Las ramblas ~ Barcelona to Do

Las ramblas

What to do in Barcelona? Did you already know that this huge pedestrian street is the most famous in Barcelona? Las Ramblas is a river of people goes up and down day and night, it’s always packed with tourists and no matter why you will pass from here many times. Take care of your wallet (many pickpockets around) and if you can avoid eating at the tourists tapa bars here (the prices are for tourists too) you will enjoy some nice living statues (more than anywhere else in the world) and other street artists.

If the living statues aint enough for you try the Wax Museum (Museu de Cera) also at Passatge de la Banca at the foot of the Ramblas. It is housed on a building from 19th century and has about 300 wax figures. It is open daily 10.00-19.30 (weekends 11.00-20.30) with a short break during noon. The entrance fee is 10euro but if you seen Madame Tussauds you better skip this one unless you are desperate to see Wagner, Dali, Hitler and Don Quixote (among many other famous figures) at the same building :).

The Museum of Erotica at (Ramblas 96) is like the ones in cities like Paris and Amsterdam with many sculptures, paintings and artifacts from all over the world (the ones from Africa seemed interesting). It is open daily 10.00-00.00 (October to may 11.00-21.00) and the entrance fee is 7 euros.

Although the day after was dedicated to Gaudi’s building I decided to check one of his building at a small street, 1’ walk from Las Ramblas at Nou de la Rambla 3-5. Palau Guell is a neogothic mansion that was build in 1889 and it was the first work of Gaudi in the center when Guell decided to put his money at an unkown architect. Gaudi designed also the furniture and other objects.

The chimneyswith the obelisk shape are nice and free to see if you don’t want to pay for go inside although there was no entrance fee during my visit because of restoration (Tuesday to Saturday 10.00-14.30).

The façade is full of straight lines, a surprise for me because it seems he started to “play” with curves later at other buildings.As you go up Las Ramblas you can turn right into Placa Real, a nice square that was build in 1850 (there used to be a monastery at the same place before) and although always busy it is nicely decorated with palms trees and some street lamps designed by Guadi.

Some tapa bars that has normal prices (I was expecting much more)Near metro station Licau you can see the Opera of Barcelona and further up near Placa Catalunya the Royal Academy Of Science and Arts that is a theatre.