A small prologue
There is no chance you have NOT heard about Barcelona. It is usually a city framed by great comments not only by many people who visited and loved it but also by most travel bloggers around the world. After a lot of searching though, I discovered that there are two sides when it comes to Barcelona . On one hand those who love it as their own paradise and the ones that you will find completely opposed to that. After my visit, you will find me somewhere in the middle. This my experience of traveling to Barcelona!
Barcelona second largest city in Spain and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of about 1,7 million inhabitants. Its climate is Mediterranean, with very hot summers and wet winters. It is one of the most famous destinations for weekends, within Europe and included in the top ten destinations around the world. But does it really deserve all this reputation? This , i will let YOU decide.
So let’s get started. If you plan on traveling to Barcelona, I suggest you the following:
Visit all Anton Gaudi Masterpieces
If there is a man who made Barcelona the famous place that is today, this is certainly, architect Anthony Gaudí. Seven characteristic buildings have his touch and certainly without him , Barcelona would be much more insignificant.
Sagrada Famiglia: Barcelona’s trademark and Spain’s Holy Place is the church of the “Holy Family”. A work of incredible creativity and fantasy, so imposing that will surely leave you speechless. His construction was called off after the death of Gaudi in 1926 but works have restarted and it is now estimated that it will be finished by 2026. It is also beautiful on the inside. You can get there by metro (it has a stop right next to it) and the ticket to enter starts at 15 euros.
Casa Batllo and Casa Mila: Two homes of insuperable beauty, located in the center of the city and relatively close to each other. Once again, architecture and colors will leave you speechless, both from the outside and from the inside. The ticket to enter starts at 20 euros.
Park Guell: Choose a sunny day, take a few snacks with you and wander through the park, which is on El Carmel hill in the Gracia district. The park was purchased in 1900 by Earl Guell, who commissioned Gaudi to design houses that he would later sell to affluent residents. The project wrecked and in 1914 opened to the public as a park. Exquisite designs surround it and, of course, the typical colorful mosaic that features Barcelona is everywhere. There you will find the famous lizard, but also the home that Gaudi lived with his family and has now turned into a museum.
If you don’t want to spend a fortune on entrance tickets , buy a Barcelona Card.
Grab a snack at Boqueria Merkat
You can not , not walk on the most famous street of the city . That is the place where all the shops are located, street people sell everything you can imagine, and there is a pandemonium every day. Going down this road, somewhere on the right is the entrance of the Market, a large market where you can find almost everything , from fruit juices to fish cooked at that moment . I loved this place and came several times for a quick snack. At the end of this road you will find yourself in front of the Columbus statue, where you can climb to see the view, and of course the city beach which is right next to it.
Wander around the Gothic Quarter
Just before the end of La Rambla and on the left, there is the Gothic Quarter, which is basically the old city of Barcelona, full of narrow alleys and medieval buildings. Discover the cathedral, which is really awesome! In this area you will find the most cute little coffee shops or beer shops. Apparently it became my favorite neighborhood!
Extra tip! Locate Mescladis cafe! thank me later!
Visit the Aquarium and other museums.
Close to Columbus statue, is the Aquarium of Barcelona. With 20 euro entrance , you can pleasantly spend a couple of hours. Personally, that was my first visit to an aquarium, so I enjoyed it very much but on the other hand, 20 euro seem a bit pricey! As for the museums, do not omit the Picasso Museum, the Navy Museum and the Chocolate Museum.
Watch a football game at Camp Nou.
If you get lucky, watch a football game of the Barcelona team or even make a tour of Europe’s largest capacity stadium!
Try the local flavors!
Barcelona is famous for its fantastic cuisine as it has several restaurants with Michelin stars and is high on the gastronomic map. But that does not mean you can not eat well everywhere, from the best restaurant to the smallest tapas bar. Try their famous smoked ham, crema catalana and churros , their sausages chorizos, spanish omelets and much more. It’s a city that you can not get hungry and that’s something I can guarantee!
Wak around the Citadela Park.
The ideal park to relax on the lawn and enjoy the tranquility, the historic fountain and feed the ducks on the lake. It ends up at the Barcelona Zoo . And generally enjoy the city and its beauties. Take a stroll, lose yourself in the straits and discover something new in every corner. It is a city that can hold you for a full week or you can also feel full in a weekend. Some of my favourite memories of traveling to Barcelona.
Is Barcelona expensive?
Compered to other European capitals , i would say that is NOT expensive but it is more expensive than other Spanish cities. Museum entrances seemed a bit pricey too.
Traveling to Barcelona was an amazing experience . It has it all. Stunning architecture, beaches and sea, colors and monuments, parks and countless museums, good food and nightlife. It does not lack of anything. Ideal destination all year round and for all tastes and as a first taste of the Spanish land , it made me want to go back to see other places, maybe more traditional! But it did not make me want to go back to Barcelona. If I could characterize my whole journey in a sentence, it would be the following. I was almost forced to a feeling that did not come out to me.
So did i like it?
I could blame my love for smaller cities, or my tastes. There may be great expectations, long distances, or the feeling that the locals are tired of the overwhelming number of tourists who flood it every year. Clutter on the streets, long queues everywhere and it was just the beginning of March. I do not even want to imagine what happens in the summer or how it can be experienced by all the permanent residents!
Truth is , in 2015 the mayor of Barcelona, banned the establishment of new hotel accommodation and the creation of airbnb apartments but also the permanent residents filled the city with slogans against the tourists.It is a very delicate line which separates the beautiful living between locals and tourists in Barcelona this line may have been overcome. If I suggest you go? FOR SURE. No one can judge better than yourself. Enjoy!
If you are interested in having day trips from Barcelona , i can suggest those two : Tossa De mar and Monserrat monastery
Watch my Barcelona Video:
Evita.
