BARCELONA, SPAIN
Barcelona, the city that never sleeps, is one of Europe’s crowned jewels! In case the legendary cuisine doesn’t intrigue you enough, this city is also home to world-class beaches, grand public squares, extravagant nightlife, and jaw-dropping architecture unlike any other. It would be quite the challenge to visit Barcelona without having the time of your life!
Attractions:
Sagrada Família: Gaudí’s masterpiece! You absolutely have to see it from both the outside and inside regardless of if you are religiously affiliated or not. The architecture is truly state-of-the-art! If you want to visit the inside, tickets cost €26. I suggest buying a day or two in advance! It is open daily from 9:00am-6:00pm.
Lay by the Beach: You cannot stay in Barcelona without visiting its famous beaches! The two most popular are Barceloneta & San Sebastian. If you visit Barceloneta, be sure to ride the Port Cable Car up for an incredible view of the city (tickets cost €11)! If you are looking for a beach with more space and privacy, I recommend Marbella, 1.5 miles north of Barceloneta.
Gaudí Architecture Tour: I highly recommend doing the 2.5-hour Gaudí Walking Tour to see all of his famous works. There are many different tour options around the city but the one I did was tip-based, meaning you pay what you think the tour is worth. The tour stops by Casa Milà, Casa Batlló, Sagrada Familia, etc.
Parc Güell: Walking around this park can take you nearly an entire day - it’s huge! Entrance to the park is free, but you must pay €10 to enter the “monumental zone” (where the mosaic lizard is located) and the Gaudí House Museum. The park is open from 9:30am-7:30pm.
La Rambla: Barcelona’s most popular street! This scenic, pedestrian walkway is lined with restaurants, shops, and markets. You must stop by the famous Mercado de La Boqueria!
Parc de la Ciutadella: Barcelona’s other famous park, featuring gardens, Cascada Monumental, and Arc de Triomf. It is open from 10:00am-10:30pm and very close to La Rambla.
Magic Fountain of Montjuïc: This fountain is best seen during the free, 2-hour water show that takes place nightly; the start time varies depending on the time of year.
SANDEMANs Free Walking Tour: Like most cities in Europe, Barcelona has a free, tip-based tour option as well. Book here!
Other spaces to check out include: Tibidabo, Picasso Museum, Camp Nou, Barcelona Cathedral, Gothic Quarter, and Museu d’Historia de Catalunya!
Accommodation:
Sant Jordi Hostels (Rock Palace): This hostel is bumpin’! Fit with a roof-top pool and social vibe, it is the place to be in downtown Barcelona! On foot, it is 25 minutes from Sagrada Familia and 30 minutes from both Estació del Nord and Barcelona-Sants.
Transportation:
Barcelona’s main bus station is Estació del Nord; all buses below leave from here. The main train station is Barcelona-Sants; all trains below leave from here.
Andorra la Vella, Andorra is 3.5 hours by bus from Barcelona and costs €29. The train ride is 9 hours (indirect) and costs €80.
Valencia is 4 hours by bus from Barcelona and costs €20. The train ride is 5.5 hours and costs €23.
Marseille, France is 7.5 hours by bus from Barcelona and costs €36. The train ride is 5 hours and costs €94.
Bilbao is 8 hours by bus from Barcelona and costs €37. The train ride is 6.5 hours and costs €50.
Madrid is 8 hours by bus from Barcelona and costs €27. The train ride is 3 hours and costs €108.
Paris, France is 15.5 hours by bus from Barcelona and costs €50. The train ride is 7 hours and costs €142. The flight is 2 hours and you can find Ryanair flights for €50-€90.
Thank you, Denise Jones, for the photo of Park Güell at the top of this page!