Just east of its namesake neighbourhood, Barceloneta's main beach is a golden-brown strip of sand where, during warm months, pool-party promoters, mojito vendors and sarong sellers mingle with masses of sun-loving visitors and barcelonins. It's an iconic Barcelona spot, but can feel like a bit of a circus – perhaps better enjoyed very first thing or over a sunset stroll.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
1.88 MILES
The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family) is considered to be the symbol of Barcelona by many residents, and the…
3.1 MILES
Visitors and locals alike love Park Güell. The waving balcony and the colorful Guard’s House, with the imposing Barcelona skyline and sea in the…
1.68 MILES
One of Europe's strangest residential buildings, Casa Batlló (built 1904–6) is Gaudí at his fantastical best. From its playful facade and marine-world…
1.94 MILES
In the top tier of Gaudí's achievements, this madcap Unesco-listed masterpiece, with 33 balconies, was built in 1905–10 as a combined apartment and office…
1.11 MILES
Barcelona's most central fresh-produce market is one of the greatest sound, smell and colour sensations in Europe. It's housed in a packed-out Modernista…
0.72 MILES
Located along the grand, medieval street of Carrer de Montcada, the Museu Picasso is dedicated to one of the world’s greatest artists, Pablo Picasso. Born…
1.92 MILES
Joan Miró was a Catalan painter and sculptor born in Barcelona who combined abstract art with surrealism. He is considered one of the most influential…
1 MILES
La Rambla is a tree-lined boulevard featuring a wide array of architectural delights, beautifully decorated flower stalls and particularly talented (and…
Nearby Barcelona attractions
1. Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta
0.13 MILES
On Barceloneta's seaward side are the first of Barcelona's beaches, which get packed in summer. The broad 1.25km promenade from Barceloneta to the Port…
0.16 MILES
A relic from the industrial era, this striking Modernista building with its red brick and yellow details today houses an environmental education centre,…
0.25 MILES
German artist Rebecca Horn's elegant The Wounded Shooting Star sculpture was commissioned for the 1992 Olympics and commemorates the old-fashioned shacks…
4. Església de Sant Miquel del Port
0.26 MILES
Dating from 1755, this sober baroque church was the first building completed in Barceloneta. Built low so that the cannon in the then Ciutadella fort…
0.27 MILES
Devoted to the history and culture of the barri (with displays in Catalan), this tiny cultural centre occupies a brick-walled 1761 building that's a prime…
0.27 MILES
The work of Enric Miralles, completed in 2005, this shimmering glass waterfront office tower is only 86m (20 storeys) high, but remains extraordinary for…
0.38 MILES
Looming over the waterfront, this huge brick edifice was built in the 1880s as a storage depot for goods arriving from the port. Revitalised in the city's…
0.39 MILES
Taking its name from the 18th-century church in nearby Barceloneta, this stretch of soft honey-gold sand fills with beachgoers when warm days arrive…