Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas is the main artery of Old Barcelona. It is approximately half a mile of boulevard that intersects the city center. On one side of Las Ramblas is the Gothic Medieval Quarter; on the other side is the Raval area. Las Ramblas sees primarily pedestrian traffic, so it is best to reach there by taking the L3 metro to the Drassanes, Liceu, or Catalunya stops.

During the day, Las Ramblas is a great place for first-time visitors to Barcelona to stroll, soaking up the sun and atmosphere of the old city. Many travelers have compared it to New York City's Times Square: you have to go once, but you probably won't want to go again. Also, be careful at night as the southern half of Las Ramblas is considered a red light district after the sun goes down.

There is plenty of shopping on Las Ramblas. Many specialty shops cater to tourists and their prices will be elevated compared to the rest of the city. However, if you forgot to pack something, you can probably replace it at the huge department store at the northern end of Las Ramblas called El Corte Ingles.

Dining and lodging are also available on this street, but again, the quality doesn't always match the price. In addition, Las Ramblas is busy all the time so getting a good night's rest may be hard for light sleepers.

Las Ramblas is a great place to see street performers and sidewalk artists. Human statues also populate Las Ramblas. The famous painter Joan Miró created a sidewalk mosaic that is near the Liceu metro.