The Port of Barcelona stretches from the mouth of the Llobregat River in the south to the Barceloneta district in the north. There are many activities and places to visit in and around the port.
This compilation brings together the most interesting and is useful whether you are already inside the Port and want to know what else you can do or if you are at the cruise terminal and are looking for ways to make the most of the time you have available to visit.
These 9 places are ordered by proximity to the Port of Barcelona, from closest to furthest away.
Some of them are inside the Port itself, in what is known as Port Vell de Barcelona, the oldest area of the Port which was completely remodelled for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and which is nowadays the most touristic area of the Port.
On the other hand, the more out-of-the-way places are just a few minutes’ walk away. So if you are in the Barcelona port area or on one of the cruise ships docked, check out all these recommendations of what to see in and around the Port of Barcelona.
Christopher Columbus Monument
The Columbus Monument is one of the best-known statues in Barcelona, as it is the link between the Rambla (also known as Las Ramblas, the city’s most popular promenade) and the Port Vell.
This monument, inaugurated on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition of Barcelona in 1888, is dedicated to the figure of Christopher Columbus.
It is a 60-metre-high column full of details with caravels, shields, lions and mythological figures. It also depicts different scenes from the life of Columbus, before and after the discovery, in the eyes of Europe, of the new world that was to be called America.
The Columbus Monument is also known as the Columbus Lookout because its main attraction is at the top. It is a viewpoint with 360-degree panoramic views of the city and the port, which can be reached by lift.
In front of Colón you will find, in the sea, the Golondrinas, also known as Golondrinas. These are pleasure boats that take you on a tour to discover Barcelona’s skyline from the sea. As a curious fact, the Golondrinas is a maritime tourism service that has been offered since the Barcelona Universal Exhibition of 1888.
Location Columbus Monument: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JLP8pXH5sFaN1pHa9
Tickets to go up to the Mirador de Colón: https://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/shopv3/es/product/18334/monumento-mirador- de-colon.html
Museu Marítim de Barcelona
The city’s maritime museum is located in the old Royal Shipyards (in Catalan, Drassanes Reials), where warships were built for the Crown of Aragon.
The museum stands out for showing the trades of the sea, the evolution of maritime Barcelona and above all for the life-size replica of the so-called ‘Galera real’, which is very interesting to see due to its size and level of detail. The original ship, built there in the 16th century, was commanded by John of Austria in the Battle of Lepanto against the Ottoman Empire in 1571.
However, in the Museu Marítim de Barcelona you will also find high-quality models of various ships that tell captivating maritime stories. You can also see maritime paintings that are hard to find.
Location Museu Marítim de Barcelona: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Su66fUNcHZvsPzk26
More information and prices: https://www.mmb.cat/
Maremagnum
The Maremagnum shopping centre is accessed from the Rambla del Mar, a recently built promenade which is accessed from the Columbus Monument and which gives continuity in the sea to the rest of Barcelona’s Ramblas.
Like any other shopping centre, the Maremagnum has numerous shops and restaurants.
But why is it visited by 13 million visitors a year, mainly tourists?
The fact that it is open 365 days a year is undoubtedly one reason. It is the only shopping centre in Barcelona open all year round as it is located in an area classified as a tourist area within the port.
On the other hand, because of its location, it marks a very natural end to the walk that many visitors take when they go down the Rambla.
Our recommendation for what to do in Maremagnum is as follows: go up to the first floor to enjoy some great views over the sea and the city of Barcelona.
Maremagnum location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NtoQ7FHrub72cQYG7
Barcelona Aquarium
The Barcelona Aquarium is perhaps the best answer to what to do in the Port of Barcelona.
Its more than 10,000 specimens of over 450 different species make it the fourth most visited attraction in the city, after the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and the FC Barcelona museum.
It is a well-made aquarium that entertains and informs in equal measure. Perhaps that’s why L’Aquarium Barcelona is the largest Mediterranean-themed marine centre in the world.
It even has an activity to dive with sharks, inside a cage, and you can even dive with sharks if you have a diving licence.
Location Aquarium of Barcelona: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1yNpfYCMe59eDA5n7
More information and tickets: https://www.aquariumbcn.com/
Palau Güell
At the end of Las Ramblas is a modernista jewel: the Palau Güell. This excellently preserved building is the work of the internationally renowned Antoni Gaudí, who was commissioned by Eusebi Güell to design and build his family residence.
The Güells were a wealthy noble family from Barcelona who, like their greatest patrons, had an excellent relationship with Gaudí. This relationship also gave rise to Park Güell, which, along with the Sagrada Familia, is another of the Catalan modernist architect’s most famous works.
Perhaps this is why some people think that the exterior of Palau Güell is not very impressive, having visited La Sagrada Familia or the nearby Casa Batlló. It must be said, however, that the exterior of the building belies the magnificence of what is inside.
It is worth visiting Palau Güell to see the wealth of detail of Gaudí’s mastery and the audacity of his techniques. Other plus points are that it is not usually crowded, so the visit, which we recommend you do with an audio guide, can be done in peace and quiet.
Location Palau Güell: https://maps.app.goo.gl/waeenyfGZyNm6eQm6
More information + tickets: https://inici.palauguell.cat/
Plaza Real
Plaça Reial is the only completely arcaded square in Barcelona. Its architecture alone makes it worth a visit. Or the Gaudí lampposts located in the square itself, which logically look better at night.
This square is also known for its life and joy during the day and night because of the different restaurants located in it, with noble interiors and terraces on the square.
Several of these restaurants also offer live music to liven up your stay.
Interestingly, despite being located next to La Rambla, it is not usually very noisy, which, together with the fact that it is very large, makes it the perfect place to take a quiet break and have a drink before continuing your visit to the city.
It is also worth mentioning that if the sun is shining or it is raining during your visit, the Plaça Reial, being an arcaded square, is perfect for a visit or a stroll.
Location Plaça Reial: https://maps.app.goo.gl/V3KoVAB5jqcfDscz8
National Museum of the History of Catalonia
The Museu Nacional d’Història de Catalunya (National History Museum of Catalonia) is located near the Barcelona Aquarium and next to Barceloneta. It explains in a pleasant and interesting way the history of Catalonia, from prehistoric times to the present day, with an emphasis on the most important historical episodes that explain what Catalan society is like today.
It’s really worth a visit for this alone, if you’re interested in learning more about Barcelona’s role as the capital of Catalonia. The audio guides are highly recommended and the exhibitions are usually very good as they are interactive.
There are also two other reasons to visit:
❖ The restaurants. There are several restaurants on the ground floor of the building that houses the museum. These Mediterranean restaurants specialise in fish. On the terrace on the top floor of the museum you will also find a restaurant and a cafeteria with drinks and gastronomic proposals that are worth investigating.
❖ The views. On that same terrace, in the open air, you can enjoy good views of the Port of Barcelona and the city skyline.
As for the building that houses the Museum of the History of Catalonia, we can tell you that it is a beautiful building of port architecture from 1900 and is popularly known as the Palau de Mar.
You may like the Palau de Mar. And it is fortunate that you see it like this because for many years it was in disuse. In fact, it was on the verge of being demolished until the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, when it was decided to renovate it to give it an administrative use and to put restaurants on some of the ground floor.
But the most important decision, and the one that would really save the building, came a year later, in 1993, when the Generalitat de Catalunya decided to create and locate the Museum of the History of Catalonia there.
Location Museu d’Història de Catalunya: https://maps.app.goo.gl/b8B4S7Fv7qYALvAS6
Information and tickets: https://mhcat.cat/
Picasso Museum
Close to another point of interest, the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar (a magnificent and imposing example of Gothic art and the origin of the TV series ‘The Cathedral of the Sea’), is the first museum dedicated to the world-famous Pablo Picasso in Spain.
The building is a gothic palace which in itself is beautiful to look at. But of course the best part is inside, because the Museu Picasso de Barcelona is the most important museum in the world regarding the painter’s early years and his training as an artist.
Inside you will find a collection of more than 4,200 works by the Malaga-born Picasso, with important pieces such as the series Las Meninas in which Picasso interprets Velázquez’s famous painting. For this reason, it is advisable to have time to visit the museum, as on some days it can also be very crowded.
Location Museu Picasso de Barcelona: https://maps.app.goo.gl/d9YmjwfiXxX94Sik8
Information and ticket sales: https://museupicassobcn.cat/
La Barceloneta (+ beaches)
After the War of the Spanish Succession, in the 18th century, part of the La Ribera district was demolished to build the military fortress of the Citadel, which had a dual mission:
To cover the weakest flank in the walls of Barcelona, where the Austracist city had fallen to the Bourbon troops.
To subdue the population of Barcelona militarily to prevent further uprisings.
The idea was to house the inhabitants who had been left homeless in a new neighbourhood, although they never actually moved there and the neighbourhood eventually served to solve the housing problems that Barcelona already had at that time.
In any case, La Barceloneta was the first neighbourhood to be built outside the city walls (today there are no city walls). The strong seafaring accent comes from several reasons: narrow streets, low-rise buildings and small restaurants.
The low height of the original buildings of La Barcelona is also due to a military aspect: to prevent the military fortress of the Citadel from having a poorer view over the harbour and the sea.
Today, however, all this contributes to the feeling of being in a Mediterranean fishing enclave.
La Barceloneta is a major tourist destination in the city because of its restaurants and the fact that two of Barcelona’s most visited beaches are located in the same neighbourhood: Barceloneta beach and San Sebastian beach.
More information about La Barceloneta: https://www.barcelonina.com/en/blog/the-tiny-barcelonas-today-la-barceloneta/
Montjuïc Castle + Cable Car to the Port of Barcelona
Montjuic Castle is also an excellent suggestion for what to see near the Port of Barcelona. It is located in a different area from the previous ones, being closer if you are moored at the cruise terminal.
The Castell de Montjuïc is an old military fortress located at the top of the Montjuïc mountain that today is a pleasant walk because it is well preserved and has several green areas.
Moreover, from here you can enjoy possibly the most spectacular views over the whole city of Barcelona because of the castle’s elevation.
The best way to get to Montjuïc Castle from the Port of Barcelona is to use the Port Cable Car, located next to Barceloneta, which will take you up the Montjuïc mountain in peace and quiet while you enjoy privileged views.
More information here: https://www.telefericodebarcelona.com/
As if that wasn’t enough, near Castell de Montjuïc, although a little further away from the Port, you have other interesting places to visit: Poble Espanyol, MNAC, Fundació Joan Miró, etc. All of them are located on Montjuïc mountain itself and can be reached by the Montjuïc cable car.
Location Castell de Montjuïc: https://maps.app.goo.gl/krc3mCkksphSGeaU7
We help you with an ideal visit to Barcelona
If you liked some of these suggestions but don’t know which one to choose. Or if you don’t want to spend time planning your visit, buying the different tickets and then figuring out how to get from one point to another, we can help you.
At Barcelonina we have been official guides of the city of Barcelona for years. We love to make life easier for those who visit the city and accompany them during their stay to give them first-hand the best explanations and curiosities about the place they are in.
Discover our tours here: https://www.barcelonina.com/es/tours/
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