El Raval

Raffish neighbourhood with great nightlife and shopping

Talk of the town: In medieval times the walled district was used to house institutions the city wanted distance from, such as the market and a lepers' colony. Hence the name Raval - 'outside' in Arabic.
Just to the west of Las Ramblas but miles apart in atmosphere, the medieval barrio of El Raval is a densely populated, multicultural neighbourhood crammed with small restaurants, bars and independent shops.

Once very seedy, over the last few years the area has become quite fashionable and gentrified. Still, be aware that at night, the dark, narrow streets can turn from atmospheric to edgy and you may still spot prostitutes and dealers plying their trade.
La Boqueria market is definitely the neighbourhood's pièce de résistance but Raval has a lot more to offer, such as the imposing modern art museum MACBA, the Picasso Museum and the Monastery of Saint Paul del Camp, as well as some of the city's hippest night spots - and its most colourful characters.