Image by Rafa Dujarric

If you happen to be around, take a minute to go to Carrer del Bisbe – one of those typical narrow streets of the Gothic quarter, starting at plaza nova in the cathedral avenue.

If you are lucky enough and the weather is good, you’ll find street artists at the two alleys that cross the backyard of the cathedral (Carrer de Sta Ilucia and Carrer de la Pietat).

The best time of the day to get teased by the enticing sounds of a bandoneon or a harp player, the melancholic mood of an opera or tango singer, or the infectious melodies of a flamenco guitar player is the end of the afternoon.

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Carrer del Bisbe | Music, Relaxing
Carrer del Bisbe | El Barrio Gotico
Daily

Image by Rafa Dujarric

Feeling down and need something to raise your soul above the social mall? Or just need a break from fashion cocktails, top 40 lousy music, fancy high heels and naughty party ragers?

Whether in spring, summer, autumn or even in some good weathered winter days, at the end of Portal del Angel when going down towards the Gothic Cathedral there is a magic corner with the proper acoustic atmosphere for street musicians to perform outdoors on any season without the need of expensive sound amplifying gear.

Be ready for getting enraptured by the groove of an authentic blues singer or the captivating tunes of a world music quartet. Well, perhaps at this time you would find musicians with heavier clothing but still… it’s a magic spot.

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Portal del angel Street | Music, Relaxing
Corner Carrer dels arcs & Carrer cucurrulla | El Barrio Gotico
From morning to late night

Image by Haarland Sinclair

This is a really good year-round spot to chill out.

Given its location at the junction of Passeig de Gracìa and Diagonal it’s surprisingly quiet and peaceful. 

In the cooler months it’s a good place to check out an exhibition.

Right now there’s an EXCELLENT exhibition about the world famous restaurant, El Bulli and its celebrated chef, Ferran Adrià. You must NOT miss this.

During the summer the garden is a great place to cool off, maybe have a packed lunch, pretend to read a book, or just hang for a while. In the evening the garden and pavilion may come alive with music, discussion and debate.

The exhibitions here, about aspects of life as is lived, or was lived, in Catalunya, are always interesting, and have included: the aborted People’s Olympics in 1936 (set up to counter the official Nazi Olympics); and a series of beautiful aerial photographs showing the rich diversity of the regional landscape. The most recent photo exhibition in the garden celebrated the castellers (human castle builders) of Catalunya.

The Information Centre here is very good with very knowledgeable and helpful staff who manage a comprehensive range of materials in all the main European languages. If you’re planning a trip out of the city, go along and get advice and information on walking routes, themed trails, museums, hostels and refugios, and local food and drink. A visit here will save you time lining up at the main, and very busy, tourist information centre in Plaza Catalunya.

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Palau Robert | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Passeig de Gràcia, 107 | Eixample | +34932388091
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 19:00, Sun 10:00 – 14:30

Image by Rafa Dujarric

Before 1985 there were the ugly railways, as if the city was stabbed to death and was losing its bowels, but then an enlightened and visionary soul started turning it into a relaxing space.

This piece of Gaudian art was finished in 1991 by Beverly Pepper, who achieved the harmonic coexistence of nature and manly intervention to create a magic atmosphere that exerts a strange influence over people that go there for a picnic.

Be aware that there is something in the air in this park and sometimes picnics might turn into a roll in the hay.

It is also said though, that there is a dark mob that operates in this park stealing dogs in order to sell them to some labs that need living victims for their sinister tests and evil experiments with chemical products. At least they tried to steal the front tire of my bicycle almost in front of my nose :-/

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Parc de l’Estació del Nord | Relaxing | Free
Napols 42 | Eixample
07:00 – 23:00 daily

Image by Anna Boluda

This beautiful park -one of the best ones in Barcelona, if you ask me- is a little bit far from the typical tourist places, and actually is normally pretty quiet. For me, it’s an oasis of peace just on the edge of the city. Metro station Mundet (green line) is the closest one, and then you need to walk for about 15 minutes to get there. 

The park has an open part, normally busier with neighbors from the area, and the labyrinth area, where access is limited and costs two euros (discounts are available for youth, and it’s free on Sundays and Wednesdays). 

Once you enter that part of the park, the combination of silence and birds singing makes you forget that you are in a big city. The labyrinth itself is pretty interesting, and finding the exit might be harder than it seems! Besides this there are some more areas with local plants, and the whole walk can take an hour or more. There are some nice spots to sit and read too. 

By the way, the place used to belong to a marquess family, who brought an Italian architect over to build these gardens at the beginning of the 19th century. It became public in the 1970′s. 

For me, it’s the perfect place to hide from civilization once in a while… also on the hottest sunny days, as there are some shadowed parts that are perfect for those times!

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Parc del Laberint | Relaxing | Entrance (free on Wed & Sun) € 2
Castanyers 1 | Above diagonal
10:00 – dusk daily