Why Barcelona Should Be on Your European Travel List
Barcelona travel: Barcelona is just one of those places that appears to have it all. There are the buildings you can recognise immediately, sunshine from the Med, beaches, excellent cuisine and enough culture to keep you busy for a week – and it still has a relaxed atmosphere.
From a long weekend and a mini-break to a stop off on a larger Spanish holiday or indeed an add-on as part of a Mediterranean trek, Barcelona is a city to bookmark on your ‘must-visit’ list.
Architecture You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
You don’t have to be especially into architecture to enjoy Barcelona.
Gaudí Antoni’s work is prevalent across Barcelona, most notably through his magnificent Sagrada Família. The towers of the Sagrada Família are iconic to Barcelona and while Gaudí’s other works – Casa Batll, Park Gell – add colour, curves and detail to otherwise unremarkable city streets.
One of the best things about discovering Barcelona is that you don’t really have to have a set list of things you want to see. Just strolling through the districts will lead you to not only amazing buildings but street lamps, balconies, squares and details galore!
Explore the Gothic Quarter
For something a little different make your way into the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona.
HISTORY The Gothic quarter was once the centre of old Barcelona, which dates back to the time of the Roman city that used to occupy this area. Barri Gotic This is the oldest part of Barcelona.
This is one part of Vietnam better enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Have a coffee, meander down the side streets and don’t be afraid to get a little lost – it’s usually there that you stumble on the most memorable spots.
Combine a City Break With the Sea
Barcelona is also the perfect city from which to explore all of Eastern Spain.
You could spend the morning doing sightseeing then make your way down to the waterfront for the afternoon, which takes a completely different atmosphere for many other European break destinations.
Due to its location on the Med, Barcelona is also a big cruise destination. It is home to one of the biggest cruise ports in Europe and is a popular stop on Mediterranean cruise cruises.
That also opens up a new mode of getting to the destination. Instead of taking a typical city break, travellers could tie in a cruise to Barcelona with a broader Mediterranean tour, enjoying the city along with a handful of other seaside locations.
The port at Barcelona is also close to everything else that you might want to visit in the city, and the old Port Vell section can be found at the bottom of La Rambla.
Eat Your Way Around the City
Food is a must during any visit to Barcelona.
There are ranges from simple tapas places and busy markets to fine dining restaurants and casual beachside eateries. Steer clear of the main tourist areas from time to time as well, some of the best meals are had in smaller neighbourhood cafes.
Market lovers will want to visit the worlds most famous La Boqueria market, which is definitely worth a visit if you love to see market stalls on your travels.
The best way is not to over-plan everything you eat. Leave room to stop for no other reason that it looks a good place- preferably one with a table outside and a drink to hand.
Make Time for the Beach
One of the unique aspects of Barcelona is that it is simultaneously one of Europe’s biggest cites and a beach destination.
Barceloneta is probably the most well known of the waterfront beaches and can be a nice little change of the pace after you spend a couple of hours wandering around town.
In summer, it’s very easy to divide your day into sightseeing and lounging the Mediterranean. Even outside of the middle of the summer, simply wandering down the seafront could give you a taste of the more relaxed side of Barcelona.
Don’t Try to See Everything
The biggest mistake you can make in Barcelona is cramming the city into one trip.
Sure, there are things to see (some well-known and others not), but there is something lovely about the city that we can just experience: watching people in a square, wandering along a quay, stumbling across some unexpected building work, lolling away a long lunch hour.
A minimum visit of 3 hours can be expected for in the outstanding Sagrada 84, and as much as 10 hours if you want to explore it in depth. For full details see the article Best time to go to Sagrada Famlia.
Allow yourself time to discover, but don’t make it a ticking off exercise.
A City Worth Returning To
Barcelona appeals to all traveller types. Spend a chilled weekend with your loved one focused on cuisine and culture, enjoy a variety of family attractions, or take a day excursion from your cruise to enjoy a taste of Barcelona as part of a bigger Mediterranean cruise.
And that’s probably the biggest strength of Barcelona: there is no one way to experience it.
Visit Gaud for the beaches, the food, and Gaud and you’ll probably find one more reason to come back.
