Barcelona Marco Polo Pocket Travel Guide Barcelona is Gaudi's architectural masterpiece. Find your favourite barrio, where locals know which tapas bars don't cater to tourists and which squares host real flamenco. Updated 2026. Skip the overpriced paella around Las Ramblas and crowded Park Gueell tours. This guide reveals neighbourhood spots like La Cova Fumada in Barceloneta, the family restaurant without a sign that serves what locals consider proper bombes, authentic tavernas where Can Ramonet has maintained traditional paella methods for decades, and Gracia's village squares where neighbours gather and conduct conversations in Catalan. Navigate Barcelona's distinct culture with Marco Polo's signature pull-out maps connecting Modernist architecture to neighbourhood life. From Poble-Sec's traditional bodegas where families have served the same tapas for generations to Casa Vicens, Gaudi's lesser-known early work, experience the Barcelona where Catalan culture operates alongside tourism. What You'll Discover: Practical Barcelona neighbourhood knowledge - which areas maintain Catalan traditions, where locals eat authentic food, and cultural spaces beyond tourist circuits Barcelona transport mastery - Marco Polo's pull-out map with metro connections and walking routes through residential districts Everyday Catalan habits - where locals drink coffee, shop for food, and maintain cultural traditions Barcelona cultural basics - Catalan customs, neighbourhood differences, and useful phrases for genuine connections Budget-friendly Barcelona options - free Modernist discoveries, local market wisdom, and practical money-saving advice Perfect for architecture lovers, culture seekers, or travellers wanting authentic Spain - this guide explains why Catalans distinguish between tourist areas and neighbourhood life. From morning market visits where vendors speak Catalan to evening tapas where families maintain traditional recipes, discover the Barcelona where cultural preservation is part of daily life. Barcelona is more than Gaudi tours and tourist tapas - it's finding neighbourhood markets where vendors will teach you about Catalan ingredients, understanding which cultural traditions locals maintain, and learning that independence here is both historical and personal. Find your way with Marco Polo.
Marco Polo One of the leading and most trusted travel publishing brands in Europe, Marco Polo has been guiding travellers around the world since 1991. All titles are researched on location and written by locals or authors who have spent the majority of their time living and travelling in the destination. With nearly 35 years of travel guide publishing under our belts and approaching 100million copies sold, you can rely on our experience to ensure you have a wonderful trip. What do we do? We create well-researched, high-quality guides to guarantee you have a wealth of detailed, reliable information about places to visit and how to get there. We print on high-quality, environmentally-friendly paper which ensures all the lovely colour photographs, maps and attractions are presented in the best way possible to bring your destination to life. What makes our guides and maps different? Marco Polo's renowned 'Insider Tips' ensure you enjoy an authentic local experience, creating travel memories that will last a lifetime. Our guides and maps are regularly updated by local experts who live, work and travel in the destination, ensuring current, first-hand information is included. We focus on the best selection of attractions and experiences saving you precious time so that you can search less and discover more.
Marco Polo Top Highlights 2 Top 10 highlights Best Of 8 ... when it rains 9 ... on a budget 10 ... with children 11 ... classic experiences Get to know Barcelona 14 Discover Barcelona 19 At a glance 20 Understand Barcelona 23 True or false 26 Sightseeing 30 Barri Gotic 35 Sant Pere, Santa Caterina & La Ribera 39 Eixample 46 Raval & La Rambla 48 Barceloneta & the ports 52 Montjuic & Poble Sec 55 Other sights 62 Around Barcelona 64 Eating & Drinking 82 Shopping 94 Nightlife Active & Relaxed 110 Sport & wellness 114 Festivals & events 116 Sleep well Discovery Tours 122 Barcelona at a glance 126 A stroll through the Ribera quarter 129 To the top of Montjuic 132 Sun, sea & sand Good to know 136 Holiday Basics Arrival, Getting around, Emergencies, Essentials, Weather 144 Words & Phrases in Catalan Don't be lost for words 146 Holiday Vibes Books, films, music & blogs 148 Travel Pursuit Marco Polo's holiday quiz 150 Index & Credits 152 Dos and Don'ts! How to avoid slip-ups & blunders
