Barcelona: What not to See

Not all tourist attractions are created equal. When you're in Barcelona- and especially when you're in Barcelona without a lot of time to waste- be aware that the places on these list are not the wonders that guidebooks so often make them out to be.

When in Barcelona, avoid visiting...

Port Vell           (M) Drassanes

Until very recently, Port Vell was a rundown industrial area, home to empty warehouses and rail yards. Renovated for the 1992 Summer Olympics, it is now a tourist trap, completed with an Imax theatre, shopping mall and aquarium. If you're interested in really experiencing Barcelona, I'd give this area a pass... especially if you have limited time at your disposal.

Arc de Triomf           (M) Arc de Triomf

Many cities other than Paris have Triumphal Arches, however few of these arches come close to comparing to Napoleon's great triumph on the Champs-Elysées. Barcelona's Arc de Triomf, built in Moorish Revival style by Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas for the 1888 Universal Exhibition, is decidedly uninspired. Stop by if you're in the area. Otherwise, don't bother.

Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys            (M) Espanya

As a resident of a city that very recently hosted the Olympics, I may be biased. But Olympic venues hold very little interest for me even when sports are being played in them, never mind when they are left as abandoned relics of past glories. This is a stadium, like any other you might visit in your home town. And if that lack of uniqueness isn't enough to detract you from visiting, consider its location- deep in Parc de Montjuic, there is no public transit anywhere near by, leaving a long hike toward the disappointing tourist attraction... and a walk that will seem even long once you realise how much time you've wasted.