Spanish Tango in Barcelona…
What better place to start the journey than this exquisite Catalunyan capital city of Barcelona. The city is a great fusion of modernisation and architectural innovation. It is your perfect weekend getaway from almost anywhere in Europe.
Travel
A cheap flight from almost anywhere in europe to Barcelona is available when you book a round trip. Lufthansa and Ryan Air provide round-trips for less than 100 Eur, which is perfect for a place like Barcelona. Alternately, A train or bus journey will be cheaper, but time consuming.
The airport is very close to the city centre, and the best way to reach the city is to make use of one of the bus shuttles that take 30 mins to reach the city center and have a frequency of about 10 mins. The travel costs about 5 Eur.
Barcelona boasts of one of the best metro connectivity in europe. A metro map and a city map are must-haves for any tourist travelling in Barcelona.
The maps can be collected from any one of the tourist information centers spread across the city. If you are planning to take the metro throughout your travel, the T10 pass (can be used for any 10 journeys) makes the most sense. It costs about 8 Eur and can be used for train as well as bus trips. Alternatively, You can also hire a bicycle for the day and explore the city on your own. In either cases, a pair of comfortable running / jogging shoes is recommended so that the journey is without any back pain or sore feet!
Now that we are ready to check out this beautiful place, let the party begin!!! 😎
La Segrada Familia
This majestic church is being built since 1882. That’s correct, this masterpiece is under construction since the last 100+ years and is not expected to be completed anytime before 2026! This architectural wonder was designed by the same guy who designed most of other attractions in Barcelona, Antonio Gaudi. The towering monument is reachable via the metro, and visible right when you get off the metro station named after the cathedral. A basic entry inside this surreal building will cost you around 15 Eur, and as almost all visitors will tell you, it is worth it! This place should definately be the FIRST on your list of places to visit in Barcelona.
http://www.sagradafamilia.org/en/
Camp Nou
Now we move on to Camp Nou, the iconic home of one of the best football teams in the world, FC Barcelona. The stadium is reachable via metro, and is a short walk from metro stations Collblanc and Les Corts. On non-match days, the club offers a stadium and museum tour, complete with a visit through the tunnel to the stadium pitch. It offers a deep dive into the history and achievements of one of the greatest clubs in the world, and also offers you a chance to purchase official merchandise. The tour costs 23 Eur. Don’t miss this opportunity to catch these giants of football at close quarters!
https://www.fcbarcelona.com/tour/buy-tickets
The Beaches of Barcelona
As the city is situated on the east coast of Spain, beaches can be found aplenty in this part of the world. It is the continuous white sand and moderate climate throughout the year that makes these beaches a must visit. A calm drink in hot sun or a relaxing evening in winters, these beaches have something to offer for everyone. A look at the city map tells you how close these beaches are from the city center. The beaches are best approachable by metro and bus.
La Rambla
La Rambla is the most happening street located in central Barcelona. It is buzzing throughout the year with locals and tourists alike. It is filled with shops and eating joints, and is never short of excitement. Make sure you try out the oh-so famous Tapas and Sangria here, while watching the world swarm by. There are a lot of metro stations located close to this, and it can be considered as your base-point for the metro journeys throughout Barcelona. The famous Barcelona market - Marcado de la Boqueria is a short 5 mins walk from here. Another place that is crowded throughout the year, it is believed that everything you need in Barcelona can be found in here. A short visit to this place is recommended.
The Gothic quarter
The Gothic quarter is the center of the old city of Barcelona. It is walkable from La Rambla, and there are many metro stations around. It is dominated by buildings from medieval times, though some of the construction is from the 19th and the 20th Century. At the center of this lies a Gothic church, with mesmerizing architecture. There are some ruins of ancient roman construction that can be discovered in this part of the city. There are many squares here where you can enjoy your surroundings, that will be a unique mixture of old and the new. Be careful and watch your belongings though, as this area is considered a hotbed for pickpockets!
Park Guell
This is the place where, as they say, Antonio Gaudi let his imagination run wild! This monument mostly made with broken tiles will give you a feeling of being in an ancient fairy tale. Be warned though, this place can give you extreme reactions. Most of the people who have been here have given me negative reviews, and I’m not much a fan of this place either. But I’m sure you’ll be able to judge for yourself when you visit the place. The entry costs 7 Eur, and make sure you reach here in the allocated time slot. The park in itself consists of different sections, with different structures and features of Gaudi’s work. Take bus 24 near the Lesseps metro station to reach the park. Another metro station, Vallcarca, is around 1 Km away from Park Guell.
Port de Barcelona
Why not visit one of the ports this city is so famous for? Port de Barcelona lies a small walk from the iconic Columbus monument in the city center, and is an apt place to spend a couple of hours relaxing. The place boasts of beautiful ships and a small bridge that opens to make way for the ships passing underneath. This spot is also good for taking amazing photographs. Do visit this if you find the time. The closest metro station is Drassanes.
Best views of th city — Palau Nacional roof and Turo de la Rovira
The Palau Nacional is the home to national art museum of Catalonia inaugurated in 1929. The place is around a kilometer away from the metro station pl. Espanya. The roof of this building provides a magnificent view of the city of Barcelona. Also, enthusiasts can further explore this historic building and the museum.
Turo de la Rovira is a historic site situated at an altitude of 257 meters. It offers a birds-eye view of the city. From here, you can also get a 360 ° panoramic view of the city. The nearest metro stop is Alfons X, ans then there is a climb of about 25 mins. The bus 24 from Placa de Catalunya and the bus 92 from Torre Agbar both drop you to bus stop 1448, which leaves you with the last 10 mins of walk.
I am consciously not posting the pictures from these viewpoints, as it might actually take the thrill out of watching the sights for the first time for some.
Stay, Food and a word of caution!
The cost of staying in Barcelona is quite decent, though a pre booking would be recommended. Airbnb, bookings and hostelworld are my personal favourites. If you are interested in interacting with fellow backpackers, hostelworld.com is the site you are looking for! A place close to the city center and a metro station would be very useful.
In Barcelona, do not miss out on the tapas and the sangria. Seafood is also recommended.
Barcelona is an otherwise safe city, but it does have a serious pick pocketing problem. Be especially careful in the areas around la rambla and the Gothic quarters. I had a safe trip of this city, and I’m sure you will have one as well.
So, the million dollar question is, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags already for this flamboyant place! ☺