Vila Olímpica
Barcelona's Olympic Village
Overview
Sun, sand and soft southern waves….
In Vila Olímpica, you'll enjoy a relaxing beachside life. Quick access to the city centre too.
La Vila Olímpica de Poblenou was built to house the athletes of the 1992 Olympic Games, a project which regenerated this formerly industrial area.
The neighbourhood now boasts wide avenues, 1st-class sports facilities, a marina and proximity to the beach. (Being honest, it was always close to the beach.)
Sound like your thing?
What can I do here?
Walk along the beach and contemplate Frank Gehry's Peix (fish).
It's a 52-metre-long sculpture of, unsurprisingly, a fish. It's made of reflective steel strands. When the sun hits they melt from silver to gold. Nice.
Rollerblade, cycle or roll along the 4.5-kilometre seafront promenade. If you want to spend time on the beach, keep walking until the crowds thin. Where go crowds, go vendors, go pickpockets.
On your way home, check out the enormous Torre Mapfre. (Don't expect fireworks though, it's just a tower.)
At night, head to the Olympic port. It's surrounded by bars, restaurants and clubs.
El Cangrejo Loco has super-fresh seafood delivered from the same port your table overlooks. Reserve a table on the top-floor terrace. The blue skies, golden sands and white yachts will bring out your inner 007. So very suave.
IceBarcelona is an ice bar (did you guess?)
It's on Ramón Trías Fargas. It's a big fridge, -5 degrees Celsius. Your glass is made of ice. Your chair is made of ... ice. It's €16 to get in. They loan you a jacket. Is it worth it? Let us know.
Historical fact
The Vila Olímpica was Barcelona's first maritime port. Seaworthy!
How affordable is this neighbourhood?
€€ (mid-range)
