Visit to the Olympic port area in Barcelona (Vila Olimpica)

We take you on a tour of the Olympic port area (Vila Olympica) in Barcelona. The district was completely renovated and modernised in 1992 for the Olympic Games. The complete reconstruction of the Olympic port area allowed the city of Barcelona to open up to the Mediterranean Sea.

Before we tell you more about the Gracia district in Barcelona, you can find our tips, tricks and good advice on each of the districts in our Barcelona City Guide. If you are preparing your first trip to Barcelona, don't hesitate to read our article my first trip to Barcelona. You will find many tips to help you prepare your stay in Barcelona.

By the way, we are Franck and Richard. We are travel bloggers and have been exploring the world by sharing our inspiring stories, itineraries, city guides, practical tips and alternative travel plans with you since 2008 on OneDayOneTravel.
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We also have a local travel agency MimpiGO, based in BALI, Indonesia. Since 2021, we have been offering 100% tailor-made, authentic, eco-responsible and solidarity-based trips.
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Here is the summary of this city guide to the Olympic Port district.

1. Map of the areas to visit in Barcelona

2. The Port of Barcelona in brief

3. Visiting Barcelona's port district: What to see, what to do, what to visit?

4. How to get to the port area?

5. Where to eat and drink in the port area?

6. Where to sleep in the port of Barcelona?

1. Map of areas to visit in Barcelona

Both the party capital and the epicentre of European culture, Barcelona has become one of Europe's top tourist destinations. The Catalan capital combines all the charm of Mediterranean cities: a relaxed lifestyle, endless sunny days and exquisite food. With multicultural influences, Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city.

On the interactive map of Barcelona below, find all our favourite addresses in Barcelona.

• The hotels where we like to put our suitcases in blue,

• The gourmet addresses where we eat good tapas in purple,

• Our must-sees in Barcelona in red,

• Some ideas for walks in green.

2. The Olympic port in brief

In the past, before the 1992 Olympic Games, the beach did not exist. Neither did the promenade, the Ronda Litoral or the buildings that housed the athletes during the Olympic Games. It was from this date that Barcelona opened up to the sea.

Times have changed in Barcelona since that world event. You can go to the beach, walk along the seafront, eat seafood or a good paella facing the Mediterranean Sea in the latest trendy tourist restaurant and why not try your luck at the Casino.

In the evening, at the marina, bars and discos open their doors to young tourists and night owls. The Mapfre Tower and theHotel Arts Tower are the symbols of the area. Both towers are visible from all over Barcelona and face the sea.

Let's discover the Olympic Port district and its seaside atmosphere.

3. Visiting the Olympic Port district in Barcelona: What to see, what to do, what to visit?

When you have visited Barcelona for the first time 20 years ago, the Olympic Port was our first port of call.

Staying with a friend who lived in the Barcelona area, we had the chance to soak up theatmosphere of the Olympic port by day and night. We had a magnificent and unprecedented view of the port and the sea from the windows of the flat that had been built for the Olympic Games. What good memories!

We made this montage from 4 photos of the time (on paper...and yes!). We wanted you to discover it.

What do you think of this unprecedented view of the Olympic port in Barcelona?

The area was completely redesigned by the architects Martorell, Bohigas, Mackay and Puigdomènech for the Olympic Games in 1992.

You can't miss the two towers. The Arts Hotel Tower, designed by architects Bruce Gram and Frank O. Gehry, with 456 luxurious rooms on the seafront and the Mapfre Tower, built by Inigo Ortiz and Enrique de León. They are both the same height: 153.5 metres.

At the foot of the Tower Arts HotelAt the foot of the Arts Hotel Tower, we recommend that you take a walk to see the Golden Fish, designed by Frank O. Gehry from metal plates.

Note that the impressive work changes colour according to the light. At 56 metres long and 35 metres high, the Golden Fish overlooks a contemporary water garden.

It is here, below, at the beach, that you will find where to eat.

The restaurants are trendy and therefore generally expensive and not necessarily typical. But many tourists are tempted by therelaxed, zen-like atmosphere of the place throughout the day.

Among the establishments present are OPIUM and ICEBAR. In the evening, some of the establishments turn into discos for tourists. Right next door is the Barcelona Casino. You can try your luck here with a drink at the end of the day, for example, after a good day of sunbathing at the beach or a day of sightseeing.

In terms of a tour of the district, we recommend that you go to the two towers from the Ciutadella - Vila Olympica metro station (line 4).

The roundabout in front of the two towers is very pleasant. There are contemporary works of art and beautiful ponds on both sides.

You can take a walk in the shade of the palm trees and other Mediterranean shrubs. The landscaped park was actually created when the Ronda Litoral was covered. A green place where you can take a picnic break.

If you walk a little, you will find the shopping centre El Centre de la Vilawhere you can eat, do some shopping and go to the cinema. Some of the screenings are in the original version with subtitles.

From the roundabout of the two towers, discover the surroundings (see above). Once you have arrived at the seafront, 2 seaside walks are possible.

• The first one is very classical and on foot, towards the district of Barceloneta.

• The walk towards the Forum is also very nice and goes to the Poblenou district first by the sea and then in the interior of the district. The second one is a long walk, so you'd better take a bike to do it.

Otherwise, from the Olympic port area, you can also visit the Ciutadella Park and the Barcelona Zoo.

4. How do I get to the Olympic Port area?

The Olympic Port area is not the best served area by metro. The nearest station is Ciutadella - Vila Olympica (line 4). It is a 10 minute walk to the 2 towers but it is a very pleasant walk.

Note that the Olympic port area is not far from the fishermen's quarter, Barceloneta. Taking the metro line 4 in Barcelona has always amused us during the summer period because you can meettourists in beachwear as well as businessmen in the same train.

You can also arrive by taxi. They usually drop off customers in front of the two towers. To leave the area, there are always taxis available there.

For more information, please see our article on modes of transport in Barcelona. The Barcelona metro map is available in pdf format.

5. Where to eat and drink in the Olympic Port area?

During the day, the tourist restaurants, especially seafood restaurants, are located below the Arts Hotel Tower, on the sandy level, towards the Barceloneta district. The choice is yours!

At night, the bars and discos near the Mac Do and facing the boats open at the same times as in France.

This is unique to the area, which is very touristy. Entrance to the bars is generally free. The best thing to do is to go from one bar-disco to another, with a chupito in your hand. The atmosphere is good from one o'clock in the morning.

In the last few years, the clientele of these bars has become younger and younger... We don't like it as much now, maybe it's old age ^^ But what a good time spent here.

Note: Burger King, Pizza Hut and Mac Do are never far away for the small budgets or to change the tapas.

The thirty-somethings and more go rather to the box restaurants like Opium or the Ice bar. The atmosphere is more chic and trendy.

6. Where to sleep in the Olympic Port?

• Rent a flat. We advise you to avoid the streets near the waterfront. You can find a lot of ideas and reviews on specialised websites like AirBnB.

Join Airbnb and get a €25 discount on your first stay of at least €65! Click here.

If you prefer to stay in a hotel, you can also enjoy yourself in the Olympic district! With many luxury hotels competing with each other, you can find good deals all year round to stay in the Olympicport.

The Olympic port area is a hub of activity and entertainment, with plenty of attractions to keep visitors occupied. Take a stroll along the waterfront and enjoy the beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea, or visit one of the area's many restaurants to sample delicious seafood dishes. For those looking to stay in the area, we recommend the H10 Cubik hotel. This stylish and modern hotel is just a short walk from the port and offers luxurious amenities and comfortable accommodations for your stay in Barcelona.

To conclude this city guide to Barcelona's Olympic port,

The Olympic Port area of Barcelona is the tourist and modern area not to be missed during a stay in Barcelona. After 20 years of travelling around Barcelona, the Olympic Port remains for us one of the must-see areas, and one that is also sea-facing.

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