Ciutat Vella is the “Old Town” neighbourhood of Barcelona. Located in the Mediterranean Sea and Eixample district, it is classed as the true centre of the city. Ciutat Vella has a prime location, close to some of the most popular tourist attractions including Las Ramblas, the Gothic Quarter, and Port Vell.

Ciutat Vella is home to one of the most well-known streets in Barcelona, Las Ramblas. The beautiful boulevard leads from Placa de Catalunya to the Mediterranean Sea and Port Vell. Stroll down Las Ramblas admiring the kaleidoscope of flower stalls, as artists and street entertainers attempt to capture the onlookers’ attention. Take a detour to La Boqueria St. Josep, a vibrant indoor market filled with tempting artisan bakery goods, fruit, vegetables and cold cuts. It’s the perfect place to pick up a beach picnic. The Gothic Quarter is also close by, an ancient area of Barcelona with a labyrinth of narrow streets, shops, cava bars and pretty churches to explore. Continuing to the El Born district, visit the Picasso Museum and explore the ancient Roman city ruins. By the water’s edge, Port Vell, a world class marina with myriad amenities awaits. Discover L’Aquarium Barcelona, admire the abundant marine life where daring visitors can even dive with sharks. Leading on from Port Vell, Barceloneta Beach is the largest stretch of golden sand in the city. There’s a variety of watersports available and seafront bars and restaurants to enjoy. Alternatively, walk a few minutes inland to Parc de la Ciutadella, a lush, green area, home to boating lakes, fountains, the Catalan Parliament and Barcelona Zoo.

Reaching Ciutat Vella is simple, buses and metro stations operate regularly and stop nearby. Liceu is the ideal metro stop for Las Ramblas, La Boqueria St. Joseph and the Gothic Quarter. The Barceloneta metro station is nearest the beach, Port Vell and Parc de la Ciutadella. Alternatively, Placa de Catalunya is a major public transport hub for buses for the whole of the city. There is also a direct bus service to Barcelona Airport which takes 35 minutes. Walking from Ciutat Vella to all of these attractions takes less than 20 minutes.

Ciutat Vella is made up for four neighbourhoods which encompass some of the most popular city attractions. El Born, Gothic Quarter and Raval are perhaps the most historic to visit. Each district is lively and unique, offering travellers a rare glimpse into the past and present of the fascinating city which is Barcelona.