Barcelona is a city that offers a variety of cultural experiences. After relaxing in Marrakech, we were ready to hit the ground running on the second stop of our honeymoon. I was looking forward to the experiencing the vibrant food scene (aka me stuffing my face with tapas). Barcelona is a dynamic city, and it’s almost impossible to run out of things to do while visiting. Well known for its beautiful beaches, medieval streets and iconic architecture, Barcelona has so much to offer. Oh, and did I mention the sangria?
Where we stayed:
Praktik Garden:
Centrally located close to the metro, the hotel is a quick walk to several famous sights in Barcelona such as Casa Batlló. The interior decor is stylishly quirky and features plants as well as a wall of books in the lobby. My favorite feature of the hotel is a large patio covered in plants. A great place for a coffee and a pastry in the morning or a glass of wine at night. You’ll feel worlds away from the hustle and bustle just a few blocks away.
What we ate:
Tapas 24: Our favorite restaurant in Barcelona! We stumbled across this restaurant having only been in Barcelona for an hour. The staff is very friendly and helpful when navigating the menu. The walls are painted with the menu..literally, cute cartoon paintings of the food cover the gold walls. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu but definitely order the tomato bread and la bomba de barceloneta.
Can Solé: After reading a few articles we knew we needed to go to Barceloneta to taste the best paella the city had to offer. This waiters at this restaurant took pride in the century old traditions that they uphold to this day. The special of the day was lobster paella which was a little pricier but well worth the paella experience!
Boquéria Market: This large public market is a sensory experience packed with vendors and shoppers. There are many restaurants located inside the market that all have bar seating. You can either wait patiently for seats to open at a bar or you can purchase food items for a picnic. Make sure you go to a juice stand and try a juice you can’t get at home (I had coconut kiwi) for only 1 euro!
Praktik Bakery: This is a great option for breakfast on the go or if you prefer just a pastry and a coffee for breakfast. It’s almost always a good sign to see a line out the door and a shop filled with locals purchasing bread. As a pastry aficionado, I can tell you that the quality of the bread here is fantastic!
Alsur Café: A great place if you are looking for a heartier typical brunch style meal. Decorated with bright collages and interesting light fixtures, Alsur café was buzzing with university students. This wasn’t an authentic Spanish experience but the food was delicious and substantial!
What we saw (did):
Park Güell: We were lucky we had such a beautiful day while at Park Güell you’ll be outside for two hours exploring the gardens. We booked this one in advance so it was going to be the luck of the draw to figure out what kind of weather we were going to have. Between the whimsical architecture and blooming wisteria and flowers Park Güell felt magical. If you want to capture a great picture from the mosaic bench I suggest reserving a time earlier in the day.
Casa Batlló: As you already know Antoni Gaudí is responsible for creating the most famous and picturesque sights in Barcelona. Only a few blocks away from our hotel this house was like entering a new world. The vibrant exterior displays colorful broken mosaic and the interior features more ceramic gradually changing color from white to cobalt blue.
Sagrada Familia: Before entering the church, I was thinking to myself “how has it taken so long to finish this church?” Well after spending three hours exploring Sagrada Familia I now understand why it’s not yet completed. It’s massive! Gaudí was a devout Catholic and was inspired by nature when creating Sagrada Familia (the columns are tree trunks). The architectural design is unique in that the light that shines through the mosaic stained glass colors the white stone interior. This is a must - make sure to book your tickets online (choose the Nativity tower for a great view of the Mediterranean). Also make sure you cross the street to get a better vantage point for your photos!
Walk the Gothic Quarter (El barrio gotic): Wandering around the center of old city Barcelona we admired architecture dating back to Medieval times. Don’t miss out on a visit to the 14th century Barcelona cathedral. We also checked out the antique flea market set up on the outside of the cathedral steps.
Montserrat day trip: Montserrat is rich with history. The key attraction is a 10th century monastery that still functions today. A quick drive or train ride from Barcelona, Montserrat feels like a completely different world from the busy streets of Barcelona city life. We enjoyed the views from cable car up to the top of the mountain. If you’re outdoorsy there are several hiking trails once at the top varying in level of difficulty and length.
Wine Tasting: We booked a wine tour with castlexperience and it was worth maximizing our time. They offer many different types and variations of tours. We chose one starting later in the day (who wants to get up at the butt crack of dawn on vacation) that included a tour of Montserrat and a winery (with a wine and tapas tasting). We maximized our time by being shuttled around on a bus opposed to stressing out over if we were on the right train.
Layover Tips:
- Delicious & cheap Spanish beer: Mahou
- Eat seafood for lunch because it’s cheaper during the day than it is at night.
- SNACK! Waiting until 10pm for dinner was rough so we had some snacks in our hotel room before dinner.
- Pick pockets are REAL! Be aware on the metro because those sneaky weasels are out there!
- Markets are a great way to have an inexpensive meal and experience local culture.
- Make sure you try pan con tomate or (pan coca) as an appetizer. It's tomato and garlic on local Catalonian bread. YUM!