Barcelona is the second biggest city of Spain. And you might know it because of soccer or the beautiful buildings, but what can you get up to when you’re there?
Buildings
Antoni Gaudí was an architect around the year 1900 and he designed a lot of buildings in Barcelona. The most famous one is the Sagrada família. From the highest tower you can look all over Barcelona. It is a breathtaking building where he paid attention to every little detail. He also designed Park Güell. It was initially conceived as a garden city, it’s a public park that exhibits the surrealist art full of Antoni Gaudí’s own symbolism. It is located on top of a hill and offers spectacular panoramic views of Barcelona.
The Gothic Quarter consists of a maze of narrow streets and medieval buildings. There’s a big variety of shops and restaurants so you will not be bored.
Culture
The history museum of the City of Barcelona is also a must visit. You can learn everything about the history of Barcelona in this historic building. Catalonia has a long history behind it, something that has given it such a special character. It will transport you to the past when the Romans decided to found a colony called Barcino.
If you are looking for a party in the traditional square, you should definitely go to one of the venues in Plaza Real. It is in the heart of the Gothic Quarter that comes alive at nightfall. It consists of trendy bars and clubs where you can dance until the morning. It is also the largest concentration of bars and clubs in Barcelona.
The most famous market in Barcelona is the Boquira. This busy food market located on the Rambla is the largest and most famous in the city. Visit the Boqueria with an empty stomach to be able to fill it with tasty portions of baby squid, garlic prawns, fresh fruit or cheese and sausage platters. And, of course, help to lower the banquet with a glass of cava. It’s best to visit early so it is emptier and the atmosphere is more authentic.
Soccer
FC Barcelona is a legendary football club and it also represents the soul of the city. This soccer stadium was one of the few places, where during the dictatorship, locals could still communicate in Catalan.
When there’s no game you can visit the stadium and take a tour, but you can always visit the Barcelona Football Club Museum.
The atmosphere of the matches at the Camp Nou is spectacular, since this sports venue can gather almost 100,000 spectators. Because of that, it is the biggest stadium in all of Europe. From June of 2023 the stadium will be renovated as a part of the Espai Barça project.
Beaches
There are also a lot of beautiful beaches in Barcelona that you should definitely visit. Barcelona has a coastline of 4.5 kilometers. The city has over 9 beaches, all of them easily accessible by public transport. Most of the beaches are urban, so you’ll find plenty of restaurants, bars, and showers nearby. Some of the busiest and most touristic beaches are Somorrostro, Nova Icaria, Bogatell, Mar Bella, and Barceloneta.
If you want to avoid the crowds, you can always take a quick metro ride to any of the beaches further along the coast. I recommend going to one of the beaches further north, such as Ocata, Sant Sebastià, Castelldefels or Sant Vicenç de Montalt.
