Barcelona Favorite Sights & Attractions

BEAUTIFUL BARCELONA

In my opinion, Barcelona is one of the most remarkable cities in the world. For more than 4000 years, the city has always stood out for its beauty and dynamism.

Before visiting, I recommend that you check out the many wonderful TravBuddy Barcelona blogs and reviews. After getting an area overview from the internet, amble down to your local bookstore, grab a cappuccino, skim several Barcelona guide books and determine the 4-5 things you most want to see.

My personal favorites:
• Park Guell - Gaudí's fantasy place that overlooks Barcelona and the Sea. One of the world's most unique and joyous parks.
• Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic) - A maze of buildings and streets from Barcelona’s medieval Golden Age, including the Cathedral built 1298-1459. A wonderfully preserved Old City.
• La Rambla - Stroll east side of Barcelona’s signature boulevard (more pickpocket artists on west side). Start at Placa Catalunya, the nerve center of the city, and walk south to Columbus Monument and the Mediterranean waterfront.
• Montjuic Mountain - Amazing views of both Barcelona and the city harbor. While there, visit Spanish Town and the Olympic Stadium.
• Picasso Museum (Museu Picasso) - Well-rounded collection of over 3500 Picasso works.
• La Sagrada Familia - The Holy Family Basilica begun by Gaudí in 1883 and still being constructed as an ongoing tribute to God.

Worthwhile nearby out-of-town excursion:
• Montserrat Mountains - Explore the jagged mountains and view Royal Basilica’s Black Madonna :-D

Barcelona must see/do’s

• Attractions, architecture by Antoni Gaudi: All absolutely unique architectural buildings/museums really are unbeatable.

1. Park Guell: On a sunny day walk through Park guell (free entrance but you have to pay to see the museum located within the park which was Gaudis house) and soak in the surroundings!

2. Sagrada Familia: lovely building from the outside, I went in on Christmas day when I think a Christmas prayer was taking place, but unfortunately didn’t get to see the whole building because my camera battery ran out, so I decided to back only to find it was closed ☹ but would have loved to see it!
3. La Padrera: really nice from the outside but not the best of Gaudi’s buildings. Rooftop is amazing though!
4. Casa Batllo: MY FAVOURITE, I think I paid just over 13Euros for entry (after student discount) it was undoubtedly worth it. As you enter you are given an audio guide, which is very interesting to listen to as you pass through each room, which is individually designed in the most unique way! I’ve never seen such amazing architecture!

La rambla: Barcelona’s most famous street…such a fun street with people dressed up in attractive costumes. You have to pay at least 10cents to take a picture with them hehehehehe which I did with as many as my friend allowed since she had to keep stopping to take my pictures ☺. If you’ve been to London you will; like me think it’s a mirror image of oxford circus…but the beauty of Rambla is, it has sunlight, is more lively and fun and the people are not stressed and rushed!!!!

At the end of the street you will see the river with cruise boats, Christopher Columbus statue and a shopping mall. Don’t forget to get a fresh pancake made and then eat it at the benches beside the river. Very lively atmosphere.

Also on Rambla is la Boqueria, a market with colorful fruit, sweet, chocolate stalls amongst many others. Another very lively place and fun to walk around.

Eating out: at restaurants located on La rambla can work out pricey, the side street prices are cheaper and portions bigger but you have to look around. I ate mostly at restaurants on rambla because it was convenient and when you’ve only eaten breakfast and it 4pm you really just want a nice place to eat! Definitely try churros con chocolate and gofres…so tasty, never would have thought of potatoes combined worth ice cream, fresh cream or melted chocolate was possible ☺ oh and paella which is rice which has many kinds like seafood paella, vegetable paella etc etc


Barceloneta beach: if you are going in the summer, you will love it. Palm trees, sand, clear blue sky and sea waves…you cant go wrong! Also the walk up to the beach is conveniently lined with restaurants and also has a supermarket.

Barcelona stadium: I went three times to see if it was open but no, unfortunately with it being Christmas it was closed. I thought the outside looked amazing. Would have loved to see the inside.

Espanya: this is one of THE MOST beautiful places I had seen in Barcelona. The whole area was amazing at night. When you get out of the metro station you first see the huge two red brick towers followed by two rows of small fountains, tall trees and modern buildings. As you keep walking you come to the magic fountain after which in the centre you see National Art Museum of Catalonia…a beautiful building with fountains in front (below the steps). The magic fountain has a sound and light show in the evenings which is awesome to see, and if your particularly lucky as I was and go in December; you will get wet through with by heavy rain ☺ which was fun to see the crowd run for shelter hehehehehe

Espanya also has the lovely Spanish village, which has many shops inside it and restaurants. Such a lovely place to see with an open courtyard as you walk through.

Parc de Monjuic: is a very steep hill, which keeps curving round. It’s an amazing place to view Barcelona city and the open sea via the cable car. But hopefully you wont make the same mistake as me! Time was of the essence as I was returning home the next day, I wouldn’t get another chance to see it so I decided to go to parc de monjuic the second time (yes it too was closed the first time). When I got off at the metro everyone was waiting in the metro, I assumed they were waiting for the rain to stop so they could walk up. I decided not to wait. When after a VERY tiring walk uphill, I reached the top, literally two minutes later a bust stopped behind me…yes the people in the metro were waiting for the bus to get to parc de monjuic!!!!! To make things worse the cable car was closed due to weather conditions Ggggggggrrrrrrr BUT I still got an amazing view of the sea and BARCELONA CITY :p

Tips

• If time is off the essence and you cant see all of Gaudis attractions, then I highly recommend 1. Casa batllo 2. Park guell
• Definitely try churros con chocolate and gofres (two different desserts)
• BEWARE of pickpockets. Thank god my friends warned me of pick pockets before I went…. on my first day on my way to my hotel I got on the subway and caught a girl put her hand in my bag which I was across…I literally took her hand out of my bag!!!! I was shocked!!!!
• Make sure you know when things are open to save double journeys, which I did plenty of!!!
• If you don’t know Catalan (the more difficult language spoken in Spain by ‘posh’ people) know three words ‘hola’ = hello, gracius = thank you, adios = bye. Other helpful ones include: kohm us tah =how are you, mol beh = very well, Buenos dias= good morning, Pur –doh-nee = excuse me.

Hope you find my review helpful. Need more tips just give me a shout. Happy travels ☺ adios!