La Rambla is exactly 1.2 kilometres long and nearly everyone who visits Barcelona walks along it. La Rambla was laid out in 1766, following the contours of the medieval city walls that had bounded this part of Barcelona since the 13th century. The locals took it to their hearts straightaway. In Barcelona, a city of narrow, winding streets, the Rambla was the only space where everyone could stroll and spend their leisure time. And we mean everyone. Because of its central location, the Rambla became a meeting place for all the social classes.
Gradually, leisure and cultural attractions found the perfect location on La Rambla. The convents disappeared and florists and newsstands set up there premises here. As you walk along, you'll see landmark buildings, such as the greatest theatre of Barcelona's opera, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Palau de la Virreina and the spectacular Boqueria Market. This human river, with its street artists, tourists and locals, who still come here for a stroll, take us on a journey through this microcosm of contemporary Barcelona.
Where Where La Rambla meets the sea, we find the Mirador de Colom, a unique opportunity to admire this unique, green artery of pedestrians from the air.
Accessibility details
Barcelona’s La Rambla begins at the Plaça de Catalunya and ends by the sea, in front of the Columbus Monument. If you continue in this direction, the Gothic Quarter is on your left and the Raval neighbourhood is on your right.
La Rambla is a wide pedestrianised boulevard which is sometimes difficult to get across due to the large numbers of tourists and locals.
La Rambla is a long boulevard with a central section that you can walk along without interruptions. However, if you’re walking along the side pavements you’ll have to cross the streets running perpendicularly.
There are trees on either side, and a large number of pavement cafés, news-stands and flower stalls.
If you start walking from Plaça Catalunya along the central section, you’ll come to the famous
Canaletes Fontainon your right. Further on, when you begin to smell the perfume of the flower stalls, you’ll be on the section known as the Rambla de les Flors. If you carry on further, you’ll come to the Rambla de Santa Mònica, with its artists and caricaturists.
At the end you’ll find the Columbus Monument and the Rambla de Mar, the walkway over the water that leads to the Maremàgnum shopping and leisure complex.
The main roads in the city centre have dropped kerbs and some of the streets are pedestrianised, with smooth paving to make them easy to negotiate by wheelchair.
The side pavement and central section of La Rambla are fully accessible.
The three Metro stations (Plaça Catalunya, at the top, Liceu, approximately halfway down, and Drassanes, by the sea) are accessible.
Last update: 19/07/2023
Back to index