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Barcelona Travel Guide: Reviews, photos, & videos
Have you been to Barcelona, Spain?
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March 18, 2010
Have you been to Barcelona, Spain?
Write a review and share photos!
Other Viscapers would love you for it! :)
Sunny. Mild. Temperature of 55.56°F. Winds SE 4.87mph. Humidity will be 71% with a dewpoint of 46° and feels-like temperature of 55.56°F.
Hi: 56° F, Low: 43° F.
Partly cloudy. Mild. Temperature of 60.28°F. Winds SW 14.78mph. Humidity will be 74% with a dewpoint of 52° and feels-like temperature of 60.28°F.
Hi: 60° F, Low: 49° F.
I recently took advantage of my friend's place in Barcelona, spending two months using his guest room as ground-zero for my love affair with city. But whatever your time constraints, try to fit in the following: Grab an espresso at the Opera House Cafe, and spend the morning on Las Ramblas, gawking at the street performers. Embrace your inner Gaudi--he's the city's signature architect, and his influence is everywhere. His masterpieces-- La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell--are non-negotiable destinations. Wile away an afternoon at the amenity-laden public beach. Then shake off the sand, and have a glass of cava at the beach-adjacent Ritz Hotel Arts. Watch the Fountain of Montjuic light up the night --it's the original Epcot Illuminations. For dinner, enjoy Los Caracoles, the oldest (and one of the best) restaurants in Barcelona. Above all, bask in the sensory delights of the city....it is a destination to be savored.
Barcelona is one of my favorite places in the world. I’ve been twice, and can’t wait ‘til I can get back, drink some Rioja, eat some salty olives and sit next to a bunch of 75-year-old abuelitas chain smoking and gossiping. If you’re thinking of making the trip to this laidback, bustling city, here are a few suggestions to squeeze every ounce out of the trip. 1) Check out La Rambla… but hold on to your purse. While visiting any city, you’re just going to have to bite the bullet and sightsee for at least a day or so. I’m not big on staring absentmindedly at pieces of art I know nothing about, but there are a few things even I’d say are worth the long wait in a fanny pack-filled line. Three must-see spots are La Sagrada Familia (a church designed by renowned artist Antonio Gaudi which started construction in 1882 and won’t be finished until 2026), Parc Guell (another Gaudi creation- huge park with the most amazing view of the city) and La Rambla (a wide boulevard in the hear of the city that is full of restaurant patios, human statues and street performers). While La Rambla is worth a look, I’d recommend eating elsewhere and making sure you have a firm grip on anything you don’t want stolen- it’s a notorious hotbed for pick pocketers. 2) La Boqueria Market. While I suppose this could be considered a tourist destination, this colossal market must be visited as much as humanly possible. Fresh ish, fruit smoothies, every type of cheese and Spanish olives you can imagine. You can almost still hear the oinking, mooing and baahing from the recently slaughtered animals… and their displays (which typically include intact eyeballs teeth) are not for die-hard PETA peeps or the easily queasy. If you’re lucky enough to be staying somewhere with refrigeration, stock up here and snack like crazy. 3) Get your timing down. One of the most common tourist mistake made is not fully adjusting to the Spanish way of life. Follow this schedule and you’ll be good to go: 12:37am: Wake up 1:30: Have coffee, baked good and people watch at a street café. Then wander aimlessly. Buy some stuff. 5pm: Have a snack, take a nap 8pm: Wake up, lunge around, drink a glass of wine. 10pm: Think about maybe getting ready for dinner 11pm: Start walking to dinner 1am: Wrap up dinner, head to bar 2am: Another bar 3:30am: Check out dance club 5am: Buy single cans of beer form some guy on the street, sit and hang out with the new friends you’ve undoubtedly met. 7am: Go to bed. Repeat daily. 4) Don’t wash your hair. Spaniards love this messy, just crawled out of bed, let’s paint or sculpt something artist look. Think of a slightly less disturbing American Apparel ad- that’s the look over there. A little dirty and artsy… but a lot sexy. If you harness this look, you’re golden. 5) Mingle with the locals. I know, a no-brainer. But almost every amazing experience I had in Barcelona was recommended to me by a local. And if someone invites you to a BBQ or dinner party at their house, take them up on the offer (unless they give you los creeps). You’re bound to meet someone with a day off during your stay that’s dying to take you around town. Remember, you’re on their turf… and it’s your turn to work the charming foreign accent. 6) Drink the cava. Spain is known for cava, its delicious sparkling wine. The stuff is available all over the place (including grocery stores), but the best place to get your bubbly on is El Xampanyet (C/Montcada 22, Barcelona). This narrow bar and tapas place makes their own cava… and its always packed. Expect to be blown away by how inexpensive the delicious bottles of cava are… and how fabulous the small plates of ham (preferable the Iberian kind... more expensive but MUCH better than anything you've had before) and cheese taste after a few glasses. Follow these tips and I swear you will not be disappointed, unless "having fun" isn't something you're into. If that is the case, avoid Barcelona at all costs.
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Barcelona has but one rule: Know where the parties are at which point during the night. And, I mean parties that can start as late as 4:00 a.m. For two weary travelers, my sister and I tried as best we could to keep up with the pace, but we fell a little behind. We had to drag ourselves back to our hostel by at least 2:00 a.m. But, still it was hard not to get caught up in the constant revelry. An opera singer practicing by a church. The tango dancers twirling around a square, and the constant stream of locals leisurely walking the pathways. Here siesta is a must just to get through the night and survive the big tapas lunches. And, the tapas were definitely worth the doldrums after. Barcelona is more than just a fun party town though. It's got culture, architecture and many famous artists. The parks draw you to lie on the grass and listen to the children and birds play in the fountains. Barcelona has a little bit for everyone.
08/19/2008
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