A GUIDE TO VISITING BARCELONA
What’s the best area? Well, I’ve stayed at an Airbnb walking distance to Sagrada Familia as well as a hostel in the historic center of Vila de Gràcia and I have to say, I much preferred this area. Vila de Gràcia, a less touristy neighborhood is a low-key district of organic grocers, hip co-working spaces and artist studios.
The narrow streets are sprinkled with cozy squares like Plaça de la Vila and Placa de Sol, both great places to sit on a bench and watch as locals socialize in groups around the square and families watch their children play. If you’re looking for accommodations, click here for my post about the most beautiful hostel in Barcelona where you can book a shared or private room, apartment, or suite.
places to visit in barcelona
things to add to your list
- The Gothic Quarter is a beautiful area to explore with narrow medieval streets filled with trendy bars, clubs, and Catalan restaurants. For stunning Neo-Gothic architecture, take a stroll down Carrer del Bisbe and visit El Pont del Bisbe “Bishop’s Bridge”.
- The Cathedral of Barcelona was constructed from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries however the real magic began in the late nineteenth century. This is when the neo-Gothic façade was constructed over the nondescript exterior which was common to Catalan churches. This exterior is covered in so many beautiful carvings that I couldn’t help but get up close with my camera.
- Sagrada Familia is a Roman Catholic, Gaudi designed church that needs no explanation since it’s probably one of the reasons why you’re visiting Barcelona. It’s due for completion in 2026 which is a relief since it’s been under construction since 1883. Hey, perfection can’t be rushed. Be sure to purchase tickets, the interior is beautiful.
*Tickets should be purchased a few weeks in advance, they sell quickly. - La Rambla / Las Ramblas is a tree-lined pedestrian street and one of the most famous in Barcelona. It’s close to a mile long and filled with lots of restaurants and shops. If you’re looking to do some shopping, this is the place to do it.
- Mercado de La
Boqueria is located on La Rambla and is Barcelona’s most popular market. It’s filled with various stalls selling fresh fruit, smoothies, nuts, fish, and more. If you’re looking for a larger meal some stalls are more of a restaurant with full menus.
more spots to visit
add these to your list too!
- Mirador de Colom the Christoper Combulus Monument is a nice stop during a stroll along the Marina. From here you can also spot the Military Government Building which has some of the lushest palm trees I’ve seen, and I live in Los Angeles.
- Casa Batlló is another Gaudi masterpiece and Barcelona’s top attraction after Sagrada Familia. Be sure to purchase tickets, the interior is beautiful.
*Tickets should be purchased a few weeks in advance, they sell quickly. - Cheese and Cake is a lovely cafe with vegan options and the kindest owner who hand-delivered our food to the table. I ordered the tasty open-faced tofu sandwich and shared the sweet pancakes with maple syrup (pancakes, fresh fruit, whipped cream, Nutella, maple syrup and an ice cream cone on top).
- Bunker del Carmel is a Spanish Civil War bunker where anti-aircraft guns were installed. It offers beautiful views over the city and is where locals and tourists go to picnic and watch the sunset. It can be slightly difficult to find but luckily upon exiting the train station, we met a local who walked us almost entirely there. It’s a bit of a hike uphill especially with picnic supplies but it’s certainly worth the view when sunset transitions to a night sky.
architecture + nightlife
pleasently surprised by the nighlife in barcelona
- Park Güell is a public park designed by Gaudi and composed of gardens and architectural elements. Many people don’t know this but there are free areas where you can roam around and explore. There are even a few viewpoints where you can look into the park however if you want to enter the beautiful mosaic village that I’m sure you’ve seen all over the internet, you’ll need to purchase tickets.
- The Historic center of Vila de Gràcia is the area I mentioned earlier that’s lovely for walking around, be sure to stop and sit in one of the squares. There’s also cool street art like the vintage Volkswagen that I found.
- Nightlife in Spain is definitely “a thing”. I don’t want to generalize but locals know how to have a good time! A friend I met in Rome Italy the year before (we were both solo travelers sitting alone at a bar and struck up a conversation) lived in Barcelona at the time. She and her friends were on the VIP list for a party at the W Hotel located right on the beach, so when she invited me to join, I, of course, did. We danced under palm trees and a clear summer sky that turned into a cotton candy sunset and eventually faded into a star-filled sky.
Little did I know that was just the “pre-party”. The evening continued at a local nightclub that wasn’t just any nightclub. I’ve spent a lot of time in Italy so I’m accustomed to aperitivo which is a pre-dinner drink accompanied by complimentary olives. bread, prosciutto, small plates, and sometimes a small buffet if you’re at a local bar. Now in Spain, on this night, there was no aperitivo. This nightclub (laser lights, and all) had a full-on, family reunion kind of buffet with tons of food options. We were pretty hungry from dancing earlier that evening so we filled up our plates before making our way over to the dance floor.
If a nightclub fueling you with free dinner before dancing doesn’t show you how much locals like to party, I don’t know what does. From a hipster bar in Vila de Gràcia, owned by young Italian guys serving up great drinks, to an amazing night dancing under a sunset and night sky, I thoroughly enjoyed Barcelona’s nightlife.
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