A place to meet in the Heart of Barcelona. Placa de Catalunya is where my family most recently went to meet our tour guide Luke from Barkeno for the Ultimate Gaudí Experience. Since I had been to Placa de Catalunya in the past, it's a stop on the Barcelona Turistic Bus tour, I felt confident meeting there. Enter the most popular running race in Barcelona. Cursa de Corte Ingles is a free race that goes a little over 10K as it weaves through Barcelona. It goes through the Olympic stadium where you can live out your Olympic dreams as you run through the stadium and then cross the finish line in, you guessed it, Placa de Catalunya. It was really interesting to weave through the runners as we navigated our family of five to meet Luke and get our headphones for our Barkeno Guru Walk. We even used the underground Metro station twice to cross under the race. It was much harder when we were in a group of 25! Love the energy and spirit of both visits. Two different days. Very unique experiences. A beautiful place in the Heart of Barcelona. read more

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While exploring the L'Eixample area, you can also visit the Plaça de Catalunya, which houses the historic older style buildings and the more recent build architecture. There's a ton of space to walk around and see gorgeous sculptures, architecture, and find a lot of local eateries, shops, and activities! You can see the gorgeous Casa Battlo, walk through Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, stroll down La Rambla, or find a little tapas cafe and just watch the bustling streets and sidewalks come alive in this busy area. If you're looking for a place to stay while in Barcelona, this is an area to look near, because you will have so much to do and see right outside your front door! read more

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This is quite the plaça! Polished stone floors, people spectating, pigeons skedaddling, lovely sculpture, street performers, and two gigantic fountains. This is a must for anyone touring through Barcelona, and what a way to enliven the culture of the city. There is sure to be an attraction here, no matter the time of year. read more

Plaça Catalunya - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Plaça de Catalunya is the main square of Barcelona, here you can find lots of benches and fountains, and there always seems to be something going on with a lively atmosphere Plaça de Catalunya is the main square of Barcelona, there's always a lively atmosphere here with locals and tourists alike, not forgetting the pigeons which also seem to congregate here. The greenery is pretty along with the large fountain, it's pretty much Barcelona's "city-centre", you have many of the big American brands in and around the piazza including Five Guys, Burger King and KFC for food, it also includes the city's main and largest Apple Store, if shopping is your thing, there is also a huge flagship El Corte Ingles department store too. It's the meeting point of many of the city's major and most well-known streets with the piazza itself taking up around 50,000 square meters. The square seems to be the place to hang out in the city for sure - it's always busy yet it's pretty easy to find somewhere to sit down, as the benches are plentiful. It's somewhere I did choose to spend some time on both of my trips to Barcelona. It is slightly dirty but it isn't something too bothersome as long as you focus on the pretty greenery and surrounding buildings. 4* read more

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A small but lively park that's located right in the heart of Barcelona! It's almost impossible not to pass by or through this park while exploring the area. I'll be the first to say that I've seen better looking parks in my day. However, it's just something about the hustle and bustle. Something about the crowds and the liveliness that makes you just want to stop and look. Plus, the twin water fountains ain't so bad to look at either. In fact, they're pretty much the star of the show in my opinion. The water fountains are really beautiful and well kept. Plaça Catalunya is a nice place to take a stroll and to people watch. There are several statues that you can admire as you make your way through the park. There's also a large open recreational space that seems to be popular with the pigeons. Parts of the park is surrounded by several tall trees and manicured shrubs. As I mentioned previously, the water fountains are striking and probably the most popular area of the part. There's also a Barcelona namesake that poses as a great background for pictures. You can't miss this park while you're hanging around downtown. read more

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Central spot if Barcelona. Always something special going on. Entrance to las Ramblas. If you want to feel the heart of Barcelona, this is where it is. read more

Beautiful plaza off Las Ramblas. Many people were out enjoying the pigeons and sitting in the sun. Unfortunately when we were here the fountain was not on due to drought conditions. Cortes de Ingles, a popular department store, is on one corner, Cafe Zurich, and Zara are on the other corners. The area was buzzing with energy from all the people shopping, eating, and socializing. The bus stops right along side the plaza so it's easy to get to. read more

Plaça Catalunya - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Main plaza with monuments, statues, a large fountain & lots of pigeons. This is a main square with hotels, metro, hop on & off stop and restaurants. Many American food chains are here. read more

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All things considered, this is Barcelona central. If you're taking the Aerobus from the airport, it let's you off here. Red or Blue lines on the Hop On, Hop Off tour buses? Both intersect here. Need a taxi at absolutely any point in the day or night? Zero wait time... they're all lined up here. Multiple neighborhoods converge at this large plaça/piazza/square. At the end of it starts Las Ramblas. Personally, I enjoyed the fountains at night because I'm always a sucker for all things lit the European way. If you plan on exploring Barcelona, staying within a ten minute walk of Plaça Catalunya is a good plan. read more

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This is a very small park with a whole lot of pigeons! The seagull enjoy swimming in the pool as well. As Barcelona parks go, this one isn't a highlight. But it's somewhat charming nonetheless. read more

Plaça Catalunya - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Barcelona, B

This is a fun area and very touristy. I didn't mind, since I was a tourist. This area is super lively and has a lot of shops and restaurants around. I wish they had some better paella in this area. A lot of it seemed sort of commercial to me. This area gets very crowded, so it is best to go very early or much later in the day. I like how there are so many independent shops here. The shop owners take real pride in what they sell. Catalunya is also a great place to people watch. This area is a must see when in Barcelona. They also happen to sell the freshest flowers in this area. read more

So I have a distinct memory of Plaça de Catalunya from the previous trip Jamie W. and I took to Barcelona. We were sitting on a bench late in the evening watching a homeless man twirling in the middle of the oval plaza with a bunch of helium balloons (photo: http://bit.ly/2DAFYpf). We weren't sure where he got the balloons, but it was just that unfettered sense of joy he had in that Felliniesque moment that caught us off guard. He was likely arrested soon after, but there was magic for an instant. Of course, the plaza likely ignites other magical moments since it's the epicenter of the city with nine major streets pouring into it including La Ramblas and Passeig de Gràcia. Plaça de Catalunya separates the older Barri Gòtic and El Raval neighborhoods from the modernist L'Eixample district. The two major fountains are lit dramatically at night (photo: http://bit.ly/2mIjQ4Z), and you can get quite a view from the restaurant on the ninth floor of the city's biggest department store, El Cortes Inglés (photo: http://bit.ly/2EKMqt0). However, ground zero is where the locals congregate whether for a Catalan political protest rally or a food festival. It can be overwhelming in the density of bodies traversing it at any given time, but it is no less essential to the lifeblood of Barcelona than any other city landmark. read more

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This isn't the most exciting plaza in the city (that honor goes to Plaça Espanya, in my opinion) but it does have nice views and a lot of things around it. If you're an American, you'll see a lot of familiar chains - Apple, McDonald's, Taco Bell, and even the rare European sighting of Urban Outfitters. The metro stop here has a TON of connections to other lines, plus a lot of buses once you exit the station. It's also where you can find the Aérobus for a €5,90 ride to the airport. Staying around here during your trip to Barcelona would be a very convenient choice. read more

This plaza was like the meeting place in Barcelona. We saw tons of groups and tours gathering here. Its a beautiful park that reminds me of Union Square park in NYC and the plaza in Florence, Italy with all of the pigeons and people taking pictures. There's benches to chill and people watch or just rest those feet. The beautiful sculptures throughout the park and arches add character. We saw the area for buses to take you to the airport and access to public transportation. Las Ramblas is right in heart of plaza with tons of shops and places to eat. Definitely a must see when you're in Barcelona. read more

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The heart of Catalunya! This plaza is the very center of a whole independent movement, a region with its own history and language. I came here looking for the sites! This is a magnificent public place, with lots of things to look at. So many statues, fountains, and works of public art. Around the plaza are plenty of places to shop and eat. It's the center of the downtown area, so expect higher prices and bigger crowds. There's a parking garage under the plaza! I didn't try that out. I felt safe here. There was a heavy police presence one day when there was a demonstration going on. Other days, the police couldn't be seen, but people largely kept to themselves. There's all kinds of stuff to do around here- street musicians and performers abound! The metro has a major stop here underground, so it's a good jumping off point. The double-decker buses also depart from this location as well. My only complaint about this place was the lack of restrooms. On my last day, I spotted a local going inside some small structure on the plaza that was a darkly painted box, and I suspect he was going in there for the restroom. But it didn't seem for the public. Otherwise, you gotta go to one of the overpriced fancy restaurants surrounding the plaza. read more

Love this square! So many people hanging out, a beautiful fountain, and a lot of space. You can just sit around here and chill, and that's what many were doing. read more

Plaça Catalunya - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Barcelona, B

Our visit to Barcelona coincided with mass protests regarding the sentencing of politicians associated with Catalonia independance. This area was ground zero for many protests. It's also the area where many of the hop on, hop off busses drop people off/pick them up, so it is a busy place to begin with. Underneath the square is an information booth where you can purchase tickets for various tourist sites in Barcelona (as a side note, purchase your tickets on line as the wait times here are horrendously long). The fountains are pretty and its a nice place to relax, despite the hustle of the streets surrounding the park. read more

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I went to Plaza Catalunya for a leisurely break today. There are many people who go and go because it is the main place of transportation, so stations are scattered around. It's also fun to take a break here and think about where to go. It's also a fun time to sit down and look at the Barcelona architecture that surrounds the square. The dove in Barcelona was also used to people. It's common throughout the world. read more

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My first stop in Barcelona, this is where the bus from the airport stops and I try to find my way to the hotel that I know is only a block away. I spent a lot of time here at Plaça de Catalunya as it's the center set piece for this part of Barcelona. Tourists, people feeding the damned sky rats (I mean, pigeons), pick pockets, beggars and just people milling about. It's a beautiful plaza with a number of statues, monuments, flowers and a lovely fountain. After sunset and into the evening hours, the place gets packed. This seems to be where everyone goes to head out for a late dinner. And Barcelonans (?) love a late dinner. At *midnight*, this plaza was still busy! read more

Plaça Catalunya - Plaça de Catalunya - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Barcelona, B

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The heart of the action when in Barcelona. Loads of shopping, restaurants, main metro hubs, airport bus stops, and the entrance to La Rambla. You really can't avoid this spot! The reason for my 3 stars is that we noticed loud and somewhat obnoxious political gatherings and chants in the middle of the placa near the fountains almost every day that we were there. There were also quite a few people camping out near the fountains as well. ALSO - there were a MILLION pigeons (most likely because people were feeding them) but that is my biggest fear EVER! Eeeek, not my favorite spot in the city. I'd rather get lost down hidden cobblestone alleyways. ;) Anywho, you'll come through here whether you like it or not when in Barcelona! :) read more

Absolutely beautiful statues and sculptures. Arches and other architecture in the center park,.There are many restaurants for quick street food for sit downs. , Including a McDonalds that sells Macaroons!! (Don't eat at mcDonalds- just don't be that guy) Its likely the first view you'll get of Barcelona when you are taking public transport from the airport. I will say that as a suggestion because its not the most fun rotary to drive around. I suggest visiting at sunset, when the plaza really comes alive with locals and tourists alike. The Fountain with a sunset backdrop makes for some beautiful pictures. Barcelona is a delightfully dog-friendly city. excellent for dog owners, but avoid the grass - for obvious reasons... read more

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Plaça de Catalunya is a large square in central Barcelona that is generally considered to be both its city centre and the place where the Old City (e.g., Barri Gòtic, La Ribera, etc.) and the 19th century-built Eixample meet. It's also a popular gathering spot for various political protests and considered a touchstone for millions of Catalan People. Gayle and I walked through and around the Plaça every day we we were in Barcelona. This is where we climbed aboard the Blue and Red Routes of the Bus Turistic and at other times headed off on foot to Las Ramblas (on both sides), the Eixample neighbourhood, and back to our Hotel. We also briefly took in a political protest and enjoyed watching many dazzling urbanites. Unfortunately, we missed the patriotic Sardana Circles Dances that are performed every Sunday at Noon and usually at 6 PM on Saturdays at the Plaça. Participants gather in circles and slowly dance, after putting their things in the centre, symbolic of the Catalan community and sharing. All are welcome, including stumbling tourists like me who would have loved to show off his "moves". read more

Plaça Catalunya - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Barcelona, B

Plaça Catalunya is considered the heart of Barcelona. When the second set of walls were torn down in the 1850's (the first walls surrounded what once was considered the old town "Barcino"), this plaza was one of the first things constructed. Nowadays it's the center of activity because this is the meeting point of Ciutat Vella (and Barri Gòtic) and the Eixample, the two main focal points of Barcelona sightseeing. As a public square Plaça Catalunya has several prominent transportation links: - Aerobús (https://www.yelp.com/biz/aerob%C3%BAs-barcelona-2?hrid=bqGiNEMjjz-QfrkMfCubjw), the preferred link from the center of the city to the airport. - Metro lines L1 and L3. Metro lines L2 and L4 stop at nearby Passeig de Gràcia. - Bus Turístic, the city's official HOHO bus service. - Several bus lines (I didn't take any buses as the Metro was really easy to navigate). Plaça Catalunya also has very prominent landmarks: - The flagship El Corte Inglés store (https://www.yelp.com/biz/el-corte-ingl%C3%A9s-barcelona-37?hrid=Xoj_WTJ34kmVLJYNeZ9JPg) with 10 different floors. - Hard Rock Cafe (which is a popular meeting point for many groups). - Cafe Zurich. - The northern terminus of Las Ramblas and the southern terminus of Rambla de Catalunya. - A TI. They primarily sell excursions and maps for €1. Being a solo traveler I based my hotel around here as this was considered the "central" part of the city as well as the very useful Aerobús link. It also helped that one of the Metro entrances was a block from my hotel. Las Ramblas was less than a 3 minute walk. read more

Catalunya square is basically the hot spot in the city. Lots of people, lots of shops and lot of pigeons?! Around the the fountain, it really got a lot of pigeons. I always like birds. It could be problem for people scare of bird. It might got dirty time to time. But when I was here, I didn't really find it dirty. Maybe I just got my eyes on the bird and the beautiful surroundings. There is also where you can find the bus to the airport here. The station is quite obvious. Just look for the bus A1 and A2, which one lead to terminal 1 and other to terminal 2. You can buy the ticket right right before getting on the bus or just buy a return ticket on the first day of your trip. Every bus just 5-10 mins between. So it is really convenient way to get to the airport. I was it took me about an hour or less to get to the airport. I think this is one of the place to experience the local culture and community. And it just offers a lot of things what people can do. read more

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Lots of fun in the Center Square! Pretty art, sculptures, fountains, birds, people watching, and nearby restaurants and shopping. Located at the end of La Rambla. read more

Plaça Catalunya - Plaça Catalunya - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Honestly one of the most memorable landmarks I visited in Barcelona. This plaza is the center of a roundabout and there's always people taking pictures of the beautiful statues and water fountain. Around the plaza there are a bunch of different places to eat and shop. Every direction you walk, there is something new to see. The architecture and art surrounding the plaza is so detailed and amazing to walk around. The only reason I voted this as 4 stars and not 5 is because of the crazy amount of pigeons. Some people just kind of dump bread crumbs in excess, so the pigeons just chill over there. I don't have anything against the pigeons, I just don't want to get pooped on LOL read more

Centrally located. Many Metro and bus lines.

I have been to numerous number of squares in Europe and Placa de Catalunya is clean and not really crowded. This is where you can get on and off the Aerobus from and to the Airport. Here you can catch Catalunya (L1, L3, L6, L7) and Passeig de Gràcia (L2, L3, L4) subway lines and of course it is walking distance to a lot of downtown hotels and shopping areas! read more

A very busy plaza in Barcelona, just north of the beginning of Las Ramblas road. If you travel south from this plaza, you'll eventually reach the beach. Metro stops are close by to this plaza & lots of good spots for people watching read more

It's the very center of the city. But the square itself is random. If it was located elsewhere it would not be worth mentioning. read more

Super-congested square / meeting place & the middle point of the Ramblas. Airport shuttle buses dropped us here & there is also a huge contingency of those hop off / on tourist buses as well, that take advantage of this central spot. We were visiting during Sant Jordi Day & the place was a madhouse of wall-to-wall people, a concert stage had been set up & lots of arts & crafts booths selling roses & books ( as per tradition of Saint George ) So for offering a convenient spot to get around town & a centralized meeting point, A-OK read more

True or not, I was told this was the heart of La Rambla, and it's the only plaza that I would even think to review. Although I hadn't planned it and I didn't know until I got there, there was a festival going on coinciding with the days I was in Barcelona, so there were always tents up and stuff going on, and there was a large stage erected for the occasion as well. Sorry, but I actually wasn't too interested or impressed with the different shows and such that they had going on--the only thing I had enjoyed was a group of singers singing songs that were all in Catalan. I still enjoyed the plaza in general, including the nice but VERY overpriced minimall-type-thing, but mainly as a respite from the crowded and disorderly ways of La Rambla. There are fountains, flowers, statues, and open spaces so we found ourselves here several times a day, just resting, chatting, and enjoying ice cream or fresh fruit. It's really the only plaza that I enjoyed in and of itself; often, great plazas have great things along it's perimeter (stores, restaurants, cafes, etc.) but I don't remember much about the perimeter. Perhaps because the street is so busy and crowded--with both people and businesses--the plaza becomes an island of escape, not necessarily a hub, and I really appreciated and enjoyed that aspect of it. read more

This is pretty much "city center" or at least how we kept referring to it. The architecture here is a good mix of old and new. You're bound to pass by this Plaza, regardless of if you intended on visiting it or not. You can get onto the Tour Buses from here, walk over to Las Ramblas, Gothic Quarter, etc. It was also very close to the Eixample neighborhood, where there is plenty of delicious foods. As a note, it's very touristy. read more

The central location for everything. Aero bus, city bus, tour bus...all transportation meets here. It's the mid point for the shops and las Ramblas st. read more

Plaza Catalunya is a beautiful spot, replete with fountains and statues, that is great for a central meeting point (on the subway line), people watching, or a place to find a hotel that is in easy walking distance of many major Barcelona attractions. During the holiday season, a small Christmas market takes over the plaza. Around the plaza you will find the large El Corte Ingles department store, an Apple Store, Hard Rock Cafe, as well as local dining and hotel options. read more

Large square in the center of the city. Easy to use meeting point. Also the easiest place (because the tourist buses all stop through here) to switch between lines on the bus turistic. From here, it's pretty walkable to many places, such as La Boqueria, Las Ramblas, and many of Gaudi's masterpieces. read more

Most likely the first thing you'll see of Barcelona when you get off the airport bus. The plaza has nice things: the area is really nice, it's always busy and it has some nice fountains. The bad things are the noise and, personally the worst for me, the insane amount of pigeons. And pigeon fans feeding them. Anyway, it's a nice place to start but there are way more cool things to see and do in BCN. read more

This is a little park, or green in Barcelona, where we often ate our lunch of bocadillas. It's quite busy with people walking through, or meeting up as it's quite near a shopping area and not far from a Metro station. We were here in winter, and it was cold, although not as cold as Madrid. We would sit and huddle down in our warmest clothes, drinking hot chocolate and eating churritos. Fond, fond memories. read more

A lot of pigeons! The plaça is situated on the rambla and has several metroes crossing. To large fountains which has colourful lights in the evening - easier to take pretty pictures here than some of the other very popular plaças in Barcelona because it isn't that crowded. read more

Plaça Catalunya - One of the fountains - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Barcelona, B

The only thing great about this place is the shade from the trees. It would be nice if there was more greenery. Also, there are tonnes of pigeons, and in a way, it was quite funny seeing kids get freaked out by them! read more