A couple months ago, I fulfilled my dream of visiting Spain. In the seven days I was there, I got to do several things. But there were ten things that made the trip unforgettable for me. Below are the list of things that you must do when in Barcelona, Spain:
1. Take a hop-on hop-off bus tour – Hop on a bus that takes you to all of Barcelona’s iconic locations. On the ride you can sight-see while listening to audio that introduces you to each location. Found a place you like? You’re welcome to hop off and walk around a bit. After walking around you can hop on the next bus, which comes by every 15-20 minutes. There are 3 bus lines that cover different regions of Barcelona: the blue line, red line, and green line. All 3 bus lines take separate routes but eventually meet at several inner city locations so you can hop on a different bus line to try a new route. It’s the most efficient way to see most of Barcelona in a few days.
2. Grab lunch at La Boqueria – Properly known as Mercat de Saint Josep, La Boqueria is an outdoor market with several food vendors. Fresh produce, candies, seafood, cheese, and cured meats are among the several things you can buy. Feel free to take a seat at one of the booths serving tapas, or walk around and grab a little bit of everything from each vendor. My favorite? A medley of cured meats served in a cup and the fresh pressed juices. MMM GOOD!
3. Grab tapas at El Xampanyet – Tucked in a alley in the neighborhood El Born, there is a small (and I mean small!) tapas bar that serves the best tapas I’ve ever had. The filet mignon and shishito peppers (“Carne a la plancha con pimientos”) were to die for! It’s known to be a local favorite but I think tourists are starting to catch on. Half of the girls at the bar were from California as well! If you do end up going, make sure to arrive promptly at opening time. I had arrived 5 minutes past opening time and the bar was already packed wall to wall!
4. Get lost in the Gothic Quarter – After grabbing a bite at El Xampanyet, wonder the alleys of El Born/Gothic Quarter and you’ll come across fascinating shops, clothing boutiques, and hole-in-the-wall bars. During a late night stroll in the Gothic Quarter, I had overheard singing down an cobblestone alley. The melodic voice lead me into a small bar with a live Spanish singer performing for a crowd of locals sipping on pints of beer. It was such an authentic experience. THAT’S the beauty of getting lost. You’ll never know what you’ll find.
5. Admire Guadi’s work – Antoni Guadi is Spain’s renown architect. He is the mastermind behind Sagrada de Familia, which is still in the works and is predicted to finish in the 2020s. Aside from Sagrada de Familia, there are several buildings throughout the city which he designed. My favorite are Casa Batllo and Park Guell. You can experience all his skyscraping masterpieces on a walking tour or through the hop-on hop-off tour buses. WARNING: If you do plan on visiting Park Guell, some areas of the park are accessible only by ticket and these tickets sell out FAST. BE PREPARED and buy tickets online ahead of time.
6. Grab a drink at the top of The W Hotel – Start your evening right by grabbing a drink at the top of the W Hotel. It has a great view of the Barceloneta Beach and the sprawling nightlife along the beach. After grabbing a few cocktails, grab a taxi to Port Olympic which is home to several nightclubs. These nightclubs are located next door to each other. Perfect for “club-hopping”. After partying to your heart’s content, take a seat on the beach where you’ll find several locals doing the same. You may even find some spontaneous Spaniards (and tourists!) taking a late night dip in the ocean.
7. Shop at Passeig de Gràcia – At this shopping promenade you’ll find international brands. You’ll find shops that are on the expensive side, like Prada and Stella McCartney, and some that are affordable, like Zara and Mango. I really enjoyed shopping at Zara and Mango in Barcelona, because their inventory includes merchandise that hasn’t been released to US stores. So several of the items that are new to the US are already discounted in Barcelona. CHA-CHING! The bargain hunter in me was THRILLED.
8. Visit Arc de Triomf – I think the monument that “triumphs” most monuments is the Arc de Triomf. This gorgeous monument was the main access gate to the 1888 Barcelona World Fair. Check out the Arc and walk the promenade that are lined with vendors or continue to travel the path which leads directly into Parc de la Ciutadella, another landmark that’s worth checking out.
9. Visit the Picasso Museum – If you’re an art enthusiast, it doesn’t get better than this. Revel in the artwork of Picasso that dates back to his childhood years. In this museum you can follow his art journey when he experimented with new techniques and learn how he expanded his talent in the peak of his career.
10. Catedral de Barcelona – Aside from the gorgeous architecture of this cathedral, it is home to one of the busiest plazas in the city. There’s plenty of restaurants to choose from, great vendors to check out, and you can even spot an occasional street performance.
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