Known by its beauty, Barcelona ranks in the top 10 cities people want to visit. It is indeed a pack of wonderful architecture, culture, beach and good vibes like any other place in Spain. If this is your first visit, I have some mandatory places you must visit. 😀
Visiting during May/June and end-September/October it would be your best choice. Please, try to avoid this city the months of July and August. Yes, it is summer and very hot, but not just only that. It is vacation time and the city is REALLY packed with younger wild party tourists and pick pocket. For real, avoid that!
Regarding the pick pockets, please be aware of them. If might think that your pocket has zippers, or that you are carrying your purse in a certain way that they would be able to open it… let me tell you something, I was in the bus, with my crossbody that had a zipper, put to the front and guess what? STILL they were able to open it without me seeing. I was super lucky because I was kind of paying attention to those things and I felt something. The guy was already with my phone in his hand removing it from my purse. I swear to God that I’m super cautious with those kind if things… but they are smarter. So, now, I try to keep all my value items in those kind of “money belts”. And I super recommend you doing the same in Barcelona. Mainly passport and documentation, because nobody wants to lose money, but loosing the passport in a international travel is even worse.
After the heads up, let’s dive into what matters: the city!
I selected 7 places that is a MUST in Barcelona!
1 – SAGRADA FAMÍLIA
La Sagrada Família is super famous by its grandiosity and also by its never ending construction. Located in Barcelona, it was designed by Antoni Gaudi (it seems like he designed the entire city, actually, and all of it is beautiful). Its construction started in 1882 (you read it right, more than a century ago).
The ticket to enter the Basilica starts at 26€, there’s few different options: if you only want to visit the central nave, if you want also to visit the museum or if you want to go up the towers (stairs by foot and, if you suffer with claustrophobia, be aware that its very narrow). However, you can also enter the nave for free by going to its International Mass (please, check their website during this COVID period). 😷
If you are planning on attend the mass:
1 – No reservation is needed (if you are in a large group, please check info on their website);
2 – Masses are hold every Sunday at 9am – but line starts around 7:30am and capacity is limited;
3 – The entrance to the Mass is on the Nativity façade (Carrer de la Marina);
4 – Mass is celebrated in 5 different languages;
5 – Photos are not allowed before or during the mass. Once the mass is over. Don’t worry, they will ask you to leave the church for few minutes, so they can organize it and then you can go back in and take as much photos as you wish.
I found it an unforgettable experience, 🧡 it’s much more than just going in for photos… it is super emotional and not everybody knows it or get the chance to live this.
2 – PARC GUELL
What can I say about Parc Guell that you don’t already know? Anyway, I will try to bring some curiosities down below.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site, inaugurated in 1926 and also designed by the famous Antoni Gaudi, is without a doubt one of the most famous tourist attraction in Barcelona, but did you know that:
- More than 9 million people visit the park per year and only 2,4% of the visitors are Barcelona citizens?
- The 100 Pilars Room only has 86 columns?
- The entire space was designed to be an estate for well-off families?
- The park is HUGE and most of the tourist only visit around 8% of its area (where the main attractions are)?
- “La Plaza”, the main roof big space where everybody wants to take a picture at, was designed to be collect the water from the rain and reuse it? The water would go down through the columns (100 Pilars Room) and be stored underground. Well, it stayed as a plan though, it was never fully developed.
3 – VISIT LA RAMBLA
Another super famous spot. If you are a first time visitor, of course that you get to know La Rambla. Suring summer it is used so packed you can’t walk. 😅
La Rambla will lead you from the center of the City (Plaza de Catalunya) to the beach, but I do not recommend any restaurant in here as they tend to be tourist traps. Right in the middle of it, you will find another touristic attraction: The Boqueria Market.
El MERCADO DE LA BOQUERIA is the central market of Barcelona, where locals do their shopping. thing here is: locals go there very very early in the morning and they try to avoid it during summer as it is packed with tourist. Is it worth a visit? Well, you might want to say that you went there and if it is not super packed, I believe you should get inside to take a look at list.
If you have already been there, let me know your thoughts in the comments.
By the way: do not miss the Miró Mosaic at the floor, in the beginning of the La Rambla (close to the Catalonia Square)
4 – TAKE A WALK AT THE BEACH
The beach in Barcelona is very famous… for the tourist. Besides the neighborhood, it’s hard to see locals at the beach, but the boardwalk is very pretty and it definitely worth a visit. Besides, you will get to know also Barceloneta, an old fisherman’s neighborhood and all its peculiarities.
I would recommend you walk La Rambla first and it will get you to the port, from there is a short and nice walk to the beach.
The restaurants facing the beach, I will not say they are very good, but I would recommend sitting down for a couple of beers and being part of the environment.
5 – EL BORN & GOTHIC QUARTER
The Gothic Quarter and El Born are located side by side. It takes you to the beginning of the city.
El Barrio Gótico is where it all begins. Here, at the Cathedral Square, it is where the city main entrance was located, the street on the right side of the cathedral. And, actually, in there, you will also find an sculptur
e that forms the name “Barcino” (see picture here), which was the name of the city in the 1st Century BC.
In the El Born you will find the Mercat del Born, the Parc de la Ciutadella and, one of the most incredible monument, in my opinion, due to its history, Fossar de les Moreres.
The Fossar de les Moreres was built over a cemetery as a tribute to the defenders of the city in Siege of Barcelona in 1714 during War of the Spanish Succession, when Cataluña suffered a loss of autonomy. Yearly at his square, the Catalonians pay homage to the defenders of city who were killed and are buried at the memorial. It happens on the Dia Nacional de la Cataluña, 11th September. The monument stands 15 meters high and in it you can read part of a Catalonian Poem written by Frederic Soler Pitarra that says:
“Al fossar de les moreres / no s’hi enterra cap traïdor; / fins perdent nostres banderes / serà l’urna de l’honor”
“In the graveyard of the mulberry trees no traitor shall be buried; even if our flags are lost, it will be the urn of honour”
The poem is about a gravedigger and his grandson, who buried the people killed while defending Barcelona in 1714. One day they were brought the body of a soldier from the besieging army, the son of the gravedigger and the father of the boy, and they both refuse to bury him there.
6 – ARC DE TRIOMF & PARC DE LA CIUTADELLA
The Parc de la Ciutadella was in a area occupied long time ago by a Fortress. In 1869 the fortress was destroyed and, due to the International World’s Fair in 1888, a park was built. It is the oldest and largest park of the Catalonia Capital.
Right in front of the Ciutadella Park, you will find the Arc of Triumph. Also built for the International Fair, as the main access gate. I highly recommend a walk in this area, it is beautiful.
7 – MONTJUIC
I believe the picture speaks by itself. The view of the Magic Fountain of Montjuic from the Plaza España is magical. There are two was to get there, take a bus or by foot.
Here’s my suggestion for you to get to know the Montjuic area and enjoy it:
1 – Take the funicular in the metro “Paral-lel” to the Parc de Montjuïc stop. Or a bus that will take you to the Cable Car.
2 – Take the Cable Car to visit the Castle (you will have incredible views, if you do it by sunset, even better).
3 – Just take a walk (or a bus if you don’t like walking) till the Palau Nacional (National Palace). This is the palace you can see in the picture, right behind the fountain. Take your time in there to appreciate nature and people.
4 – Go down the stairs and you will be in the Plaza España, another beautiful place. Don’t forget to look back to see everything from below… it’s incredible!
Note: The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc has a regular sound and light show that is definitely worth checking. Check for info on their website.
