Barcelona: A Travel Guide

Without a doubt, my recent holiday to Barcelona was one of the most jam-packed trips I have ever experienced. It took me seven sunny days, multiple metro tickets and thousands of steps to discover everything I wanted to and more. Now that I’m home, I am seeing so many others going off to Barcelona and have holiday suggestions coming out of my ears! So I thought I would make a post all about the things that this beautiful Spanish city has to offer…

THE CLASSICS…

BARCELONETA BEACH

This is probably the most popular beach in Barcelona, and being so close to the main city means that it is wonderfully easy to get to. In turn, this popular beach is also the busiest beach. However that doesn’t stop it from being the perfect place to cool down in the sea and get your tan on. And with men walking around the sand selling mojitos and sangria, you’ll never be short of something to drink! Also, if you fancy going further out from the shore, there are plenty of boat rides going on throughout the day.

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LA SAGRADA FAMILIA

If you’re planning on going to Barcelona, then chances are that these three words are already ‘familia’ to you (all puns intended). It’s the classic sight of the city, one of those things that you just need to do. The cathedral is pretty amazing just from the outside, but if you want to see its wondrous interior, make sure you book tickets in advance!

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PARK GÜELL

Park Güell is also a must visit if you’re going to Barcelona. Famous for its Gaudi architecture, this huge park is super interesting to walk around. What’s more, the musical performers dotted around the pathways make for a lively, vibrant atmosphere! The majority of the park is free to walk around however you must purchase a ticket for the monument zone: make sure you book in advance!

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ARC DE TRIOMF & CIUTADELLA PARK

Nope, I haven’t got Barcelona confused with Paris, it turns out there is an Arc de Triomf in both of these cities! This huge, beautiful archway stands at the end of a long path lined with palm trees. Just next door you will find Ciutatella Park which is gorgeous to explore, there are flowers, fountains and monuments and you can even hire rowing boats for a relaxing afternoon on the lake.

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MAGIC FOUNTAINS OF MONTJUÏC

When I sat down to watch the fountains show, I don’t think I was quite prepared for how amazing it was going to be. You may wonder if it is really possible to sit and watch a giant water fountain for an hour without getting bored, but trust me, this performance is quite mesmerising. Shows are free and run in the evenings from Wednesday to Sunday, try to get there a little earlier to get the perfect viewing spot!

THE UNUSUAL…

THE NBA CAFE

Despite wanting to spend most of the holiday trying out the Spanish cuisine, I just couldn’t resist visiting this basketball themed restaurant for a taste of all things American. With displays showing the height, foot and hand sizes of famous players and a wall of basketball jerseys, you are immersed from the second you enter the door…they even made us dribble a basketball to our table! At the NBA Cafe you can enjoy delicious food and even a blue, yes a BLUE burger. You might even find yourself on kiss cam during your meal!

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THE HORTA LABYRINTH

This is the perfect place if you feel like escaping the city for a while. For just over €2 you can enter and explore this beautiful park. It has winding pathways, flowers, fountains and most intriguingly, a large maze right at its centre. This is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon away from the buzz of the city.

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BUNKERS DEL CARMEL

If you don’t like walking then you should probably skip this section of the post…

850FT high above Barcelona lay the old bunkers that date back to the Spanish Civil war. You may have to walk up a lifetime of steps in order to reach them, but once you do, it is so worth it. Up here you have a panoramic view like no other of the city, and it provides a relatively tranquil place to enjoy it. If nothing else, you will get a pretty amazing photo out of this excursion.

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MUSEU ÉROTIC DE BARCELONA

You probably don’t need to understand Spanish to gather that this is a sex museum. You might want to steer clear of this place if you’re looking for ‘family friendly’ activities, but if you want to see something unusual then it’s perfect. As far as describing this museum goes, I think I can say that it generally does what it says on the tin. If you are in search of a weird but interesting experience, then this might be one for you.

THE NIGHTLIFE…

OPIUM

This is one of the most popular clubs in Barcelona. What this club charges in entry (€15) it certainly makes up for with its ridiculously generous vodka mixers… This club opens out on to the beach so that your party can continue on to the sandy shores of the city.

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HOTEL W

This place is impossible to miss if you have been anywhere near Barceloneta beach. A five star, 26 story, luxury hotel, this is the place we all dream of staying at! But, if like most people it isn’t in your price range, then you can still get a taste of the luxury life…for free! The hotel hosts multiple events per week at their Eclipse Bar on the 26th floor and you can get on the guest list for free through Facebook! I had such a fun night when I visited this hotel and it felt great to get dressed up and have a drink over the Barcelona skyline.

So here marks the end of my very long list, I did tell you I had suggestions coming out my ears! Barcelona is an amazing city and I hope to go back there one day, and maybe even stay in the amazing W Hotel…

I hope you liked this post and that I have given you lots of inspiration for your future Barcelona getaways!