In my opinion, having an idea or a plan for your getaway it is important. It is much less stressful when you have done some research beforehand, so that you can enjoy yourself and you are able to get the most out of your holiday. Barcelona is a city with a melange of the old and the new, so there are so many sights to see and places to explore. Hopefully this article points you to some of the best places to visit in Barcelona!
Food and Drink:
Barcelona is a city flooded with eatery places, enough to satisfy anyone’s appetite. Whether you fancy a quick snack or a more filling meal there is surely somewhere to eat!
The first place I would recommend having a look for food would be down La Rambla, which is a popular place for tourists due to its wide street and plethora of cafes and shops lining the sides. Additionally, as you walk down La Rambla directly off the main street is the entrance to the Mercat de Boqueria (a traditional long-running Spanish market). This is a great place to try-out different savoury snacks, chocolates, meats, cheeses, and swirly potatoes on a stick! If you fancy giving other Spanish foods a try this is the place for you.
Along the alleys of the Gothic Quarter are small gelato parlours and coffee shops, as you follow the streets down you are more than likely to find yourself being led out to a peaceful plaza dotted cafes with cute outdoors seating.
If you are looking for a slightly more formal meal the Plaça Reial is a great place to begin. The Plaza not only has some delicious restaurants, but it is something of a beauty, with palm trees and a gorgeous water foundation centred in the middle plaza.
If you fancy trying some of Spain’s infamous paella and tapas whilst you are in Barcelona, I would recommend taking an early evening walk to the waterfront restaurants along Port Vell and ordering yourself a yummy seafood paella and a selection of tapas, such as mushroom croquettes and patatas bravas. If you are feeling extra indulgent, make sure to treat yourself to a fruity glass or two of Sangria! I would highly recommend eating down by the harbour as there was a very tranquil vibe to the restaurants, as well as you are walking back down Port Vell as the sun sets all of the lights turn on, which such a pretty sight.
My final suggestion of where to try to eat is the skyline view restaurant at Parc del Mirador del Poble Sec which offer a beautiful overlooking view of the city, although this sounds quite fancy the food and drink prices were very reasonable. This restaurant can be reached if you take the Torre Sant Sebastià (the cable cars). The views are spectacular offering you a panoramic view of Barcelona and the sea, this is a great place to take a minute and soak up the moment and the beautiful city.
Culture and Art:
As I mentioned before, a great place to start to experience and feel immersed in the Catalonian culture is the open-air market, which is a social hub and melting pot. As you step into the space there is an electric bustle and smell of fresh foods and a lovely sense of community.
There are other small markets located on different plazas around the Gothic Quarter, the markets in the Ciutat Vella district next to the cathedral are particularly charming and sweet, they offer artisan cheeses, candied nuts, pottery, and jewellery. I really liked these small markets as they seemed to celebrate local people and their talent and products!
As I visited Barcelona in February, despite it not being peak tourist season there were still so many events happening in the city. One being the Santa Eulàlia festival (known as La Laia). I was lucky enough to see some of the traditional displays of the festival such as, the ‘trobada de gegants’ and the pyramid of people.
The city also hosts some wonderful art exhibitions such as the Picasso display in the Picasso Museum, as well the LLUM BCN 22, the Light Arts Festival. If urban art interesst you like it does me, simply walking down the many streets of the Gothic Quarter you are spoilt by the creative artwork on the sides of walls, bins, lampposts etc.
History:
Barcelona is a city which has practically everything on offer and a deep history is no exception as the city was founded by the Romans. As you wander around the Gothic Quarter there is the sense of the ancient, in 1956 it was discovered that a Roman cemetery had been lying underneath the ground in which building had been built on. The tombs of the cemetery are on display in the Plaça Vila de Madrid.
One of the key places you have to visit is La Sagrada Família which is a UNESCO world heritage site, it certainly takes your breath away and leaves you feeling quite overwhelmed because of its intricate architecture. The immense building was designed by Antoni Gaudí who began construction on it in 1882 and in 2022 building is still taking place on it!
Whilst you are in the vicinity of La Sagrada Família, you may like to see another product of Gaudí’s and that is Park Güell, a truly impressive place to visit where you could easily spend a few hours. My favourite highlights of the park were there beautifully constructed mosaic wall and the spectacular city view on offer at the top of the park.
A guided tour is a great idea if you would like to learn more about the history of the city, as ;ocal residents usually direct the tours and offer lots of information on the ‘ins and outs’ of the city.
Finally, I thought I would finish by suggesting some other fun activities worth trying out, such as the cable car ride from Torre Sant Sebastia, or a visit to the beach with a possible paddle in the sea if it’s not too cold! Perhaps a wander around the labyrinthine streets of the Gothic Quarter, or a bar crawl or a visit to a Spanish bar in the evening.
Adiós!