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Plaza de Catalunya

Squares & fountains ·Barcelona ·Open now
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About

Plaza de Catalunya is a public square in central Barcelona, at the meeting point of the old city and the 19th-century Eixample.

More photos 11

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Plaza de Catalunya — Visitors and pigeons fill the open central plaza Sergi Larripa ( User:SergiL ) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · edited
Plaza de Catalunya — Visitors and pigeons fill the open central plazaPlaza de Catalunya — Fountain jets in front of a tall corner buildingPlaza de Catalunya — Fountain and flowerbeds framed by the plaza’s buildingsPlaza de Catalunya — Fountain jets beside a stone statuePlaza de Catalunya — Dark monument rises above a reflecting pool in the squarePlaza de Catalunya — Stone statue and monument beside the plaza’s fountainPlaza de Catalunya — Illuminated fountain and statue at nightPlaza de Catalunya — Festive light strands cross the plaza after darkPlaza de Catalunya — Decorative Christmas lights hang above the plazaPlaza de Catalunya — Illuminated seasonal installation with hanging lights at nightPlaza de Catalunya — Fountain below the ornate corner building on the plaza

What's on here

ICE ’27 Barcelona Coffee Run by MSHD ICE ’27 Barcelona Coffee Run by MSHD Sunday, 15:00Free

Why go

  • Passeig de Gràcia, Rambla de Catalunya, La Rambla and Portal de l’Àngel meet at the square.
  • The central area hosts concerts, civic celebrations, temporary exhibitions and Semana del Libro en Catalán.
  • Café Zurich is a surviving meeting place where writers and artists once met.

Opening hours

Today00:00 – 23:59Show all
Monday00:00 – 23:59
Tuesday00:00 – 23:59
Wednesday00:00 – 23:59
Thursday00:00 – 23:59
Friday00:00 – 23:59
Saturday00:00 – 23:59
Sunday00:00 – 23:59

Don't miss

  • Sculptures and monumentsLook around the perimeter for Josep Clarà’s La Deessa, Frederic Marès’s Barcelona and Pablo Gargallo’s Pastor. The Francesc Macià monument by Josep Maria Subirachs bears the inscription “Catalunya a Francesc Macià”.Around the square’s perimeter
  • Compass rose and pavingLook for the compass rose in the central paving and the star pattern in blue, red and grey tiles.Centre of the square
  • Upper fountainsTwo large fountains mark the upper end; fountains and planting around the square help screen traffic noise.Upper end of the square

Photo spots

  • Square from Café ZurichPhotograph the square from Café Zurich’s terrace.Café Zurich terrace
  • Square from El Corte Inglés caféLook across the square from the café in El Corte Inglés, on its northeast edge.Café in El Corte Inglés

Interesting facts4

1/4
  1. 48,500 square

    The square covers 48,500 square metres.

    Plaça de Catalunya | Meet Barcelona

  2. Its sculptures span Noucentisme, Neo-Classicism and avant-garde movements.

    Plaça de Catalunya - Wikipedia

  3. Escola Massana pupils designed mosaics on the underground walls.

    Plaça de Catalunya - Wikipedia

  4. The original Gran Metro terminated here and later became today’s green line, L3.

    Plaça de Catalunya - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

Before the city walls came down, this was an esplanade outside a main gate, with roads toward villages including Gràcia and Sarrià. It became an open-air market and meeting place. Cerdà’s expansion plan did not include a square here; cafés, theatres and fairground stalls occupied the site.

  1. 1859The Plan Rovira proposed a large square at this site.
  2. 1862The city council asked for the site to be laid out as a square.
  3. 1889Pedro Falqués won the design competition, and the square received official building permission.
  4. 1892Expropriation of houses and other buildings on the site began.
  5. 1902The first landscaping phase began, with crossing avenues and a circular plaza.
Show all
  1. 1927King Alfonso XIII inaugurated the square on 2 November.
  2. 1937The square was a focal point of violent clashes during the Spanish Civil War; on 3 May, police stormed the Telefónica building on its east side.
  3. May 2011The square hosted anti-government protests and sit-ins.

How to get there

  • TrainMetro: L1 and L3 cross beneath the square; L6 and L7 start here.
  • TrainRail: Barcelona Plaça Catalunya is served by FGC and Renfe/Rodalies trains.
  • BusSurface buses and most night bus routes serve the square.
  • BusThe Aerobús to the airport starts at the square.

Sources: Plaça de Catalunya - Wikipedia · Barcelona/Eixample - Wikivoyage (sleep) · Plaça de Catalunya | Meet Barcelona · La plaça de Catalunya | Meet Barcelona · Plaça de Catalunya - Wikipedia · Plaza de Cataluña - Wikipedia · Place de Catalogne (Barcelone) - Wikipedia · checked 28 Sep 2026

Where
Plaça de Catalunya, Eixample, 08002 Barcelona, Spain

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

Is Plaza de Catalunya open at night?

Yes, the square is open 24 hours every day.

Where is the main tourist office in Plaza de Catalunya?

The city’s main tourist office is beneath the square.

Is Avinguda de la Llum still a shopping arcade?

The underground arcade opened in 1940 and closed in 1990. Its galleries now form part of the Triangle’s underground area.

Why is Plaza de Catalunya considered Barcelona’s centre?

It is regarded as the city centre and Catalonia’s kilometre zero.

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