Barcelona, Spain

La Rambla

La Rambla is Barcelona’s most famous street which is both a tourist attraction and sets as the entry into Catalan culture, boasting of cultural centers, theaters, and captivating architectural designs of buildings occupying its sides.

La Rambla takes its name from a seasonal stream in Arabic (raml) and from the Middle Ages; it was called Cagallel or Stream of Shit. You can see monastic buildings and mansions of well-to-do families from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

La Rambla or Las Ramblas is divided into five sections. The first stretch from Place Catalunya is La Rambla de Canaletes which is named after a turn-of-the-century drinking fountain. Barcelonins used to drink the waters of Les Canaletes. The second stretch of La Rambla is called La Rambla dels Estudie (Carrer de la Canuda to Carrer de la Portaferrissa), also known as La Rambla dels Ocells or birds because of its twittering bird market.

Attractions of Las Ramblas, Barcelona include live performances, it is also known for street performers such as the entertaining human statues portraying Galileo and the White Painter. There are also talented artists who will draw your portrait or caricature and famous tourist attraction like the Wax Museum, Museu de l’ Erotica (Erotica Museum), the Christopher Columbus Monument and Modernist Boquiera Market.

The best time to travel around Las Ramblas is from May to June during the Spring season because of its conducive temperature and different festivals held.

Tips While Visiting La Rambla

Famous painter Joan Miro created part of the Ramblas and many thousand of people walk right over the Miro circle everyday without merely noticing it.

There are dozens of restaurants and shops along the stretch of the Barcelona Las Ramblas. Due to its worldwide popularity, and a great number of visitors, you could find rather expensive prices but a poor quality of service.

You can also shop in El Corte Ingles which can be found in the Placa Catalunya Square which is at the northern most part of the Ramblas where you can find almost anything you need.

Be careful while roaming around the Ramblas for there could be pickpockets and scam artists who take advantage of tourists.

Transportation Around La Rambla

The most common mode of transport on La Rambla is the Barcelona Metro Line L3 which runs beneath the length of La Rambla with stations at Catalunya, Liceu, and Drassanes. Three Barcelona Bus Lines operate along the service roads during the day while three different night time services also operate along La Rambla.

La Ramba 

Tickets

Stroll around La Rambla with a Barcelona Hop-on Hop-off Tour: East to West Route and get a lovely view of the cobbled medieval streets of Las Ramblas as well as other Barcelona attractions. It can cost you about $ 30.36. The sliding-roof double decker bus is a more convenient way of touring Las Ramblas.

You can also try the Tapas Evening Walking Tour of Barcelona which can cost you only $66.35 and will let you experience gourmet food and Catalan culture on a pre-dinner walking tour of Barcelona’ tapas bar. Have a guided walking tour of La Rambla and Gothic Quarter and visit the famous La Boquiera Food Market.