A city situated along the Mediterranean, Barcelona's focal point is the impressive Mirador de Colon, a monument to Columbus that towers over the center of the old city from the waterfront. From the statue, with your back to the water, the Ramblas cuts straight up to the bustling Placa de Catalunya. To the East (right) of the Ramblas is the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter), and to the West (left) of the Ramblas, El Raval.

BARRI GOTIC (THE GOTHIC QUARTER)
A maze of moody, touristy, twisty streets built atop the ancient Roman city of Barcino, the Barri Gotic is, along with the Ramblas, the center of town. Charming gift shops, tacky touristy junk shops, cute cafés, trendy bars, and a zillion restaurants cram the cobblestone streets. You will be spending a lot of time here. The Barri Gotic is also home to Barcelona's 13th Century gothic cathedral.

LAS RAMBLAS
Stretching about a mile from the port to the central Placa de Catalunya, the Ramblas is the ever-bustling boulevard to end all boulevards. Along with the Barri Gotic, the Ramblas represents not only the center of the tourist quarter, but also the beating heart of the city for locals. The boulevard is divided into five sections, each with its own name. Year-round and round-the-clock, street performers, sidewalk artists, lovers, madmen, café patrons, pickpockets and throngs of tourists hit the street and ramble.

EL RAVAL
A walk on the West side of the Ramblas will take you through the intriguing, densely populated (but less heavily touristed) streets of El Raval. During the last century, El Raval became home to the poor and working-class slums, crammed to overcapacity and teeming with problems. Recent urban planning efforts, however, have benefited the neighborhood enormously, though some petty crimes and prostitution still exist. Today, El Raval offers some of the most interesting spots in the city: open-air markets, legit old eateries, and trendy new bars and cafés.