Weekend trips to Europe have been "our thing" from the beginning. It started with a trip to London in 2018 (we'll go into that adventure at another time!) and ended with a trip to Greece in March 2020. And we all should know by now why we stopped.
Anyway, one of the questions we'd always get asked was how we do it. Especially with the "big" cities, like London and Barcelona.
Barcelona is one of my favorite cities in the whole world, and yes, it's very possible to see it in a weekend. The city is relatively easy to get around in, especially if you're comfortable with public transportation. So here are my Top 10 of things to do and see in this incredibly diverse city. Especially if you only have a weekend and want to avoid most of the touristy areas and waiting in line.
1. The Palau de la Música Catalana. This is first on my list because I personally believe it is the one can't-miss site in the entire city. Sure, Barcelona is the city of Antoni Gaudí, and the Sagrada Família and Park Güell are certainly worth the visit. But for an underrated experience that's just as intrinsic to the city, this is a must. Built by a contemporary (Lluís Domènech i Muntaner) of the world-famous architect in the early 20th century for a choir the Orfeó Català, the main hall features intricate stained glass and colorful sculptures, as well as mind-blowing acoustics that makes me wonder why in the world more people don't know about it. Tours are offered daily in multiple languages, and you can also schedule an individual visit. You're welcome.
2. The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Housed in the palace of Montjuïc right behind the convention center, this is home to the largest collection of Catalan and Modernist art in the world. I've seen lines to get into the Sagrada Família and the Picasso Museum that would put the Empire State Building to shame. But rarely do I see lines in here, which is sad. One of my favorite pieces of Catalan art is housed here: the Pantocràtor, a fresco mural taken from a tiny Romanesque church in a valley nestled in the Pyrenees, in the Catalan province of Lleida. If you love art and art history, this museum is more than worth the price of admission. You may also be able to get in for free on Saturday evenings after 6 pm.
3. The Passeig de Gràcia. This wide avenue is essentially the 5th Avenue of Barcelona, and is mostly known for its luxury boutiques and hotels. What a lot of people don't know is that it originally served to connect the town of Gràcia to the Ciutat Vella, the original city, of Barcelona. The best way to experience this is from the old Town of Gràcia, now a district, at Plaça Lesseps after a visit to Park Güell, walking from the point it starts as the Carrer Gran de Gràcia as it gradually feeds into the Passeig where the Eixample districts begin, which were the expansion of the city in the mid-to-late 19th century. You can watch as your view goes from old, to new, to old again once you pass through Plaça Catalunya. For extra credit: make a bee-line for the Casa Vicens designed by Gaudí right as you enter into the Eixample. On this street is where you will also find the Casa Milà or La Pedrera and the Casa Batlló by Gaudí himself.
4. The Ajuntament. This is Barcelona City Hall, constructed in multiple stages during the Middle Ages and the city seat for centuries. It's where the leaders of the city meet with kings and dignitaries over how to control the Mediterranean. Here is where the Council of a Hundred (Consell de Cent) met to decide to defend their city during the War of Spanish Succession that led to an 18-month drive of the city, ending on September 11, 1714, among other important events that are intrinsically linked to the history of the city. It's open to the public every Sunday until 1 pm, as well as holidays like April 23 (Saint George) and September 24 (Festa de la Mercè). As of 2022, it's only accessible via a group tour. You can check the official website for tour languages and times. Currently English tours are conducted at 10 am.
5. The long way up (or down) to Park Güell. Most visitors seem to take the city entrance and exit, around the Carrer de Larrard, walking from Lesseps to the Travessera de Dalt and straight up to the park. My personal favorite path, however, and one which gives you the best views of the city, is from the Vallcarca station and heading up the hill to the Park. This path takes you up the hill and gives you views of the city that you've only imagined up until that point. The entrances change every so often; in 2021 the best viewpoints were part of the ticketed section, but this can vary.
6. The local eateries. Provided you don't have any dietary restrictions, the best way to eat in Barcelona is to wander around the lesser congested streets and stop into a local restaurant. It works best if you do it during the times of day when the locals are getting their meals, which is usually between 2-4 pm for the main meal, and 8:30-11 for the evening meal. It helps you avoid the bland, overpriced, and overrated tourist fare and gives you more of a taste for the actual food the locals eat. If you can, watch how and what everyone else is eating. For the afternoon meal, focus on the Menú del Día, which is the prix fixe, and you can pick your options for the best possible price. The classic "tapas" are best enjoyed in the evening, though there is no fixed rule; it's just how Spaniards generally enjoy their "tapas". For extra credit: head to a district that's not as touristy, such as Sants, Poble Sec, or Poblenou.
For a historical (albeit a bit touristy) experience, we recommend Els Quatre Gats, which was one of Pablo Picasso's favorite hangouts before he moved to Paris.
Patates braves (or in Spanish patatas bravas), or "wild potatoes" are a typical dish in Barcelona, and is in fact, along with pan con tomate/pa amb tomàquet, a Barcelona original. It's usually baked or broiled potatoes with a spicy mayo, or mayo and pepper sauce (brava means "wild/unruly" in Spanish and Catalan). We generally order a plate of these every time we go to Barcelona, for every meal, and our all-time favorite we had at a bar in Sants called L'Encis de la Rambla on our way to a match at Camp Nou. The sauce is a house recipe and the potatoes are boiled, then baked. Absolute perfection.
7. The walk. Walk everywhere. If your schedule does demand going from the Sagrada Família to Casa Batlló within 30 minutes, sure, go ahead and take the Metro. But if you are able to, you'll get the most enjoyment of the city if you walk everywhere instead of relying on taxis and public transportation. You'll also get more inspired by the city and the environment this way instead of rushing this way and that. Slow down, take it easy, and relax. After all, you're in the Mediterranean. And no one has ever accused Mediterranean life of being fast-paced and hectic.
8. The culture. Embrace it, feel it, live it. The draw of Mediterranean life, even while on vacation, is total #lifestylegoals. This only works if you follow the locals instead of making it up as you go along. Forget waking up at 7 and going for the breakfast buffet at the hotel. Wake up at 8 out 9, go to the little bar across the street, and grab a café con leche (cafè amb llet in Catalan; this is the Spanish version of the cappuccino) and maybe a croissant or madeleine (magdalena). Enjoy it. Savor it. Grab another one around noon. Spain has wonderful coffee and a great coffee culture; the Italians aren't the only ones who value a quality cup of joe. After your afternoon meal, grab a cortado (the Spanish version of the macchiato: one shot of espresso with a drop of milk) for dessert. Relax.
9. The beach. Whether you're in Barcelona when there's beach weather or not (for a local, that's usually between May and October), do your best to at least walk along the waterfront. You can either start at the Mirador de Colom at the bottom of the Rambles and walk towards the Port Olímpic where the two towers are, or the other way around. Even in the middle of winter (I like to go in January because it's the cheapest!), it's still incredibly relaxing; and if you go at night, practically having the entire stretch of beach to yourself is amazing.
10. The day trips. Barcelona is within a day's travel of a lot of beautiful places: Tarragona, Girona, Sitges, Figueres, Cadaqués, Montserrat, etc. You can also head to the winery at Sant Sadurní d'Anoia for a tour of a bodega (in Spain, this is a winery, not a corner deli like in NYC) designed by the same architect as the Palau de la Música, or explore small cities like Terrassa or Sabadell to get a glimpse of a Catalan city no one else may have heard about. In Terrassa, you can check out the Parc de Sant Jordi and the Masia Freixa, another Modernist building. There's more to Barcelona than Barcelona.
Just remember: it's okay to go back. If you weren't able to fit everything you wanted to do in one trip, that's okay. I'm firmly against the belief that you can't go to one place more than once. I believe in experiencing a place to its fullest, especially if this place is somewhere that's stolen every single inch of my heart as Barcelona has. No matter how many times I visit the city, I still find even more reasons to remind me why I've fallen in love with it.
If you have any other questions regarding things to do in Barcelona to save both your budget and time or have suggestions for others, drop us a line in the comments!
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