01 Dec Spain Road Trip: the Beloved Barcelona
Barcelona is the type of city you can visit several times and have a different experience with each visit. It’s also very easy to imagine living there. You might even start glancing at real estate information in the windows as you pass by. Yes, that vibrant energy just sucks you in and puts a big smile on your face.
But let’s just start with a visit, shall we? Below is a snapshot of what’s notable in Barcelona and tips for planning travel.
Exploring Barcelona, Spain
Duration: 4.5 days
Time of Year: early/mid-November
Why Barcelona? Daniel and I love Barcelona & my mom had never been.
What did we find notable?
Barcelona seems to be even more popular with tourists than it was when we were there in 2013. The famous La Rambla was a traffic jam of tourists. Although it was a little chilly and people were bundled up in coats and long pants, the beach was still teeming with visitors and pop-up markets. So I checked and discovered that yes, indeed it is – in 2016 it was the 4th most visited European city.
The L’Eixample neighborhood! This visit, we decided to be a little removed from the tourist mainstays of La Rambla, Barri Gotic and El Raval. We were so happy we did because we had more opportunity to explore this stunning neighborhood and its treasures.
We rented an apartment thru BarcelonaForRent that was right off of the ‘Block of Discord’/Casa Batlló for the remaining four nights. Rambla de Catalunya was buzzing with outdoor seating for restaurants, high-end shops and led into the Plaça de Catalunya – shopping, metro, and tourism hub.
Everything by Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudí – you will not be disappointed! Book tickets online in advance.
Antoni Gaudí’s La Sagrada Familia cathedral
La Sagrada Familia is a must see.
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- gothic exterior of La Sagrada Familia
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- La Sagrada Familia pillars form a tree-canopy-like interior
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- light pours through the stained glass
Parc Güell and its mirador overlooking the city are enchanting.
Park Güell mirador
I prefer Casa Mila/La Pedrera over Casa Batlló, but if you have the time and funds, it’s still neat to see both. Otherwise, you can walk the ‘Block of Discord’ and appreciate Casa Batlló from the outside.
Casa Battló exterior
Some of our favorite dining (as in we liked it so much we ate here more than once):
Vivant – for their fixed price lunch menu – ‘menu del dia’ @ 11.5 Euro which includes a glass of wine, starter, main course, and dessert. The menu changes daily and the very friendly manager will translate the Catalan to English for you. The dinner menu looks fabulous too!
Vinitus – for tapas and wine. Highly recommend you go at off hours – after lunch rush or early dinner. Favorite dishes: bacalao al “allioli” de miel – trust us, the flavors are harmonious, and the camembert crujiente.
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- tapas selection @ Vinitus
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- Vinitus camembert crujiente
Some of our favorite things to do in Barcelona:
Stroll the streets of El Born and pop into the boutique stores like se*das, where you can find incredible hand painted silk scarves, visit coffee shops, the Santa Caterina market, and the Parc de la Ciutadella to see the Cascada Monumental, and unwind at one of the many restaurants and bars.
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- Cascada Monumental
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- Pax49 bar
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- Santa Caterina market
Take the metro, funicular and cable car up to Montjuic hill for stunning views of the city and port and to watch the sunset.
The Picasso Museum. If you’re like my mom and me, you may not be the biggest fan of his later works, but this museum tells the story of his artistic evolution through hundreds of varying works of art that will impress anyone! Get tickets in advance online to avoid lines.
What we were sad to miss:
Palau de la Musica Orfeo Catala (Palace of Catalan Music) – a tour of the theater or even better, a concert.
Camp Nou – a fútbol match with the FC Barcelona. Unfortunately, they were not playing a home game during our visit. But Daniel and I were lucky enough to catch a game against Granada on our 2013 visit.
Our takeaways:
There is so much to fill your time with in Barcelona. But don’t overload your schedule as you want to leisurely enjoy every aspect of your adventures and food escapades.
It will be hard to leave, and you’ll probably already commit to returning, or have a strong desire to move here. That’s normal.
So you’re interested in going to Barcelona…here are some helpful planning tips
Book accommodations well in advance as well as paid activities online in advance.
You will walk a lot! Wear comfortable shoes and use the metro to hop neighborhoods. You can also rent a bike and use several bike paths to navigate the city (different from the red city bikes – those are for residents only).
Be mindful in Barri Gotic – pickpockets operate here. In cafes do not leave your belongings unattended.
While it’s practically mandatory to check outBarri Gotic, La Rambla, the marina, the beach, and Barceloneta, don’t spend all your time here. Be sure to explore beyond these staples for more treats!
Barcelona cityscape
Want to read about the other Spain road trip destinations?
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Is Barcelona at the top of your travel wish list? Or, if you’ve already explored Barcelona, what was your favorite thing about the city?
Leave a comment!
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