Barcelona is a perfect travel destination while on a career break. The vivaciousness of the city in all its bright colors, rich food, and awesome laid-back attitude is exactly what one needs to get re-charged and re-energized. Gaudi’s architectural genius will make you giddy with awe and delight. It is a wonderful place for rediscovering your inner child. If your inner child is a little bit of an oddball, Barcelona has that covered too!
Here are our Top 10 places to visit in Barcelona:
- La Rambla and La Boqueria
- Barri Gòtic (The Gothic Quarter)
- Barcelona Cathedral (Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia)
- Poblenou cemetery
- Museum of Funeral Carriages and Montjuïc Cemetery
- Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
- Parc de la Ciutadella (The Citadel Park)
- Chocolate Museum (Museu de la Xocolata)
- Park Güell
- La Sagrada Família
1. La Rambla and La Boqueria
Chances are your first morning in Barcelona will start at the Plaza de Cataluña (Plaça de Catalunya, Catalonia Square) at the very center of the City. You might be tempted to get onto the Hop On/Hop Off Bus to get acquainted with the city. Also, you’ll probably want some euros to have on hand. Walking into the big-name banks on the Plaza, one by one, you’ll learn there are very little to no currency exchange options. So, skip the banks. There is a La Caixa branch hidden in the alley, above an indiscreet parking garage, between Deutsche Bank and the Hard Rock Café. Skip the bus for now too, and take a stroll along La Rambla, that is just around the corner.
If you are into Desigual and/or Custo Barcelona unique designs, shopping will not disappoint! And of course, there is El Corte Inglés, a huge department store, with several floors of fashion items (they carry Desigual as well, so make sure to check that section). On the basement floor you’ll find a fully stocked luxury grocery area, perfect for souvenirs and picking up snacks for your room. It is the place where we found Chorizo de Pamplona!
At La Boqueria market, located in the heart of La Rambla, you will inevitably get drawn to the rainbows of colors of fruits and vegetables and the irresistible aromas of cured meats, like the fabled jamón and chorizos. It is a perfect lunch stop.
We were on a mission to find a perfect tomato. It might sound silly, but all of us who dare to buy tomatoes in a supermarket in the US know that they don’t taste the same as the ones from our childhood. Even on the farmers’ markets. So, we found a beautiful vegetable stall in the very back of La Boqueria and talked in beginners’ Spanish to a wonderful owner there about our mission. (TIP: Official language of Barcelona is Catalan. However, Spanish is widely-spoken.)
We’ve just started to learn Spanish, building up the vocabulary through Duolingo. Between our gestures, beginners’ Spanish with a few “Merci” sprinkled through (“Thank you” in Catalan), our skills were good enough to convey the message to the vendor. He was so kind to us, and got a good laugh from our attempts to communicate with him. We ended up with the perfect heirloom tomato, and he threw in some complimentary little tomatoes for snacking. They were Excellent! Especially after we learned a new way to prepare them from a bartender of our hotel’s rooftop bar. But that’s a story for a different post! 😊
2. Barri Gòtic (The Gothic Quarter)
The mesmerizing Old Town of Barcelona… Its narrow medieval streets fused with gorgeous architecture and unique murals will keep you happily lost for hours. You will also find a variety of artists’ studios, quirky shops (shout out to Ernesto de Barcelona, our favorite), restaurants and bars with live music. The acoustics of the area is fabulous, so if you are lucky, you might get a chance to see an impromptu opera performance or Spanish guitars right on the streets. For a special dinner out, we recommend the Els Quatre Gats (4 Cats), a favorite spot of Pablo Picasso, Antoni Gaudi, and many other influential Spanish modernist artists of the time.
3. Barcelona Cathedral (Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia)
This beautiful masterpiece of Gothic architecture is in the center of the Barri Gòtic. Being inside the Cathedral, with all its warm golden glow, made us feel as if inside a jewelry box, suspended in space and time. Don’t miss its Well of the Geese, where 13 white geese reside at the cloister in honor of Saint Eulalia, who was only 13 years old when she was martyred.
4. Poblenou Cemetery
You’ve probably seen this quote online “There has to be more to life than just go to work, pay bills and then die”, and it rings true. For the brave souls, who find peace in contemplation of life and death, head over to one of the historical Barcelona cemeteries, Poblenou cemetery or/and Montjuic Mountain cemetery. Probably one of the most famous stunning sculptures in the world, the Kiss of Death, is located at Poblenou.
The wild imagination of the sculptor captures the Angel of Death as a skeleton giving a calming kiss to a dying young man, Josep Llaudet. Poblenou is also a resting place for the remains of the Little Saint of Barcelona, and you’ll see a lot of messages, prayers and offerings near it. After visiting the Poblenou Cemetery, do swing by the Nova Icària beach, which is just a short walk away from the main entrance, to soak up the sun and splash in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
5. Museum of Funeral Carriages and Montjuïc Mountain Cemetery
Try to get there on the weekend, since the one and only Museum of Funeral Carriages is open on Saturdays and Sundays only. This out of the ordinary museum is located at the base of the cemetery. It’s pretty easy to get a cab there, but it’s not as easy to get back. If you decide to walk around the Montjuïc cemetery, bring lots of water, and prepare for an uphill hike.
6. Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
With the first accords of Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé song “Barcelona”, your soul will soar. Imagine dancing Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas but on steroids. Liquid fireworks, with cascading water from the top of the Montjuïc Castle. (TIP: It’s a very popular display, so expect large crowds.)
7. Parc de la Ciutadella (The Citadel Park)
The Citadel Park is the largest park in Barcelona, with beautiful green areas, Cascada waterfalls by Josep Fontsére (and Antoni Gaudi contributed to it, while he was still a student), Zoo and Museum of Natural Sciences. Perfect for a leisurely walk!
8. Chocolate Museum (Museu de la Xocolata)
The tastiest Museum we’ve stumbled upon. It was off our radar… until we walked onto the street leading to the Citadel Park, and our noses led us to this joyful place. Your tickets are chocolate bars with your country’s flag on them. The self-guiding tour through the history of chocolate-making is really educational. And the chocolate sculptures that somehow don’t melt on sight are simply adorable!
9. Park Güell
It’s impossible to think of Barcelona without Gaudi, and Gaudi without Barcelona. The City was the source of his inspiration, and Gaudi’s imagination shaped Barcelona into the magical place we know today. Now, do a Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tour to take beautiful shots of La Pedrera, Casa Batllo, and stop by Park Güell, with its breathtaking vistas of the City, flamenco guitar players, and wild parrots chirping. If you find yourself humming “Barcelona” song by Giulia y Los Tellarini from the movie “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”, know you are not alone.
10. La Sagrada Família
The most famous building of Barcelona, which has been under construction for over 100 years, is Gaudi’s hymn to the City. A huge Gothic/Modernistic sandcastle structure from the outside, with three richly decorated facades. The interior is something that you’ve never ever seen before in religious architecture or any architecture for that matter. Sagrada Familia will blow your mind.
Be sure to get your tickets in advance, the earlier in the morning the better. We recommend getting the combo ticket that includes Towers’ visit. The views from them are unbelievable. (TIP: If you do that, do not bring backpacks with you, since getting to the towers is easy on the elevator, but going back down you would use the long narrow spiral staircase. There is, however, an option to store backpacks for a separate fee.)
So, if you are mapping European travel destinations for your short vacation, a sabbatical, or career break — Barcelona is definitely worth your consideration!
What are your favorite places in Barcelona? What would you like to see when you go? Comment below, we’d love to hear from you! And for more European adventures, start by checking our Reykjavik, Edinburgh, or Dublin posts, and subscribe to our blog!
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