8 Things You Will Love About Barcelona

We all have that one city that we are dying to get back to. One of ours is definitely Barcelona. Everything in Barcelona is perfect, the people, the streets, the food, the beaches… You can’t have bad times in Barcelona. And it’s perfect no matter what season of the year it is. Here we are bringing you 8 things you will love about Barcelona, and sure there is more.

Let’s start with some basic stuff that you need for your planning and then we’ll explore this Mediterranean gem.

The View of Barcelona
© Bert Kaufmann / CC BY-SA 2.0

When to Go to Barcelona?

Barcelona is a quite popular city so avoid going there in the middle of the summer or around bigger holidays. The best time is spring and late summer to early fall when the weather is nicest and it’s not the peak of the season, so it’s less crowded.

How to Get to Barcelona?

You can get to Barcelona in any way you want, it is very well connected to the rest of the world. There is the airport, bus and train station with connections to most of the bigger European cities. Also, if you are somewhere on the Mediterranean shore you can get to Barcelona by boat since it is one of the foremost cruise ship harbor’s.

Where to Stay?

If you are traveling on the budget we recommend searching for a private apartment, you can get it from around 20 EUR per night. A night in a hostel will cost you about 40 EUR and hotels can get pretty expensive, so we don’t recommend staying in one.

Is Barcelona Expensive?

Well, comparing to Sofia or Belgrade or even Budapest it is quite expensive, but it is okay. You can have a complete meal from 10 EUR or a pizza for 5 EUR. If you are a beer lover, we think you’ll be satisfied. You will spend from 1 EUR for a small beer to 1.5 EUR for a large bottled beer, which is pretty okay. We also searched for this information before our travels and found this interesting infographic with costs in Barcelona.

What to See in Barcelona?

Now that we’re done with this boring but useful stuff let’s explore the streets of beautiful Barcelona.

1. Gaudi

Architect Antonio Gaudi is one of the kind and he left such a huge impact in Barcelona. You cannot leave Barcelona without impressions about Gaudi, he’s wherever you turn. His work kind of blends with nature and that is what makes it so special.

Let’s start with Sagrada Familia – the Church of the Holy Family, Gaudi’s main work, the magnificent cathedral which is not finished yet. But once it’s finished it will be the tallest church in the world.

Sagrada Familia – the Church of the Holy Family
© amelia soo  / CC BY-SA 2.0

Casa Batlló is also a very recognizable piece of Gaudi’s work. It’s outside resembles the skeleton and also there are beautiful parts that are made of broken tiles (similar to mosaics). You’ve surely seen Casa Batlló on postcards.

Casa Batlló
© ChristianSchd / CC BY-SA 3.0

In the same neighborhood, there is the Casa Milà that Gaudi built of Milà family. It also lacks any straight lines and it’s made of natural stone. Only the roof is covered in broken white tiles – it’s a technique that Gaudi used a lot.

Also, another thing that you have to see is Park Güell that is a unique experience for sure! It’s a complex with extraordinary architectonic elements that are following the shape of nature. And again, we can see colorful broken tiles everywhere. Classic Gaudi. And the Park gives you an amazing view of Barcelona, you will simply love it.

Beautiful Park Güell 

There is much more about Gaudi to be said but we don’t want to make this blog all about him (even though he deserves one), so we’ll stop right here.

2. Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas is one of the most famous pedestrian streets in Europe. It’s a huge boulevard with only two lanes for cars and it goes diagonally through some very interesting Barcelona neighborhoods. It is very picturesque, you will see a lot of medieval architecture that you will love when you walk through the Gothic quarter. There are a lot of cafes, restaurants, shops, and mini-plazas and, of course, a lot of tourists so locals don’t like it that much. But the crowd is understandable because it is so beautiful, you just have to see it and feel it.

Las Ramblas
© Ariadnagomez97/ CC BY-SA 2.0

3. La Boqueria

We all love old markets, there is a bunch of things to be found. The market in Barcelona, called La Boqueria has been there since medieval times and it is legendary! There is everything you need for a complete lunch or dinner: meat, veggies, cheese, olive products, etc. And when you’re done go have a break (and a cold beer and tapas) in one of the market’s bars.

4. Camp Nou

Whether you love football or not, when you are in Barcelona Camp Nou is a must-see. The arena is gigantic with its 99.000 seats and the atmosphere is really something special. You have to get inside and check the stadium’s museum there is a lot to see.

Camp Nou in Barcelona

5. Barcelona City History Museum

And if you’re up to learning about the city’s history go check out the Barcelona City History Museum. You will see some Roman remains in the Gothic quarter, too, but the most detailed history from the Romans till today is explained in this museum. And under the museum, there are 4.000 square meters of Roman ruins you can walkthrough.

Barcelona City History Museum
© JosepBC/ CC BY-SA 3.0

6. Montjuïc

Montjuïc is a hill looking over to the harbor that has been a key spot for the defense of Barcelona and today is a must-see spot in this magnificent city. You can get up there via the funicular or cable car and enjoy the view. When you get up there you cannot miss the Castle. Also, you can check out the Catalan museum of archaeology, Montjuïc Cemetery, a modern art museum Fundació Joan Miró, the museum of ethnology, gorgeous botanical gardens and soooo much more. One thing that is really a tourist must-see (and must photograph) spot is the magic fountain with music and light shows a few nights a week.

Montjuïc

7. Eating in Barcelona

When in Barcelona you can basically eat whatever you like, it is full of international restaurants, so you can enjoy any kind of cuisine that you like. But of course, you want to try some local food, all this experience would be incomplete without that. If you’re up for some snacks, try Pa amb tomàquet – bread covered with a mixture of tomato, garlic and olive oil. For lunch try paella – rice and seafood dish. And for dinner don’t miss tapas – a small portion of literally any Spanish meal.

8. Beaches of Barcelona

Sandy beaches in Barcelona are a dream come true, they stretch for kilometers and are a perfect place for a siesta – afternoon rest or nap. And as you go farther from the city the beaches get even more beautiful. Also, you will find many seafood restaurants and bars along the palm-lined promenades to enjoy.

Beaches of Barcelona
© Mari0T/ CC BY-SA 3.0

All of this is not just a must-see in the summer when it’s hot and crowded. The weather is very pleasant even in the winter and on a warm and sunny day, you can take a blanket and go for a picnic on a beach and enjoy rays of sunshine. Plus, Barcelona is less crowded in winter and you get to experience it better and to fell a unique spirit of it. And if you are a fan of Christmas markets you have to see the one that Barcelona has, it is totally different because of unique Catalan culture. You will surely enjoy it.

These 8 things that you will love about Barcelona are just a gist of what we saw and did over there, but it’s surely not all there is. But for sure it is more than enough to make you fall in love with the extraordinary city of Barcelona and put it to your bucket list.