Barcelona has always been on my bucket list, always peaking my curiosity with its history rich streets, eye catching architecture, and upbeat life style. Seriously, my inner grandma couldn’t keep up with the late nights when the streets started to get busy around 10-11pm. But at least this gives you plenty of time and opportunities to try different foods and experience Barcelona’s culture!
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Stay and Transportation
My husband and I spent 3 days in Barcelona at the end of November 2022, where temperatures were around 40o to 50o F. We flew into Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN) and took a 20 minute taxi ride to Grand Hotel Central, where we stayed in the Gothic Quarter. I would definitely recommend staying in the Gothic Quarter because it was central to most of the major attractions, making the commute quick and easy. We purchased a 10-ride ticket with the metro, which was perfect for our short stay in the city; you’ll even find that Barcelona is very walkable. Ride shares are also available in Barcelona; a handful of times during our trip, we opted for an Uber/Lyft to the next attraction when it was cutting close to our reserved time slot.
Things to Do
After my husband and I settled down, we stepped out of our hotel to explore the Gothic Quarter. We wondered between the tall buildings that holds so much history, stopped by small shops along the way, and even got to take in the beauty of the Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia. If you’re planning to visit between November 25th to December 23rd, you can even catch one of the two Christmas Markets in Barcelona, one being right in the middle of the quarter, in front of the cathedral. La Fira de Santa Llucia is the oldest Christmas market in Barcelona, with many stalls selling holiday figurines, nativity scenes, and a smiling wooden log called Tió de Nadal. You could also find small gifts like leather goods and art in the market. I thought this was so cool and was a great way to learn about Barcelona’s culture and traditions around the holidays. My husband and I also explored the near by neighborhood of El Born. This area is full of shops, cafes, restaurants, and local art.
You definitely cannot go to Barcelona and not see La Sagrada Familia. This beautiful and massive cathedral is sure to take your breath away. My husband and I booked a 50 mins guided tour on their website and it was one of the best decision we made on the trip. Our guide was so knowledgeable and was able to answered all of our group’s questions. I definitely recommend booking a guided tour because you’ll get more information from that than a self guided one. It was so fascinating to learn about the cathedral and all of its meanings behind each structure. In 2022, the cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudí was not completed but is expected to in 2026 after 144 years of construction. Fun fact, it’s the most visited monument in the Spain and definitely a must do in my opinion! If you are visiting La Sagrada Familia around the same time as us, be sure to visit the Christmas Market across the street. Along with the usual holiday figurines and nativity scenes sold at Christmas markets, Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Família sold many treats, Christmas trees, and art. A great spot for holiday souvenirs!
Discover more of the unique architecture style of Antoni Gaudí. We stopped by to view La Pedrera-Casa Milà and Casa Batlló from the outside but tickets can be purchase to explore the interior. Both buildings are beautiful and distinctively noticeable within the city. Another infamous spot in Barcelona designed by Gaudí is Park Güell. This park is ideal for all of my fellow rovers looking for a perfect place to photograph. Be sure to stop by the iconic mosaic waved walls/benches and the dragon fountain! But to visit these park monuments, you will have to purchase a ticket in advance to enter. TIP: They sell out pretty quickly, so I booked our general admission tickets two weeks in advance.
La Boqueria Market is the largest food market in Barcelona and is hands down the most beautiful market I’ve ever been to. You can feel the energy in the air and share your amazement with other visitors as you walk past several food vendors and restaurants. I was absolutely amazed with all of the fresh produce, live seafood, and meat that were available to purchase. My husband and I stopped by several stalls to try a few things and ordered lots of fresh juice (my favorite was the passionfruit). There are also many restaurants within the market to try if you can swipe a seat. This is definitely a must visit in the city!
After you’ve eaten everything you wanted from the market, make your way to Las Ramblas. This infamous 1.2 kilometer (0.75 miles) pedestrian walk is located in the heart of Barcelona. Cruise through this pedestrian only street to see small vendors, local artists, flower shops, and live statues! At the end of this walkway, you’ll find ourself at the Columbus Monument!
My husband and I impulsively decided to take the stop to Arco de Triunfo. And we were glad that we did. This arc stood tall and was just beautiful to stare at. It also had a nicely paved walkway, lined with benches to enjoy the weather and local artists. As we walked towards the end of the walkway, we stumbled upon Parc de la Ciutadella. Definitely one of the most beautiful parks I’ve ever been to. My husband and I walked the gravel trails and stumbled upon the most breathtaking fountain. This was definitely a more leisurely afternoon for us, and we enjoyed every second of it.
If you love knickknacks and antiques then you should definitely make your way to Els Encants. This 3 story outdoor flea market is sure to surprise you with its hidden treasures. Explore book stores, fabric selections, antique electronics and more!
Another spot that that was on our list to visit but we couldn’t fit into our itinerary was Bunker del Carmel. Maybe if you have time you could try it and let me know how it was!
If you’re into luxury shopping, check out Passeig de Gràcia. But don’t forget to bring your passport for the tax refund. (Check out my Greece blog on how to do so!)
Food to Try
For lunch, my husband and I would just step into any local shop around the area we were in. On one of our days, we had lunch at La Boqueria Market and on others we’ll stop by for some pizza or empanadas. We mainly sat for dinner during our time in Barcelona, but be prepared to have late dinners, which are typical in Spain. Most of the locals start dining at 9pm and the streets gets more alive by the hour. A great aspect to consider for my night owl rovers!
Since we were in Barcelona for only 3 days, we only really tried 3 restaurants for dinner. One of which I wouldn’t recommend… and that I forgot the name of. On the other hand, on one of our dinner nights my husband and I dined at Vinitus. And wow, this place deserved all the rave it got. They served many different kinds of tapas (small dishes) and were always fresh!! Their menu even offers daily tapas so there was something new to try everyday. We had a great time tasting each of the small dishes and ordering more to try. The service was great and each dish that came out was delicious. Vinitus is definitely a restaurant worth dining in at and has something for everyone to try!
On the following night, my husband and I decided to try another tapas place since we loved everything we got at Vinitus. We dined at Cerveseria Catalana, which seems to be the same owners as Vinitus because many of the menu items were identical. However, Cerveseria Catalana was definitely a different experience for us. Our food was cold (yes, almost every dish was cold) and the service was pretty bad. I would definitely recommend Vinitus over Cerveseria Catalana to try.
Coffee & Dessert
Spain has a huge coffee culture, and is a major part of the locals’ day. And trust me, it didn’t disappoint. Both coffee shops that we stopped by in had coffee beans from all over the world. Each sip we had felt like life in a cup. It was delicious and just warmed you to the core.
Just a 5 min walk from the Grand Hotel Central, my husband and I stopped for a cup of coffee at Xiloteca. And, wow! The coffee was so good! The shop is a little small and is more of a takeout place, which is something to keep in mind. The employee (maybe owner?) was so helpful and welcoming to us, I would definitely recommend this place to try!
My husband and I absolutely loved Nomad Coffee. The employees were nice and helpful when picking out which coffee or coffee beans to try. They offered coffee from several other countries and it was so hard not to try all of it. A must try if you’re a coffee lover!
While you’re in Spain, don’t forget to stop to get some churros and hot chocolate. They are pretty much served everywhere. We stopped by a booth and got these treats. Nothing better than fresh hot pasties and something warm to dip it in.
You already know that your girl was eating gelatos for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Luckily, there was a gelato shop named Gelaaati Di Marco that was only a 4 mins walk from our hotel; I think I stopped by here at least 4 times during our trip. (Gelato calories don’t count, right?) This cute shop was so tasty and had a variety of flavors to choose from. I had my usual, the hazelnut and pistachio gelato, which never disappoints. I also tried their strawberry cheesecake gelato and OMG, that was so good. It was one of the reasons why I kept coming back. I also tried their actual cheesecake that was in the fridge in hopes that it would be the same as the gelato, it wasn’t. So I definitely recommend just sticking to the frozen treats.
On one late night, my husband and I stopped by Amma Gelato. This shop offers vegan gelatos and I thought it was just okay. I liked that it was open late for us, that everything is made fresh and certain flavors were only available depending on the season. But, it definitely didn’t make it on my list of “best gelatos I’ve ever tried.”
On the flip side, Oggi Gelato was one of the best ones I’ve ever had. It was so good, I got another scoop right after I finished my first one. Oggi Gelato was smooth and the perfect amount of sweetness; you could even taste the freshness in each bite. It was a 10 out of 10 and I would go back to Spain just for another gelato cone from this shop. If you could only fit one gelato place during your visit in Barcelona, I would definitely recommend this one to go to.
Overall View
I had a great time in Barcelona and would definitely come back to visit again. It felt like we did a lot in the three days that my husband and I were there, but it also felt as if we barely scratch the surface. I can’t wait to go back to explore more of the city and even revisit some of the places we tried. Hopefully when we go back, La Sagrada Familia will be finished with its construction, and I’ll definitely stop by for another scoop of gelato!
Overall, Barcelona is a beautiful city, rich with history and a whole new culture to explore. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did! And if you’ve already been there, don’t forget to share your thoughts and favorite things to do!
Helpful Tips:
- Spain is very walkable, but ride shares are also available (if you aren’t taking the public transit).
- Google maps will be your most helpful tool when navigating.
- Beware of pickpocketing! Always keep your belongings close to you and hidden if possible.
- There is no tipping culture in Spain, so it’s not required when dining out.
- Almost everyone speaks English! Don’t be shy to ask for the English menu at a restaurant.
- Barcelona is known for its tapas, so be sure to give it a try!
As always, thanks for being here!
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Lena The Rover 