Barcelona: Gaudí, Gourmet Dining & Coastal Adventures

Barcelona: The beginning

Our Barcelona adventure began with a twist: we overslept and missed our scheduled Sagrada Família tour. Instead of rushing, we leaned into the change of plans.

Travis went off with family to see Gaudí’s house while Barrett and I enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime meal at Disfrutar, ranked the second-best restaurant in the world. The experience felt more like performance art than dining, with whimsical presentations and bold flavors that reminded us why Barcelona is such a global culinary capital.

Dining at Disfrutar, ranked #2 in the world, where every plate is art.

Costa Brava excursions

The next day, we headed out with Excursions Barcelona for a kayak and snorkel trip along the Costa Brava. What started as a serene paddle turned into one of our most memorable stories. Travis and I flipped our kayak, and while he popped right back in, I floated for eleven minutes before a guide helped me.

Barrett and Travis also tried cliff jumping, and Travis’ GoPro even captured an octopus reaching toward his camera.

Travis leaping into the Mediterranean on our Costa Brava day trip.

We capped the day with a simple seaside lunch, salty and sun-drenched, the kind of meal you never forget.

A once-in-a-lifetime moment: an octopus reaching out to Travis’ GoPro during our snorkel.

Rest day

By day three, the energy had caught up with us. We had booked an El Born tapas and wine tour with Global Experiences, but exhaustion won out. Instead, we slowed down, explored casually, and enjoyed being part of Barcelona’s everyday rhythm.

It was a reminder that sometimes the best trips balance big adventures with slower moments that let you truly feel the city.

Enriq welcoming us to our Airbnb near the Sagrada Família… even opening a bottle of cava at midnight so we could try it for the first time.

Day trip to Montserrat

We ended our journey with Castlexperience on a day trip to Montserrat. The dramatic mountain setting, the Black Madonna, and the monastery’s serene atmosphere were highlights.

The Black Madonna of Montserrat, a spiritual highlight of our trip.

The experience concluded with tapas and a wine tasting at Oller del Mas winery, where Travis wandered the vineyard with his GoPro and we sampled local specialties surrounded by rustic stone walls and rolling vines.

Tapas and wine tasting in the Catalan countryside at Oller del Mas.

It was the perfect closing note to a trip that blended iconic Barcelona sights with coastal adventures and countryside calm, a combination that left us with stories we’ll be sharing for years.

Mosaic magic and city views at Gaudí’s Park Güell.

• Book popular experiences (Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Montserrat) well in advance—tickets often sell out.

• Barcelona’s dining culture runs late—most restaurants don’t open for dinner until after 8 pm. Plan lighter snacks in the afternoon if traveling with kids.

• Build in downtime. We skipped a food tour because we were exhausted, and it reminded us that rest is part of the experience too.

• On coastal adventures like kayaking in Costa Brava, expect surprises. Our family flipped a kayak and laughed our way through it, with guides on hand to help.

• Be mindful in busy areas like Las Ramblas and metro stations. Barcelona is wonderful, but pickpockets are common.

• Trains and tours are family‑friendly, but stairs and uneven streets can make strollers challenging.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Barcelona page.