Barcelona: Things To Do

Casa Battló This undulating Gaudí confabulation features an elaborately decorated apartment, atmospheric attic, and ornately tiled roof, all of which are open to touring. L’Eixample; Passeig de Gràcia 43; 011-34-93-488-0666; www.casabatllo.es
architecture | culture | art

Casa Milà (La Pedrera) Check out the rooftop terrace of this curvy Gaudí concoction, with bizarre chimneys decked out in marble, glass-bottle fragments, and tiles; on the way down, peek into the eccentric architect’s life via audio-visual materials at the Gaudí Space. L’Eixample; Passeig de Gràcia 92; 011-34-93-484-5979; www.casamila.es
architecture | culture | art

Fundació Joan Miró Meander through this airy building that showcases paintings, drawings, and tapestries by the Catalan artist famous for his use of primary colors and organic shapes; don’t miss the sculpture garden and the vistas off the rooftop terrace. Montjuïc; Parc de Montjuïc s/n; 011-34-93-443-9470; www.bcn.fjmiro.es
architecture | culture | art

Helicopter ride The unforgettable bird’s-eye view of the city and the coast is worth the steep price of these helicopter rides, ranging from a five-minute flight ($67) and a 10-minute flight along the coast ($118) to a 35-minute flight to Montserrat ($355). Barcelona; Cat Helicopters, Passeig de l’Escullera, Moll Adossat s/n; 011-34-93-224-0710; www.cathelicopters.com
tour | smart splurge

La Rambla A stroll along this leafy, mile-long stretch showcases Barcelona’s vibrant street life; cafes and restaurants line the iconic promenade dotted with colorful flower stalls, newspaper stands, and street mimes and musicians. Barcelona; La Rambla
family | culture | culinary | walk

La Seu Cathedral Astonishing specimen of Gothic architecture, with elaborate choir stalls, a beautiful cloister overlooking a palm tree-filled garden, and a terrace affording superb views over the ancient rooftops. Barri Gòtic; Plaça de la Seu
architecture | culture

Mirador de Colom Take in panoramic views of the Mediterranean from the platform of this iron structure topped with a bronze statue of Columbus commemorating his return from the New World in 1493. Port Vell; Plaça del Portal de la Pau
view | monument

Museo Picasso Pay homage to Picasso’s formative years in Barcelona by browsing over 3, 500 of his art works in this row of interconnected medieval buildings; his Blue Period paintings (1901-1904) are the collection’s forte. La Ribera; Montcada St. 15–23; 011-34-932-563-000; www.museupicasso.bcn.es
architecture | culture | art

Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) This sparkling Richard Meier-designed structure has a magnificent atrium, winding ramps, and glass-floored galleries that display late-20th-century masterworks. El Raval; Plaça dels Àngels 1; 011-34-93-412-0810; www.macba.es
architecture | culture | art

Museu d’Història de la Ciutat This museum’s highlight – the subterranean remnants of the Roman colony of Barcino – features walkways that lead to the cathedral, past excavated items ranging from statues and oil presses to mosaics. Barri Gòtic; Plaça del Rei; 011-34-93-256-21-22; www.museuhistoria.bcn.es
architecture | culture | historic

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya Explore the treasure trove of 19th- and 20th-century objects – from Romanesque murals to Gothic frescoes and a fine anthology of modern Catalan art – inside the imposing Palau Nacional. Montjuïc; Parc de Montjuïc; 011-34-93-622-0376; www.mnac.es
architecture | culture | history | art

Parc de la Ciutadella Urban oasis with a boating lake, historic greenhouses, a smattering of Modernist structures, and an onsite zoo with a gorilla museum, pony rides, mini-train, and other fun stuff if you have kids in tow. La Ribera; main entrance off Passeig de Picasso; 011-34-93-225-6780; www.zoobarcelona.com
family | zoo | park

Parc Güell Roam through surreally landscaped acres of Gaudí’s fantastical hilltop retreat built between 1900 and 1914 in the style of Modernism, the Catalan version of Art Nouveau. The park features gingerbread gatehouses, wavy benches covered in ceramic tiles, meandering paths, a mosaic-covered dragon, and the Casa-Museu Gaudí where the architect spent the last 20 years of his life. Gràcia; C/d’Olot; www.bcn.es
architecture | culture | garden | park

Sagrada Família Take a dizzying climb up one of the towers of Gaudí’s legendary Temple of the Holy Family, started back in 1882, for a look at its latticed stonework, dripping concrete, intricate sculptures, and carved buttresses; an easier route to the top of this unfinished structure whisks you up in an elevator. L’Eixample; Mallorca 401; 011-34-93-207-3031; www.sagradafamilia.org
architecture | culture | art