Up there with Paris and London, Barcelona is a classic European holiday destination. So much so that in 2019 the mayor considered limiting the number of tourists allowed into the city. Barcelona has seen crazy growth in the last couple of decades and the local community, as with other similar cities, is trying to strike a balance between welcoming visitors and maintaining what makes Barcelona so wonderful. If you are planning a trip, don’t worry, you can see the highlights while still being a respectful visitor. We spent a week in Barcelona in May of 2019 and had a fabulous time!
Our goal in most new places is to see the high points while also doing things to feel like a local, when possible. We stayed in a more residential part of town and took the bus and metro every day. This was the best way to get acquainted with the city for us! (HOT TIP: Take the number 59 bus and get a great ride along Las Ramblas without the crowds, heat or pickpockets!)
Tapas, Pinchos, and Wine – Oh My! (What to Eat in Barcelona)
I’m going to go way out there and say you’re wanting to eat *all* the foods on your holiday, yeah? Thought so. As I’ve mentioned we eat mostly vegetarian but that didn’t stop us from enjoying one of my favorite parts of Spanish culture, the food!
You’ve almost certainly heard of tapas, the small – usually savory – dishes often enjoyed as an appetizer or alongside your meal. You might not have heard of pinchos (or “pintxos” in Spain). “Pincho” comes from the word meaning “to puncture or spike” like you would with a toothpick in this case. Pinchos are often found around happy hour at bars and will be presented in bite-sized portions, usually with a skewer or toothpick. They can be as simple as marinated olives or get way more intricate with small sandwiches or beautifully arranged bruschetta. Prices usually range from 1 to 4 euros per. Grab a glass of wine, make a new friend and snack away – it’s the Spanish way.
Other dishes not to miss :
- Paella – usually seafood, sort of a rice stew – very flavorful! The flavors all soak up into the rice and make for a perfect dish.
- Jamon Serrano or Jamon Iberico – Spain’s version of prosciutto, this is cured pork. The difference is where the pig comes from but both are great options.
- Salmorejo – tomato soup, served chilled, similar to gazpacho
- Tortilla Espanola – Think potato quiche, but better. This is eggs, potato, onion, and more baked together and served in wedges. Hearty and delish!
- Berenjenas con Miel de Caña – Literally “eggplant with cane honey”. Cane honey meaning molasses, this dish could be fried or cooked into other dishes.
- Wine! If you like to imbibe then you cannot skip on trying all the Spanish wine you can get your hands on. We found that most restaurants even had lunch specials that came with a glass of our choosing, much like Italy. We love a country that understands that a lunch wine is the best wine.
Tired of reading? Watch our travel vlog on YouTube! Be sure to like and subscribe if you enjoyed our video 😊
Best Barcelona Beaches – No, Not Barceloneta
After you’ve mapped out your culinary priorities you’ll be heading to catch a beautiful sunny day on the beach. You can go ahead and skip the super popular Barceloneta Beach. This is often listed as the best beach in town but what most tourists don’t realize is that it is just one part of a long, gorgeous stretch of sand with plenty more to offer just a little further up.
Instead of fighting crowds to find your spot amongst the sunbathers, walk or take the bus up the beach. There are several more beaches, each with slightly different views or bars to enjoy. We settled on Bogatell Beach and had the perfect day. We were never crowded but had plenty to see and do. Don’t forget that Spain, and much of Europe, are more chill about nudity so expect women to be sunbathing topless with zero shame (as they should!). I say chuck that bikini top and do as the locals do! Just put some extra sunscreen on those parts that haven’t seen the sun before.
Alright, we’ve eaten, we’ve gotten our Barcelona bronze at the beach and now we need to round out our trip with some history and culture.
Barcelona Cathedral – Know Before You Go
La Reina. The queen bee of churches here in Barcelona, and there are many. Not to be confused with La Sagrada Familia, which you’ve certainly heard of. Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia is more commonly known as Barcelona Cathedral. For €7 you can explore the beautiful gothic architecture. Constructed from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries, this church is truly beautiful. The cloisters, with their charming little ducks waddling around, were a favorite of mine.
If this isn’t your first rodeo in Europe then you may feel inclined to skip the cathedral, much like with temples in Asia, cathedral fatigue is real. BUT WAIT, there’s more! The absolute best part is that you can explore the cathedral FROM THE ROOF! Yes, you can walk around on top of the roof and get some truly stunning city views. Not to mention seeing those crazy gothic details up close. I didn’t know this was an option when we visited and I was a little worried the seven euro was too much but this made it worth it and then some. There is an elevator that takes you up which means you may have to wait a bit but it’s definitely worth it.
Explore Gaudi’s Works – Sagrada Familia and Park Güell
Antoni Gaudi is considered to be the greatest architect of the Catalan Modernism style but his designs certainly go beyond just that. Influenced early on by the designs of Persia, India and Japan Gaudi would create a distinct visual effect, all his own.
Much of Gaudi’s works are found in Barcelona, by far the most well known of which being La Sagrada Familia. The Basílica de la Sagrada Família is the enormous basilica in the heart of Barcelona. Famously, it has been under construction since 1882 and is not scheduled to be completed until 2026, 100 years after Gaudi’s death.
You could spend a week just hopping around to all of Gaudi’s works in the city but if you want to make a day out of it we recommend La Sagrada, Park Güell, and Casa Batllo. These three are certainly the most popular, but for good reason. If you’re on a budget all can be viewed, in part, from the outside for free!
If you are an architecture buff or want to explore some of the lesser-visited sites there are also Colonia Güell, Palau Güell, Casa Milà, and Casa Vicens. Many of these are easily added as a walk-by en route to other sites around town.
Oh and as an aside, two other spots around town (not Gaudi, but still great) that we enjoyed for their quiet charm were Placa de Sant Felip Neri and the square at Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi. I just wanted to mention those too!
Okay, I think you’re ready to set out on your own to fill in the gaps on your itinerary and have una viaja maravillosa (a fabulous trip)!
If you enjoyed this post and want more things to do in Barcelona, then check out all of our videos from our trip to Barcelona on YouTube. If you would like to support us in creating more content like this consider subscribing!
Sign-up for our e-newsletter below to be notified as soon as new posts are released!
