Barcelona is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, and is one of the top 5 cities to visit in Europe. Of course, all of the attention is getting also leads to one thing: more tourists. While this may be good for the economy, it’s not so great when you want to visit a sight and find yourself stuck in huge crowds. No reason to panic, however! While tons of people go to places like La Rambla or Barceloneta beach, there are still plenty of very cool and interesting places that are much less crowded. We’ve scoped out some of the hot spots where you can explore the history and culture of Barcelona, without worrying about pushing to the front.
- Els Encants Vells
Located by Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, this partially open-air complex is the perfect place for urban treasure hunters and soaking up an eclectic atmosphere. The “Old Charms” flea market is the biggest of its kind in Barcelona; over 500 vendors sell their wares on site. While there are some things that you may not find as interesting (or even see a point to), every once in a while you’ll stumble across a gem of a bargain, so keep an eye out.
After all, at this market, you’ll find pretty much everything you can imagine. We recommend visiting Els Encants Vells from 7:30-8:30am on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday for the public auctions which take place and are great fun. If you don’t feel like getting up that early, the market itself is open every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9am-8pm. And remember, it’s always free to browse!
2. Plaça Sant Felip Neri
While the Gothic Quarter is becoming more and more popular with tourists, the winding streets and somewhat confusing layout allows for many less busy areas as well. Several labyrinthine streets lead to Plaça Sant Felip Neri, a small square with a fountain and the baroque church of Sant Felip Neri, still scarred from the bombing of 1938.
A plaque reminds us of the 42 lives which were tragically ended by the bombing raid of fascist planes during the Spanish Civil War. The square is surrounded by the former guild houses of Barcelona’s shoemaker and coppersmith guilds, which were originally founded in the square. Currently, the shoemaker’s guild building is the city’s footwear museum. More for a place of reflection and history, Plaça Sant Felip Neri is an out-of-the-way area that gives you a view of the darker past of Barcelona, as well as some of the guild history.
3. Poblenou Cemetery
“Why are you taking me to a cemetery?” you may ask. Well, Poblenou Cemetery is considered an important work of art. It has two distinct areas; the original cemetery and a part that was extended in the 19th century, and numerous examples of great artistic and historic interest fill the grounds. It’s a small museum of funerary art, filled with sculptures and other art forms decorating tombs of eminent Catalans like Josep Anselm Clavé, Serafí Pitarra, and the Maldà family.
4. Serra de Collserola
Looking for something more nature-oriented? Being a larger city, it can be somewhat hard to find a relatively empty green place in Barcelona. However, the Serra de Collserola is just that; a mountain range between the Besòs and Llobregat rivers that is relatively unknown to most tourists. This is particularly surprising due to its size: at 84.65 km2, it’s the largest metropolitan park in the world. With a rich diversity of plant and animal wildlife, as well as paths for hikers, bikers, and great locations for picnics, it’s the perfect place to get away from the crowds and enjoy the natural aspects of the Mediterranean landscape.
5. Forum Beach
If you want to do a bit of swimming or sunbathing in Barcelona, but not on the tourist-and-salesman-infested shores of Barceloneta, Forum Beach is the right place for you. The newest addition to the Barcelona coastline, this area is located inside the Barcelona Forum grounds. While not exactly a proper beach, seeing as there isn’t any sand, it’s more of a swimming area with lots of things to do.
Between May and October, several water-related activities are availiable to the public, such as water-skiing, scuba diving, kayaking, canoeing and catamarans. Also take the time to explore the artificial island and reefs not far from the “beach”! If you’re looking for a quiet place to enjoy a day in the sun and water, Forum Beach is a perfect location accessible by the Metro Line 4 El Maresme-Fòrum stop.
