A trip to Barcelona wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the wonderful food, innovative architecture, and interesting people in this beautiful city. Consistently listed as one of the top 10 cities in the world to visit, Barcelona has an amazing cultural vibe that attracts multitudes of tourists. Two days wasn’t nearly enough time to take in all that the city has to offer, but here are a few travel tips from my whirlwind tour.
Hop on the bus
A great way to see Barcelona in a short time is to take a hop-on hop-off tourist bus. I purchased a two-day pass on Bus Turistic, which gave me access to the major tourist sites on three different routes. From the top of the double-decker bus you get a closer view of many sites such as the “˜Block of Discord‘, where buildings with very different modernista architecture compete for your attention, as well as the Mirador de Colon, a 52 m tall monument to Christopher Columbus.
Take a walk
You should definitely spend some extra time walking around the famous sites in Barcelona. If you are a fan of Gaudi, I highly recommend Park Guell, his former residence and public gardens, and the Sagrada Familia, his famous unfinished church (started in 1882 and still under construction!). You’ll be amazed by the intricate mosaics and innovative architectural styles of both of these masterpieces. An afternoon stroll through Montjuic, with its numerous gardens and fountains, is also well worth it. You can scramble up several flights of stairs (or if you prefer, use the escalators) to reach the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) housed in the picturesque Palau Nacional (palace). The MNAC holds several important Catalonian works such as the Romanesque frescoes, as well as more modern art by Picasso and others. Within walking distance of the MNAC, there is a lovely botanical garden, but pressed for time we instead visited the site of the 1992 Olympic Games with its impressive communication tower, Torre de Calatrava, dominating the skyline. Barcelona boasts several other art galleries and museums such as the Museu d’Art Contemporani, but if rushed for time you can still enjoy the public artworks scattered across the city, from towering installations to a giant butterfly perched on a skyscraper.
Become a local
One thing you don’t want to miss is experiencing the local culture, which is far more rewarding than merely checking the sites off your list. For this I recommend spending some time walking around Barcelona’s Old Town. The pedestrianised La Rambla tends to be a tourist trap, with its overpriced souvenir shops and noisy street hawkers, but check out the impressive living statues and the occasional music concert during the summer months. Close to La Rambla is the famous La Boqueria food market, which stocks every type of fresh food imaginable, from exotic fruits to giant shellfish.
That being said, I found exploring the Gothic Quarter (to the east of La Rambla) and El Raval (to the west) much more fascinating. In amongst the narrow, winding lanes, you’ll find small shops selling antiques and vintage clothing, as well as cafes and bars where the locals hang out. Here you can find great food at a fraction of the cost in La Rambla, with deals on tapas and set menus. In fact, we stumbled upon the Granja M. Viader, the oldest “˜milk bar’ in Barcelona just west of La Rambla, and enjoyed a tasty lunch with the locals. However, if you decide to visit places off the beaten path, I recommend purchasing a Spanish phrase book to avoid ordering something unexpected like a mug of liquid chocolate!
As I strolled along the winding lanes in Barcelona’s Old Town, children hammed it up for my camera, people of all ages rushed past on their skateboards, and the streets were alive till the wee hours of the night. The city flawlessly combines art, culture, and inspirational architecture, and should definitely top everyone’s bucket list, even if you can spare only a couple of days!
Accommodation
I highly recommend staying close to La Rambla, where you will be in the centre of nearly everything. There are a few small hotels in this area, and our double room at Hotel Turin was reasonably priced at 125 Euros a night. The room was small but fashionably modern, and the hotel staff was incredibly helpful.
Hotel Turin
Calle Pintor Fortuny, 9
Barcelona, 08001
+34 933024812
www.hotelturin.com
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