Hola. Muy Buenas. Today we’re talking about Barcelona, capital of Catalonia and one of the coolest cities in Europe. Whether you’re coming for cuisine, crazy parties or culture, we’ve got you covered. Make sure you hit that subscribe button, to turn on notifications, and get ready to travel to Barcelona. Vamanos.
Gothic Quarter
Number 1: the Gothic Quarter. Start off in the heart of old Barcelona in the winding streets of the Gothic Quarter. It dates back to Roman times, and it’s the perfect place to get lost. It’s also the home to Picasso museum, but admissions are limited and crowds are massive so buy your tickets online to guarantee yourself a spot.
El Raval
Number 2: El Raval Avoid the hustlers on Las Ramblas, and go grab a coffee in La Boqueria Market before wandering the neighborhood of El Raval. Long known for its vices, El Raval is full of character and has plenty of plazas for a leisurely menu del Dia. A three-course lunch for 10 to 15 Euros, wine included. After lunch head over to MACBA, the contemporary art museum and a gathering spot for Barcelona’s international skate crowd.
Antoni Gaudi
Number 3: Next, dive into the world of Gaudi, the Catalan modernist architect that gave Barcelona its distinct style 150 years ago. Getting the intro at Casa Batilo and Casa Milà, originally constructed as private mansions for Barcelona’s industrialists. Today they’re open to the public, and they offer augmented reality tours.
Sagrada Familia
Number 4: the Sagrada Familia. Gaudi’s architectural masterpiece is the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, which is still under construction almost a hundred years after Gaudi’s death. Crowds here are crazy. It’s easily the most popular attraction in Barcelona, so either get here early, book tickets online, or just take a selfie from across the street.
Estadi Camp Nou
Number 5: Not into churches? Then check out Barcelona’s other cathedral, Camp Nou, home to FC Barcelona, one of the world’s best football clubs and the unofficial symbol of Catalan culture abroad. You guys support Madrid or Barcelona? Comment section. If you can’t get tickets, don’t worry. Every bar in town will be playing the game, especially if it’s El Classico.
Parc Guell
Number 6: Parc Guell. Another must- visit is Parc Guell, a mystical monument of modernism built by, you guessed it, Gaudi. Access to the central part of the park is restricted to a few hundred people at a time, so book your tickets online if you want that perfect Tinder profile pic or just wander the outside area out for free.
Gracia
Number 7: Gracia. From Parc Guell, walk down the hill to Gracia, a village that has been absorbed into Barcelona. It’s funky and bohemian and it feels like a small-town oasis in the middle of a big city. If you’re visiting in August, make sure you don’t miss the Festa Major de Gracia, which is a neighborhood festival where locals build huge human castles, known as Castells.
Barceloneta
Number 8: Barceloneta. One of the best things about Barcelona is that it’s right on the Mediterranean. Barceloneta is the beach of the city, and it’s where the young and sexy go to tan, occasionally surf, and there’s some great nightlife. If you’re at a beach for the day, the enjoining neighborhood of Barceloneta is a really great place to grab some lunch. There’s beautiful plazas as well as some old school taverns that serve tapas.
Bunquers del Carmelo
Number 9: Bunquers del Carmelo For sunset, head to the hills in the Bunquers del Carmelo, a military complex, which helped defend the city when it was besieged in the 1930s during the Spanish Civil War. A lot of people don’t know this, but during the Spanish Civil war, Barcelona was actually run by an anarchist trade union. To find out more about that fascinating history, either take a walking tour or check out the book by George Orwell, Homage to Catalonia.
Tapas and Nightlife
Numbers 10: Tapas and Nightlife. When night falls, it’s time to get tapas, bite-size eats that cost a few euros a pop. One of the best places to get tapas is the Carrer de Blai in the neighborhood of Poble-sec It’s fun but not filling. So if you’re going to go party make sure you order quite a few tapas and get some patatas bravas, potatoes which are great for soaking up the booze. One last thing that’s really important: locals in Barcelona are having a huge problem with tourists who are treating this beautiful city like their personal playground.
If you go to Barcelona, please make sure to be respectful and do not make too much noise after 1 am because a lot of these areas have people sleeping. Treat the locals how you would want to be treated when you’re at home. Be respectful. Let’s turn this problem around and give foreigners a good reputation.
Those are our top 10 things to do in Barcelona. If you’ve been to Barcelona, if you’re from Barcelona, make sure you share your tips in the comments section. Please share this post. In the meantime, stay curious, keep exploring, and we’ll see you guys on the road. Peace. Pace y Amor. Hasta luego.
