10 locations to read in Barcelona

Are you in love with books? Are you one of those people who can’t go too many hours without stopping for a reading session and who carries a book around with you everywhere you go? If so, then you will be happy to know there are some great reading nooks in the city of Barcelona. In this article, we share a few of our favorites.

Table of Contents

Ciutadella Park

Photo by Fèlix González via Visualhunt

Without a doubt the most famous park in the city, Ciutadella Park stand between the Barcelona Zoo and Passeig Lluis Companys, leading up to Arc de Triomf. Created in 1877, this park is open every day of the year and it can be visited free of charge. Depending on the day of the week you choose to go to the park, you will find it quieter or busier. If you prefer the quiet, try to go on weekdays, particularly during work hours. If you prefer to have some background noise going while you read, then definitely go on the weekends, when you will find people playing musical instruments, dancing, juggling, slacklining, doing yoga and a number of other activities. Sit under a tree, by the gazebo, by the fountain, or the lake and dive into your favorite book.

Horta Labyrinth Park

Created in 1791, Parque del Laberinto de Horta is a beautiful historical garden that used to belong to a wealthy family. The park owes its name to the fact that it has a full-size labyrinth made with plants, where visitors can get lost. The park also has a number of statues, a waterfall, and a romantic garden to be discovered. The park is located very near Collserola, which means it is a great place to take a few deep, cleansing breaths of pure fresh air.

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Interior courtyard of the CCCB

Photo by ario_ via Visualhunt

Located in the Raval neighborhood, Barcelona’s Center of Contemporary Culture has a nice courtyard where you can take a seat and enjoy the silence while you read your favorite book. The CCCB also has a wonderful little bookshop which sells quirky publications and toys. If you choose the CCCB courtyard as your reading spot, avoid going on the weekend, especially on Sundays, when the entrance to the center is free, which always means more crowds and a lot of noise.

Miramar Viewpoint

Take a ride on Barcelona’s funicular and reach this high point in the city where you can sit and read while also taking breaks to enjoy great views of the city. Depending on where you choose to sit, you will be able to see the Christopher Columbus statue, the W Hotel, the Mediterranean Sea, and the World Trade Center.

Palau Robert Gardens

These gardens are a haven in the middle of the bustling city, located right next to one of the busiest avenues in Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal. If you are walking along Passeig de Gràcia, the gardens will go unnoticed but if you go into the Palau you will gain access to the gardens, without having to pay any entrance fees.

The gardens of the Palau Reial de Pedralbes

Photo by Oriol Lladó via VisualHunt

Palau Reial de Pedralbes is a beautiful building located in the Les Corts district, with large, lush gardens with plenty of benches, sunny and shady places to sit on. Due to the fact that this site is a little more removed from the center, it is usually a quiet place, except during the Festival Jardin de Pedralbes, which starts at the end of June, bringing loud music and crowds of people to the gardens.

Libraries of Barcelona

If you prefer to read indoors, there is no shortage of libraries in Barcelona where you can seclude yourself to be able to finish that book you have been reading for ages. If you feel like it, you can get a library card and borrow a book from the library to bring home with you. The libraries of Barcelona usually have magazines and comics available to be read on the spot, either sitting at a table or on a sofa in the lounge area.

At the beach

Barcelona has many beaches which means there is plenty of sand to sit or lie on while you enjoy a good read. If you don’t want to get sand on your book or don’t feel like putting on a bathing suit, you can still enjoy the beach by sitting at one of the chiringuitos, the beach bars that pop up every summer, or sit on one of the many benches on the promenade by the beach.

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* Main photo by Adrià Pascual via Visualhunt