Las Ramblas Barcelona 

Las Ramblas street, also called La Rambla, is the most famous walking street in the city. La Rambla goes from Plaza Catalunya to the Port Vell harbour of Barcelona. 

   Address and map location of La Rambla in Barcelona
    Pictures Las Ramblas Barcelona
   Hotels in Barcelona on Las Ramblas

The name La Rambla is thought to originate from the Arabic "ramla," meaning "sandy ground." This was the name of the waterway where rainwater would flow from the hills of Tibidabo down to the sea after heavy rains. It was outside the walls of the first medieval wall of Barcelona. In the 18th century the walls came down and the first buildings started appearing along the Rambla and the transformation into the tree lined avenue began.  Although it is now officially called La Rambla, it actually consists of six ramblas, each with its own name. That is why you will often hear it called Las Ramblas. Today La Rambla is one of the biggest attractions of the city of Barcelona and the most crowded street in Barcelona. Almost every day it is positively humming with the sights, sounds and smells of cafés, flower shops, street artists, tourists and locals each making up the tapestry of life that this famous street weaves.  Unfortunately every tapestry has some loose threads and on La Rambla they are called pickpockets, so keep a eye on your bags and belongings while strolling on this famous street.

   How to avoid pick-pockets in Barcelona  

The Spanish poet Federico García Lorca is attributed with saying about the Ramblas, "It is only street in the world which I wish would never end." Las Ramblas is very touristy and can be very crowded. On a sunny day La Rambla looks like human sea of people when you are at the top at Plaza Catalunya, but there is always room for another person. Take a stroll down La Rambla and to savour the unique atmosphere of this wonderful street of Barcelona.

There are six sections of La Rambla in the direction from Plaza Catalunya

La Rambla de Canaletes  
The Rambla of the Channels.
This name comes from old 14th century northern wall of the city called Canaletes (the walls do not exist any more) which had water pipes through it to supply the old medieval city of Barcelona with water. On this part of Las Ramblas there is a famous drinking water fountain called Font de les Canaletes.  The present fountain is not unique in anyway, but this one has the legend that anyone who drinks it will always come back to Barcelona. This is also the part of La Rambla street where Barça fans traditionally gather by the fountain, when FC Barcelona win big titles. 


La Rambla dels Estudis 
The Rambla of Studies.
This stretch was named after a mid-15th century building called the Estudi General or Universitat. It was demolished in 1843, but the name lived on. At one point there were more than 140 licenced street performers on La Rambla.  Today the numbers have been reduced to 12 at a time. They are a colourful and vibrant addition to La Rambla's culture of today.


La Rambla de les Flors
The Rambla of the Flowers.
In the 19th-century this was the only place you could buy flowers in Barcelona. Now you can buy flowers all over Barcelona, but you will still find many flower stalls on the La Rambla de les Flors. Another less common name for this section is Rambla de Sant Josep, because of the plaza Santa Josep nearby.  Attractions on this part of La Rambla are La Boqueria food market and the Palau de la Virreina art centre.


La Rambla dels Caputxins
The Rambla of the Capuchins.
This section is also known as La Rambla del Centre. The name comes from an old Capuchin monastery that was on Plaza Reial. Look on your left for the entrance to Plaça Reial, one of the most famous plazas in the Barri Gotic. This part of La Rambla was the first section to be converted into a pedestrian area. On this stretch you can find the Liceu opera house, Gran Theatre del Liceu, and a pavement mosaic art work in the middle of La Rambla, created by Catalan artist Joan Miró


La Rambla de Santa Mònica
This part of La Rambla in Barcelona takes us down to harbour waterfront and the Cristobal Colon monument (Christopher Columbus in English and Cristòfor Colom in Catalan) built for the 1888 Universal Exposition.  The name of this stretch of La Rambla comes from the church of Santa Mònica, now the Santa Mònica art centre, in a former convent of the Agustins Descalços (barefoot Augustines) from 1626. There is a permanent art market here and often also an art and crafts market. This is also where the human statues on La Ramba are now located. Look for the Barcelona Wax Museum on your left.


Rambla de Mar
The Rambla of the sea.
In 1992 the 6th section of La Rambla, called La Rambla de Mar, was added which is the walkway out to the Maremagnum shopping center. Next to the Maremagnum mall are the IMAX 3D cinema in Barcelona and the Barcelona aquarium which is one of the biggest in Europe.

Rambla resources

>  Pictures of La Rambla
>  L'Associació d’Amics, Veïns i Comerciants de la Rambla
>  Ramblejant - La Rambla association blog
>  Hotels near Las Ramblas - no added commissions
>  Walking tours of Barcelona's old city


Places to visit on and near Las Ramblas

> Barcelona Liceu opera house 
> La Boqueria market 
> Plaça Reial square
> Sports Bar Las Ramblas
>  Pasteleria Escriba
>  Palau de la Virreina exhibition centre
>  Wax museum

5 Top Hotels on La Rambla

	Hotel Bagues •  Boutique hotel restored El Regulador Palace near top of Ramblas •  Also houses modernist Masriera Jewellery Museum •  Sumptious room decor all with iPod dock and flat-screen TV •  Rooftop pool and bar with suberb city views read more
	Hotel 1898 •  Central location on La Rambla. •  Beautiful restored 19th-century colonial style building •  Heated rooftop pool with a sun terrace and bar/restaurant. •  Elegant rooms include free Wi-Fi and a marble bathroom read more
	Eurostars Ramblas Boquería •  Modern and stylish hotel on Las Ramblas by La Boquería Market. •  Design soundproofed rooms with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV and balcony •  Rooms have views of La Rambla or La Boquería •  Elegant modern décor with hardwood floors and designer furniture. read more
	International Cool Local Hotel •  Located on Las Ramblas close to Liceu Metro Station •  Individually decorated rooms with natural light •  3 roof terraces and free Wi-Fi access. •  Business point on each floor with laptop, WiFi, papers and drinks  read more
	Hotel Montecarlo • Located in 19th-century palace on Las Ramblas • Elegant rooms with spa bath/bathrobe/slippers • Rooftop sun terrace with views over the historic centre. • Free Wi-Fi is available in rooms read more..
	See all hotels on and near Las Ramblas