Barcelona - The city with a soul

Get into the vibe of Barcelona by immersing yourself in the vibe of the Qothic Quarter. We love this area, and have visited here many times. You can easily spend an entire day here. It’s basically devided into two areas - El Born and Barri Qòtic. Get lost in the small cozy alleys. Remember, that literally you can get lost, since the online maps don’t always really know how to navigate in the area. The a stroll in the alleys and visit little shops selling local products. Tip! You can find stores here that sella quality leather goods. If you’re looking for good restaurants in Barcelona, this is the place to find them - some of the best tapas in town!

We started our trip from La Rambla, that’s the first place we arrived by metro. Start the day from here. La Rambla is one of the busiest streets in Barcelona, but still it’s worth visiting once. There are plenty of street vendors selling products and doing paintings. You can walk along the street, but just be aware of your belongings as it can get crowded. From here, you can continue to Barri Qòtic.

Once your in the Qothic Quarter, visit some the amazing churches and old buildings that are everywhere. A must visit Cathedral is the Cathedral of Barcelona. It has beautiful gothic architecture, and is definitely worth visiting.

Have a drink at Oasis bar at the heart of the old town. They have indoor and outdoor seating year around, so enjoy the athmosphere while sipping your drink.

El Born is the other part of the Qothic Quarter. Visit here for the hipster vibe, some of the best coffee houses, food and drinks. Also, you can find many little shops for shopping local products. There are also many known shops around Qothic Area, from Zara to Sephora. So do your shopping, and you can enjoy the rest of the holiday afterwards!

While you’ve in this area, take avantage of the markets here. In front of the church of La Seu, you can find a flee market that is open everyday. By Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar, there is a market that sells great local food products, like olive oil and honey.

Have dinner at NAP for great authentic pizza! Even though in Spain, it’s worth trying this place. It’s nothing fancy, and they only take walk-ins.

Spend the day at the beach! There are several beaches in the coast of Barcelona, but the best know is Barceloneta Beach. You can easily walk here if you’re staying in the centre. The beaches here are public, so there are no beach clubs but you find cafés and restaurants nearby. Also, keep an eye out for your belongings, just in case as the beaches are public. Other beaches to try also are Platja Del Bogatel and Platja de Llevant. All of them are good for swimming, and the waves are not too big.

Have some authentic tapas in Barcelona! When in Spain, tapas is a must. And who would say no to that? Sensi bistro offers a variety of options to choose from. There both meat and vegetarian options for some good authentic taste. Have a glass of wine too, and enjoy the night like a local. The batatas bravas and croquettas are amazing!

Another place to see beautifully desinged buildings is Park Güell. This is a must visit place, and you get to have little bit of time outside the city hassle. Although, during high season and daytime, it can get crowded. The park itself is free to enter, but if you want to visit the buildings inside, you have to buy tickets. The park is big, so reserve enough time. Go there well before sunset to visit the houses, and then enjoy one of the best sunset views in the evening! There is also an another great viewpoint on top of the hill.

Spend the 4th day exploring the amazing architecture in Barcelona. One of the most famous arvhitechts in Spain is Antonio Gaudi, whose work you can see all over town. You can visit the beautiful building of Casa Batlló, where you can see how Gaudi lived. The ticket can be purchased either in advance online or at site. If ypu choose to buy it online, it will be a little cheaper. The prices for the tickets vary. If you want to have a full experience, including the visit to Gaudi’s private chambers, for example, it will cost 48€.

Montserrat is a mountain area outside Barcelona. It’s a really beautiful place to spend the day, if you want to escape the business of the city. You can take the the regional train to from Barcelona to Monistrol de Montserrat. From there you have three options to get up the mountain: 1. Cable Car: You can go up the mountain with a small cable car. It’s the fastest option, as it goes straight up the mountain. The ride takes around 10-15 minutes. 2. Mountain Train: You can also take the mountain train. It takes around 30minutes. This is the best option if you want to get nice views along the way. You can also choose to take one ride going up, and then come down with another ride. Just make sure to check the schdules since they don’t run anymore late in the evening. 3. Hiking: Your third option is for the adventure seekers! After the taking the public train, you can hike up the mountain. This will require some more planning in advance, timewise. The paved path up is relatively easy to walk, but it’s uphill all the way. It will take around 4 hours to reach the top, depending on your pace. We took the mountain train both ways, since the cable cars stopped running well before sunset. You have some restaurants and coffee places on the mountain top, as well as a hotel. The most famous place to visit however is the statue of Black Madonna, to whom people come to do pilgrimiges. The statue is located inside the church, and you need to purchase tickets to enter.

Ciutadella Park is a beautiful park in the heart of Barcelona. Come here on in the morning for a stroll and enjoy the surroundings. The park is big, so reserve enough time in here. Admire the beautiful fountain, and the building behind it. There are coffee spots with outdoor seating also. The park has also museums, the Parliament house and a zoo, so reserve enough time if ypu want to visit all of the places in here.

Arc the Triumpf is a memorial building in Barcelona, similar to the famous one in Paris. It is build in 1888, and because of the architecture, it is worth seeing. It’s also located nearby Park de la Ciutadella, so you can combine these two in a day Have a stroll here in the promenade and enjoy a cup of coffee in the nearby coffee places.