VISITING

Camp Nou

A must see for young football fans. Ninety-eight thousand spectators need a grand stadium, and Camp Nou rises to the call. The passionately followed FC Barcelona has played in the stadium for 52 years, and lots of tears of joy and despair have been shed within the cavernous walls of the grounds. On the guided tour you get an inside glance of the President’s Box, the players’ tunnel, and the dugouts. A club museum is also open to visitors where 100 years of FC Barcelona history is housed and hailed.

Avinguda Aristides Maillol, access 9, Les Corts, Tel. 93 496 3600/08, www.fcbarcelona.com

Open: April-mid Oct 10am-8pm Mon-Sat; 10am-2.30pm Sun; Mid Oct-March 10am-6.30pm Mon-Sat; Sun 10am-2.30pm. Admission: Guided tour - €17 for adults; €14 for kids up to 13, OAPs and students; audioguide: €5; cava and canapes: €3. Metro: Collblanc: L5; Maria Cristina L3

Monestir de Pedralbes

This Gothic-style convent was founded in 1326 by Queen Elisenda de Montcada, who is buried in its chapel. You can see the tiny cloisters that nuns of the Order of Saint Claire lived in, right up to 1983, when the museum was opened and a new convent was built adjacent to the historic building for the sisters to move into. This is a true haven of peace in the city, which has been well-restored and maintained, with its cobble street entranceway, and has just-about-enough historical detail without overwhelming visitors with religious paraphernalia.  

Baixada del Monestir, 9, tel. 93 256 3434

Open: From October 1st to March 31st—Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 2pm; from April 1st to September 30th, from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm; all year—Sundays from 10am to 8pm; public holidays from 10am to 3pm; Mondays closed. Also closed January 1st, May 1st, Good Friday, June 24th and December 25th. Admission: General - €6 (combined ticket with City History Museum), concessions - €4, free for under-16s, holders of the senior citizen Tarjeta Rosa, free for all on first Sunday of month. FGC: Reina Elisenda (U6); bus: 22, 63, 64, 78 (and 75, weekdays during term time).

Montjüic

The hills of Montjuïc provide what are arguably the best views of Barcelona; the entire city seems laid out below, while the Mediterranean Sea glitters beyond it. The gardens and sculptures are plenty, and the Magic Fountains dance to classical music. The Fundació de Joan Miró houses frequent exhibits as well as works by the artist. If you want to skip the bus at metro stop Parallel and brave the Plaza de Espanya trail up the hill, the open-air escalators are a big help.