA
Barcelona has a total of 39 market halls offering fresh fish, meat, vegetables and delicacies every day. Each is a paradise for foodies in its own way, where you can not only admire and buy the goods, but also taste them in small restaurants or at their own stalls. The best known (and most crowded by tourists) is the Mercat de la Boqueria. The market halls de la Barceloneta, Santa Caterina, de'l Abaceria or del Clot are recommended as delicious alternatives. Probably the most beautiful market hall is that of Sant Antoni. On Sundays, Barcelona's most beautiful flea market takes place around the hall.
www.mercatsbcn.cat Culture in Barcelona - markets, cathedrals and domes
The Catalan flair for beauty, which has developed into a unique style, is evident throughout Barcelona. Once the most powerful city in the Mediterranean, Barcelona suffered under the regime of General Francisco Franco in the 1970s and fought against state attempts to eradicate the Catalan language and culture altogether. Only in recent decades has the city been allowed to experience cultural independence, yet Barcelona is currently a vibrant metropolis with flourishing bilingual place-name signs, newspapers and TV programs. The city has not lost or revived its individuality and charm despite coming to terms with its difficult history.
Shopping Barcelona - Our shopping tips for the city
The temptation to spend huge amounts of money is very great in Barcelona! The city has developed into one of the
shopping capitals of Europe. In contrast to many other cities that are currently on the upswing, in Barcelona you will not only find the
the latest fashion trends from top designers, but the prices are also comparatively quite affordable.
reasonable.
On the famous Rambla shopping street by the harbor you will experience a very special, lively atmosphere, which is created by
characterized by numerous street artists, painters and bird sellers. Tourists in particular will find souvenir stores here, but there are also numerous stalls, such as magazine stands, pet or flower sellers, which are ideal for shopping.
flower sellers, which are less attractive for shopping in Barcelona.
are less appealing.
Hotels
