The Province of Barcelona is one of the four provinces of Catalonia, centred around the Catalan capital Barcelona. Dominated by its capital, it features both an extensive Mediterranean coast with many popular beach resorts, as well as a mountain range rising far over 1,000 m in the immediate vicinity of the coast. Owing to Barcelona again, this is one of the most visited regions of Europe, with a wide network of connections both within the continent and beyond.

Besides being a major tourist destination, the Province of Barcelona is also very successful economically and quite affluent, less affected by the crises that plagued the rest of Spain. Much of the Province's area, especially close to the coastline, is heavily urbanised and industrialised, with factories (including the headquarters and main plant of the Spanish car brand SEAT) sitting side by side with tourist resorts, and the Port of Barcelona being a major commercial port.

Cities

• 1 Barcelona - capital of both the region and the entire Catalonia, Spain's second-largest city and one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations

Eastern Coast

Extends east of Barcelona and forms a continuity with the Costa Brava in the province of Girona

• 2 Badalona — Badalona is both a dormitory town and a developed city in itself. Despite being shadowed by its neighbour city Barcelona, Badalona features many cultural tourist attractions
• 3 Mataró — nearby the town are the archaeological remains of the Roman villa of Can Llauder
• 4 Santa Susanna — a laid-back town between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountainous wooded backdrop of the Massif Montenegre that is a popular holiday destination
• 5 Sant Pol de Mar — over 3 km of regular beaches which are book-ended by some nice nude beaches

Western Coast

Extends west of Barcelona and the airport of El Prat

• 6 Sitges — a coastal town that became Europe's no. 1 resort for the gay community
• 7 Viladecans — a city with a beautiful beach and streets, which are full of markets, that is famous for sports
• 8 Vilanova y la Geltrú — has a wealth of opulent 19th-century buildings
• 9 Castelldefels — a town famous for its beach of more than 5 km, an affluent area with many famous sportsmen as residents

Along the river Llobregat

The river Llobregat is the largest river in the region, regulated and with its banks heavily urbanized and industrialized

• 10 El Prat de Llobregat - mostly known for lending the name to the Barcelona airport
• 11 Hospitalet de Llobregat - buffer zone between Barcelona and the airport
• 12 Sant Boi de Llobregat
• 13 Santa Coloma de Cervelló

Further inland

Situated in the mountain ranges rising immediately behind the coast are many towns and villages very different from the coastal resorts

Main Cities

• 14 Manresa
• 15 Vic (Barcelona)
• 16 Igualada
• 17 Berga

Other cities

• 18 Begues
• 19 Cardona
• 20 La Llacuna — beautiful Mediterranean outback village, with typical gastronomy and landscapes
• 21 La Palma de Cervelló
• 22 Rupit — small medieval town

Other destinations

• 1 Montserrat — an unusual rock mountain with the Santa Maria de Montserrat monastery on top, very popular among Catalans
• Visit any of the Nature parks in Barcelona province

Get in

By plane

The province is served by the Barcelona El Prat Airport, close to the Mediterranean coast east of the city of Barcelona between the municipalities of El Prat de Llobregat and Viladecans. It is Spain's second-busiest and Europe's tenth-busiest airport, with connections all across the continent, as well as sizeable intercontinental traffic.

Low-fare and charter airlines of Europe also serve the airports in Girona and Reus in the neighbouring provinces, from where you can get to Barcelona directly by regular bus connections.

By train

If you get in by train, take the railway of RENFE or the Metro.The Railway of RENFE there are all ways to get in.The R1, R2, R3 and R4 to Sants is reality or take the R5 and R6 to Plaza de Espana.The Metro for TMB can also get you to Sants. On the L3 and L5 you can get to Sants real easily. Also the Suburban FGC trains can get you to Plaza de Espana. There is also an FGC Metro. It gets you to Plaza de Espana and Plaza de Catalunya. The L6, L7, S1, S2, S5, and S55 trains get you to Plaza de Catalunya. The L8, S33, S4, and S8 to Plaza de Espana. The TRAM trains go in the T1, T2, and T3 in the Llobregat area and the T4, T5, and T6 in the Besos area.

By boat

Barcelona's province has several ports. The main port where all ferries, cruises and cargo arrives is:

• 1 Port of Barcelona, ☏ + 34 93 298 60 00, sau@portdebarcelona.cat. (updated Aug 2023)

See

UNESCO listed sites

• Visit the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in Barcelona
  • 1 Montseny Natural Park. (updated Dec 2023)
  • 2 Works of Antoni Gaudi. Park Güell, Palau Güell, Casa Milà, Casa Vicens, Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, Cripta de la Colònia Güell (updated Jan 2024)
  • 3 Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau. (updated Jan 2024), Barcelona
  • Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula in Barcelona. (updated Feb 2024)
• Enjoy UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in Barcelona
  • 4 Patum de Berga. (updated Jan 2024)
  • Human Towers (Castells). (updated Jan 2024)
• visit UNESCO creative cities
  • Barcelona. Literature city (updated Jan 2024)