RejsRejsRejs » Destinations » Europe » Spain » FC Barcelona and the others – the world's best football city
Spain

FC Barcelona and the others – the world's best football city

Spain - Barcelona, ​​Camp Nou, fan - travel
Barcelona is the perfect city to visit, both if you are interested in football, but also if you just want culture and beach. That's it.
banner, scladming dachstein

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

Spain - La Barceloneta, beach - travel

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.

Spain - Barcelona, ​​Camp Nou - travel - travel to barcelona

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.

Spain - Barcelona, ​​Espanyol Stadium - travel

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 newsletter is sent out several times a month. See our data policy here.

Spain - Barcelona, ​​Montjuïc, sunset - travel - travel to barcelona

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.

Barcelona, ​​Spain, accommodation, hotels

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.

Spain - Girona, canal, houses - travel

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.


Did you know: Here are the 7 cities in Europe with the most hours of sunshine

7: Nice in France – 342 hours/month
6: Valencia in Spain – 343 hours/month
Get numbers 1-5 immediately by signing up for the newsletter, and look in the welcome email:

The newsletter is sent out several times a month. See our data policy here.

find a good offer banner 2023

                                                                 

Did you know: Here are the 7 best food cities in the world according to Tripadvisor's millions of users!

7: Barcelona in Spain
6: New Delhi in India
Get numbers 1-5 immediately by signing up for the newsletter, and look in the welcome email:

The newsletter is sent out several times a month. See our data policy here.

                                                                 

Banner - hotels    

About the author

Jens Skovgaard Andersen, editor

Jens is a happy traveler who has traveled to over 70 countries from Kyrgyzstan and China to Australia and Albania. Jens is educated in Chinese studies, has lived in China for 1½ years and is a member of De Berejstes Klub. He has extensive experience in the world of travel as a tour guide, lecturer, advisor, author and photographer. And, of course, most importantly: As a traveller.
Jens often looks for places where there is also the opportunity to watch a good football match in the company of other inveterate fans and has a particular fondness for the FREM football club, where he sits on the board.
For most people, it's obvious to look up to Jens (he's barely two meters tall), and he's a 14-time champion in the TV quiz Jeopardy, so if you can't find him out in the world or in a football stadium, you can you will probably find him touring the Copenhagen quiz environment.

Add comment

Comment here

Newsletter

The newsletter is sent out several times a month. See our data policy here.

Inspiration

Travel deals

Facebook cover picture travel deals travel

Get the best travel tips here

The newsletter is sent out several times a month. See our data policy here.