Spring is around the corner. So we are in planning mood. And since we introduced you to our new category “A day in ...” already, here is our destination of the month: Barcelona. Beach, art, food, party, architecture - we are ready.
Here are our 10 tips for your day in Barcelona:
When arriving in the beautiful Catalan city of Barcelona make sure to have as much time as possible for walking and exploring it by foot. This city has so much to offer with its long and wide streets. When arriving, the Arc de Triomf is a good starting point. It is situated on a pretty promade, coming from Passeig de Lluís Companys and leading to the Ciutadella Park. There you get a pretty good impression what the city is like and how happy people are living here.
Beach time: One of the best things is that Barcelona is directly at the sea. A deep breath, sand under your feet and a cocktail in one hand - it can’t really get better.
Eat Tapas and drink Cava. The great district El Born - where expats moved in and caused prices to go up lately - is known for its restaurants and bars. In this historical but very trendy Favourhood you’ll be in food heaven. Try specialities like Pimientos de Padron, Jamon Iberico or Tortilla de Patatas. And always: Cava.
The classic Barri Gòtic neighborhood is a must see. The area gives you a good impression how Barcelona felt centuries ago and the architecture is impressive.
Up in the air: Barcelona has a lot of great rooftop bars to enjoy astonishing views. My tips are the ones of Hotel Majestic, Mandarin Oriental and Pulitzer. Another option for getting a good view over the city is the roof of the Barcelona Cathedral in Barri Gòtic which you can visit for only a few Euros.
Thinking about Barcelona also means thinking about the Sagrada Familia, the phantastic and surreal looking church by Antoni Gaudí that is still being built up until today. The colored windows create an ever changing world of light and is probably the most fascinating room I have ever been in.
Park Güell is located in the Gràcia district of Barcelona and since 1984 part of an UNESCO World Heritage. In the Park you also find Gaudi everywhere.
If you have a little bit of time on you hands, visiting the Tibidabo Mountain would be an option. From plaça Catalunya you can take a bus that will get you directly to the mountain. It is for sure the best place for getting a spectacular view of Barcelona and the surrounding coastline. On the summit of Mount Tibidabo there is Sagrat Cor, a church that somehow reminds me of Montmartre in Paris.
Soccer Fans may dream of seeing a match of FC Barcelona. If you are in town take your chance! There is also the possibility to book a tour through the home stadium Camp Nou.
As much as I try to avoid the hectic and super-touristic La Rambla next to the Gothic Quarter, we like strolling through the wide and sophisticated shopping streets around Passeig de Gràcia in the Eixample neighborhood. If you are looking for shopping opportunities, great. If not: it’s just a very nice area to soak in architecture and sun while walking.
