Barcelona is another amazing European city located on the North East coast of Spain with stunning architecture, beaches and beautiful scenery at every turn. With tons of fun things to do, Barcelona is one of my favorite destinations in Europe and perhaps even the world! This blog post will be a recap of my journey taken a few years ago along with my fiancé Paul who visited more recently than me. Be sure to watch the Vlog by Roger B Stillz for even more travel tips about this wonderful destination! Check here for your visa requirements.
Getting to Barcelona
Getting to Barcelona is pretty easy from most major cities with many nonstop options from South Florida and the Eastern United States. Flying here should take about eight to night hours unless you have a layover. As a top European destination there are occasional deals on various airlines, track your flight options using Google Flights to catch any of these deals!
When to visit
With a mild winter (highs in the 50s) and very warm summers, Barcelona has little to no rainfall! If you’re looking to avoid the crowds visit in the off season (September to March). During the summer you will find more tourist here than any other city in the country, Barcelona is known as the most visited city in Spain! Some places are even closed during the month of August and on Sundays when many locals leave the city.
Currency
US$1 = €0.85, be sure to check the current rate before you travel as this may change over time. US dollars are not accepted anywhere like much of the EU, carry cash for souvenirs and use credit cards wherever you can. Ensure to check for any foreign transaction fees that you card may charge you before visitng.
How to get around
Uber is a safe and easy way to get around Barcelona along with the Barcelona Metro. The Metro can be useful when visiting in the summer to give you a break from the scorching heat! This underground subway will take you to all major sight seeing attractions, is clean and the most economic option. You can buy a discounted Barcelona Tourist card that will give you access to the metro, tram or local bus. Taking the subway from the airport is easy using Google Maps and will allow you to skip any traffic. If you’re short on time, you can also buy a one day pass on the Hop on Hop off bus to visit all the hot spots in the city.
Where to stay
Accommodation in Barcelona can be quite expensive, similar to most places in Europe. Below are a few options to consider when booking your trip.
NH Sants
Close to all major transportation lines, shops and restaurants, NH Sants is a lower cost hotel that is typically around US$100/night. Be sure to shop around for the best rate during the dates you are visiting.
Hotel Arts
Considered a Ritz Carlton hotel, Hotel Arts is a luxurious resort on the popular beach side. This 5 star hotel is conveniently located near restaurants and nightlife.
Where to eat
Eating out in Barcelona can be expensive however, the good news is the options are endless! Below are a few recommendations within various price ranges. You can always Google options near you and checkout the reviews from other travelers.
If you’re looking for a culinary experience make a reservation at Tickets, voted one of the 50 best restaurants in the world! The family owns about six restaurants in the city, all of which are highly rated!
La Boqueria Food Market
La Bouqueria is a large bustling food market near Las Ramblas full of snack and lunch options at affordable prices. You can find a wide array of cheeses, seafood, dry fruit (including chocolate strawberries!), nuts and flowers in this market. Venture off into the exterior aisles to escape the crowds and get better pricing. The deeper you go the better the experience gets, you can easily eat your way through here!
Kino Cafe
Located near the Barcelona Museum of contemporary art, Kino Cafe is a known for it’s amazing Tapas with more affordable pricing.
Resturante Barceloneta
A bit more on the fine dining side, Restaurante Barceloneta is located on the waterfront with stunning ocean views, beautiful sunsets, serving mostly seafood.
Things to Do in Barcelona
La Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia is probably the most iconic and recognizable structure in Barcelona designed by Antonio Gaudi. Currently, only 70% of the structure has been completed despite the first stone being laid in 1882! When La Sagrada Familia is completed it will have taken longer to build than the Egyptian pyramids, and only 50 years less than the Great Wall of China (another thing on my to visit list). The detailed carvings within this structure are simply jaw dropping, you will need a few hours to walk around and look at everything in here.
Arrive before they open to beat a bit of the crowd (this place has over 3 mil visitors a year!) and opt for the audio tour to learn all about this incredible place. You can book your tickets in advance online to avoid the extremely long lines and pay extra to go up into the towers for a 360 view of the city. Your ticket will be valid only for the entry time purchased.
Park Güell
Another beautiful structure home to the late son of Antonio Gaudi is Park Güell constructed in the early 1900s. Part of this park is free to walk around but I recommend that you pay to visit the inside to see all that this place has to offer. Opt for a guided tour and pre book online to avoid any long line, this place can get very busy!
You can opt for an early access tour that will allow you to be one of the very first people to visit inside the park and includes a guide, more information is available here.
La Rambla
The most popular street in the city is La Rambla hosting numerous shops, restaurants (these can be very touristy) and street entertainers. You can spend the afternoon strolling the streets, enjoy the scenery, relax on one of the many benches and end with an evening drink on the oceanfront. Due to the high traffic of tourist, this street is known for having expert pick pocketers. Ensure you do not keep any valuables in your pocket and have everything secured with a zipped bag placed in front your body.
Casa Batlló
Whether you decide to go inside or just view the stunning architecture from outside Casa Batilló is another one of Antonio Gaudi’s masterpieces that everyone must see when visiting Barcelona. Located in the center of the city, Casa Batlló was redesigned in 1904 by Gaudi and refurbished a few times since. You can purchase regular or fast pass tickets online to skip the lines for €24.
Sail into the Mediterranean Sea
Escape the chaos and crowd of the city and take a day or sunset trip down the Barcelona coast! Enjoy stunning views of the city, take a dip into the Mediterranean sea or just sit back listen to some music and relax in the cool sea breeze. A group Catamaran tour or private charter can be rented at the Port Olímpic marina.
Take a beach day
Just a short drive outside the city you’ll find Bogatell Beach, situated between the Nova Icària and Mar Bella. A nice place to spend the afternoon at a beach side bar, have lunch and take a dip. This isn’t a local beach, it will be a bit touristy but it’s a nice way to relax. Checkout this article on the 15 best beaches in Barcelona for more options!
Checkout the Picasso Museaum
Located in a great little neighbourhood (perfect for strolling around and getting lost) the Picassa Museaum is a great option if you’re looking to learn more about local artwork. Checkout their schedule online for guided tours and other events.
Opium Club
Opium Club is a multilevel nightclub on the beach playing mostly EDM and house along with a bit of top 40 music. Entrance fee is usually €15 with drinks averaging €13 each. While this can be a bit of a tourist spot, it’s a fun place to visit for some late night vibes, open until 5am. As always, take precautions with your wallet and other valuable items as there can be pick pocketers due to the large amount of tourist that visit.
Leave the city & visit Montserrat!
Just outside of the city you will find the beautiful rocky mountain range of Montserrat. Exploring Montserrat is a must do on your trip to Barcelona, the views, landscape and history of this mountain are simply indescribable.
It’s said the Holy Grail is hidden in these mountains and hasn’t been found to this day! A day trip to this attraction is easy once you leave the city on the first train around 7:30am.
How to get to Montserrat
The easiest, most beautiful and cost effective option to get to Montserrat is via train. From Placa Espanya in Barcelona take the R5 line to Aeri de Montserrat. Train tickets can be purchased online or at the station, once arriving in Montserrat you can purchase tickets for the cable car. Taking a bus is also an option, and will take you about an hour.
Getting to the Monestary
Getting to the Santa Maria de Montserrat monastery at the top of the mountain range will take you about 23 minutes on a cable car, giving you 360 degree scenic views of the entire city. If you are athletic, there is the option to take the stairs!
Stay at a wine resort
Instead of rushing back to the city, stay overnight at the Can Bonstre wine resort! With an endless supply of amazing wine, and delicious food, Can Bonstre boutique hotel is a stark contrast from the hustle and bustle of the city. Located in the city of Masquefa, this amazing place hosts stunning mountain views with never ending acres of grape fields. Only a 45 minute drive from Montserrat, this pit stop is surely worth it!
Video Blog
Catch a few more tips to plan your next trip to Barcelona! Checkout this Vlog by Roger B Stillz, follow me on Instagram and checkout my stories!
