We show you everything there is to do in El Born! Architecture, gastronomy, art, restaurants, parties, fashion… El Born is one of the places with the most leisure and cultural offer in the city and, for this reason, it has become one of the favourites for visitors. This area is able to offer you everything you expect from Barcelona, in just one neighbourhood. Would you like to discover it with us?
At Musik Boutique Hotel we are proud of the neighbourhood in which we are located, as we believe we can offer a very complete experience to our guests. Below, we explain what to do in El Born and how to enjoy this beautiful neighbourhood to the fullest.
What to do in El Born
One of the neighbourhoods that make up the Ciutat Vella (Old City) district of Barcelona is Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera. Within it, in turn, we find the area known as El Born, one of the most central and popular neighbourhoods of Barcelona. This area is not only in the heart of Barcelona, just like Musik Boutique Hotel, but also offers some of the best ways to get to know and enjoy the city. We present them to you.
Santa María del Mar
Santa Maria del Mar is an impressive building considered to be the highest expression of Catalan Gothic architecture. This temple was built by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood and is, to this day, the central axis of life in El Born. If you want to be prepared, don’t hesitate to read the novel La Catedral del Mar, by Ildefonso Falcones, where its construction is explained in detail.
Palau de la Música
The Palau de la Música is one of the most striking buildings in El Born and probably in the whole of Barcelona. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997 and is one of the most visited places in Barcelona. To enter the building you’ll have to buy a ticket.
Old Born Market
The old Born Market is a modernist jewel of iron architecture. This building was used as a market until 2002, when they decided to refurbish it. It was then that the archaeological remains that you can see today from the medieval period in this neighbourhood came to light.
Parque de la Ciutadella
The Parc de la Ciutadella was a military fortress built in 1715 to control the city during the War of the Spanish Succession. At the end of the 19th century, General Prim returned this space to the inhabitants of Barcelona, making it the first green space in the city.
Secrets spots of El Born
El Born is undoubtedly the neighbourhood with the most flavour and charm in the city, and that’s why all the tourists go to visit its most emblematic stops. However, there are secrets hidden inside that are hard to find, unless you know them. We want you to experience the city as the locals do, so we’ll show them to you. Will you keep our secret for us?
Biblioteca Arús
The Arús Library is one of the corners of El Born that will take you back in time. The first thing you’ll find inside is a majestic staircase with two Ionic columns on either side, and from that point on, everything is an architectural spectacle.
Jon Cake
Gastronomic tourism is one of the best ways to get to know a city and Jon Cake has become one of the most famous bakeries of the moment. The cheesecakes have been one of the most important viral phenomena in Barcelona, thanks to its chef Jon. You can also discover the best restaurants in El Born.
Calle Mirallers
In the small Carrer Mirallers in El Born there is a sculpture of a woman’s face with her eyes wide open and an expression representing orgasm. This was the way of indicating the presence of a brothel in the area, when most people in the city were still illiterate.
Editorial Dosmanos
In a corner of El Born, we find the Dosmanos publishing house, born in the middle of the pandemic thanks to the enthusiasm of the young Daniel Sardà. It’s worth a visit to this secret corner of the neighbourhood to be infected by Sardà’s passion for books.
Museums in El Born, Barcelona
Art is one of the main characteristics that define the city of Barcelona and, among the best things to do in El Born, we could not miss our selection of museums. Each of the museums we present below offers different proposals, so you should choose the one that catches your attention and buy your ticket as soon as possible to ensure your place in this experience.
Museo Picasso
The Picasso Museum is one of the best museums to visit in El Born, as it has a collection of more than 3,500 works by the Malaga painter Pablo Picasso. It opened its doors to the public for the first time on 9 March 1963 and has been declared a museum of national interest by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Ethnological Museum and Museum of World Cultures
The Museum of Ethnology and World Cultures aims to preserve and disseminate cultural diversity, reflecting on changes and conflicts in society. It is the most important ethnology museum in Catalonia, with a collection of more than 70,000 objects.
MOCO Museum
MOCO Museum is an independent museum located in Amsterdam and Barcelona, dedicated to exhibiting modern and contemporary art. The museum was founded with the mission of attracting the attention of young people, and it has achieved this goal. This is quite a spectacle that will allow you to get to know the most modern trends in the world art scene.
We hope that this complete guide to what to do in El Born has helped you to organise your route through this neighbourhood in Barcelona. At Musik Boutique Hotel we are always willing to help our guests and we will be happy to give you a hand to find the best restaurants in the area, the best activities, the best shows, etc. Get to know Barcelona from the inside and fall in love with it!
