Beaches, Creativity, Culture & Architecture: Viva Barcelona!

Park Güell

On your first day in Barcelona, I would like to suggest one of the coolest places I have ever been to: Park Güell, designed by the one and only Antoni Gaudí. His work is one of a kind and it is woven all throughout Barcelona. Park Güell was built to be a residential area with homes, but only two houses were built in the area, and Gaudí himself lived in one of those homes for the last 12 years of his life. After his passing in 1918, the estate was sold to the Barcelona City Council, and they opened it as a public park in 1926. It is also now known as a cultural monument and has been declared a world heritage site for its artistic significance and unique architecture.

This incredible site has intricate and brightly colored structures winding all around the park. Some main attractions located within the park are Nature Square (Placa de la Natura), a wide open space with mosaic benches and stunning views of the park; Hypostyle Room (Sala Hipostila), which is a series of columns that is meant to resemble a temple; Dragon Staircase, which is an iconic staircase with a salamander mosaic; and the Gaudí House Museum, which showcases the life and the work of Antoni Gaudí. I would recommend going with a tour if you would like to know more of the history of this beautiful place. There is an amazing view of the city from an overlook within the park, providing the perfect opportunity for group photos and panoramic views of the park below. You will not be disappointed with Park Güell.

Gràcia

The Gràcia neighborhood is a vibrant area with unique shops, restaurants, and architecture, just a five-minute walk from Park Güell. Within this neighborhood, you will see some other famous structures by Antoni Gaudí. Gràcia used to be a separate town, but with the expansion of the city of Barcelona, Gràcia was eventually annexed and incorporated into this vibrant, bustling capital of Catalunya. Though annexed, this neighborhood has maintained its warmth and village-like feel. This is a perfect area to go to in Barcelona to get an authentic experience of local life. It is also known by many as the most beautiful neighborhood in Barcelona. If you go to the old city square, Placa de la Vila de Gràcia, you will see the heart of Gràcia. The old town hall is still standing today! In August, there is an event bringing the neighborhood to life called the Festa Major de Gràcia. They decorate the neighborhood proudly and serve delicious street food. They also have their infamous Catalunya giants that parade down the streets during this festival.

The best shopping in the Gràcia neighborhood is along the street of Carrer Verdi, known for their independent boutiques and quirky shops. They have a vintage clothing store called Revolution and a very popular candy shop with an extensive variety of sweets. You may be interested in taking a class and learning how to make your own chocolate or candy at the site.

Carrer Torrijos is another great street for shops. Some highlights:

• Te Quiero, a quaint and cozy bookstore and tea shop

• If you are a shoe lover, check out Layer Boots, where the shoes are all made by hand in Spain

• Nook - The Concept Store is a cool and unique store where local artists and global travelers often gather. They have whimsical gifts and everything from home decor to handbags, jewelry and sunglasses to greeting cards.

• If you want to explore your own artistic expression, you can pick up your supplies at Montana Shop Barcelona - Gracia. They also have products with graffiti art/street designs and stickers. They also teach classes on making your own graffiti art. They have pens, spray paints, and more.

If you are looking for a breakfast cafe, Coco Social House in Gràcia is a cute place with flavorful coffee and a wide variety of brunch options. Freshly squeezed orange juice in Spain is to die for. It is so sweet and fresh with a bold and juicy flavor. You will not be able to compare the bottled kind to the taste of the freshly squeezed orange juice that you can find in Spain. You can even squeeze and bottle your own in most grocery stores so that you can bring it back to the hotel. I recommend going to the grocery store early in order to make sure the oranges are still in stock.

For later in the day, you might also enjoy eating at Con Gracia, a classy restaurant with Mediterranean dishes presented artistically, much like how the city feels. Part of the dining experience is partaking in the full tasting menu with wine pairings. Many of the ingredients come from different regions of Spain and are put together with bursting flavors.

A very classic Spanish-styled restaurant in Gràcia is La Martina. They have traditional Spanish dishes including paella; seafood like octopus, squid, and mussels; croquetas; and meat, cheese, and olives paired with wine. They also serve delicious desserts like chocolate truffles, pear crumble with ice cream, and lemon cream meringue.

La Sagrada Familia

What would a trip to Barcelona be without seeing La Sagrada Familia? This is the most famous landmark in Barcelona. This incredibly detailed church has been under construction for over 140 years. The project is due to be completed in 2026. I saw this already incredible church during construction in the summer of 2019 and it was unbelievable. Imagine how remarkable it will be when you see it for the first time without the cranes around it.

Inside is even more breathtaking. Colorful bright light illuminates the whole place from the sunlight outside shining through the impressive and massive stained glass windows that go all the way around the church. We went up into the tower, which was included with our tour. I would definitely recommend doing this, as you get to see even more of the impressive architecture and get a great view of the city this way. There is an elevator available to get up to the tower, and stairs are your way to get back down. I really hope to go back after the renovation is complete, and I hope you will enjoy this place just as much as I did!

Passeig de Sant Joan

After becoming acquainted with Gràcia yesterday, check out Passeig de Sant Joan, a major avenue in Barcelona that connects Gràcia and the Arc de Triomf and is right by La Sagrada Familia. This avenue houses more great restaurants and shops and is known for its treelined boulevard, wide sidewalks, and green spaces and parks to relax and enjoy the ambiance of this artistic city. Stop by Palau Macaya, a gorgeous lesser-known Catalan Modernisme gem that is worth the visit. Les Galeries Malda is an incredible shopping mall that is decorated with art, murals, flowers and plants, and lights. It is truly beautiful and has a great variety of stores.

Passeig Sant Joan also has amazing coffee. Syra Coffee is perfect for a quick stop in the morning while taking in the shops along the avenue and navigating the bustling street. News & Coffee is a classic news and coffee stand—stop here for curated reads to go and bold coffee for your walk down the avenue. If you have already had your coffee for the day and are looking for something heavier, Brunch en Sagrada Familia is wonderful. They have many bagel dishes like the popular bagel Benedict and several fresh juices to choose from, along with large açaí bowls and loaded fruit and chocolate waffles.

Kook is a great lunch or dinner option. A seat outside along the avenue is a must because there is nothing like dining outside in Spanish cities. The scenery around you is just refreshing; it is not just parking lots and cars you see, but streets, shops, cafes, and people. This restaurant has a variety of Spanish cuisine, from patatas bravas to paella to fried squid, and most importantly, the crema Catalana, a typical and decadent dessert famous in this area. A Catalonian restaurant, Restaurant Circus Peix, is such a unique experience. They are famous for their tasty seafood dishes, tapas, and fresh fish.

Today, you may want to relax a little and enjoy the beautiful beaches along the coast of Barcelona. Barceloneta Beach is the perfect beach to go to if you enjoy lively crowds and stunning views of clear blue waters and clean golden sand. You can kick back and soak up some sun or participate in one of their many water sports, from jet-skiing and flyboarding to parasailing and taking a sunset Catamaran cruise with drinks and tapas. This is the beach that really has it all in Barcelona.

The restaurants surrounding this beach are popular. Mar Beach Restaurant & Bar comes highly recommended with a little mix of everything: Mediterranean cuisine, tapas, paella, and grilled meat over an open flame (carne a la brasa). There are also many seafood restaurants that are phenomenal here.

Opium Barcelona Restaurant and Club is amazing if you are looking for fun nightlife tonight. They serve food and have a gigantic, high-energy club with moving lights and great live DJs. Space Cowboy is a cocktail bar that has great vibes and music. The walls have painted neon designs on them that are brought to life at night with black lights. Go Beach Club Barcelona is a nice venue for time spent around the pool with live DJs and drinks. It is a good place to go day or night.

The city center is very close to this beach. Barceloneta Beach is accessible by foot, metro, or taxi.

Similar to Park Güell in terms of architecture is Güell Palace (Palau Güell). This is a mansion that was the home of the Güell family in the early 1900s. Now, it is a museum and cultural center, and it is beautiful. It was a police station during the Spanish Civil War, and there is a lot of history in this amazing building. On the outside, it has a lot of bright colors, much like Park Güell, and on the inside, the archways and windows are much like that of La Sagrada Familia.

Another place to visit is Casa Batlló. This is a Gaudi masterpiece that has been restored a few times in order to showcase the original design as bright as before. You may also go to the vibrant Gothic Quarter, and enjoy the panoramic views of Los Bunkers del Carmel. The Gothic Quarter has narrow, medieval streets with trendy bars, Catalan restaurants, and clubs. Here you will find artisans selling leather and jewelry, flower stalls, street food vendors, and art markets along the nearby avenue, La Rambla.

L’Aquarium de Barcelona is a vast oceanarium home to sharks, ocean sunfish, rays, and over 11,000 animals in total from over 450 different marine species. Casa Mila (La Pedrera) is another one of Gaudí’s masterpieces and worth visiting. Mercat de la Boqueria is a busy market with fresh produce and food stands with culinary experiences. The CosmoCaixa Museum of science is something fun to do if you are interested in exploring one of the most prestigious science museums in Europe.

After you have toured all of this, you might want to go nearby to the Magic Fountain. They have a show every evening with lights, colors, and music, and it is an engaging display. This takes place at sundown once it has gotten dark and is something you do not want to miss. During drought seasons, and considering the large size of this fountain, it may not be operating at certain times of year, but you will still be able to see the Montjuic Castle, which has large structures, panoramic views, and lush gardens, or the Poble Espanyol, a large historic museum and unique enclosure which is in the same area as the Magic Fountain.