The Rambla is one of the streets in the old part of the city that leads down to the Mediterranean, a boulevard that is always changing depending on the time of day or night. It takes the visitor from the Romanesque church of Santa Ana down to the bird market and flower stalls, taking in beautiful examples of Renaissance and Baroque architecture on the way.

On the Rambla you will find the Boqueria market which was opened in 1836. Initially an open-air market for street hawkers and local farmers, it was covered over in 1914. Also known as the Mercat de Sant Josep, the market's traders, structure and location have made it into a must-visit for tourists who are looking for one of the most significant and variegated places in the city, somewhere which is also deservedly famous for the quality of its produce.

Plaza de Catalunya stands at the head of the Rambla and is the focal point of the city. It is the meeting place for major streets such as Passeig de Gràcia, the Rambla de Catalunya, the Rambla and Portal de l'Angel, all of which are thronged with local people and visitors alike. The square features stores, cafes, banks and hotels and is also a major urban transport centre.


Passeig de Gràcia is one of the city's most elegant avenues and runs from Plaza Catalunya to Avda. Diagonal. Here you will find luxury hotels, important restaurants, boutiques from international chains and jewellery stores. It also contains fine examples of Modernist architecture including Casa Milà "La Pedrera" and the ‘manzana de la discordia' (block of discord) featuring Casa Batllò, Casa Amatller and Casa Lleó i Morera.