Best places to read in Barcelona

Barcelona is a sunny city that invites locals and visitors to spend a lot of time outdoors. If you feel like you haven’t been enjoying enough time outside, why not pick up a book and choose one of the many natural spaces in the city for a couple of hours of literary pleasure?

The Beach

If you are looking to get tanned but don’t usually have the patience to sit still and wait for the sun to do its magic, bringing a book to the beach is the perfect solution for you. When a book is captivating, we tend to focus all our attention in it, making time fly.

Don’t forget to bring the necessary gear to protect yourself while you tan: sun lotion, hat, sun glasses and a good bottle of water.

Parc de la Ciutadella

Parks are excellent places to sit and read while enjoying the tranquility and pleasurable nature sounds that surround you. Parc de la Ciutadella is one of the biggest parks in the city, offering a variety of spots where you can sit and have some quality reading time. You can sit on one of the benches close to the fountain, hearing the trickling of water while you read; you can sit near the bandstand where you may catch a glimpse of tap dancers practicing or children having fun on the stage; you can sit on the ground, leaning your back against a tree; or even bring a towel and lie down on top of the grass.

Maritime Museum’s garden

Located at Avinguda Drassanes, slightly removed from the center, the Maritime Museum’s garden is a pleasant and peaceful place to spend a few hours in the company of a good book. Have a seat at one of the café’s tables and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of your surroundings while having a cup of coffee or a nice, refreshing drink.

University of Barcelona’s garden

Many are those who walk by the University every day and have never entered to explore inside.

Next time you walk around that area, dare to explore the grounds and discover the University’s hidden treasure. You will see a rectangular pond with bright orange fish swimming around, discover plants like the yucca, pine trees, cedars, sycamores, olive trees, gingko biloba and much more. There are benches all over the garden, perfect for an afternoon reading and listening to the songs of birds that live and visit the University’s garden.