The Gothic Quarter (Barrí Gòtic) - 2 days

The Gothic Quarter is the historical and effective centre of Barcelona. Together with the parts El Raval and El Born it forms the old city of Barcelona.

This two-day city walking tour has a lot to offer. You see old Gothic churches and buildings from the Modernism, the Catalan Art Nouveau and you will experience a very special flair by the many narrow and winding streets but also bright and open spaces.

You can also find this city walking tour in our Download Guide Volume II.

The first day of our sightseeing tour through the Barri Gòtic

Length of the tour on the first day: about 1,500 metrers on foot.

Our tour starts at the Plaça Catalunya. This place is centrally located, you will get to know it during your stay in Barcelona anyway. If you had no breakfast in the hotel. You can have it in the café on top of the department store El Cortes Ingles. From here you have a wonderful view over the square.

From the Plaça Catalunya you get to the first stop of the tour, the Palau de la Musica. This is an absolutely attractive building of Modernism build by Lluis Domènech i Montaner and it has an impressive concert hall. The Palau is on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites. In order to get there you follow the small pedestrian zone Avinguda del Portal de l'Angel and than you turn left into the Carrer Comtal to Via Laietana. There, about 50 metrers right and then left in the Carrer de Sant Pere Mès old, then again after 50 metrers left to the Palau.

The next stop is the Gothic cathedral of Barcelona. To get there, you follow the via Laietane direction south (towards the sea). After about 200 metrers there comes to the right the Avinguda de la Catedral which leads to the areaway of the Cathedral of Barcelona. You will surely find it. Take your time and don’t hurry in order to visit next to the church building also the cloister of the church.

Only a few metres away, follow - left along the church building the Carrer dels Comtes down to the Museu Frederic Marès. If the collections of his works are not to your liking at least take a look at the courtyard of the building. It is very beautiful.

The next stop is the Museu d'Història de la Cuitat, the city's Historical Museum which is located in the basement of a palace. It shows the largest in Europe founded settlement of the Romans: Barcino, today's Barcelona. To get to this museum, just go down Carrer dels Comtes and the Museu d’Historia will show up after the second street that crosses on the left.

Now you continue about 50 metrers south in the direction of the Carrer de Jaume I., then you go right up to the Plaça de Sant Jaume. This is the historical and political centre of the city. The City Government and the Government of Catalonia have their beautiful palaces here, which can also be visited. Any kind of festivities will be celebrated on this plaza.

Then you plainly follow the road, which is named after the plaza Carrer de Ferran, 300 metrers to the Rambla. Shortly before the Rambla you turn left to the Plaça Reial. Take the time to enjoy this place. Here are some good restaurants where you could dine. The first day of this tour ends here. The nearest subway station is Liceu, you follow the Rambla just about 200 metrers in the direction of Plaça Catalunya.

The second day of the tour of the Gothic Quarter

Length of the tour on the second day: around 2,500 m walk.

On the second day the tour starts at the subway station Liceu. You can find a cafe to have some breakfast nearby. From the subway station you go directly into the Carrer del Cardenal Casañas. This alley is leading you in to an about 100 metrers long arc directly to one of the oldest churches in Barcelona, the church of Santa Maria del Pi.

Go back to the Rambla and from the station Liceu a little in the direction of the Plaça Catalunya. Approximately 150m further on the left side you will  be at the entrance of the market, La Boqueria (Mercat de San Josep). If you have not had breakfast, you will get hungry. The market is something for all senses, you can also eat something.

The next stop will be the Lieu opera which was rebuilt after a fire in the 90 years of the previous century. To get there you follow the Rambla about 300 metrers towards the sea. In the opera you could participate at guided tour.

From here you continue another 200 metres to the next station. The Palau Güell was build by the famous architect Gaudi. You can find the Palau, if you go right into the Carrer Nou de la Rambla. The Palau is right at the beginning of the street on the left side. On the way to Carrer Nou de la Rambla you pass Plaça Reial which you already know from the previous day. Take a break there, if you want.

You’ll continue down the Ramblas in the direction of the sea. After about 200 metrers you turn left in a small inconsiderable alley, the Passeig de la Banca. There you find the Museu de Cera (waxworks museum), a former palace of a bank. The museum is quite nice, especially if you are with children. However, if you're more interested in Gothic architecture and urban development, you can also omit the second last station and go directly to the Columbus monument.

From the about 60 metrers high viewing platform of the Monument of Colom you can experience the Ramblas and the Barri Gòtic from the bird's perspective.

The last and certainly one of the main attractions in Barcelona is the Santa Maria del Mar. This Gothic church was built in the 14th Century in only 55 years. Because of the short construction period thre are no different styles mixed together, which is often the case in churches built and expanded over several hundred years.
There are two ways in order to get there. If you still have some time - the church closes at 20:00 - you can go to the Rambla del Mar Maremàgnum and then perhaps have a break in a café. Then you go on and pass the IMAX cinema and the aquarium on the Moll d'Espanya in order to get to the Coastal road Passeig de Colombia, and then you go up the Via Laietana. You continue along this street for around 50 metrers until the Carrer dels Aquellers comes up at your right. You follow this road to its end and then turn left in the Carrer dels Canvis Vells until the front of the Santa Maria del Mar appears. The detour of this route is about 1,200 metrers on foot.

Is it just a little time, go by the Columbus pillar Passeig de Colombia along to Via Laietana, then it is as described above go to Santa Maria del Mar.

If you are short of time go by the Columbus pillar along the Passeig de Colombia to Via Laietana, then as it is described above you continue to go to the Santa Maria del Mar.

From here, the nearest subway station is Jaume I.. This can be reached directly by the Carrer d'Argenterina.

Also you could eat something here in the area you go in the district of Barceloneta, where you find a selection of fish restaurants. Barceloneta is on the other side of the marina, where you came over when you took the long route.

Our tip
If you like the Gothic quarter, you certainly have enjoyed the bestselling novel "cathedral of the sea" of Ildefonso Falcones. The Roma-act plays in Barcelona during the Middle Ages and you learn a lot about the life in the Gothic style in Barcelona. You will recognize many places.