What to do in El Raval

El Raval is the most diverse neighbourhood in the city, and the one that changed most deliberately: the MACBA and the CCCB were placed here in the nineties to transform it, and ended up making it the centre of contemporary art in Barcelona. Around them, the old bars, the markets and food from half the world are still there. If you have a few hours, this is where an exhibition and dinner can be on the same street.

El Raval is a neighbourhood in the Ciutat Vella district.

Standing out this week: performing arts and courses

Where to start

What's on today

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This weekend

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Coming up

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See the neighbourhood's full programme

While you are here

If you are spending a few hours in el Raval, these places are worth discovering too.

  • La Virreina Centre de la Imatge
  • Jardins de Rubio i Lluch
  • Museu Maritim (Drassanes Reials)

Waltru can combine them with the plan you already picked and help you decide what to do before or after. Complete my plan in Waltru

Get to know El Raval

From the Barrio Chino to contemporary art, in three steps.

MACBA and the CCCB opened in the 1990s as part of a plan to change the neighbourhood through cultural venues, and turned it into the city's contemporary art hub.

Its southern half was called the «Barrio Chino» from the 1920s on: not for Chinese residents —there were none— but after a journalist compared it to movie underworlds.

It has the highest share of residents born outside Spain in Barcelona, and that shows above all in its food and its street festivals.

What its programme is like

Based on 552 events between 2026-08-04 and 2027-11-02.

Venues with a programme: Filmoteca de Catalunya · Gran Teatre del Liceu · Centre Cívic Drassanes · Sala Paral·lel 62 · Teatre Poliorama · Auditori · Museu Marítim de Barcelona · Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona

Neighbourhoods next door: Gothic Quarter · Sant Antoni · El Born · Eixample

See the full Barcelona agenda