Why visit Barcelona on your school leaving trip?

There are a thousand and one reasons to visit a city as beautiful and unique as Barcelona: its Modernist architecture, its central Rambla full of stalls and life, its varied neighbourhoods brimming with character, its beaches and viewpoints, its museums, its culture, and its thousands of shops, markets and businesses of every kind. Secondary and sixth-form pupils will fall in love with the Catalan capital for its atmosphere and the excursions you can enjoy during the trip. Here we share the reasons to visit Barcelona on your school leaving trip.

Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city that satisfies all tastes: cultural visits for those with a thirst for knowledge, strolls through its different parks for nature lovers, markets and squares for the more sociable, bars and venues for those who enjoy a lively night out… If you still need more reasons to choose Barcelona as the destination for your school leaving trip, keep reading and you will see there is no better option.

Its Modernist architecture

Barcelona, the Catalan capital, has developed its own style and expressed its art through Modernisme. The movement arrived in the city at the hands of Antoni Gaudí, who is the city’s preeminent artistic star. Thanks to his influence, and the subsequent work of architects such as Rogent, Domènech and Puig, Barcelona can today boast more than 100 examples of Modernist architecture.

Between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries it was the cradle of Catalan Modernisme, an architectural, plastic, design and decorative style. The inspiration for this movement was the idea of nature: all the elements that surround us were to be integrated into buildings in the form of architectural motifs — birds, flowers, leaves and vivid colour. Modernist architecture is without doubt one of the main reasons to visit Barcelona on your school leaving trip. Some of the buildings you can visit on your Modernist route are:

  • La Sagrada Família
  • Casa Milà
  • Casa Batlló
  • Parc Güell
  • Palau de la Música Catalana
  • Casa Comalat

Its historic old town

As we have noted throughout our Barcelona practical guide, this city is not defined solely by its Modernist architecture. There is much more. If your tour takes you through the oldest districts — such as El Born or the Gothic Quarter — you will discover historic, medieval Barcelona: its grand churches, the ruins of El Born and its ancient buildings.

The district encompassing Barcelona’s historic neighbourhoods is Ciutat Vella, made up of the Raval, El Born, the Gothic Quarter and La Barceloneta, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south and adjoining Plaça de Catalunya, Plaça Universitat and Plaça Urquinaona to the north. In short, it covers the areas with the most soul in the city and the ones that receive the most tourist visits each year. The life that can be felt on every corner, street and shop is the true essence of this city of many nuances. Here is what you can visit in this district:

  • La Boqueria Market
  • La Rambla
  • Palau Güell
  • Via Laietana
  • Plaça Sant Jaume and the Town Hall
  • Picasso Museum
  • Born Cultural Centre
  • Palau de la Música Catalana
  • Barcelona Cathedral of Santa Eulàlia
  • Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar
  • Church of El Pi
  • Santa Caterina Market

Its parks

Another of the reasons to visit Barcelona on your school leaving trip is its parks. There are numerous parks and gardens spread throughout the city — urban, historic and themed. They are small green lungs where you can switch off from the busy city life, and would be an ideal spot for a picnic and a rest after a long day of cultural sightseeing.

One of its most popular parks, and one of Barcelona’s defining landmarks, is Parc Güell. Parc Güell is a public park with gardens and architectural features situated in the upper part of the city. The park takes its name from Eusebi Güell, a wealthy businessman passionate about Gaudí’s work, who acted as his principal patron. The original concept when it was built was to create a luxury residential development, although it was ultimately finished as a fairytale park. It opened in 1922 and has become one of the city’s main tourist attractions. In 1984 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Parc de la Ciutadella, on the other side of the city, is a family park and a popular daily thoroughfare, thanks to its location in the city centre very close to the seafront promenade. It is known for housing the city’s zoo, for the Castell dels Tres Dragons, and above all for its monumental fountain. It is one of the largest parks in the city, and beside it stands the charming and distinctive Arc de Triomf.

Another of the city’s most important parks is Parc de Montjuïc. Within it you will find the Museum of Archaeology and the National Museum of Art of Catalonia. Also here are the Botanical Garden, the Poble Espanyol and the former Olympic site. In addition, the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc puts on a light and music show on evenings during the high season — it is well worth a visit to this wonderful park!

Its beaches

From the 1990s onwards, Barcelona’s beaches were restored and cared for, resulting in what is now an enviable coastline. Along the Barcelona seafront stretches a long promenade running the entire length of the beaches (which can be covered by bicycle so you do not miss a single one) and beach bars along the coast. You can also enjoy all manner of water sports at the beaches and at Port Olímpic, making the most of the coastal experience. We recommend some of the most notable beaches:

  • Barceloneta
  • Sant Miquel
  • Sant Sebastià
  • Nova Icària
  • Bogatell
  • Mar Bella
  • Llevant

Practical guide to organising your school trip to Barcelona

Barcelona is a city you must visit at least once in your lifetime. Would you like to know everything about this city so you do not miss a thing on your trip? We reveal the best neighbourhoods, share its secrets and encourage you to live the full experience on your school leaving trip to Barcelona. Here is everything you need to know:

For more information about all the school leaving trips we organise to Barcelona from Natuaventura, write to us at info@natuaventura.com or call us on 91 714 06 36.