After a long flight, you’ve finally landed in the great sea side city of Barcelona and wondering what to do?
Look no further! Barcelona is such a great spot. It doesn’t matter if you’re there for a couple of days or a whole week. This city truly has it all.
Here are a few ideas to get the gear running and fill up your schedule.
Hit The Markets
One thing that makes Barcelona so amazing is its culture. I truly believe that you could have a fantastic time without ever even setting foot in any museum.
Barcelona has world class markets. To get you started, you could visit Mercado de la Boqueria, the Gothic Market or the Sagrada Familia Market.
Just make sure to go with an empty stomach so you can sample the amazing tapas there and buy some of the best Spanish wines.
Another point to remember is that most markets and places in Barcelona tend to close on Sundays so plan your schedule accordingly.
Get Lost in La Barceloneta
If you love to walk, you will absolutely fall in love with La Barceloneta. One of the best things to do is to just wander around.
La Barceloneta is an area surrounding the main beach town. There are tons to see and there. I must warn you that this place is where you go to relax and be in the moment.
Think street arts and lovely little cafes. Most of all, the pace of life is so much slower there and you can really feel a certain zest for life in this area.
Wander around the Gothic Quarter
Honestly, its quite hard not to end up there, even if just by accident, as it is pretty much in such a hot spot of the city.
The Gothic Quarter is not only important due to its revered gothic architecture. But that neighborhood is a very important part of the city’s identity. It was also one of the first spot where the Romans settled in the early days.
Go Swim at the Barceloneta beach
This place truly has it all. You can be in a museum and the next minute you find yourself in your bikini tanning and swimming along the Spanish coast.
Yes! It does get crowded in the height of summer. So go early or keep walking past the crowd until you find a quieter spot.
Have your fill of Paellas & Sangrias
Yes I know! We talk about food a lot here…. But how can we not?
Barcelona is a foodie world capital and I think this alone should be a reason to visit the city.
Too many times, people get caught up with an extreme checklist of things to do and totally forget to slow down and enjoy the little pleasures.
Museum Time
Now that we’re done relaxing at the beach and filling up our stomachs with the best foods, we can finally focus on world class museums.
If you love museums, you’ll be spoilt for choice. You will find the world renowned National Art Museum of Catalonia, the History Museum, Contemporary Museum along many others.
For the avid soccer fans out there, no worries, you can even spend your time at the FC Barcelona Museum.
Like I said there plenty of museums you can go to while in the city.
Fall in love with the Architecture
Yes indoor museums are nice but I truly believe that what sets Barcelona apart, when it comes to old wonders, is its unique architecture.
The first one that comes to mind is the Sagrada Familia Basilica. Many people travel to Barcelona just to visit this basilica alone. It is one of Antoni Gaudi’s famous work.
The design is absolutely striking with a mix of different styles such as gothic, art nouveau and modernism.
The most interesting part to me is how the construction started back in 1882. And guess what?
It never completed as Gaudi passed away and until today it is still under construction.
Visit the Montjuic Park
This is not only a very beautiful park but it also reveals a different aspect of the city.
You can expect a fabulous view there. If you’re looking for something extra, visit for sunset and you will be pleasantly surprised.
Las Ramblas
This is pretty much a long pedestrian street in the heart of the action.
Yes, Las Ramblas can get quite touristy and super crowded but I still think it is worth checking out. Just make sure to keep your belongings tight and stay aware as there is a bit of a pickpocketing problem there.
Besides that, you can expect to find many cafes there too. Albeit the prices are definitely geared towards tourists. That said, it is still a very nice place to sit back, relax, enjoy a god cuppa while people watching.
Check Out The Popular Islands
Here you have it! This list is meant to give you a taste of what Barcelona has to offer.
You can also decide to take a quick trip to the islands nearby such as Ibiza, Mallorca or Menorca to name a few.
Don’t want to take the ferry? There are also a tons of day trips that can be had in nearby cities.
Plan a Day Trip from Barcelona
There are so many nice side trips that you can take when you’re in Barcelona.
If you find yourself with a lot of time in your hand and want to change up the pace, no need to panic.
Just know that you are always one train away from having an amazing adventure.
The Montserrat Monastery is one of the most popular day trips to take from Barcelona.
It lies about 50 kilometers northwest of Barcelona and is one of Spain’s major touristic attraction. I also believe its the perfect distance for you to maximize your day without wasting it away transiting back and forth to your destination.
You can decide to go by yourself or better yet, book a tour with one of those many companies that will plan everything for you.
Still can’t get enough? There are so many other day trips to be had while basing yourself in Barcelona. The beautiful colorful Dali Theatre museum, Manresa’s churches and Girona are all outstanding places to add to your unforgettable Spanish trip.
To Sum Up
Whatever you end up doing and however you spend your time, you are pretty much guaranteed to have an awesome time in Barcelona. Most importantly, don’t forget to slow down and take in the atmosphere.