Modernist Secrets
Admire the modernist corners of Barcelona
CHRISTIAN
Delighted, I’m Cristian , from Barcelona from Horta, historian and passionate about modernism. At 28 years old, I fuse my love for rock, art and travel. I share my plan to immerse you in the splendor of modernist Barcelona, which I am so passionate about.
DAY 1
For breakfast, I suggest you start at one of my favorite places in modernist Barcelona, which is Chelo Café. If it’s sunny, don’t hesitate to go out to the terrace. Afterwards, and to get into the topic, I propose a walk along the ramblas, entering the Boqueria Market and in the store Ale hop. This store would go unnoticed a priori, but it is a modernist palace with surprising ceilings.
Afterwards I suggest you enter the bar association and (current Barcelona archive) it is officially called the Palacio de l’Arcadia , you can see the cloister and go for a drink at “ Els cuatre gats”” the bohemian place in the city where the geniuses of modernism met and where Picasso exhibited one of his works for the first time. Since you are in the area we cannot ignore the Palau de la Música and the Silk Palace building. You can go to these monuments and take a couple of photos or if you feel like visiting them.
To eat, I suggest Restaurante Sk to have a traditional menu at an affordable price or La Sosenga with a slightly higher price, but also highly recommended.
After regaining your strength, if you want to visit one of Gaudí’s famous houses, this is the time for you to do it, my favorite is the Batlló HouseIf the price seems expensive to you, you can enter through the store and go to the typical modernist bathrooms or enter the building next door called Servicio Estación and go up to the highest floor and admire the terraces of Casa Batlló.
In the afternoon we will go for a walk through the Montjuic area to admire modernist buildings such as the CasaRamona factory. Built between 1909 and 1912. Since 2002 it has been the headquarters of CaixaForum.
Or take a tour of Eixample and visit the following not-so-known houses: Casa Lleó i Morera , Casa Calvet , Casa Manuel Llopis Bofill , Casa Bruno Cuadros. Afterwards you can go have a drink and watch the sunset in Fuster House, currently a hotel. Built by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, a world leader in Catalan modernism.
For dinner I propose two options, both of which are in the modernist part and are called Casa Diaz. or Portoles Restaurant .
Then I suggest you go to the Ayre Hotel Rosellón , the views are spectacular and you will have the best views to observe the Sagrada Familia, I recommend booking.
Note: Liiffe recommends booking restaurants and events in advance to ensure availability, as well as checking hours as they vary seasonally.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Cello Cafe
In a quiet corner of the Raval, Chelo Café invites you to enjoy delicious coffee, natural juices and a variety of vegan and vegetarian options.
Its cozy and familiar atmosphere, along with its terrace in one of the quietest squares in the neighborhood, make it the perfect refuge to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Boqueria Market
La Boqueria, in the heart of Barcelona’s Raval, is a vibrant and colorful market that captivates with the freshness of its products and the diversity of its stalls. An unmissable destination for food lovers, where local aromas and flavors are intertwined in a unique atmosphere. Open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday closed.
Arcadia Palace
House with a central fountain and a date palm tree. Admission is free. It is decorated with pots of plants and flowers and you can access the second floor. It is a terrace and you can see everything from another point of view.
The four cats
Els Quatre Gats: A journey to the essence of Catalan Modernism
More than a restaurant, Els Quatre Gats is a portal to the past, a place where history and gastronomy merge in a unique environment.
Founded in 1897, this emblematic venue witnessed the birth of Catalan Modernism, bringing together artists of the stature of Picasso, Rusiñol and Gaudí.
Monday closed. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sk Restaurant
Delicious food at good value for money. I recommend the Catalan cream. The attention is good. It has a terrace. Open Monday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Sosenga
The Sosenga restaurant opened its doors in 2023 in the heart of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. It is located in a historic location that dates back to the 14th century.
It is a new and ambitious project that aims to offer a unique gastronomic experience in Barcelona.
The place is full of history and charm, and the decoration is modern and cozy. Monday closed.
Palau de la Música
The Palau de la Música Catalana is a concert hall located in Barcelona, Spain. It is one of the most important works of Catalan modernism and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.
The building was designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner and was inaugurated in 1908. It is built from a mix of materials, including brick, stone, ceramic and glass. The facade is decorated with floral and animal motifs, and the concert hall is crowned by a beautiful stained glass window.
You can access inside and find a cafeteria. It is advisable to buy tickets online.
Silk Palace
It is a historic building in the city’s Gothic Quarter. The façade of the Palacio de la Seda is a masterpiece of Catalan baroque. It is decorated with elaborate stone reliefs depicting scenes related to silk production.
Guided tours cost €12
Batlló House
Casa Batlló, architect Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece in the heart of Barcelona’s Paseo de Gracia, dazzles with its undulating and colorful facade, standing out for its innovative modernist design and surrealist elements that make it an architectural icon. Avoid peak hours, the best time is from 9 to 11 am. Hours from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Casa Ramona factory
Old modernist factory located on Montjuic mountain. The building was built between 1909 and 1912. Currently, since 2002, the building has been used as a cultural center for the La Caixa Foundation. Exhibitions and cultural events are held here.
Casa Lleó i Morera
It is an emblematic building of Catalan Modernism and stands out for its facade, decorated with mosaics, stained glass and sculptures. The Lleó Morera House is an example of the luxury and ostentation of the Catalan bourgeoisie of the early twentieth century.
Built in 1906 by Luís Domènech i Montaner.
Calvet House
It stands out for its façade with baroque elements and historicist reinterpretations, as well as for its interior with furniture designed by Gaudí himself. It is an emblematic building of the city and an example of the talent and creativity of the brilliant architect.
Manuel Llopis Bofill House
It is a modernist building designed by the architect Antoni M. Gallisà in 1902. Its decorative line on the façade is not medievalist as in most buildings built at that time, but rather neo-Arabic lines.
It is a multi-family residential building and the entire façade is full of typical modernist ornamental details, such as wrought iron, glazed ceramic, stucco and leaded stained glass.
Casa Bruno Cuadros
The building dates back to 1858 and the renovation was carried out in 1883. Known as The House of Umbrellas, it has an oriental air, with multiple references to other cultures that at that time attracted the attention of cultural circles.
It well deserves some time of attention and delight, due to the creativity and originality of the project.
Fuster House
It is a masterpiece of Catalan modernism. Built in 1908 by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, stands out for its facade of carved stone with floral motifs and mosaics, as well as for its interior with ornamental elements of great beauty. It is a luxury hotel.
Diaz House
Casa Diaz Barcelona is a Venezuelan restaurant with the best Venezuelan food. It has a prize for the best bravas and other distinctions.
We have eaten Venezuelan food, which we know well, and it has positively surprised us, everything was extraordinary. With a good atmosphere, clean premises, and perfect quality-price.
Monday closed.
Portoles Restaurant
It is a local neighborhood restaurant with Catalan cuisine, home-style and family-style. The dishes are typical Catalan, there is a lot of variety.
The dishes are very delicious, some famous ones sell out quickly. The dishes of the day are offered according to the market or the season, with reasonable prices.
Hours Monday to Friday 13-16, 21-23. Saturday 13-16 and Sunday closed.
Ayre Hotel Rosellón
The first time you go up to the terrace and see the sacred family, it is shocking. It is important to reserve the terrace before going.
HOW TO MOVE
Exploring the historic center of Barcelona on foot is an enriching experience, especially if you walk through emblematic areas such as the Gothic or Born, where its medieval streets offer a labyrinth full of history. Walking becomes the best way to immerse yourself in the architectural heritage of the city in areas such as l ‘eixample or near the Sagrada Familia. In addition, the area around the cathedral is completely pedestrianized, and for ease of travel, there are a variety of public transportation options, such as buses, trains and the metro, available nearby.
Barcelona has a network of more than 240 km of bicycle lanes, a good number of bicycle parking lots, as well as specific signage and traffic lights, among other services. For everyone’s safety and in order to ensure a good coexistence, it is essential that you respect the traffic rules.
You can combine cycling with public transportation. Check with the various operators for conditions and schedules to do so:
Subway: www.tmb.cat | Bus: www.tmb.cat | Tram: www.trambcn.cat | FGC: www.fgc.cat | Rodalies: www.rodalies.gencat.cat | Renfe: www.renfe.com
It is mandatory to park the bicycle in the specific anchor points or subway parking lots.
To tour the city in an active and ecological way, you can take a guided bike tour or rent one from any of the following rental companies:
BAMBOO BIKE TOURS
Contact details: Notariat, 6, 08001, Barcelona : Tel: 634 055 284 : Web: www.bamboobiketour.com
BARCELONA CICLOTOUR
Contact details: Tallers, 45 – Local interior, 08001, Barcelona : Tel: 933 171 970 : Web: www.barcelonaciclotour.com
BE BIKE TOURS BARCELONA
Contact details: Passeig de Lluís Companys, 10, 08018, Barcelona | Tel: 931 890 040 | Web: https://www.barcelonaebiketours.com/
MOTORCYCLE:
In Barcelona you can also rent scooters that allow you to tour the city.
The best known and most commonly used companies in Barcelona are:
- Electric scooter rentals in Barcelona (acciona.com)
- Yego: www.rideyego.com
In Barcelona it is easy to get around by bus and reach any part of the city and the metropolitan area.
Tickets: modalities and prices
The card that can be purchased to use the metro, tram and suburban trains or FGC also serves for the bus, thanks to the integrated fare system, which allows you to use the various means of transport necessary to make a trip with a single transport pass for 1 hour and 15 minutes. There are different types of transport passes
Single ticket: 2,40 €.
T-casual (1 0 trips) : 11,35 €
T-Familiar (8 trips) : 10 €.
Day subscriptions
Schedules:
The schedule varies depending on the lines. Most of them start running between 5 and 8 am and finish their service between 10 and 11 pm. The timetable and frequency of each bus line can be consulted at the bus stops or on the website.
Night bus
They are called NitBus and cover a large part of the city and its surroundings.
Most of the night bus lines start between 22.40h and 23.40h, and end between 5h and 6h in the morning.
Barcelona has a service of more than ten thousand cabs, easily identifiable by their yellow and black colors.
You can take a cab at any of the 300 cab ranks (including those at train stations, airports, bus stations and cruise terminals) by calling one of the companies, using the free MYTAXI app for downloading. or by raising your hand in the street to see a free one. To hire specific services (languages, seven seats, etc.) we recommend that you hire cab services by phone.
Adapted cabs
People with reduced mobility can request the service of an adapted cab. These vehicles provide the same service as any other cab, operate with a taximeter and apply the same fares as other cabs. All cabs in the city are required to transport guide dogs without surcharge.
. There are also vehicle for hire (VTC) services such as Uber, Cabify or Bolt (with cheaper prices).
At the arrival points of travelers in Barcelona, such as train stations or the airport, you will find several car rental companies to meet your mobility needs. Some of the best known are:
- www.europcar.com
- www.sixt.es
- www.pepecar.com
- www.hertz.es
In addition, there are car sharing options, such as www.ubeeqo.com, where you can rent vehicles by the hour as required.
You can take a boat ride around the Olympic harbor area, which will give you a unique perspective of the city from the water. More information on prices and boarding areas can be found at: www.citysailing.es.
Barcelona has an extensive commuter train network.
- FGC that are managed by the Generalitat de CatalunyaFerrocarrils de la Generalitat (FGC): Weekdays from Monday to Thursday, Sundays and holidays: 5h-24h. | Friday: 5h-2h. | Saturdays and eves of 1/1, 6/24, and 9/24: continuous service.
More information about Barcelona’s metro, funicular and railroad services:
TMB: Tel. 900 701 149 | www.tmb.cat
FGC: Tel. 012 | www.fgc.cat - Renfe Rodalies.
They have train lines that connect with all the towns near Barcelona.
On the website: www.rodalies.gencat.cat you can find all the lines and even the timetables in real time.
METRO has an integrated fare system, which allows the use of the various means of transport necessary to make a trip with a single transport pass for 1 hour and 15 minutes. There are different types of transport passes in Barcelona, valid for the public transport network (metro, buses, tram and suburban trains), such as the T-casual card, valid for 10 trips, the T-Familiar, valid for 8 trips, or day passes (2, 3, 4 and 5 days).
Single ticket: 2,40 €.
T-casual: 11,35 €.
T-Familiar: 10 €.
Weekdays from Monday to Thursday, Sundays and holidays: 5h-24h. | Friday and holiday eves: 5h-2h. | Saturdays and eves of 1/1, 24/6 and 24/9: continuous service. | 24/12: until 23h.
The TRANVIA or TRAM. This means of public transportation, complementary to the subway, which had disappeared in 1971, is today an accessible, ecological, fast and comfortable system.
There are two tramway lines in Barcelona: the Trambaix (T1, T2, T3), which originates at Plaça Francesc Macià and reaches the towns of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Sant Joan Despí, Sant Feliu de Llobregat and Cornellà. And the Trambesòs (T4, T5, T6), which allows you to travel from the Olympic Village and Plaça de les Glòries to Sant Adrià del Besós, passing through the Forum, or to Badalona.
Schedules
Weekdays from Monday to Thursday, Sundays and holidays: 5h-24h. | Fridays, Saturdays and holiday eves: 5h-2h.
Transportation cards: If you plan to use public transportation regularly, consider getting a rechargeable public transportation card. They offer discounts on individual tickets:
- Casual Card A single-person pass valid for 10 integrated trips from 1 to 6 zones, with which, in the case of a single-zone ticket, 75 minutes are available between the first and last validation. The time limit is increased by 15 minutes for each zone. Not valid for Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2 metro stations on line L9 Sud.
You may also be interested in the T-familiar, which is a multi-person pass valid for 8 trips in 30 consecutive days.
- T usual card: Personal and non-transferable pass valid for an unlimited number of trips for 30 consecutive days from the first validation. It must be accompanied by an ID card or equivalent document. The number of the document serving as proof must be printed on the ticket. Valid for Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2 metro stations on line L9 Sud.
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Card T grup:
Multi-person pass valid for 70 trips in 30 consecutive days from the first cancellation, with 75 minutes between the first and the last validation in the case of a zone ticket. The time limit is increased by 15 minutes for each zone. Not valid for Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2 metro stations on line L9 Sud.
- Airport ticket:
Non-integrated single-person metro ticket that allows you to make a trip between Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2 stops on line L9 Sud and the rest of the metro network.
For more information, please refer to the conditions of use of the tickets and the section From the airport by metro, where you will find practical information about the metro service in terminals T1 and T2.
