Gothic Quarter & El Born
The Gothic Quarter and El Born: the back story
Neighbourhood guide
About The Gothic Quarter and El Born: the back story
The Gothic Quarter is the oldest part of Barcelona, built over Roman Barcino: lanes and squares around the cathedral and Plaça del Rei. Across Via Laietana, El Born is its medieval merchant quarter, with Santa Maria del Mar, the Picasso Museum and the Passeig del Born.
The cathedral and Plaça del Rei
The cathedral’s cloister, the Roman remains under MUHBA and the quiet Plaça de Sant Felip Neri are a few minutes apart.
El Born
Carrer de Montcada leads from the Picasso Museum to Santa Maria del Mar; Paradiso and El Xampanyet are close by.
Walk it early, before the day-trippers arrive.
Eating
Cal Pep and El Xampanyet for the counter; Koy Shunka (One MICHELIN Star) for Japanese.
Our advice: keep your bag in front of you in the busiest lanes and on La Rambla.
Why it's on our list
- The cathedral
- El Born
- Eating
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The Gothic Quarter and El Born: the back story before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from The Gothic Quarter and El Born: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro stations
- LiceuL3300 m4 min walk
- Jaume IL4350 m4 min walk
- CatalunyaL1L3500 m6 min walk
Key sights
- Barcelona Cathedral150 mWalk 2 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 4 min
- La Boqueria350 mWalk 4 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Palau de la Música400 mWalk 5 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Museu Picasso600 mWalk 7 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Casa Batlló1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Barceloneta beach1.6 kmWalk 20 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 8 min
- La Pedrera1.7 kmWalk 21 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Sagrada Família2.2 kmWalk 27 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Park Güell3.8 kmCycle 15 minCar or taxi 14 min
- Barcelona-El Prat Airport13 kmCar or taxi 38 min
Main railway stations
- Plaça de Catalunya (Rodalies, FGC)500 mWalk 6 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Passeig de Gràcia (Rodalies)800 mWalk 10 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Plaça d’Espanya (FGC)2.3 kmWalk 28 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Barcelona Sants2.9 kmWalk 37 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 12 min