Barcelona is a city that is popular all year round but one thing you can’t deny is that it really does pop and come to life during the summer months as the vibrant capital of Catalonia.
Barcelona offers stunning architecture, beautiful beaches, magnificent scenery, the backdrop of a mountain range and a lively atmosphere to go with it! Barcelona could actually be classed as the perfect holiday destination as it offers an unforgettable experience, which is why people love coming back!
If you're planning a visit to this Mediterranean gem, you may be after some ideas as to how to spend your time here and we can certainly help you in that category!
Here are the things that we love doing in Barcelona…
The Gothic Quarter
Enjoy a relaxing walk through the historic Gothic Quarter where you can lose yourself in the maze-like streets whilst admiring the Gothic architecture. You can discover hidden squares and charming cafés where you can grab a table, have a plate of tapas and glass of sangria whilst you enjoy some people watching. The Gothic quarter is a treasure trove of history and with it, an ideal place to start to wind-down and melt into the Spanish way of life!
The Sagrada Familia
One of the biggest tourist attractions in the whole of Spain, let along just Barcelona. The Sagrada Familia attracts an estimated 20,000,000 people to Barcelona each year and they are the ones that just visit to see it from the outside, with a further 5,000,000 buying tickets to see inside this incredible building. The Sagrada Familia is one of the most recognised buildings in the Barcelona cityscape and is the unfinished masterpiece of the late Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudi, a local architect who died in 1926. Gaudi is also responsible for several other famous tourist attractions in Barcelona including other ones mentioned in this list such as Park Guell, Casa Batllo and Casa Mila! Sagrada Familia is an iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site that even if you don’t go inside, we strongly recommend you see it in person from the outside. Shakira even visited it in a TV show! Should you wish to visit the inside of Sagrada Familia you do need the appropriate ticket. See our Sagrada Familia ticket page for full details and we strongly recommend you buy in advance. If you know the dates you are visiting Barcelona, book ahead to avoid disappointment. You will understand why we are saying this when you get there!
Barceloneta Beach
Whether you want an active holiday in Barcelona with lots of sightseeing or a more relaxed one with lots of quiet beach time, we would always suggest visiting Barceloneta Beach! With its golden sands, lively promenade and its beachside bars and restaurants to enjoy, Barceloneta Beach is the perfect place to relax, enjoy the sunshine, indulge in delicious seafood dishes or tapas and all whilst doing some more people watching and enjoying a glass of sangria! That’s the second time I’ve mentioned sangria in this blog already!
Park Güell
This is the second of Antoni Gaudi’s attractions mentioned in this blog. Park Güell is an enchanting park and a mosaic-filled wonderland that offers amazing panoramic views of Barcelona. You can explore the vibrant gardens, wander through the colourful structures and enjoy the incredible architectural elements that make this park a true masterpiece. The monumental zone (tickets required for entry) is, in our opinion, a must. With its famous staircase, mosaic animals and views, we strongly suggest a visit. It’s a great place to sit and relax and do some people watching and a great way to entertain the kids if you are travelling with children.
Indulge in Tapas and Sangria
Barcelona is renowned for its amazing cuisine and what better way to experience and enjoy it than by indulging in tapas and sipping sangria (the third time I’ve mentioned sangria!). Most bars in Barcelona offer tapas and sangria but you could also head to the lively neighbourhood of El Born or the incredible La Boqueria market and embark on a culinary journey! You can try classic tapas like patatas bravas, jamón ibérico, tortilla Española (or all of the above!) while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the city…. With…. A glass of Sangria (4th time!).
Montjuïc Hill
See the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc which offers a spectacular display of water, light, and music. The fountain is located at the base of Montjuïc Hill and the fountain is an attraction every evening during the summer with its light shows. Its a great way to end the day after spending it at the top of Montjuic hill which offers a huge amount including Poble Espanyol, Fundacio Joan Miro, The Castle, the Olympic Ring, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya are all on Montjuic Hill and all major attractions in Barcelona.
The Picasso Museum
This is a must for art-lovers, a museum full of Picasso art spanning the artists early days through to his late work. The Picasso Museum is located in the picturesque El Born neighbourhood and holds an extensive collection by the legendary artist. You can see his artistic evolution from the start of his career to the end and how his style changed and evolved over time and this allows you to gain a deeper understanding of his genius. The collection includes paintings, drawings, ceramics, sculptures, graphic artwork, illustrated books and some of his sketchbooks.
Parc de la Ciutadella
The Parc de la Ciutadella, Barcelona’s largest park and an escape from the bustling city. You can rent a rowing boat and enjoy the lake, simply relax in the gardens, or wander round and enjoy parcs amazing features such as the Cascada Monumental, a waterfall and fountain designed by Joseph Fontsère. It’s just a lovely place to visit. The Parc de la Ciutadella also happens to be home to Barcelona Zoo which is a great place to visit and another of Barcelona’s main tourist attractions.
The Boqueria Market
The Boqueria Market, home to vibrant colours, aromas, and flavours from the various stalls and shops. Located on the bustling La Rambla, this food market offers a sensory overload with its displays of fresh fruits, seafood, spices, and other local delicacies. You can sample exotic fruits, buy some traditional Catalan products, and soak up the lively atmosphere. Grad a corner spot at one of the café bars and enjoy some tapas and a glass of sangria and watch the world go by!
Flamenco
If you like passion and entertainment, we would also recommend seeing a live flamenco show. Head to one of the city's traditional tablaos such as Tarantos Flamenco Show, Tablao de Carmen or Tablao Cordobes and experience the passion and intensity of this incredible Spanish art form. Until you’ve watched a live flamenco show, you won’t understand the passion.
Barcelona offers so much more than ‘just’ the above, but we wantedto give you an idea, a taste of what the city offers. Whatever you end up doing in Barcelona, one thing is for certain, we are fairly certain you will be back to visit again! Barcelona pulls you in and makes you fall in love with the city!
I hope you enjoyed the article.
