FC Barcelona and the others – the world's best football city is written by Jens Skovgaard Andersen.

A soccer trip to the city of Barcelona
It may well be debatable what makes a city the best in the world, but it is not up for debate that Barcelona is an absolutely perfect city for you who want to combine city life, ball, shopping, sun and beach.
And when the city is even home to the stars of world-famous FC Barcelona - or just Barça - then it's hard to get around the fact that the city is a mecca for anyone with a penchant for 'the beautiful game'.
Barcelona is on The Mediterranean coast, and the light blue water and the soft sand lie right at your feet when you visit the city. Some of the best beaches are right in the center and you can walk to and from the other famous areas of the city in minutes.
The Rambla is a world-renowned pedestrian street that ends at the water at one end and in the middle of the vibrant city at the other end. The Rambla also divides two of the city's most popular neighborhoods: the old Barri Gòtic on the north side and the hip El Raval to the south.
In Barri Gòtic you will find countless restaurants, bars, shops and cultural offers, and there is a large concentration of tourists almost around the clock. El Raval, on the other hand, is more characterized by the many locals who live in the area, and you will find exciting alternative shops, cafes and eateries in the narrow streets and alleys.

FC Barcelona – the big draw
The city's sporting pride FC Barcelona is based in the Les Corts district to the west of the city centre, and it is here that the impressive historic stadium Camp Nou is located. The stadium is well enough being rebuilt, but when it is ready to move in, Barça's stars move in again.
The stadium area offers cafés, a museum and, of course, merchandise mega-stores, where you can get virtually anything with the club's well-known logo on it. It is teeming with football-loving children and adults in red-blue shirts with Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi on their backs, and life revolves primarily around Barça.
Next to the large Camp Nou was previously a slightly smaller stadium with the appropriate name Mini Estadi, and it was here that FC Barcelona's reserves played their matches. The reserves now play at the Estadi Johan Cruyff on the outskirts of the city. FC Barcelona's women's team also plays here, and there is a very special atmosphere for their matches with some of the world's biggest female football stars.
The Mini Estadi has now been replaced by an indoor arena where you can watch FC Barcelona play handball and basketball – also definitely worth experiencing.
Tickets for FC Barcelona's big matches can be difficult to get hold of, so it's a good idea to check the various ticket providers who have tickets for the matches if you're planning a trip to Barcelona. It is a pity to go in vain.

RCD Espanyol – little brother with a proud history
It is not only FC Barcelona that represents the city at the highest footballing level. Also the club RCD Espanyol plays in the best division in Spain, and they play in their own new modern stadium in the western suburb of Cornellá-El Prat.
There is no same run on the tickets for Espanyol's matches, so it's easier to buy a ticket through the club's website if you want to travel to Barcelona to watch football. The easiest way to get to the stadium from the city center is by train from Plaça Espanya, which is a bit of a hub in Barcelona's traffic network.
The club Espanyol has proud traditions, and they like to show it. Take the time to walk around the stadium and see all the names of the club's legends inscribed above the entrance gates.
Next to the stadium is a large shopping center with everything the heart could desire, and many fans gather in the restaurants and bars before matches. Ideal if you want to combine football with shopping and good food.

The legacy of the 1992 Olympics – temporary home ground for FC Barcelona
If you can't get enough of looking at stadiums on your visit to Barcelona, head up Montjuïc mountain, home to the Olympic Stadium from the 1992 Olympics. In the past, Espanyol played its matches here while they had their new stadium built.
Currently, FC Barcelona is using the Olympic Stadium as their home ground, while the Camp Nou is being rebuilt. You can book one on FC Barcelona's website stadium tour, if you want to see it all from the inside.
You can take the metro up there from Plaça Espanya if you don't feel like climbing the mountain on foot. Fortunately, there are escalators somewhat out of the way.
Montjuïc also has a number of other Olympic facilities; including a swimming stadium with possibly the best views of the city, and there is generally good reason to take the trip up and enjoy the view - and possibly the sunset - of the city and the surrounding mountains.

Around Barcelona on foot
On your trip to Barcelona, you'll find art and culture both outdoors and indoors, and whether you're into unique architecture, classic art, beach life or modern cultural offerings, you'll find it here.
Just take a walk around and look for. The special unfinished church La Sagrada Familia, the triumphal arch Arc de Triomf from the World's Fair in 1888 and Joan Miró's whimsical sculptures are among the favorites on a city walk.
One of the city's proud sons is the architect Antoni Gaudí, and his distinctive organic style can be seen in many places in the city. In addition to La Sagrada Familia, you should stop by Casa Milá, Casa Batlló and Park Güell.

Girona FC – the new player on the pitch
If you want more football and at the same time watch a bit more Catalonia, then you can conveniently take a trip up to the northern city of Girona. Besides being known for its galleries and cozy streets, which attract lots of locals from Barcelona, the city also has a soccer team in the top Spanish league.
The red and whites of Girona FC have done well in their first seasons in La Liga and the atmosphere in the city is high when they play - especially against the big clubs. Girona is an obvious destination for a day trip from Barcelona, and you can take the train from Barcelona Sants station, which is close to Plaça Espanya. The train journey takes approximately one hour.
Spanish football is one of the best in the world, and in Barcelona you will find the cream of the crop. FC Barcelona will of course draw the most, but don't forget Espanyol and Girona, and also remember to watch a match with FC Barcelona's women's team.
The experiences await you in the world's best football city. Have a nice trip to Barcelona.
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