Biblioteca de Catalunya

Biblioteca de Catalunya

Biblioteca de Catalunya
4
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
About
The National Library of Catalonia preserves and disseminates the bibliographic heritage of over 3 million documents.MissionThe mission of the Library of Catalonia (BC) is to collect, preserve and disseminate bibliographic production, including digital-Catalan and Catalan language area related.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area

Address
Neighborhood: El Raval
Once a downtrodden corner of downtown Barcelona, this gritty area has seen a cultural resurgence boasting an excellent nightlife and one of the most multi ethnic spots in the entire city. A sense of humble authenticity protrudes from the many independent record stores, second hand shops, and student bars that seem to light up the streets day and night. The rocking epicenter, the MACBA Plaça, is a modern day forum for bohemian youth, abuzz with the sights and sounds of late-night gatherings and talented skateboarders showing off their latest tricks.
How to get there
  • Liceu • 4 min walk
  • Sant Antoni • 8 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles68 reviews
Excellent
30
Very good
28
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
2

jennifer s
County Antrim, UK12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Family
My daughter and I took the train from Malgrat de Mar to Barcelona and got off at the place de Catalonia? I think it's the third stop.
We headed down past the tour buses and just wandered about. We discovered the big food market which was amazing! We had a quick whizz around a big old church and then found ourselves in what may of been part of the Gothic Quarter. It was beautiful but there were a lot of homeless men there so we were a bit wary.
We had lunch in a very reasonably priced Japanese restaurant just down from the main square. Basically we headed towards Primark and on down the street straight ahead.
We then visited a large mall on the square as my daughter wanted to clothes shop and I wanted to go to Sephora.
We also went to a fantastic art and stationary shop which was about five stories high. Can't remember the name of it.
Lots of great shops down side streets and places for coffee.
Then we got the train back to Malgrat de Mar. Make sure you get the right one as we ended up at the end of the line and had to change trains.
Lovely day out, saw a small bit of Barcelona at our own speed and cheap to take the train.
Written October 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

permia
Ireland67,094 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
Old Hospital de la Santa Creu is a great location for the National Library. Within stone works originating in the 15th century, a vast collection of tomes and volumes are held.

As a Library it relocated here in 1940 and was deemed the National Library in 1981.

Tremendous vaulted halls now provide a valuable service for the local people, with easy access and many facilities.

An exhibition on photography was underway, comprising numerous books of same.
Written March 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul B
35 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Family
This is where Gaudi was taken after the tram accident. No longer a paupers hospital, its now the Library. The square is beautiful, a real gem. I recommend that you find it! Also, on a hot day, why not walk into the AIR-CON Library, walk up and down the aisles for a few minutes and regain your composure then head into the square refreshed? hint hint
Written August 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alena K
3 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Solo
I had a very disappointing experience. First of all, it's extremely unsafe to enter. When I saw the library, I thought I was at the wrong address because it was filled with drug addicts, making it 100% unsafe. People were lying on the ground in the garden, and the security guard was smoking right at the entrance, forcing you to pass through a cloud of smoke to get in.

I traveled here from another city, and although there was plenty of space to study, it was half empty, but I wasn't allowed to stay unless I was doing research. Whether or not you can stay there literally depends on what you're reading. This is pure absurdity, especially when the hall was half empty.

It might have been a beautiful place some time ago, but now it's very unsafe and unfriendly, with unhelpful staff. I will never return.
Written August 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Seeeway
Seattle, WA49 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2017
Passed by by accident and fell in love with the garden. Saw local people playing huge chess and it's super fun!
Written August 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JBPurgerFrb
Frederiksberg, Denmark1,746 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2016 • Couples
Biblioteca de Catalunya (the National Library of Catalunya) is situated in Jardins de RubiĂł i Lluch. Both the outside and the inside takes your breath away. When Gaudi was run down by a tram, he was taken here. At that time this was a hospital, which moved to Sant Pau Hospital near Sagrada Familia.
Written September 12, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LN1946
Varde, Denmark7,768 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2016 • Couples
Library of Catalonia is located in El Raval between Carrer de l'Hospital and Carrer del Carme.
It is a beautiful old building.
The Library-garden is an idyllic oasis. For rest, reading, playing. A wondeful place.
One of many oasis in the metropolitan.
Written June 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SONNY D
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
Meh… the nice looking area in the picture is reserved for “researchers” so it’s a little misleading. If you go upstairs and find it, you’re met with turnstiles requiring a card for access. There’s a manned desk and if you ask about getting access they’ll impatiently tell you it’s only for researchers and then point you downstairs to the basic-looking public library where you belong.

All of the public libraries inBarcelona have weird hours so you can only use them for 4 hours max. Most are open from 10-14, close from 14-16, and then reopen from 16-20. 15 minutes before closing they start blasting music over speakers.
Written March 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ben B
74 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019 • Solo
Tucked away in a hidden corner of El Raval, the Biblioteca de Catalunya is one of Barcelona's most beautiful secrets. The public section is free to enter and contains a wealth of reading material for those for whom the city's museums aren't enough, and whilst the main library itself (up the big stairs on the left upon entering the gardens from Carrer del Hospital) requires a pass to enter, this is both free and easily obtained at the main desk, for both passing and more lengthy visits.
Written April 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

majorcan
Palma, Majorca2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2018
Spaceful library with an enormous catalogue and helpful staff. A quiet place where to read or to work with your computer. You need to apply for a free membership though.
Written October 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Biblioteca de Catalunya - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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