Placa de Catalunya (Catalonia Square), Barcelona

Placa de Catalunya (Catalonia Square), Barcelona

As well as serving as the most connected transit hub for Barcelona's metropolitan area, Catalonia Square is "the heart of the city" in a wider sense. Undoubtedly one of the busiest and vibrant locations, it acts as a starting point for Barcelona's main arteries, such as La Rambla, the Gràcia Boulevard, and the Angel's Gate ("Portal de l'Àngel"). It's also the connection point between the Old City and its gridded 19th-century extension known as Eixample, which is home to some of Europe's most exquisite architecture.

As one of the largest and most bustling squares in Spain, Plaça de Catalunya is teeming with endless restaurants, hotels, shops, cafes, and entertainment venues, making it a vibrant place to explore. In the center of the square, you'll find pavement stones arranged in the shape of a star, which is believed to mark the center of the Catalonian capital.

For high fashion, design, jewelry and department stores, the principal shopping axis starts here – so if you're in for some retail therapy, this is the place to go. An initial orientation point for visitors is the white-faced El Corte Inglés, Spain's only surviving department store, a colossal fortress-like behemoth that houses everything you would expect – from books, music and food to high fashion, jewelry, technology, and homeware. The store is famous for its decent customer service, but also the 9th-floor cafeteria where you can get a seat by the window and enjoy a panoramic view over the square below. On the opposite side is El Triangle, a commercial center that is home to FNAC, a mega media store with several slick floors of books, music, and technology.

The square is also known for its fountains and statues, attracting flocks of tourists and pigeons in their thousands. As the afternoon progresses, it gets increasingly crowded and colorful, perfect to get a sense of life in Barcelona as there are always lots and lots of details to observe.

Tip:
While the fountains are beautiful during the day, make sure to witness their display at night when they come alive with alternating colored lights.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Barcelona. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Placa de Catalunya (Catalonia Square) on Map

Sight Name: Placa de Catalunya (Catalonia Square)
Sight Location: Barcelona, Spain (See walking tours in Barcelona)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Barcelona, Spain

Create Your Own Walk in Barcelona

Create Your Own Walk in Barcelona

Creating your own self-guided walk in Barcelona is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Barcelona Food Tasting Walking Tour

Barcelona Food Tasting Walking Tour

No one should visit Barcelona without making an attempt to get acquainted with some of Spain’s best food – Catalan food. An abundance of fresh fish and superb meat, a plethora of great vegetables, plus local inventiveness, have produced a very diverse, distinctive and delicious cuisine, including the famous (and trendy) tapas dishes.

Follow this self-guided walk to treat your taste buds in...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
La Rambla Walking Tour

La Rambla Walking Tour

One of the main streets in central Barcelona, La Rambla is popular with tourists and locals alike. Connecting the city’s old port with Plaça de Catalunya, it is filled with cultural and historic landmarks, as well as many terraces, restaurants, shops and street artists. Spanish poet, Federico García Lorca once said it was “the only street in the world which I wish never ended.”

Start...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Barcelona Shopping Walk

Barcelona Shopping Walk

A long-time prime cultural destination, Barcelona is also en route to becoming one of Europe's top shopping spots. Each new day, fashionable designer stores, from well-known international brands to local start-ups, are filling the city streets. If you're a fan of shopping, you're in for a treat when visiting this beautiful city. Here are some of the most popular shopping locations...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Montjuic Walking Tour

Montjuic Walking Tour

Montjuic is a hill in Barcelona which offers a variety of great attractions of historic, cultural, and architectural value. Here, you can watch a spectacular water show at the Magic Fountain of Montjuic, visit the place where matadors faced the bulls in the past, and explore the ancient Montjuic Castle with its breathtaking views.

A convenient start point, Placa d'Espanya is the second...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.0 Km or 3.1 Miles
Gothic Quarter Walking Tour

Gothic Quarter Walking Tour

A walk around the Gothic Quarter is a journey through time to Barcelona’s oldest history, going back to times of Roman rule; in fact, the typically Roman grid plan is still visible today in the quarter's layout. Only a few roads are open for car traffic, so there will be little in the way of enjoying the many narrow, atmospheric streets filled with superb food, high-quality architecture,...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Antoni Gaudí's Masterpieces Walking Tour

Antoni Gaudí's Masterpieces Walking Tour

Gaudi is admired around the world as one of the most distinctive architects of the 20th century. The unique technique and use of natural forms make his creations stand out from the pack. La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Casa Batllo and other masterpieces will certainly take your breath away with their beauty, forms, colors, and overall design. Just make sure to book tickets in advance, since...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles

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