Barcelona is a vibrant beach city in the Catalonia region of Spain and if you haven’t been yet, this is your sign to visit!
Here is how to spend a weekend in the city:
Where to stay: there are plenty of areas in the city – choose somewhere fairly central for ease:
Hotel Ohla Exiample – a 5 star hotel with a rooftop pool. Exiample is a great area to appreciate Gaudi’s architecture with cultural gems throughout
What to see and do in Barcelona:
- Sagrada Familia – the largest unfinished Catholic Church in the world! It was designed by Gaudí and construction started in 1882..expected to be finished in 2026 so let’s see! It is impressive on the outside but definitely worth seeing the inside at least once..book your ticket online and go early
- Park Güell – a beautiful park and garden overlooking the city – another example of Gaudí artistry! It costs 10 euros to enter (2024). Expect to spend hours here so take your time to enjoy it!
- Whilst you’re in the area, take the bus a short distance up to El Carmel Bunkers, do a short 15 minute hike to get the best free unobstructed view of Barcelona – sunset is unreal!
- Visit the 1992 Olympic Park – the stadium is usually open unless there’s games on
- Visit Arco de triunfo (Arch) and the Ciutadella Park next to it
- Arenas de Barcelona – shopping and restaurant complex – take the cool lift up (about 1.50 euros one way) to the top, enjoy the complex and then come down for free on the escalators
- Visit Barceloneta beach – you can get the metro or bus to the beach depending where you are..worth a stroll!
- Enjoy Art in the city – Moco museum – a lovely museum with modern and contemporary art – the building it’s in is worth the visit alone. Entry is 14.95 euros for adults (2024). Also there’s branches in Amsterdam and soon will be in London. Or enjoy a smaller free gallery e.g. Villa del Arte or one of the bigger ones which are free on the 1st Sunday of the month
- Enjoy the vibrancy of Las Ramblas
- Enjoy one of the many squares (a must when you’re in Spain) e.g Catalunya or Espanya
Where to eat and drink:
Season restaurant – for Spanish tapas with a twist
Sagrada tapas – affordable tapas near Sagrada Familia
Mercato de la Boquería – the popular food market – its touristy but worth checking out- I recommend grabbing things to takeaway rather than dining in
Hotel Colón – in the Gothic quarter for rooftop drinks (opposite Barcelona cathedral)
Barcelona can be enjoyed at any time of the year but I recommend avoiding peak summer if you can..the weather is pleasant even January when I visited (15/16 degrees Celsius) so it’s really the perfect city break destination!
J xo
Road2Culturedom 