Things to do and see in Catalonia

Catalonia has a lot to offer: beautiful landscapes, some of the best monuments, churches and cathedrals and museums. From the Pyrenees to the beautiful coves of Costa Brava, from medieval villages to modern cities… Catalonia has it all! 

For us it’s one of the most beautiful destinations in Spain. 

Places to visit in Lleida

Lleida is unknown to most people, yet it’s a city with numerous historical buildings and charming corners. 

We’d like to point out the Seu Vella, an ancient cathedral located on the top of a hill which amazes all with its cloister and high tower. Other points of interest are the Nova Cathedral, the Palacio de La Paeria, the Antiguo Hospital de Santa María and the Templar Castle of Gardeny. 

We’d also recommend that you walk along the Calle Mayor, one of the largest shopping streets in the country, and walk along the banks of the Segre. 

Lleida is also full of nature spots, such as the National Park of Aigüestores i Estany de Sant Maurici, the only protected natural area in the South of Europe. It offers hiking routes through mountains which are over 3,000 metres high, lakes of all kinds and colours, waterfalls, rivers and a great diversity of fauna and flora.

For nature lovers, we also recommend La Vall d’Aran, a region in the central Pyrenees which borders Aragon and France. It’s an authentic paradise for nature lovers and one of the most beautiful spots of Lleida. 

Something unique that Lleida has to offer are the Romanesque churches of the Vall de Boí, which we recommend you visit by car.

These churches, which share the same Lombard Romanesque style, were built between the 11th and 12th centuries and have been declared World Heritage Sites by Unesco.

Lleida has many villages that are worth visiting, some of which are:

• Guimerà: this medieval village is enchanting for its stone houses with details in the doors and windows, and its steep narrow streets.
• Penelles: a small village famous for its graffiti.
• Montfalcó Murallat: It is a small medieval walled village with only 15 houses and a Romanesque church.

Places to visit in Tarragona

Tarragona arose from the remains of the ancient Roman city of Tarraco and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If there’s one thing that makes Tarragona stand out, it is its great Roman constructions such as the Amphitheatre, the Circus and the Aqueduct, which have survived to the present day.

An must-see is the Roman Amphitheatre, built at the end of the 2nd century AD. During Roman times, everything from gladiator to wild beast fights to public executions took place in this space which could hold some 14,000 spectators.

Another essential visit is the Roman Circus, which together with the amphitheatre, are the two main constructions of the Roman Empire in the city.

This 1st century A.D. site which could hold more than 25,000 people is one of the best preserved in Europe and was used for chariot races.

The Gothic Cathedral, the Plaza del Forúm, the Plaza del Pallol, the Plaza de la Pont, the aqueduct of Les Ferreres and the city walls, are other spots in the city which are full of history and will transport you back to Roman times.

Places to visit in Barcelona

In recent years Barcelona has become one of the most visited cities in Europe and in the world, where one of its main attractions are the impressive architectural modernist jewels, built by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí. 

Barcelona is full of tourist attractions to visit, the most noteworthy being:

The Sagrada Familia is Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece, and the most visited tourist attraction. Both the interior and exterior of the Sagrada Familia are completely marvellous, and don’t even begin to compare with other churches in the world. Gaudí used all his experience and new techniques, creating a naturalistic style, where all its elements flow in complete harmony.

If we continue talking about Gaudí’s works, another one you must visit is Casa Batlló, a World Heritage Site, and what we consider to be one of Gaudí’s best works in Barcelona.

This jewel of Catalan modernism is located on Paseo de Gracia, and impresses at first sight with its spectacular façade inspired by nature.

Another of Gaudí’s most famous works is Casa Milà, which you’ll find just up Passeig de Gràcia from Plaça de Catalunya. This modernist building was built between 1906 and 1912 and was popularly known as La Pedrera because of its sober stone façade forming undulating arches.  

And the last must-see Gaudí spot is Park Güell. Declared a World Heritage Site, it is one of the most beautiful parks in Barcelona and the world. It is a huge fairy-tale park designed by Antonio Gaudí, which surprises visitors with its sculptures, fountains and buildings inspired by the undulating forms of nature. 

The next thing we recommend is taking a leisurely stroll along Las Ramblas or La Rambla. This road spans over a kilometre and a half from Plaça Catalunya to the Columbus Monument. It has several highlights worth visiting, such as La Boqueria market, the Miró mosaic and the Canaletas fountain.

Now let’s talk about its different neighbourhoods:

• Gothic Quarter: Located right in the centre, it is the oldest and most beautiful neighbourhood in Barcelona. Its origins date back to Roman times.One of its most famous churches is the Cathedral of Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia, a Gothic wonder from the 14th century. We recommend you lose yourself in its beautiful streets.
• El Born: Located next to the Gothic Quarter, this is one of Barcelona’s trendiest neighbourhoods. This neighbourhood stands out for its narrow cobbled streets full of tapas restaurants, charming cafés, boutiques, shops and bars. We recommend a visit to the Gothic basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, the modernist Palau de la Música Catalana and the old Born Market.
• Barrio de Gracia: this neighbourhood looks like a village in the big city, it has managed to maintain its authenticity away from the big chain shops and restaurants. You’ill love this neighbourhood for its narrow streets and atmospheric squares. Some of its most famous spots are Plaça de la Virreina, Plaça del Sol, Plaça de la Revolució and Plaça del Diamant.

And finally, let’s talk about the best viewpoints in the city where you can enjoy the views and watch the sunset:

• Montjuic: This is an iconic mountain located 175 metres high up, where you can enjoy views of the whole city.
• Basilica Santa Maria del Pi: this church offers the best panoramic views of the old town from its enormous bell tower.
• Bunkers del Carmel: this viewpoint is perfect for a picnic at sunset next to the remains of anti-aircraft bunkers and is a great spot to enjoy incredible views of the city.

Tibidabo: located in the Sierra de Collserola, it is an excellent viewpoint and also has a  fun amusement park to visit.

Places to visit in Girona

Girona is a city of Roman origin, which stands out for its cobbled streets of the old town in which jewels such as the Jewish quarter and the magnificent Cathedral stand out. 

It is also considered one of the cities with the best quality of life in the country, and has also served as the setting for the mythical series Game of Thrones. Girona offers first class gastronomy, especially the Celler de Can Roca, which has been chosen several times as the best restaurant in the world.

The first thing we recommend you do is to climb the 90 steps of the impressive baroque-style staircase that takes you up to the front of the fantastic Cathedral. After seeing the impressive baroque façade and the views from the top of the staircase, go inside and visit the cathedral.

Girona has an old town centre that is well worth a visit. Some of the best spots include El Call, the best preserved Jewish quarter in Europe. This neighbourhood is full of narrow, cobbled streets and beautiful courtyards. Then we recommend a visit to the Arab Baths, an ancient Romanesque building from the 12th century.

Walking along Carrer de la Força you’ll come to one of the most beautiful corners of the city, the Pujada de Sant Domènec, a stepped street in the heart of the Old Quarter, which is surrounded by the Renaissance Palace of Calemany, the Palace of the Agullana family and the Baroque-Neo-classical church of Sant Martí Sacosta. From here we suggest you take a stroll to the Rambla de la Llibertat, the old market, with a medieval atmosphere, several modernist buildings and a beautiful area of arcades, which make it unique in the city. The city of Girona is surrounded by a city wall. A large section of the original wall is still preserved and boasts fantastic views of the city and its surroundings. 

Finally, we recommend a visit to the cloister of the Romanesque-style Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligans, built in the 10th century.

This former Benedictine abbey stands out for its beautiful capitals decorated with plant motifs, the octagonal bell tower and the Romanesque cloister with even more meticulously decorated capitals.