La Rambla (Las Ramblas) Pedestrian Mall Reviews (Barcelona, Spain)

La Rambla

by missj1981

London, England, United Kingdom

July 5, 2012

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Best of IgoUgo La Rambla Welcome to the street with full entertainment from flowers to animals you can almost find everything here. Funny enough is this street my least favourite part of the city due it’s very a tourist attraction and I don’t think it really ...Read more La Rambla

Welcome to the street with full entertainment from flowers to animals you can almost find everything here. Funny enough is this street my least favourite part of the city due it’s very a tourist attraction and I don’t think it really resembles the people and the city itself. Having said that I think it’s worth to have a little wonder and be surprised by what you can find.

La Rambla is actually a large street and starts all the way up Plaza Catalunya and goes all the way down to the port of Barcelona. You can actually find two metro stations along the street which are both on the green line. It’s large street which means you can find a lot of different activities here. Surprisingly enough the street is not traffic free. On both sides you have a lot of traffic passing by with in the middle the a large pavement were all the action happens.

Although it’s one of the main attractions of Barcelona and you can find restaurants here and bars, you can also find a supermarket near the street and a bank. It shows you that the street has many things to offer. From the beginning at Plaza Catalunya you can already see the beautiful trees on each side of the street and as the street goes down towards the water you have a good overview of the street.

At the street you can find streets artists which are dressed as statues and do different kind of tricks. I have to say the statues look very impressive! You can find also people who can draw a painting of you in a normal way or in a funny cartoon way. They also have different kind of drawings for sale of the city. As you continue to walk on you suddenly hear birds which are for sale here on this street. Beautiful different kind of birds in cages right next to the flower market!

Of course you have several terraces and bars on this street which you have to be careful about. While you normally get a normal beer when you order one at a restaurant, here they will give you the largest one and large you ten euro’s. It happened to a few family members of mine and were very disappointing so be careful of what you order. Also since it’s a popular destination for tourists you will find thiefs here so be carefu of your belongings.

I think you have to experience this street at least once but once is more than enough. I don’t think it really belongs to the real Barcelona and it comes across as very touristy. Not really for me but I will give it three stars.
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From journal Barcelona Spain

Las Ramblas

by Joy S

Manchester, England, United Kingdom

April 20, 2012

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Best of IgoUgo The Ramblas is probably the most famous street in Barcelona - everybody has heard of it, and you should walk down it at least once if you visit this city.It is a wide pedestrian walkway and at one time was the main road which connected the harbour ...Read more The Ramblas is probably the most famous street in Barcelona - everybody has heard of it, and you should walk down it at least once if you visit this city.

It is a wide pedestrian walkway and at one time was the main road which connected the harbour to the old city of Barcelona. It is a fun place to stroll, there is always lots to see and take in. Tree-lined, it throngs with people at all times of the day and night. There are lots of souvenir stalls and in the evenings, the locals stroll up and down before or after dinner.

We had read lots of warnings that the Ramblas was a lure for pickpockets and to keep a tight hold on your belongings. We had no problems at all.

Be sure to look down and look up on your Ramblas stroll. If you look down, you will see the unusual designs on the pavements - lots of mosaic patterns, designed Joan Miro. If you look up, you will see some wonderful architecture. Most of the buildings at ground level on the Ramblas are shops or restaurants, but look up higher and you will see that the tops of the buildings are beautiful.

We started our Ramblas walk at Placa Cataluya and walked right down to the harbour - this takes in the whole 1 km of the Ramblas. We had been here 7 years ago and at that time were amazed by the sheer number of human statues all the way along the street. They were outlandish, crazy and fascinating. Our son was so excited to see this, but on the 3 occasions we went to the Ramblas on this trip, the most we ever saw was 3! I'm not sure if it was the time of year or the weather (it did rain one day), but human statues and other acts the Ramblas is famous for, were definitely in short supply.

During our last visit, we were also fascinated with the different little stalls all the way down, selling everything under the sun - from pets and birds to flowers to craft goods. This time, we found mostly souvenir stalls. There were a couple of flower stalls and one stall selling pets, but the diversity of past times was not there.

The Ramblas also has lots of cafes and bars selling everything from ice cream to tapas. Lots of them have terraces on the Ramblas itself, so it is fun to sit at one of these with a drink and just people watch.

Look out for the Canalatas fountain, about half-way down. We missed it the first time, so you do have to watch out for it. Apparently, if you drink from the water here, you will return to Barcelona. We all had a good drink from the fountain! Close

From journal Sightseeing in Barcelona

The famous street of BCN

by Jctravel1983

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

November 23, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo A few years ago I have lived in Barcelona for a half year and find it today still the most beautiful city I've visited. I’m definitely planning to go back there again. Las Ramblas in Barcelona is perhaps the most famous street in the city. I lived ...Read more A few years ago I have lived in Barcelona for a half year and find it today still the most beautiful city I've visited. I’m definitely planning to go back there again. Las Ramblas in Barcelona is perhaps the most famous street in the city. I lived next to the street and have passed it many times, but have never understood why this street is so famous.

Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas was formerly a dry riverbed that would ensure that the water, in heavy rains, would go from the mountains to the sea. Today it is a busy boulevard in the middle of town. It runs from the top of the Plaza Catalunya all the way down to the port. In the middle of the street you have a great boulevard that runs the entire length and on both sides you have two streets with cars. The total length of the street is 1 kilometer. The street is famous for the many stalls that are along its entire length. These include stalls selling souvenirs and flowers, but also birds and small animals!

Not only do you have the street stalls, but also at the beginning of the street (from above), a fountain called the Font de Canaletes fountain. The story here is if you drink with it, you will definitely return to Barcelona. Also this is the place where football fans come to celebrate a victory and they do this in large numbers! I have experienced this ones and thought the whole town was out of celebrate!

On the street are also artist where you can sit down and where they draw you a portrait. There are also many human statues, who can stand still for hours, but sometimes scare people!

If you want to relax you can sit down at the many cafes for a drink. Always make sure you order actually what you want. For example when ordering a beer and you just want a normal size beer, please make sure you tell them because otherwise they take advanced and give you a half a liter beer what will cost you 10 euro’s.

Eventually you'll reach the bottom of the streets at an intersection and to the port, which is certainly worth just walking around.

How to get at Las Ramblas

The street is very easy to reach, especially via Plaza Catalunya. This square is the central point of the city where many buses stop and is easily reachable via Metro. You can also go to the bottom of the street where is also a metro exit called Poble Sec which is on the green line.

My opinion

The first time I've been to Las Ramblas I was a little disappointed. Especially if you assume that it’s one of the most famous sights in Barcelona. The street looks shabby with the amount of stalls, but also because there’s even just a supermarket and kebab shops at the sides of the street. Also on both sides of the boulevard you have streets with cars and this all makes it very chaotic. There are also some nice things. It is busy and the living statues are fun to watch. But I still believe that there are many better places to visit, such as La Sagrada Familia and the Gaudi apartments.

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From journal Spain 2012

The most famous street in Barcelona

by jipp05

CA1 1LA, England, United Kingdom

November 21, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo Las Ramblas is often cited in the guide books as being a must see when visiting Barcelona for the first time. This 1.2 kilometer long boulevard stretches from Placa Catalunya in the top all the way to the port area and the Columbus monument on the ...Read more Las Ramblas is often cited in the guide books as being a must see when visiting Barcelona for the first time. This 1.2 kilometer long boulevard stretches from Placa Catalunya in the top all the way to the port area and the Columbus monument on the bottom and following this street guarentees you will see some interesting sights usually of the human variety.

The boulevard is wide and pedestrianised but on either side of this car's are allowed so you need to be careful especially as it can get extremely crowded and accidentally being pushed into the road is not uncommon. Luckily the cars are usually crawling along at a snails pace so accidents aren't that common.
When you first see Las Ramblas it can be quite daunting as the crowds can feel overwhelming especially during the high season in summer but it gradually get's wider and less hectic the further you get to the port.

You will many street performers and human statues are very popular here as are artists stands where you are able to get your portrait painted.
There are market stalls dotted all along the street which sell things ranging from flowers to live bird and animal sellers. I wasn't keen on seeing the birds being in small cages on such hot days but it seem's to be normal here and no one batted an eye lid but animal lovers should be prepared.

You need to be extrememely careful whilst walking on the Ramblas as it is a notorious haunt of pickpockets. Barcelona is a generally safe city but pety theft is a major problem and you need to keep an eye on your belongings at all times. If you decide to stop off at any of the many restaurants for lunch or a drink then keep bags on your lap or they will be gone before you have even noticed what has happened.
To be honest you are better not stopping here for food or drinks as the prices are marked up for the tourists and the food is usually of a much lower quality than you can find elsewhere in the city.

Most people walk Las Ramblas to ogle the sights and sounds and soak up the atmosphere but there are a few interesting sights to be seen if you take the time to look.
The Liceu opera house is situated here and dates from 1847 and although the facade is a little underwhelming it has an amazing interior and after being renovated due to a fire is even more beautiful today than it was before.
La Boqueria is a huge covered market that is an iconic Barcelona institution and is an enjoyable place to have a look round. Here you will find every type of fruit and vegetable known to man and all at local prices not tourists ones.
There is also the Palau Güell which is the only finished building by Antonio Gaudi and a must for those who wish to see more of his work than the more famous sights all tourists to Barcelona see.

You can also spend a day exploring all the side streets that come off Las Ramblas into the Barrio Gotico and the Raval areas of the city. About half way down there is also the opportunity to visit Placa reial which is rectly next to Las Ramblas. This beautiful square is a must see and a great place to stop off for a drink at one of the many bars.

Early evening is when Las Ramblas really comes alive with dressed up locals taking an evening stroll and tourists having drinks in the outdoor bars. The crowds are slightly less than during the day but it is still extremely busy.
Later on into the night and the early morning Las Ramblas changes again and becomes the domain of the stag parties and drunks and it can sometimes be an unpleasant place to walk. Although I never felt unsafe here is a feeling of unease and pimps and prostitutes come out touting for business. The police never seem to do anything to stop this and they will proposition you and even when you say no they will continue to harrass you. The best thing to do is just to ignore them until they go away.
Personally after midnight I prefered to avoid this area of the city and bypassed it whenever possible.

For me Las Ramblas doesn't show the true character of Barcelona as it has become too much of a tourist sight and this is what it now caters too and locals have by and large also abondoned it in favour of other areas.
If it is your first visit to Barcelona then you need to see it and experience it but after seeing it there is not a lot there to keep you returning and there are much nicer places to spend your time in the city. Close

From journal Beautiful Barcelona

The Lively La Rambla

by Zhebiton

Moscow, Moskva, Russia

July 15, 2010

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The lively La Rambla. Full of tourists, souvenir vendors, pickpockets, which fortunately we did not suck. La Boqueria, vnshne inconspicuous, but nutri-mine of products of the highest quality. Very comfortable Royal Square with a fountain, palm trees ...Read more

From journal catalonia dreams

A Ramble Down Ramblas

by dkm1981

Blackburn, England, United Kingdom

November 12, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo Barcelona's most famous thoroughfare is awash with restaurants, cafes, shops, markets and street entertainers, all of which come together in a heady mix that will fascinate any visitor. Bookended by the harbour at the bottom and the Plaça de ...Read more Barcelona's most famous thoroughfare is awash with restaurants, cafes, shops, markets and street entertainers, all of which come together in a heady mix that will fascinate any visitor. Bookended by the harbour at the bottom and the Plaça de Catalunya at the top, Ramblas is a tree lined avenue that should take you around twenty minutes to walk the length of. However in reality, there are so many distractions that it took us so much longer, although it didn't feel like it.

The most interesting things here, without a doubt, are the street performers - you will see everything from the very talented, to the truly bizarre and everything in between. Children will enjoy having their photo taken with the likes of Darth Vader and SpongeBob Squarepants, parents will enjoy the quirkiness of the man sitting on the toilet and the skill of the man with the magic ball and everyone will enjoy watching the Grim Reaper scaring his victims, fortunately, only half to death!

There are plenty of stalls in the centre of the avenue - most of which sell the usual overpriced tat, including magnets, mugs and the like. Some sell a stunning array of flowers and plants; however the most unusual are the weekend stalls that sell all manner of live animals from rabbits to turkeys and everything in between. Some may find the somewhat cramped conditions uncomfortable to see, however the animals do appear to be in good health and brisk trade of these shops means that it isn't long before the creatures find a new home with a local family.

There are plenty of restaurants, both in the centre of the Ramblas and along it's sides, but from what we could see, it seemed to be very overpriced and not that appetising in general. A better bet would be to wander of the beaten track in search of authentic restaurants. That said, there are some good offers to be had - we stumbled across one restaurant that was offering 12 courses of tapas for E15 per person. The menu changes daily and, although the food wasn't fantastic, it was certainy worth the money we paid.

Also on the Ramblas, about half way down, is the fabulous market, which is a collision of sounds, colours and smells that you simply can't miss. The fruit stalls are amazing - don't miss out on getting a chilled fruit salad at a great price!
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From journals A Weekend In Barcelona, My Barcelona Top Five

Barcelona's Most Bustling Street

by airynfaerie

St. Augustine, Florida

October 17, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo Barcelona's most famous street, La Rambla, is bustling with activity no matter the hour, and a must-walk for any visitor. Because this avenue is really a series of smaller streets, it's sometimes referred to in the plural, as Las Ramblas. Either way ...Read more Barcelona's most famous street, La Rambla, is bustling with activity no matter the hour, and a must-walk for any visitor. Because this avenue is really a series of smaller streets, it's sometimes referred to in the plural, as Las Ramblas. Either way you say it, this street offers many sights, sounds, and smells to take in.

Separating the Barri Gotic quarter and El Raval districts of the city, this avenue features a grand, tree-lined sidewalk in the center of the wide stretch of concrete and pedestrians crowd the center walking past street performers and flower carts. you'll not be at a loss of things to look at, as everything from chipmunks in cages, live music, painters at work and mimes to horses, souvenir stalls with plenty of kitsch, street performers from men painted silver and women covered in fruit fill the sidewalk.

Some of the highlights of the popular buildings and attractions that are off La Rambla include the Gran Teatre del Liceu (the city's famous opera house) and Mercat de la Boqueria (one of Europe's premier street markets). There is also the modern art museum, Centre d'Art Santa Monica, and several sculptures and fountains along the way.

You'll find plenty of shops, restaurants, cafes, and ice-cream parlors along the avenue. More than actually walking inside any of these shops, just looking at the outsides of the buildings was excited to me. Some of the architecture along La Rambla is worthy of your notice. There are strange lightposts, like a dragon holding an umbrella, and several design periods represented in the colorful, detailed facades.

A few things to note, is that because this is a big tourist attraction, and constantly gets crowded, it's one of the city's concentrations of pick-pockets, so beware and watch your belongings closely. Also, take a stroll down this tree-lined street as an attraction in itself, but wait to eat or shop when you're off the main drag, as everything along the city's famous street is a bit inflated in the prices. If you're visiting Barcelona, this is definitely a place to go!

• Located between Placa Catalunya to the north, and Port Vell to the south.
• Metro stops on Green Line, L3: Drassances, Liceu, Catalunya. Metro stops on Red Line, L1: Catalunya.
• CAUTION: one of the prime pick-pocketed areas
• Avoid the south end at night, as it can be a little shady Close

From journal Fun Experiences in Barcelona

la Ramblas

by MichaelJM

Nottingham, England

February 8, 2008

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Best of IgoUgo La Rambla, a 1.2 km tree-lined thoroughfare, means intermittent water flow and the name originate from the Arabic word RAMBLA translated as “sandy river bed”. This e Romantic sounding La Rambla is the “legendary Raval District” which well into the ...Read more La Rambla, a 1.2 km tree-lined thoroughfare, means intermittent water flow and the name originate from the Arabic word RAMBLA translated as “sandy river bed”. This e Romantic sounding La Rambla is the “legendary Raval District” which well into the 1980’s was an extremely depressed uncared for part of town. I might more precisely describe it as Barcelona’s slum and it became notorious as the City’s red light district, Chinatown – an area to avoid if you wanted to escape town with your reputation intact and your wallet secure. Yes, the area was reputed as an area of pick-pockets and naire-do-wells.

But there’s been a transformation (although it still carries its reputation for an area where tourists will be preyed upon) and now stylish cafes and fashionable boutiques have moved into the area. The long straight alleys, often culminating in petite diagonal squares (called xamfras) are home to some interesting specialist shops and the xamfras scattered with tables and chairs with smartly attired waiters anxious to gain your custom.

This area was developed in the hasty expansion of the City in the 19th Century and now it looks as if the City has done its best to recover the disenchantment of this interesting area. The broad boulevard, “La Rambla” is the main thoroughfare, with the network of small streets hanging off this central spine, stretching from the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes (one of the city’s main traffic routes) right down to the water’s edge next to the Monument to Christopher Colombus.

During the day time this is just a very broad passage way but at night it comes to life. At night, indeed every night that we were there, this boulevard was crammed with people (beware pickpockets is the advice) and a place of real excitement. It wasn’t unusual for roller bladers to be manoeuvring their way through the crowds and some of the main squares seemed to be regular venues for excited skateboarders. The small kiosks selling newspapers, flowers and fast food take on a life of their own with their lights adding to the character and excitement of the area. If you expect the boulevard to become less busy you’ll have to try it out during the early hours of the morning because we were still having to “fight the crowds” around 2.00 am!!

Off the main “drag” the small alleyways were a Pandora’s box of delights with small specialist shops and expensively exclusive fashion shops. There are a number of cheaper, more affordable clothes shops on the edge of La Rambla which although a wee bit more expensive than the UK offer some less common designs.

Once in la Ramblas district you're in the heart of Barcelonona's gothic area. At the centre is the Cathedral which dates back to 1298 and dominates one of the tiny squares. Unfortunately it was closed when we were in town so we could only marvel at the external construct and imagine what delights might be held inside.

Interstingly there are still remains of early Roman settlement in this area - keep your eyes closely peeled for the old Roman walls in the Placa de Berenguer.

A fascinating part of town that will give a whole range of experiences and architectural sights.
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From journal La Ramblas and Spanish Food

Ramblas and Plaça Catalunya

by Celia Coene

Alameda, California

July 19, 2007

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True, you won't find many locals to practice your Catalan with on La Rambla. Nevertheless, Barcelona wouldn't be Barcelona without it. La Rambla is a sight to see for its entertainment such as human statues of all kinds, puppeteers, musicians, and ...Read more

From journal Barcelona: You 'Gaudi' See This!

La Rambla

by Tolik

Tampa, Florida

December 28, 2006

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The pedestrian only boulevard is a 24x7 Barcelona’s carnival. 'Rambla' means 'stream' in Arabic. The Ramblas used to be a drainage ditch along the medieval city wall. The focal point of town is La Rambla, a 1.25km (0.75mi) boulevard running ...Read more

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