One of the most popular streets in the Ciutat Vella is La Rambla, a series of connected streets that form a pedestrian walkway that’s about three-fourths of a mile long. Located between the neighborhoods of El Raval and the Barcelona Gothic Quarter, Las Ramblas is a perfect place to stroll under the trees while shopping your heart out. It also has an entrance to La Boqueria, an extensive centuries-old street market that is one of the top sights in the city. At La Boqueria you can marvel at the piles of fresh fruit and vegetables, and diverse goods such as candies, fish, pastries, cured meats, breads, and other artisan products. Another popular location on Las Ramblas is the famed Barcelona opera house, the Liceu, with its beautiful historic façade and opulent interior. The Font de Canaletes is located in the northern part of the neighborhood and is the most popular meeting point in Barcelona.

Ciutat Vella is also home to one of Barcelona's most diverse neighborhoods, El Raval. Also known as Chinatown, El Raval was historically known for its prostitution and scandalous nightlife. Today, the area has been cleaned up significantly and is now a haven for artists and several immigrant communities. There is a newly burgeoning nightlife in El Raval, and there are many bars, trendy restaurants, and nightclubs springing up all over the place. The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art is located in El Raval; this modern white building houses art from the 1940s to the present.