Category Archives: Nightlife

What to visit in Ibiza City (Balearic Islands)

Balearic Islands / Islas Baleares, Beach, mountain and nature, Nightlife, Tours and Guides

nightlife party festivals ibiza island

The lively city of Ibiza (or Eivissa) is the capital city of Ibiza island, which is one of the Spanish Balearic Islands (Islas Baleares) in the Mediterranean Sea. Situated on the south-east coast of the island, Ibiza is really a multicultural city with a population of about 50,000 inhabitants. Moreover, Ibiza lies fewer than 90 km off the Iberian peninsula, and its favorable geographical location with an excellent climate all year around certainly make Ibiza one of the best tourist destinations in Spain. Evidently, tourists love the city which has a great atmosphere, with shops, bars, restaurants, terraces and cafés full of stylish young and middle aged people. It is said that Eivissa is the capital city of fun.

map ibiza spainIbiza has a lot of to offer visitors in the way of gastronomy, architecture, culture, nature, parks, comfortable lifestyle, excellent sandy beaches, water sports, leisure facilities, nightlife, festivals, a wide range of fun and entertaining activities, as well as magnificent buildings and archaeological remains that let them know and enjoy the interesting history of the island. In fact, the Phoenician Ruins of the Sa Caleta, the Phoenician-Punic cemetery of Puig des Molins, the Salines (Nature Park), the Upper Town of Ibiza, called Dalt Vila and the 16th century fortifications were declared World Heritage Sites in 1999 by UNESCO.

Dalt Vila (Upper Town) is the oldest area of the city of Ibiza and an excellent example of a fortified town, its architecture and physiognomy have remained intact since the 16th century. Dalt Vila preserves in its walls and urban areas successive unmistakable cultural imprints of the earliest Phoenician settlements, Roman, Muslim and Corona de Aragón periods through the seven Renaissance bastions. Therefore, no visit to Ibiza will be complete without spending some time in the Dalt Vila.

What to visit in Ibiza town

Firstly, we suggest taking a walk around the vibrant cobbled streets of La Marina neighbourhood, the perfect place to try to experience the local culture, meet the local people, visit shops, eat in a local café, buy some arts and crafts and just sit with a coffee and watch the city go by.

ibiza cityThe following days visitors will probably enjoy visiting the Upper Town which has five entrance gates, one at the Reina Sofia Park, but the main one is located in front of La Marina neighborhood near The Old Market (Mercado Viejo) from where visitors can go up to Portal de Ses Taules to arrive at the walled town. Once inside Dalt Vila, visitors can enjoy the spectacular views from the fortified ramparts and the Cathedral square before going sightseeing and shopping. The Gothic Ibiza Cathedral, which was built on the top of the town and on the site of a previous building ( it might have been the Yebisah Mosque), was begun its construction in the 13th century, although its interior was rebuilt in Baroque style in the 18th century. The Cathedral is the most remarkable building in Ibiza dominating the whole city with its Gothic bell tower. Santo Domingo’s church built in the 16th century; the Town Hall building was built between 16th and 17th centuries; La Almudaina –the castle of Ibiza– is dated between 16th and 18th centuries and the Archaeological Museum in Dalt Vila are all worth a visit.

The Phoenician-Punic necropolis of Puig des Molins, which lies to south-west of Dalt Vila, was used until the end of Roman period. This Phoenician-Punic cemetery is considered to be the best preserved Phoenician-Punic cemetery in the world with more than 3,500 tombs, statues and other interesting objects. In this area there is another Archaeological Museum in Puig des Molins. It is a must-see place.

Tourists interested in visiting the Phoenician Ruins de Sa Caleta will go back to 8th century BC. Besides, they will be able to see evidence of urbanization and social life in the Phoenician colonies. It is situated on the southern coast of the island where visitors can also enjoy the beautiful Sa Caleta cove, Sa Canal port, Salines beach, Es Cavallet, a nudist beach to 9 km away from Ibiza city, and Sant Jordi de Ses Salines village, as well as Ses Salines Nature Park.

Ibiza Beaches

ibiza island beach mediterranean seaIbiza has a lot of white sandy beaches and beautiful coves which attract thousands of tourists every year. Almost as famous for its lively nightlife as for its beaches, the island has more than 200 km of spectacular coastline, offering superb diving opportunities and other water sports in its clear water.

– Ses Figueretes, with white sand, is an urban beach very popular amongst the citizens and is within walking distance of Ibiza city. This beach is one of the places from where visitors have the most wonderful views of the Upper Town of Ibiza. There is also easy access to the beach by car and by public transport.

– Platja d’en Bossa is one of the longer and more famous beaches in Ibiza, there are water sports, as well as cheap and luxury hotels nearby. Located about 2 km away from Ibiza city, the Bossa beach is easily accessible by car, by public transport, by bicycle and on foot from Ibiza city. However, this beautiful beach is usually crowded in summer during the day and at night with parties of tourists, because tourists just want to have fun and relax. This beach offers a unique ambiance which is not found in other beaches.

– Talamanca is a quiet beach for sunbathing and swimming, it is about 2 km away from Ibiza city. This pleasure beach is special for children and families being accessible by public transport and on foot.

ibiza beaches map

It is easy to arrive in Ibiza either by plane or by ship. Ibiza also provides easy access to the main tourist places.

Other Spanish islands and interesting places to visit in the Mediterranean Sea

– Balearic Islands (Islas Baleares): Check all our posts about the Balearic Islands: Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera.

– Canary Islands (Islas Canarias): A touristic group of Spanish islands located in the west coast of Africa, at the south of the Iberian Peninsula. They are composed by these seven islands: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Palma, Lanzarote, El Hierro and La Gomera.

– Barcelona and Valencia: Two of the main cities witch have beaches in the Mediterranean Sea.

– Andalucia Region: In the south of Spain, you will find warmth weather, beaches, and a lot more.

Three-days tour in Barcelona: What to visit in Barcelona city (Catalonia)

Barcelona, Beach, mountain and nature, Nightlife, Tours and Guides

barcelona

Barcelona is considered as one of the most vanguard and touristic cities in Spain (more than Madrid). But… why? Firstly, its location in the Mediterranean coast provides to the city a warm weather and a lot of beaches in the city and its surroundings. Also, it has many remarkable monuments as The Güell Park, The Holy Family Church, The Gothic Neighborhood, The Catalonian Music Palace and many more. The city has also been the headquarters of many important events as The 1992 Olimpic Games. Finally, maybe the best aspect of the city is its people: By visiting Barcelona you will discover a young multicultural atmosphere with a lot of activities and nigthlife in its beaches and streets, as in La Rambla avenue.

mapa barcelona spainThe city is placed in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula, in the Catalonian region, Barcelona is a metropolis with around 1,500,000 habitants in the city and two million more in its surroundings. The official languages are the Catalonian and the Spanish, but most of people speak English pretty well.

Here we propose you a three-days tour to visit the most emblematic sites of Barcelona. Enjoy it!

 

Day 1: The Old City: La Ramblas, The Gothic Neighborhood, Colon Statue, La Barceloneta and the beaches

 – Las Ramblas Avenue: This is the most famous and visited avenue of the city where. There, people go to visit monuments, go shopping, rest and see the seaport. Las Ramblas street goes from Catalonia Square to Columbus Monument. To arrive at Las Ramblas by metro you can use the Line 3 (Liceu)  or  Lines 3, 6 and 7 to Catalunya Square.

las ramblas

– The Gothic Neighborhood: The Gothic neighborhood is alongside La Rambla street. It is one of the essential places that every visitor should see. In there, you will enjoy the traditional streets, monuments, churches…

barrio gotico

– The Barcelona Cathedral: The Barcelona main cathedral is located in la Seu Square (Gothic neighborhood). It was built between XIII and XV centuries.

catedral barcelona

– San Jaume Square: In this square you will find the City Council and San Jaime Church.

– La boqueria market: This food market is placed in one side of Las Ramblas avenue. It’s a very popular place to eat something.

tapas mercado de san miguel

– Waxworks: Also located close to Las Ramblas (Banca Street , 7), the wax museum (Museo de cera) is one of the most visited museums of this type in Spain.

– Maritime Museum: It is located in Drassanes Avenue. This museum has a lot of staff about boats, galleys, etc. It can be interesting if you want to know more of the history of the navigation.

– Columbus Monument: This famous Columbus statue (Estatua de Colón) is in the Plaza de la Paz (between Las Ramblas and he seaport). Columbus monument measures 60 metres in height, and it is made of iron and bronze.

colon

– La Barceloneta Neighborhood: La Barceloneta is a marine neighborhood which occupies the area around the beach. This historic neighborhood was designed and built in the XVIII century, taking the ground from the sea. Also, la Barceloneta is one of the most visited beaches of the city.

barcelona beach

– The beaches: The coast of Barcelona has the following beaches: Barceloneta, Somorrostro, Nova Icaria, Bagatell, Mar Bella, LLevant, Marina, Forum, Sant Miquel and Sant Sebastiá.

barceloneta beach and sea

Nigthlife in Barcelona: During evening and night, Las Ramblas zone also has a lot of activity in its bars, restaurants and pubs. In summer, there is nightlife there almost everyday.

 

Day 2: The Holy Family, The Güell Park and other remarkable monuments

In the second day of our trip we are going to discover the main monuments of Barcelona. Here you have a list with them, please feel free to visit the sites in the order you prefer:

 – The Church of the Holy Family: The Holy Family (La Sagrada Familia) is one of the most beautiful buildings the city. Its construction began in 1882 and it’s not finished yet. Antoni Gaudí Architect designed and directed the building from 1883 until his death in 1926. In fact, The Sagrada Familia is the masterwork of Antonio Gaudí, who was buried in the crypt of this church. The Holy Family was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005.

SagradaFamilia

– The Güell Park: The Güell Park (Parque Güell) was also designed by Antoni Gaudí, being constructed between 1900 and 1914. People who visit the park can enjoy strolling in its area, sitting down on its decorated benches or admiring its architecture. If visitors touch its sculptures, they will realize the experience of feeling the shapes and the colorful of its artwork, such as the dragon, the 86 columns, the benches, the stairway, so on. The park was included as World Heritage Site in 1984.

guell park

 – Casa Milà: Popularly known as La Pedrera, Casa Mila is a unique modernist building located at Paseo de Gracia. The building was designed by architect Antoni Gaudí and built between 1906 and 1912. In 1984, Casa Mila was declared a World Heritage by UNESCO. To read the whole history of this bulging, check our article here.

Casa Mila

 

– The Catalonian Music Palace: Palau de la Música Catalana, known as Palau,  is an impressive hall concert, located in the center city. This building is one of the most visited places in Barcelona by people who want to enjoy its Modernism architecture or listen to its concerts. It is located near the Gothic Cathedral, and to 10 minutes on foot from Catalonia Square. The Catalonian Musica Palace was was declared World Heritage Site in 1997.

palau barcelona

– Other monuments declared World Heritage by UNESCO : You also can visit in Barcelona city the following places: Casa Batlló, Casa Vicens,  Santa Cruz and San Pablo Hospital.

 

Day 3: Montjuic, Tibidabo, Agbar Tower, Camp Nou…

In the third day we will see other touristic places of the city not as famous as the previous ones, but with have a difference among citizens and visitors:

– Montjuic and Tibidabo zones: From these view points people can enjoy the view of Barcelona.

montjuic

–  The Magic Montjuic Fountain: One of the  most  beautiful fountains in the world  is  the  Magic Montjuic Fountain (Fuente mágina de Montjuic) which offers an outstanding performance of colorful  light, music and water. It was built in  1929  for Universal Exhibition of Barcelona, and was designed by the Catalonian engineer Carlos Buigas (1898- 1979). The Magic Fountain is located  at the Queen Maria Cristina Avenue in front of the  Montjuict Palace. It is worth a visit.

fuente montjuic

– Agbar Tower: Torre Agbar measures 145 metres in height, the third higher building of Barcelona. It is located at Diagonal Avenue. Although it was built recently, its colorful surface , its shape and its visibility from many points of the city have favored its fame among the people as a new icon of the city.

torre agbar

– Camp Nou: This is a must for all the FC Barcelona football team supporters. This football stadium has a museum inside it and it’s located near Zona Universitaria (Metro Line 3) and Pedralbes Park (Palau Real Metro station).

Please, if you notice any other important place of Barcelona missing, add it in the comments section of this post or send us and email!

 

More places to visit near Barcelona

– Salou: Salou is one of the summer-touristic-towns places in the Mediterranean coast.

– Sitges: Sitges is also known for its Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, the Barcelona-Sitges Vintage Car Rallys and its Carnival Celebration.

– Castelldefels: Castelldefels is located on the Mediterranean Sea coast of Catalonia,  just to 18 km away from Barcelona city.

– La Pineda: With only 3,000 inhabitants, La Pineda (Vila-Seca) is a small town located in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula, at Tarragona Province.

– Valencia: Bordering the meditterranean coast from Barcelona to the south of the country, you will find this city. In Valencia you can visit places as La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias or La Lonja.

– Zaragoza: Zaragoza is a big city located among Barcelona and Madrid. The perfect place to rest one or two days while visiting the city.

– Madrid: The capital city of Spain. Don’t miss it!

Read here more cities to visit in Spain.

Plaza Mayor de Salamanca / Salamanca Main Square

Gastronomy, Nightlife, Salamanca, Streets and monuments

plaza mayor salamanca

The Main Square (Plaza Mayor) of Salamanca is the hearth of the city. This square is located in the Old Town of Salamanca and it’s surrounded by the most important buildings of the town, as The University faculties, The Shells House (Casa de las Conchas) or The Cathedral.

Salamanca is one of the best maintained traditional cities of Spain. The Old Town of Salamanca is highly popular for its elegant stone-made buildings, monuments and squares.

 

The Main Square of Salamanca

plaza mayor salamanca 2Salamanca Main Square is one of the icons of the city. It was built from 1729 to 1756 by architect Alberto Churriguera. The square has a rectangular shape bordered by elegant stone-made Baroque buildings.

The main facade of the square is the Hall Town of Salamanca. Starting from this point and bordering the square, there is a beam corridor in where are medallions which have sculpted the faces of some important people of the last centuries: The kings of Spain (Carlos I, Felipe II…), conquerors (as Cristobal Colón or Hernán Cortés), or writers (Cervantes, Miguel de Unamuno…).

Although in the beginnings of the 20th century the Main Square has gardens in it. Nowadays it has been remodeled to leave more free space. However the square has benches and terraces for the people who want to rest or have a lunch.

Note: Don’t mistake Plaza Mayor of Salamanca with Plaza Mayor of Madrid. This second one was in 1580, but it’s not as spectacular as the Salamanca’s one.

 

Restaurants and bars in Salamanca near Plaza Mayor

To eat and drink in the Old Town of Salamanca is a pleasure: The bars and restaurants are merged with the traditional environment of the town, which will lead you into a medieval atmosphere in were Salamanca was one of the main cities of Spain.

The most visited bars and restaurants of Salamanca are placed in Plaza Mayor and its surroundings. Also, there are many pubs and discotheques in the area for young people.

Take into account that, as Plaza Mayor of Salamanca is the heart of the city, people are used to dating there with their friends to spend the free time in this zone. As a curiosity, it is said that the prices of the bars are cheaper than in other bigger cities of the country as Madrid.

 

Night Life in Salamanca

plaza mayor salamanca de nocheSalamanca is a high popular destination for young people. As it has the oldest university of Spain, many students (both Spaniards and Erasmus) live there during their studies. That means that, during the academic course, there are always a lot of activities for students and visitors.

The main bars and discotheques of Salamanca are placed in the Old Town, near the University buildings. In there, there is a lot of night life almost every day, from September to June (during the academic year).

 

 

Other remarkable places in Salamanca that you might like to visit

– What to visit in Salamanca: Check here our article with the top buildings and monuments of Salamanca.

– Castile and Leon (Castilla y León): By visiting Castile and Leon you will be in some of the most ancient cities of the centre of the Iberian Peninsula: Salamanca, Burgos, Segovia, Avila and more.

– The best cities to visit in Spain: A list with the most touristic cities and destinations of Spain.

Casco Viejo de Bilbao / The Old Town of Bilbao

Bilbao, Gastronomy, Nightlife, Streets and monuments

plaza nueva bilbao

The Old Town of Bilbao  (Casco Viejo) is a zone of ancient buildings, narrow streets and squares in the centre of Bilbao. This zone is popular among citizens and tourists because its gastronomy, atmosphere and for its churches and traditional buildings.

To arrive at the Old Quarter you can go by metro Line 1 and 2 (Casco Viejo metro station) or go from the Train Station, which is placed in front of Arenal bridge, the most frequent entrance for people who want to walk.

 

The train station

Santander Train Stationtran station bilbao (La Concordia) is the main station of the city. The long distance trains stop there and also it has a metro station inside (Abando).

The station was built in 1902 and its structure and decoration still has an industrial flavour that gives it a special attractive for tourists.

 

The Nervion River and its bridges

Close to the Train Station,bilbao historic center you will find Arenal Bridge. This is the main entrance to the Old Town for the citizens who are coming from the commercial streets of Bilbao (Gran Vía and surroundings).

However, as the estuary of the Nervion River borders the old quarter, there are some other bridges in the zone as La Merced Bridge, La Ribera Bridge and San Antón Bridge.

In the newest part of Bilbao, you also can find the following bridges: City Hall bridge (Puente del Ayuntamiento), Zubizuri bridge and Princes Bridge (Puente de los príncipes).

 

Churches and relevant buildings

From Arenal Bridgesan nicolas church bilbao can be seen San Nicolás Curch, built in 1756. Near it, there is located Plaza Nueva (New Square), a neoclassical square where you will find the Royal Academy of the Basque Language, and a lot of bars and restaurants always full of people.

Then, bilbao cathedralbordering the river to San Antón Bridge, there is San Anton Church and La Rivera Market.

Other important buildings that you will see in the zone are Santiago Cathedral, Santos Juanes Church and some museums.

 

 

The Gastronomy in Bilbao

Don’t leave the Old Quarter without trying the gastronomy!

Although the food is impressive in all the city, in this zone there are a large amount of bars and restaurants. Above all at Plaza Nueva and its surroundings, where there are a lot of places where you can eat “tapas” (small sandwiches or dishes with original and innovative food).

It is said that the food in The Basque Country is the best food of Spain… and probably it is true. In Bilbao you can find a lot of premium restaurants. But you also can eat high quality food in many cheaper places: By trying the tapas you will be able to try a lot of different dishes in many bars of the zone. Don’t miss it!

Once viewedriver center bilbao the historic centre of Bilbao, our recommendation is to bordering the river in the water flood direction. Doing that you will reach the City Hall firstly, and then the Guggenheim Museum.

 

More places to visit in Bilbao

– The Guggenheim Museum: Museo Guggenheim is a contemporary art center placed in Bilbao, in the Basque Country. The museum was inaugurated in 1997 and since then, it has become one of the most popular museums of Spain and Europe because its original and transgressive design.

– Getxo (Guecho): Getxo is a town of 80.000 inhabitants located 30 minutes away from Bilbao city. The situation of the town in the Nervion river mouth, its beaches, its maritime port and its landscape, have become it one of the most touristic places of the region in the last century.

Salou: Sun and beach for families, and a lot of party for young people (Gold Coast)

Beach, mountain and nature, Nightlife, Tarragona, Tours and Guides

salou

One century ago, Salou was a small village placed in Tarragona (Catalonia). Nowadays, it has 25.000 inhabitants, and a big part of its economy is based in the tourism: With thousands of apartments and hotels, hundreds of shops, restaurants, pubs and discotheques, and of course, a beautiful beach, Salou is the most touristic town in the Gold Coast (Costa Dorada).

Salou is a reference for the holydays of Spring and Summer in Spain. Furthermore, the profile of the people who visit the town is highly various: Since families with children, couples, and young people. As Salou is always plenty of people and activities, it’s impossible not to find some amusing thing to do each day.

 

What to do do in Salou

The main point of Salou is its beach: With its clean sand, and the warm and clear water is a perfect place to go for a swim in summer. Also, the sun and the weather is ideal for sunbathes and resting from May to September.

However, Salou gives you a lot of options apart of the beach: restaurants, amusement parks (Port Aventura, Aquopolis…), shops, discotheques, festivals, and many more.

Talking about sport activities, you can rent a boat in the beach, play volleyball, rent a motorcar in the circuit, go cycling and jogging at the surroundings of the town, practice golf, etc..

Attractions parks: Port Aventura and Aquopolis

portaventura

Port Aventura is the older (and probably the bigger) amusement park in Spain. It is placed near Salou and in there you will enjoy impressive attractions as Dragon Khan roller coaster and a lot of live spectacles. You can go to Port Aventura by car or by bus.

Aquopolis is an water park placed in La Pineda, a town near Salou which is 30mins away on foot (but probably you would prefer to go by bus). Aquopolis is the perfect place to stay in a hot summer day enjoying their aquatic attractions and their giant swimming pools.

 

Activities for young people in Salou

salou pub partyAlthough not all the people who visit Salou are young, every year thousands of students and people between 18 and 30 years visit Salou. (Maybe that is because some families prefer to stay in a quieter place like Benidorm, La Pineda, or Andalusia). For them there is an spectacular offer of pubs and discotheques which are open every night from May/June to September, so if you want to go party every day, Salou is your best option.

Festivals: In several dates, Salou celebrates festivals and other celebrations (like in Holy Week or at San Juan). This celebrations are especially popular among young people, who come from other cities of Spain and from outside, as France, Germany or Great Britain.

 

Hotels and apartments in Salou

The most common habit for people who want to stay some days in Salou is to rent an apartment (for 1 week in most cases) or to sleep in a hotel. If you chose this option, chose an accommodation with air conditioner and swimming pool, you will enjoy it much more!

Another option is to go camping. There is a camping in the middle of the town.

Whatever you chose, remember to take a reservation one or two months before your holydays, it will be cheaper and you will avoid the option of running out of room!

 

 

Other interesting places to visit near Salou

– La Pineda: La Pineda is a small town located near Salou. In there you will find a beautiful beach, the Aquopolis and the popular discotheque Pacha La Pineda. You can go by bus from Salou.

– Barcelona: One of the most touristic cities in Europe. It is around 100km abroad of Salou.

– Castelldefels: Castelldefels is located on the Mediterranean Sea coast of Catalonia,  just to 18 km away from Barcelona city.

– Sitges: Sitges is also known for its Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, the Barcelona-Sitges Vintage Car Rallys and its Carnival Celebration.

– Ibiza: This island is not near Salou, but… if you are young and you like Salou, surely you will have to try Ibiza.

Gran Via / The Main Street (Madrid)

Madrid, Nightlife, Streets and monuments

IMGP7040 DSC01822

Gran Via is one of the most famous streets of Spanish capital. It is situated in the center of Madrid and was built 100 years ago. The idea of the street was to join and improve the communication between the districts of the capital city.

The construction took almost 50 years and was realized in 3 parts. The street begins at the end of Calle Alcala and ends
at the Spanish Square. It’s a very busy place, full of cars and buses 24 hours per day. It is a quite long street, full of beautiful buildings which now are museums, hotels or expensive restaurants.

DSCN7792DSCN7793

You can also find there some popular pubs, bars with tapas, cafeterias, hostels, theaters and cinemas. On Friday’s afternoon it’s very difficult to pass through it, because many people want to begin their weekend there. It is very easy to get there with metro. There are four metro lines which stop in different parts of this street. It is also very close to Puerta del Sol and Plaza de Cibeles – one of the most popular Madrid’s landmarks.

 

 

What to visit near Gran Via (Madrid)

– Cibeles: In Cibeles Square you will see the famous Cibeles fountain and some important buildings, like Cibeles Palace (Palacio de Comunicaciones), the headquarters of the Madrid city council.

– Puerta del Sol: This emblematic place is one of the reference points more used in the city, and many citizens are used to dating with other people from this point.

– Fuencarral Street:  Fuencarral is well known because it has a lot of shops and because it’s placed between Malasaña and Chueca, which are two of the most famous neighborhoods of the Madrid.

– Plaza de España: Another popular square, in where you can find the first skyscrapers of the city, and a beautiful fountain in the middle of the square with a statue of Don Quijote and Sancho Panza.

– Plaza Mayor: In this traditional square there is a Felipe II statue rounded of white ancient buildings. The young people in the city are used to going to this square to eat squid sandwiches. Moreover, some politicians told once about taking a coffee in there… but from our point of view, there are a lot of better -and cheaper- places in Madrid places to do it).

– Opera Square: You will find there the Opera Theater.

– Palacio Real and Almudena’s Cathedral: We will talk about these monuments in another article. It’s 10 minutes walking from Puerta del Sol.

Read also our post about What to see in Madrid in one week.

Las Ramblas street (Barcelona): Monuments, museums squares and markets to visit in La Rambla de Barcelona

Barcelona, Nightlife, Streets and monuments, Tours and Guides

las ramblas

“La Rambla”, popularly known as “Las Ramblas” is a famous street in the centre of  Barcelona where citizens and visitors can walk, visit monuments, eat and rest in the terraces, see the port of Barcelona, go shopping or go to pubs during the night. Generally, the whole area around this street is full of people, not only during the day, but also in the night.

Las Ramblas goes from Catalonia Square to the seaport, and it has a lot of cafes, terraces, pubs and discotheques. In the end of the street, there is the Cristobal Colon statue, one of the icons of Barcelona.

You can go to Las Ramblas by metro using Line 3 to Liceu or to Catalunya (Line 3, 6 and 7).

 

What to visit in Las Ramblascolon

– Colon Statue (Columbus Monument): This monument is placed in the “Portal de la Pau” Square, between La Rambla and the port. It was built in 1888 for the Barcelona Universal Exposition, and nowadays is one of the most famous statues of the city. The statue represents to Cristobal Colon signing with his right arm to the sea (metaphorically, he is signing to the American continent).

– La boqueria (a traditional food market): In this market you can find a lot of delicacies. It’s a very popular place to eat something. You can visit its website on www.boqueria.info

– Maritime Museum: Placed in Drassanes Avenue and inaugurated in 1936, this museum has a lot of staff about boats, galleys, etc. It can be interesting if you want to know more of the history of the navigation.

– Waxworks (Museo de cera): Placed in Banca Street number 7, this wax museum is one of the most visited museums of this type in Spain.

– Gothic neighborhood: This neighborhood is alongside La Rambla street and is one of the essential places that every visitor should see. In there, you will enjoy the traditional streets, monuments, churches… and also you can find a lot of shops and bars.

– The Barcelona Cathedral: This cathedral is placed in “Plaza de la Seu”, in the Gothic neighborhood and was built between XIII and XV century.

– San Jaume Square: This ancient square has the City Council and the San Jaime Church.

– Raval neighborhood: This neighborhood is also near La Rambla and is very famous for its traditional culture. In there, you can find a lot of pubs and premises to have a lunch or drink something.

 

More places to see near Las Ramblas

– Maremagnum: This commercial center is located beyond Colón Monument, just above the sea. In there, you will find shops, terraces, discotheques and a lot of hobby activities.

– La Barceloneta beach: In summer, you can sunbathe or swim in the beach of La Barceloneta, which is 5 minutes walking from Las Ramblas – Columbus Statue.

 

Other buildings and monuments for tourists in Barcelona

– The Güell Park: People who visit the beautiful Güell Park can enjoy strolling in its area, sitting down on its decorated benches or admiring its fantastic architecture and the perfection the artwork.

– Church of the Holy Family (La Sagrada Familia): It is a must for tourists that arrive in the Condal City see its outstanding architecture, design and sculptures.

More places nearby

– Sitges: Sitges is also known for its Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, the Barcelona-Sitges Vintage Car Rallys and its Carnival Celebration.

– Castelldefels: Castelldefels is located on the Mediterranean Sea coast of Catalonia,  just to 18 km away from Barcelona city.

– La Pineda: With only 3,000 inhabitants, La Pineda (Vila-Seca) is a small town located in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula, at Tarragona Province.

– Salou: Salou is a reference for the holydays of Spring and Summer in Spain.

 

If you want to visit the whole county, read also our post about the best cities and monuments in Spain.

Puerta del Sol / Sun Square (Madrid)

Madrid, Nightlife, Streets and monuments

puerta del sol

Puerta del Sol (which means “Sun Gate”) is the name of the most famous square in Madrid. It is located in the city center, and it is connected with the rest of the city with the 1, 2 and 3 Subway Lines, and other trains lines which start there and finish in the suburbs and towns placed around Madrid.

This emblematic place is one of the reference points more used in the city, and many citizens are used to dating with other people from this point.

km0 sol

What to see in Puerta del Sol

– Real Casa de Correos building: This building was built in 1750 and currently is the headquarters of the regional government. At the top of the building, there is a big bell, which is used to announcing the begging of the year each 31st of December.
Also, the door of the building is the origin of the name “Puerta del Sol”.oso y madroño

– The “Zero Kimoleter” (kilometro cero) of Spain. Since 1950, this is the start point of the radial subways of Spain. Therefore, if you look at the ground at the base of Casa de Correos, you will be able to see a plaque with the text “Km 0: Origen de las carreteras radiales”.

– One of the most famous statues of Madrid is “El oso y el madroño” (it represents a bear climbing a tree). This is the icon of the city, and almost everybody wants to get a photo with it.

– Finally, Puerta del Sol is the perfect area to go shooping: The streets around Puerta del Sol are always overcrowded. In there, you can find a lot of shops, coffee, and discotheques, so there are a lot of activity everyday and every hour.

Read also our post about What to see in Madrid in one week.

 

 

More places to visit near Puerta del Sol

– Plaza Mayor: In this traditional square there is a Felipe II statue rounded of white ancient buildings. The young people in the city are used to going to this square to eat squid sandwiches. Moreover, some politicians told once about taking a coffee in there… but from our point of view, there are a lot of better -and cheaper- places in Madrid places to do it).

– San Miguel Market: Inside of this famous market you will find an incredibly variety of food: juices, “tapas”, “croquetas”, hamburgers, fruit, fish… all of this of the highest quality.

– Gran Via: the most famous avenue of Madrid. It has a lot of theaters, coffee and ice cream shops. You can arrive there in 3 minutes from Puerta del Sol going on foot.

– Opera Square: You will find there the Opera Theater.

– Palacio Real and Almudena’s Cathedral: We will talk about these monuments in another article. It’s 10 minutes walking from Puerta del Sol.

– Santo Domingo Square: it’s behind Casa de Correos Building. It’s full of restaurants and bars, so it’s the perfect place to take a lunch.

– Fuencarral Street: You can go there going through Montera Street. Fuencarral is straight on, just after passing Gran Via. Fuencarral is well known because it has a lot of shops and because it’s placed between Malasaña and Chueca, which are two of the most famous neighborhoods of the Madrid.