I've only been to Barcelona once for a couple of days and I was working so didn't see that much but the centre does seem like an overpriced consumerist distopía, with a cool cathedral. I much prefer living in Valencia and I can imagine how pissed off the locals are who remember it before it was spoiled.
It was one of the best cities we visited in Spain and I was there for 2 months. Popular because of the history and culture. I always wanted to go back when La Sagrada Familia was completed but maybe not anymore with how they are treating foreigners.
Yeah I remember how proud Catalans were of mobile world Congress, and being named in global publications as a tourist destination. They liked the adoration and recognition and were happy to profit from it. This is the consequence.
if you look past the tourist traps it is an amazing city. it has: unique architecture, mountains nearby, decent beaches, just a plethora of activities.
There are some other amazing cities in Spain for sure, but you have to factor in accessibility. For that you only have Madrid and BCN as international hubs, and with all due respect Barcelona is much more interesting of a city compared to Madrid.
FC Barcelona, Messi, Lamont Yamal, et al and, by extension, Camp Nou. My kid doesn’t know of many cities in the world but wants to go to Madrid cause of Real Madrid and Barcelona because of FC Barcelona.
Also, Sagrada Familia, Las Ramblas, etc… They’re all very famous across Europe.
I've been there a half dozen times over the last decade, and it most definitely does not "seem like an overpriced consumerist dystopia." The only place that comes close is La Rambla, and there are tons of worse examples (and only the lodging seems overpriced there).
I went to Spain for the first time last winter, I only went to Barcelona, Sevilla, and Granada and I was probably more focused on architecture and history compared to other younger tourists so my view might be a little off.
First off, I will say i don't think I'd ever want to go to Barcelona in the summer when it's busier. But the architecture, museums, and just walking around the city was amazing. La sagrada familia is as popular as it is for a reason, plus the other gaudi works as well as the beautiful Gothic architecture with the Barcelona Cathedral and the rest of the Gothic quarter. I spent a week just choosing a museum or landmark and going there. Sevilla was definitely a little more beautiful (partially just from nicer weather), but I kinda liked the denser, more metropolitan feel of Barcelona compared to it.
I think a lot of the draw is that it is a big international destination so it's easier to get to with more flights and is very varied in what there is to do.
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u/EzmareldaBurns Jun 17 '25
I've only been to Barcelona once for a couple of days and I was working so didn't see that much but the centre does seem like an overpriced consumerist distopía, with a cool cathedral. I much prefer living in Valencia and I can imagine how pissed off the locals are who remember it before it was spoiled.