Places to visit in Barcelona

• Gothic Quarter: Barri Gòtic is probably every street photographer's favourite place in Barcelona. The cobbled streets and alleys make it a great photo spot. The Gothic Quarter is located in the heart of the city. Around the neighbourhood, you will find several historical monuments, including ancient Roman structures. The Cathedral of Santa Cruz Santa Eulalia is a landmark. Built in the 13th and 15th centuries, it exudes a certain charm that every viewer can feel. 

• La Rambla: Plan your visit with this street in mind as it stretches from the 12th-century Plaça de Catalunya to the port. Mercat de la Boqueria is a popular shopping area along La Rambla, that is busy with locals during the day. And when the sun goes down, the streets are lit up by the neon lights of the shops. It creates a lively atmosphere and is perfect for a casual stroll or watching impromptu street performances. 

• Basílica de la Sagrada Família: Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece, Basilica de la Sagrada Famlia dominates the city with its 18 spiral towers. This massive structure was commissioned to Antoni Gaudi in 1883 and is said to actually be designed as a neo-Gothic church. Instead, Gaudi took it in a different direction and added his own touch of art, transforming them into surreal Art Nouveau architecture. It is one of the most unusual churches in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

• Parc Güell: This is Gaudi's surreal park, where one sight is enough to take your mind to gingerbread houses or to the witch's house from the children’s story, Hansel and Gretel. This Barcelona must-see is a UNESCO World Heritage Site created between 1900 and 1914. It is a happy and fun place to experience a dreamy atmosphere. You will witness surreal architecture with fountains, winding staircases, caves, a viaduct, colonnaded hall, and semi-enclosed discussion areas scattered throughout the complex. 

• Museu Picasso de Barcelona: One of the interesting sights in Barcelona is the Picasso Museum. This museum consists of five palaces, each with remarkable Catalan-Gothic architecture from the 13th and 14th centuries. One of the interesting features of the museum is that each one has a beautiful outdoor staircase and a central courtyard. The museum focuses on the artwork of Pablo Picasso.

• Bogatell Beach: There are several beaches in Barcelona, but one of the most famous is Bogatell, located 2.8 km from the city centre. Locals and tourists come here to sunbathe, relax, socialise, and engage in water and beach sports. One of the best things to do on Bogatell Beach is kitesurfing and kayaking. There is also a boardwalk with convenient amenities, and several ice cream and street food shops.

• Besta: Besta is one of the best places to eat in Barcelona. You can experience gourmet-style cuisine like never before. Taste the best seasonal products from the regions of Catalonia and much more. The best dishes are when the menus have combinations such as chicken and shrimp or meatballs and squid, but their Galician oyster with thinly sliced dry beef or market-fresh octopus with pig's ear are worth trying. 

• Sir Porter: Located in the Sir Victor Hotel, come and enjoy delicious vegetarian and seafood dishes. Some highlights include roasted whole leeks, sinfully smooth beef carpaccio, and juicy Japanese Wagyu steak. Although the dish that will have you fighting for the last bite is the sweet but spicy shrimp salad with corn and avocado. This is definitely a dish worth trying. 

• Cocina Hermanos Torres: One of the great restaurants is Cocina Hermanos Torres. This restaurant offers modern Catalan cuisine with unexpected flavour combinations. Their dishes are best paired with wine, as the restaurant hosts a wine tasting party for a value-for-money experience. So, enjoy the delicious food at Cocina Hermanos Torres.

• La Boqueria Market: As the name suggests, this market is located in the popular area of La Rambla de Barcelona. Here you can find a wide variety of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as live fish, crabs, and lobsters. 

• Sant Antoni Market: Packed with shops, Sant Antoni Market is the second largest food market in Barcelona. Here you can find all kinds of products, such as clothes, shoes, home products, vegetables, fruits, fish, and meat products. On Sundays, the market turns into a book and coin market with a wide selection of old magazines, books, comics, and even postcards. 

• Mercat de la Concepcio: Go and smell the flowers at Mercat de la Concepcio. This is the best market in Barcelona, selling all kinds of flowers. The fragrance of roses is a crowd-drawing factor here, as there are many varieties of roses as well as other flowers that mesmerise the visitors. 

• Portal del Angel: One of the cheapest markets in Barcelona is Portal del Angel. It is a famous market that houses local shoe stores, mobile phone retailers, and even a Disney store. There are also brand name such as Pull and Bear, Zara, Springfield, Massimo Dutti, and Benetton, to name a few.

• Kimpton Vividora Hotel, IHG Hotel: Surrounded by the bustle of the Gothic Quarter, the hotel offers a peaceful oasis. The Kimpton Vividora Hotel is part of the IHG Hotel Group. Located within walking distance of Barcelona Cathedral and La Rambla, it is one of Barcelona's most popular hotels that has an elegant interior. 

• Motel One Barcelona: Located on the edge of Ciutadella Park, Motel One Barcelona is a modern and elegant hotel. Although all hotel rooms are the same size, you'll notice that the rooms are different because the hotel commissioned beautiful site-specific murals from a local artist, combining jungle motifs with black and white sketches of popular landmarks like the Arc de Triomphe. 

• Almanac Barcelona: It is one of the most elegant and luxurious hotels in Barcelona with impressive views of the city’s skyline. Although it is quite new to the hotel market, it has attracted tourists because of its stylish and modern interior. Apart from a stunning rooftop pool, pioneering technology such as smartphone-controlled lights inspire travellers to book a stay here.

• FC Barcelona: A visit to Barcelona is incomplete without visiting the Camp Nou. It is the stadium that houses the renowned Football Club (FC) Barcelona. You can visit the stadium, which is also a museum that highlights important football historical moments. You can also get your name customised on an FC Barcelona football shirt from the club store's gift shop at Camp Nou.

Visa and Immigration

If you are wondering whether Indian passport holders require Spain visa? Then yes, Indian nationals planning to visit Spain need a visa. However, remember that Spain is both the European Union (EU) and a Schengen Area, so Indians require a Schengen Visa for tourism, a long-stay work or for study.

To ensure a hassle-free and seamless travel, here is a detailed information about the Spain visa – www.goindigo.in/information/visa-information/spain-sp-visa.html