The Smart Travel Guide

Las Ramblas or “La Rambla” is one main attraction in Barcelona, along with its great parks and museums. Everyday this boulevard is crammed with tourists from all over the world, going here and there in search of the best souvenirs, food, or just to enjoy the beautiful landscape. The name rambla refers to an intermittent water flow in both Catalan and Spanish, and is derived from the Arabic ‘ramla’ which means ‘sandy riverbed’. The name of the city of Ramla, now in Israel, shares the same origin. It is possible that this boulevard can be full of tourists more than locals, and it became the first target for pickpocketing, so watch out especially when you sit and watch the painters or performers in the street. The length of the street is measured in 3 Metro stations,

bordered by the Drassanes Metro stop, where you can find Christopher Columbus memorial, situated in the Southern part of Las Ramblas, from where you can go for a stroll along the beach and admire the boats. If you want to discover more, then you can go by boat and visit the harbour, for about 35 minutes or by the fast boat, both offering a fascinating landscape. Las Ramblas hosts very many bars, restaurants, shops for all budgets. You should not skip eating the traditional dishes, paella or tapas, along with the famous Sangria. However, prices maybe a little bit higher than in other areas. It is very pleasant to visit Las Ramblas both during day and night, you will surely enjoy watching the live performers, acting like statues, with whom you can take photos and pay few cents if you wish, or the painters, who draw your portrait, caricature or your name, together with your friend’s.



If you want to have a more precious souvenir, than you can buy a painting. Flower shops are all around together with souvenir shops, it is good to know how to negociate, you can get a very good price for the items you want to buy. No doubt Las Ramblas is an open air market, it has very many other shorter streets, which make the connection with another parallel street, where big fashion names sell their clothes.

Going down to the beach, from the Plaça de Catalunya toward the harbor, the street is successively the Rambla de Canaletes, the Rambla dels Estudis, the Rambla de Sant Josep, the Rambla dels Caputxins, and the Rambla de Santa Monica. During night, the Southern part of Las Ramblas is populated by night women, just as on the Red Light District.

If you want to book a room just on Las Ramblas, then you can find plenty of accommodation possibilities, hotels and apartments are all around. However, you should take into consideration that noise may disturb you no matter day or night. If you pass by Placa Catalunya Square, then you will surely notice El Corte Ingles, a huge department-store with seven floors of shopping categorised by different genres.

If you choose to spend a couple of hours on Las Ramblas, then you should visit some, if not all of the cultural sightseeings of Barcelona, such as Gran Teatre del Liceu, that is Opera house, Mercat de la Boqueria, the famous market with fresh food, Font de Canaletes, near Catalunya Metro station, where late evenings are very pleasant while watching the beautiful fountains, especially after a shopping session in the famous brands stores on this boulevard. Moreover, Palau de la Virreina, a Baroque palace, is the place where many exhibitions take place. Just few minutes-long walk away from Las Ramblas is Centre d’Art Santa Mònica, the Museum of Contemporary Art, which is situated on the Raval side of Rambla de Santa Mònica. Besides the artists performing live on La Rambla, you should also go to Wax Museum, Erotica Museum ( Museu de l’ Erotica) or maybe Christopher Columbus monument.

Tags: Barcelona

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