Is Barcelona Walkable? A Beginner’s Guide to Exploring Barcelona on Foot
Barcelona, the cosmopolitan city of Spain located in the country’s eastern Mediterranean coast is well known for its historical landmarks, architectural design and a fairly pulsating social life. For this reason, most visitors ask whether the city of Barcelona is actually a pedestrian city. So, in this guide for the newcomers we will try to answer this question and give you all the necessary tips for walking around Barcelona.
The Walkability of Barcelona
Barcelona is also a very accessible city that is very friendly to the pedestrians as there are good networks to support this kind of transport. This is why, firstly, the city’s general topography is more suitable for exploration on foot since it does not have significant relief and consists of numerous streets and squares.
Among the significant aspects of the tourism in Barcelona, it can be noted that a lot of tourist attractions are easily accessible on foot. Some of reviewing travel information of the city, you will find that the famous tourist spots including the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell to La Rambla are located near each other. This means that one is at liberty to move and wander around the city and appreciate the beauty of the place without relying on the bus or taxi.
Navigating Barcelona’s Streets
It is also advisable to get an idea about the general plan of Barcelona so you can be informed once you start your walking tour in the city. Barcelona seems to be divided into districts and the most populous district is Eixample that is a rectangular shaped community. Eixample has an organized numbering system of the streets where the odd number streets are parallel to the other while even number streets are perpendicular to the latter.
It is general to find that Barcelona’s major streets are very broad avenues with sidewalks on both sides that could be used by pedestrians. In the city, pedestrians should take caution where they walk and also avoid walking on the carriageway and make sure that every time that the want to cross the road they need to look for the(Illegal crossing). Also, look for signs and signals because they will lead you through with safety throughout your trip.
Exploring Barcelona’s Neighborhoods on Foot
Barcelona is divided into districts that are different from one another or, in other words, the city can be divided into specific districts which can not be indistinguishable from each other. It can be seen that travelling from one neighborhood to the other is very much encouraged since this is the only way to have first-hand experience of the variety that is available here regarding both culture and architecture.
Here are some of the Barcelona’s famous districts which one can explore on foot:
- Gothic zone (Barri Gòtic) – Because of the Gothic architecture, this area is called Gothic district, and one can get lost in its crooked small streets, medieval constructions and picturesque picturesque squares. Walk through the Gothic Quarter to explore the beautiful Gothic architectures, small coffee shops and some not so obvious places to visit.
- El Raval – This area is famous for its multiethnic approach and it would be good to taste the richness of art in Barcelona. There are many museums and other interesting places in Barcelona that you will not want to miss and among them one can highlight MACBA, a museum of contemporary art.
- Gràcia – This is a liberal district with a laid back atmosphere and is well known for its numerous squares, shops and creativity. Stroll around the area of Gràcia and feel the Spanish vibe.
- Eixample – It situated in a republic known Geometric modernistic area and encompassed by strict grid of neo-gothic buildings; this district famous for a masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí such as Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló. Exploring Eixample district will give you the possibility to add to your impressions admiring great curtain facades and wonderful details.
Tips for Walking in Barcelona
Barcelona is a city for walking, and it is always useful to have several hints as to how to do it safely and with profit:
- Pack casual clothes: The climate in Barcelona is quite warm almost all year round, so it is advisable to pack casual wear for comfortable traveling on the streets of this Spanish city.
- Hydrate: That is, try to make sure that you are not dehydrated since Barcelona is hot especially in summer. It’s advisable to carry a bottle of water with you so that you can take water as you tour the city.
- Beware of pickpockets: Like in any other tourist attraction centers, some people would be very much interested in stealing hence the need to watch your pockets. Minimize risks and watch out for those areas where the population density is high.
- Prevent sunburn: to defend Facilitate your skin from the sun, especially in the middle of the day of the day.
- Pamper yourselves for some time and eat the local food: You will find Spanish food particularly living in Barcelona. Enjoy some tapas during your strolls or discover markets while wandering around the Spanish city.
When in Barcelona and not knowing where to start, walking is a perfect way to get around as it enables a first-hand encounter with cultural masterpieces as well as surprises that are inherent in the city. So, let’s put on our walking shoes and explore everything that this beautiful Catalan city of Spain has to offer in terms of walking tours.
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