Best Things to do in Barcelona
- July 8, 2023
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Seung
We lived in Spain for over a year and never got the chance to visit Barcelona. Honestly, I always had a feeling it may be overrated, but we had to go check it out for ourselves. This became one of our favorite trips within the past two years of full time travel! Barcelona is one of the greatest cities on Earth and we absolutely loved it so much that we planned a second trip again this summer. We stayed for 3 nights near the Gothic Quarter and spent the trip exploring the whole city. It was a very go go go trip and we still felt like we didn’t get to see everything. There will be a part two to this blog but for now, here are the best things to do in Barcelona.
Sagrada Familia
We’ve been to so many churches all over Europe. From St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, all the way to St. Sava’s temple in Belgrade. Point being, we have an idea of what the best churches in Europe look like. Arguably the most famous landmark in Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia is in the top 3 churches for us. Created by the architect Antoni Gaudí in the late 1800’s, this church is still under construction to this day and will probably not be finished until the latter half of the 21st century. We HIGHLY recommend that you go inside. The interior of this place feels like you are on another planet. The ceiling, intricate columns, and vividly colorful stainless glass windows are out of this world. Even though this place will be very touristy, I assure you it is one of the most beautiful works of architecture in the world.
Casa Batlló
Another architectural masterpiece by Gaudí, Casa Batlló was built as a private residence for the Batlló family in the early 1900’s which has now turned into a museum. The exterior has this colorful facade of designs that is said to symbolize the legend of Saint George of Catalonia. Its dragon-like balconies are a resemblance of the dragon slain by the saint. The interior is so unique as well, with a theme of blue and wave-like patterns that is said to resemble the underwater world. Walking through this house feels like you’ve been transported to another world. In my opinion, this is what makes Gaudí’s architecture so special. They aren’t in gothic, renaissance, byzantine, etc. styles. They are in his OWN style. The Gaudí style and you seriously have to see it for yourself to understand. Tickets are a bit on the pricier side (30 euros for normal 45 euros for early entrance) for this attraction but you can’t leave Barcelona without seeing it.
Arc de Triomf
Everybody knows the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but did you know Barcelona also has one? It was designed by Catalonian architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas as the main entrance for the 1888 Barcelona universal exhibition. It’s a very unique arc as traditional arcs celebrate military victories, but this one commemorates cultural and artistic achievements. It serves as a welcoming to the city of Barcelona. It is completely free to see and there is a long pedestrian boulevard that leads to Parc de la Ciutadella, where plenty of people enjoy their days strolling through this prominent area of the city.
Gothic Quarter
This is the neighborhood where we stayed in Barcelona and our personal favorite. It is one of the oldest quarters in Barcelona dating back to Roman times. It flourished during the medieval period and served as the center of the city’s political, religious, and commercial life. The most famous landmark here is the Barcelona Cathedral (we sadly didn’t get the chance to go in but that’s another reason we are going back). The best thing to do in the Gothic Quarter is to simply get lost in its winding streets, and narrow alleyways. It feels like a maze but you’ll be in awe as you wander through. There’s plenty of amazing restaurants and bars to sit and have some tapas and drinks as well.
Park Güell
The most famous park in Barcelona is another work by Gaudí. Located a bit north of the center, this place has become increasingly popular the past few decades. The park was intended to be a residential garden city, but the project wasn’t fully realized and only two houses were built instead of sixty. It is a very unique park with interesting designs all throughout. There are two zones within the park. The monumental zone and the free access zone. You have to pay for the monumental zone but this is where all the most exquisite works of architecture by Gaudí are located. Overall, Park Güell serves not only as a testament to Gaudí’s genius and creativity, but also as a green space where visitors can immerse themselves in nature.
Palau Güell
The final work of Gaudí on this list is the mansion known as Palau Güell. This was one of Gaudí’s earlier works and is considered a precursor for his more famous projects. It was built for the Güell family to be used as a private residence and social gathering place. Today, it is a museum that we can all explore and enjoy. This place is huge and is quite different from Gaudí’s other works. There’s so many floors to see and the mansion reminds me of the Bathhouse from the film, Spirited Away. It’s a much larger place to explore than Casa Batlló and we found it less busy as well.
Montjuïc
This is one of the most underrated places in Barcelona. It is located towards the airport so it is a bit far from the center; however, it shouldn’t be missed. Montjuïc is a hill that has played a significant role in Barcelona’s history. It has been inhabited since ancient times and was fortified in the 17th century. It also served as a strategic site during the Spanish Civil War. There’s many things to see here but the two most popular are the Montjuïc castle and the Magic Fountain. We really enjoyed this area and felt like it wasn’t nearly as busy as the center.
El Born Cultural Center
This is the most unique place to see in Barcelona. We didn’t even know it existed and stumbled upon it one day. It is this massive building built on top of preserved 18th century ruins of the El Born neighborhood. It’s fascinating to see the modern world mixed with history. As you walk around the main level, you will be presented with the preserved ruins beneath you in a very intricate fashion. Personally, this was one of the coolest places I’ve ever seen and I highly recommend visiting.
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