Barcelona was the first place that we ever visited in Spain and man, we were quite impressed. The architectural beauty of Barcelona is an interesting mix of contrasts between modern and ancient with the works of Antoni Gaudi just blocks away from the famous Barri Gotic (Gothic quarter) that houses the re-purposed remains of ancient Roman structures. Its immense sidewalks make the city very accessible and its laid back vibe and welcoming people made this city a fun place to explore.

Places of Interest

La Sagrada Familia

This is perhaps the most iconic landmark in Barcelona. This church has been under construction since 1882 and is the magnum opus of the genius architect Antoni Gaudi. It only costs 20 Euros ($24 USD) to enter and we highly recommend purchasing the audio guide in order to understand the intricacies of some of the most impressive details and meanings that might otherwise be overlooked.

Casa Batllo

Designed by none other than Antoni Gaudi, this was our favorite house to visit since we love the ocean (we’re from South Florida after all) and this house was built with aquatic themes. It costs 35 Euros ($42 USD) to enter and there is a balcony where you can have your photo taken.

La Boqueria

Located on the famous La Rambla street, this outdoor market (or mercat as the Catalans say) has various shops selling food, drinks, candied fruits, meats, cheeses, breads and the world famous Iberian ham. One of the best experiences that you can have here is to buy a beer from one of the local shops and eat some tapas while people watching.

Park Guell

This is the most fun park that we’ve been to in a long time. Rather than having rollercoasters, this park is designed with eccentric buildings, statues and landscaping. All of this is courtesy of the genius architect Antoni Gaudi. The entrance only costs 10 Euros ($12 USD) but the park is so big that you will probably need a full day to see it all.

Guell Palace

Tucked away close to the main street of La Rambla you’ll find this impressive mansion that was designed by you guessed it, Antoni Gaudi. It only costs 5 Euro ($6 USD) to enter as you explore this impressive home with its main room that was once used to entertain high society guests.

La Rambla

La Rambla is the main tourist street in Barcelona, stretching for almost a mile long (1.2 km), and it is filled with outdoor restaurants, cafes, souvenir kiosks, street performers, theaters and much more. Since La Rambla is popular with tourists, make sure to watch your belongings as this street is one of the pickpocket capitals of the world. Nevertheless, this is a must see when in Barcelona.

Camp Nou

Whether or not you are a soccer fan (or futbol/football as Europeans call it), Camp Nou will impress you with its sheer size as well as the museum which chronicles its 120-year history. If you are an FC Barcelona fan, you can watch a live game here as it is their home stadium. You can see the schedule here https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/club/club-schedule

Casa Vicens

This was the very first house that Antoni Gaudi designed and the theme reminds us of the original Super Mario series. The building is actually a mix of Neo-Mudejar and Art Nouveau styles and it was the first of many from Gaudi to completely break from the norm. The entrance costs 16 Euros ($19 USD) and is located about a 20 minute walk from Casa Mila.

Things to do

Open Top Bus Tour - This is the first thing that we suggest you do when in Barcelona as it will give you a lay of the land and a chance to relax and be wowed by the amazing architecture in the city. There are several routes and companies that offer these tours but they all do the same thing. The companies that we used were:
- City Sightseeing: https://city-sightseeing.com/en/17/barcelona
- Hop on Hop Off: https://www.hop-on-hop-off-bus.com/barcelona-bus-tours
Museum of the History of Barcelona - This was one of our favorite museums as it chronicles the city’s humble beginnings as a Roman colony all the way to the magnificent city that we know today. It only costs 7 Euro ($8 USD) to enter and it is well worth the visit, especially if you are like Julian and love history.
Museum of Catalan History - This is another great museum in the city that highlights the history of the people of Catalonia and their culture. It only costs 6 Euros ($7 USD) to enter and we highly recommend it for anyone interested in broadening their understanding of Catalonia.
Picasso Museum - This museum, as the name suggests, houses an extensive collection of artworks by the famous painter Pablo Picasso. It only costs 12 Euro ($15 USD) to enter and is open every day except Sunday.
Gothic Quarter - The Gothic Quarter is located in downtown between La Rambla and Via Laietana streets. This neighborhood is famous for its labyrinth streets and medieval style buildings that are full of hidden cafes, bars, shops and restaurants. You can easily spend a few days just exploring this neighborhood and never grow bored.
Casino Barcelona - Barcelona really is an all-inclusive experience in the sense that it has something for everyone. The casino is located just walking distance to the beach and it has everything from roulette, poker, slots as well as dining and live concerts.
Beach - There are a few beaches in Barcelona but the one that is most visited by tourists is Barceloneta. It has clubs, restaurants, bars, a park and even a hospital nearby.
Plaça de Catalunya – This is a big plaza at the very northern tip of La Rambla that has a bunch of outdoor restaurants, multi-story malls, and tourist information booths. This is also where you will most likely begin your open top bus tour of the city.
Las Arenas de Barcelona - This building is an old bull-fighting ring that has been repurposed as a concert venue and wrap around shopping mall with 360 degree views of the city. It also has a movie theater and the top floor has restaurants where you can have a bird’s eye view of the city.
Santa Caterina Market - This outdoor market plays second fiddle to its rival La Boqueria but is no less interesting. With its brightly colored, undulating roof you can walk around and explore various local eateries and shops away from the tourist hordes of La Rambla.
Ciutadella Park - This is a lovely park located downtown near Barceloneta beach. You can rent a row boat for a relaxing afternoon on the water, visit the city zoo or hang out and have a picnic which provides a nice respite from sightseeing.
Tibidabo Amusement Park - Located atop the nearby Tibidao mountain is one of the world’s oldest amusement parks which features some of its original rides from the turn of the 20th century. Because of its location, the park also offers amazing views of the city.
Aquarium Barcelona - The aquarium in Barcelona is a fun activity where you can spend a day walking around observing sea creatures. They even have an underwater tunnel that you can walk through in order to observe sharks and other marine life. The entrance costs 21 Euro ($25 USD) but check the calendar for opening hours as this changes with the season. You can find more information at: https://www.aquariumbcn.com/en/plan-your-visit/schedules-and-prices/

Daytrip

Montserrat - Montserrat mountain is located just an hour train ride outside of Barcelona and it was indeed our favorite experience during our visit. The mountain has various hiking trails and at several points throughout the hike you will see old churches and crosses that were built centuries ago. The mountains themselves are quite peculiar in shape and we came up with the term “bubble mountains” to describe them. To say that the views are stunning is quite an understatement and after a long day of hiking the entire thing feels like a spiritual experience, especially when you consider that centuries ago, monks with rudimentary tools climbed these very same mountain paths and built these humble churches and crosses mentioned earlier.
In order to get to Montserrat, you have to take a train from Plaça d'Espanya to Montserrat. Once you are there, you can either take a funicular up the mountain to the main town or you can immediately begin hiking.
Santa Maria de Montserrat - This abbey is located in the main town on Montserrat mountain and was built over 1,000 years ago. Inside the abbey you can pay respects to the Virgin of Montserrat, also known as “La Moreneta” due to her black complexion, and walk around the interior courtyards as well as view the impressive main altar. The abbey also has an outdoor garden with sculptures and access to some of the hiking trails.