Category: Things to see

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Parc de la Ciutadella

The city’s main central park absolutely fills up on a pleasant day, but there’s always somewhere to sit and enjoy the passing parade.

The park also features some leftover – and curiously, unused – buildings from the 1888 Universal Exhibition, and a spectacular fountain and lake designed by the park’s architect Josep Fontseré.

The park is also home to Barcelona Zoo, and attached to the promenade along Passeig de Lluís Companys that culminates at the Arc de Triomf, which was the gateway to the Exhibition.

It’s also a great place for tourists to experience a bit of local color, as opposed to just seeing sites with other tourists.

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Parc del Laberint d’Horta

the Parc del Laberint d’Horta hedge maze in the sunshine with fountain

On the outskirts of town (but conveniently-located a 10 minute walk from the Pg. Vall d’Hebron Metro stop) this maze is the city’s oldest preserved garden.

The maze is the headline attraction, but the formal gardens give way to a lovely forested area as well. Keep an eye open for the wild pigs that roam the grounds.

Fee: General Admission €2.23, free Wed & Sun (limited numbers)

Open: Daily Apr 1 – Oct 31, 10:00am – 8:00pm; Nov 1 – Mar 31, 10:00am – 6:00pm; Dec 25, 10:00am – 2:00pm

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Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau

Yes, it is a hospital, but one that will make you rethink what hospitals should actually look like. Built in the early 1900s, Hospital de la Sant Pau is architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner’s most important work (though we love the Palau de la Música Catalana as well), and functioned as a hospital until as recently as 2009.

What is now the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site is home to a number of workspaces for entities focused on social impact, as well as being a showcase for Montaner’s modernista vision. It’s well worth the visit, and pleasantly uncrowded compared to La Sagrada Familia, which you can see from its entrance.

It is one of my top five alternatives in Barcelona for people wanting to avoid the tourist crowds.

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