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Ask anybody who’s going to go to Barcelona where they’d like to stay, and the common response is “close to Las Ramblas”. This Barcelona promenade is the most famed street in the town, and is actually an old brook bed. The Barri Gotic or Gothic Neighbourhood used to be the old Barcelona (know in Roman times as “Barcino”) and has a wall running round the town to protect it, wit the primary entrance the iron gates halfway down the actual Ramblas, and know known as Portaferrissa (literally “Iron door”). Flanking Barcino to the left was countryside and the Roman church of Sant Pau del Camp (Saint Paul of the country) which now is in the guts of the Raval.

Las Ramblas now bisects the old town - leaving El Raval (from Arabic meaning outside the walls) to the left and El Gotico to the right. The name “Las Ramblas” is essentially plural - meaning many ramblas all picked up together. Ramblas has even coined its own word “ramblear” meaning to stroll / ramble as many neighbors and visitors do on weekends.

From the city’s main square - Plaa Catalunya - down to the Port and the monument of Christopher Columbus, Las Ramblas epitomizes Barcelona and is a colourful, 24 hour street where you can find a mixture of neighbors and tourists alike. The whole of the promenade is dotted with newspaper kiosks which are open 24 hours, and is the number 1 place to get your hot-off-the-press copy of the local and world news. Find your Hotel Barcelona next to the town Center and enjoy your stay in Barcelona.

Starting from the head of Plaa Catalunya, and walking down to the port (also this is barely downhill) we first have Rambla de Canaletes - named after the fountains at Plaa Catalunya. This part of Las Ramblas is a favourite for the local OAPs to collect and set the world to rights, as well as the standard hang out for the FC Barcelona fans after a victory ( especially if it’s over their bitter rivals Real Madrid ).

Next in the continuing transition is Rambla de los Estudios (studies), which joins the Catalana Library on Calle hospice, and is where the start of the street performers and human statues las Ramblas has gotten so famous for, start to appear.

Rambla de Sant Josep is so named for the famous market of Saint Joseph, also more generally called “La Boqueria” - supposedly Europe’s biggest food market selling everything edible under the sun. This stretch is closely followed by Rambla de los capuxinos - some of the city’s best and oldest cafs sit next to the provoking Liceu Opera house and have been inspiration to several a visitor and writer to Barcelona. What easier way to stop and write a postcard than with a caf con leche here!? This part is also known as rambla de les flores, thanks to the many flower sellers crammed into the little space here, and is a superb place to go to in the saint George’s day celebrations ( the patron saint of Catalunya ) as roses are historically given on this day.

The final stretch is Rambla de Santa Monica - named from the old Portal de Santa Monica still intact on close by Parallel street. Here the city’s many artists and caricature painters plant their stalls along with the typical 3 cup scammers who never fail to attract interest. Crowning the base of Las Ramblas and the entrance to Port Vell ( “the old Port” is Christopher Columbus monument - indicating towards Las Americas. Look for fantastic and cheap Ferienwohnungen Barcelona next to the Columbus monument.
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Tags: barcelona, barcelona tour, Las Ramblas Barcelona, Sightseeing Barcelona, Spain