Tourists slam Spanish hotspot that has 'lost romantic charm' because of crowds
One of Barcelona's top attractions has lost its soul, according to some tourists who endured a miserable trip to the iconic location.
Each year 27million people visit the iconic Spanish city, which is around 16 times more people than its full-time population. They are attracted to its excellent al fresco dining culture, beautiful-if-not-unfinished cathedral and its beaches. With great popularity comes one specific issue however. Often the streets of Barcelona can feel crammed full of people, which can be an unpleasant sensation on a hot summer's day.
No more so than on Las Ramblas, the busy pedestrianised street which stretches for 1.2km from the heart of the city to the port. The famous tree lined avenue is a popular spot for street performers and mime artists. Tourists will find restaurants and cafes with lively terraces on both sides of the street.
The top destination also has a reputation for pickpockets and was named the worst spot for theft in Europe in a recent study. A tourist wrote on Tripadvisor that the popular street had “lost its romantic charm”. They said: “The quiet romantic feel has been replaced by bawdy bachelor and bachelorette parties coming from out of Spain.
Tourists have complained of how busy the streets get (AFP via Getty Images)“Sex shops, tacky obscene t-shirt tops and paraphernalia shops are now commonplace and when I was there in June, there were many groups of men and women drinking to get drunk, resulting in very smelly streets the next morning.”
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Another tourist added: “Don’t bother. Las Ramblas is a horrid tourist trap with nothing decent to see, eat, drink or buy. Save the time you would spend on this awful street.” A third chimed in: “I came to Las Ramblas around 20 years ago and I remember the street being vibrant and full of energy and life. I visited the street today and the soul has gone.”
While Las Ramblas definitely isn't for everyone, some tourists said they had enjoyed their experience on the street. One said: “There is so much to see around here. Such a beautiful street with street artists later on.” Earlier this year Barcelona became the latest in a string of Spanish destinations to publicly announce that they're getting too many visitors.
The mayor of the city, Ada Colau, has said she wants to cut the number of cruise ships docking there, to stop day-trippers from flooding into certain parts of the city. It comes after the official introduced a series of restrictions to prevent more tourists visiting, including restricting the number of hotel beds and new hotels in the city.
Mayor Colau also pushed for plans to expand the airport to be binned. She told the Times: "The great challenge is tourism. Barcelona is a very densely populated city, hemmed in between the mountains and the sea, with restricted space. We can’t take infinite numbers of tourists. There has to be a sense of limits and order."
Deputy mayor Jaume Collboni has said Barcelona is trying to attract "quality over quantity" when it comes to visitors to the city. He said this means fewer people coming, but spending more money.
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