Barcelona Culture & history

Visiting Barcelona in April allows you to explore one of the world's most vibrant cities before the summertime crowds arrive. Spring is the ideal time to soak in panoramic views from Park Güell or wander the narrow medieval alleyways of the historic Gothic Quarter.

Barcelona’s beating heart, the Plaça de Catalunya, is the central nervous system of the city. Famous boulevards and avenues extend out from this vibrant roundabout, including Passeig de Gracia, a treasure trove of Gaudí’s famous architecture, and La Rambla, one of the most popular pedestrian thoroughfares in the city.

Some of Barcelona’s oldest neighborhoods converge here, including the Gothic Quarter and Eixample. All of this means that there are plenty of incredible activities and experiences nearby, like catching a flamenco show at the Palau de la Música Catalana or seeing Spanish masterpieces at MACBA. Learn all about the best things to do in Plaça de Catalunya.

Whether you’re an early bird who loves to hit the ground running or you’re still up from experiencing the city’s famous nightlife, watching the sunrise in Barcelona may just be one of your favorite memories from your whole trip. Because of how the Spanish city’s coastline faces east, there are some incredible local opportunities to watch the sun come up over the sea.

While beaches like Barceloneta Beach and Mar Bella Beach are undoubtedly great options, those aren’t the only sunrise spots in Barcelona worth checking out. Barcelona is a city built on hills — you may hear them referred to as Barcelona’s Seven Hills, which means there are plenty of elevated viewpoints to get a good look far across the city, like at the lookouts in Parc del Carmel and from the church atop the Tibidabo hill. If you’re trying to find that perfect vantage point, these are the best places to watch the sunrise in Barcelona.

Maybe you came to Barcelona for the golden beaches, incredible architecture like the one-of-a-kind Sagrada Familia, and amazing food scene, but while you’re here, you should make it a point to see a sunset too. And no, that doesn’t mean just glancing up at the sky when the sun happens to be going down, but instead, actually making plans to visit one of the famous sunset spots in the city for views that’ll leave you in awe.