Barcelona is a city with a heart and the best way to explore it is on foot. The gothic quarter, or old city is on the top of the list, wandering down the Rambla from Plaza Catalunya to the Old Port, and returning through Plaza Sant Jaume, past the Cathedral and back up to Plaza Catalunya. You’ll find a mixture of the old and the new, with modern shops and cafes hidden within the old stone walls. Stray from the main path and you may find yourself lost in a maze of tiny alleys.
The walk from the Old Port to Barceloneta, the beaches, and on to the Olympic Port is very popular. The views back across the water to the city from Barceloneta are striking, and the ten minute walk on to the Olympic Port takes you from the old to the new.
Paseo de Gracia - To get a real feel for the wealth that Barcelona enjoyed 100 years ago, take a walk through the Exiample. A wander up Paseo de Gracia and back down Rambla de Catalunya will take you past many architectural wonders built at the turn of the last Century, when the city was expanded beyond the Gothic Quarter. Those interested in architecture could spend days wandering the streets. (Metro Ps. de Gracia)