Plaça de Catalunya is the pivot around which Barcelona rotates. La Rambla runs south from here toward the port; the Eixample grid fans out to the north and west; Passeig de Gràcia begins just off the northeast corner. The square itself is large and airy, with fountains, bronze sculptures, and flocks of pigeons, and it draws tourists, commuters, and protesters in roughly equal measure.
The tourist information office is in the underground level on the south side, well stocked with maps and transport passes. The main bus routes converge here, and the Aerobús to the airport stops on the north edge. Most visitors pass through rather than linger, but the benches are as good a place as any to get your bearings before heading into the Gothic Quarter or up toward Gaudí's Barcelona.