Sometimes, travel plans change in the best possible way. Originally, Tenerife was at the top of our bucket list. However, realizing that a 6-hour direct flight felt a bit too long for a single stretch, we decided a strategic layover was the perfect solution. And what better place than Barcelona to break up the journey and tick another stunning destination off our list?
No sooner said than done. I immediately got in touch with my cousin (we’re lucky enough to have family settled in almost every corner of the world! 😁) to get some insider recommendations on the best spots and top attractions. Just like that, we started drafting the plan for an extended vacation.
With only two days on our hands, we didn’t want a frantic, jam-packed marathon. Instead, we aimed for a laid-back city break focused on spending quality time with family, admiring the breathtaking architecture, and, of course, eating plenty of delicious food! 😁 And that is exactly what we did.
What we did in Barcelona:
Parc de la Ciutadella and the Columbus Monument
We started our trip with some relaxation, heading straight to Parc de la Ciutadella – the perfect spot to take a break in the shade. We had a relaxed walk, enjoyed the views, the ducks on the lake, and, of course, we stopped to see the famous giant stone mammoth.
From the park, we walked towards the port and stopped for a bit at the Columbus Monument, which is right where the famous La Rambla boulevard ends.
Ciutat Vella (The Old Town)
We explored the narrow streets of the La Ribera neighborhood, which has a special charm. Also in this old area, we reached Plaça Nova (where you can see ruins from the city’s Roman history) and Plaça de Sant Jaume, a lively square where Barcelona’s administrative buildings are located.
La Rambla Boulevard
Unfortunately, we didn’t even take any pictures here. It was so crowded that I just wanted it to end as quickly as possible so we could escape all the chaos. In the end, we took refuge at a nearby terrace, where we “rewarded” ourselves with many types of delicious tapas. 😋
The Eixample Neighborhood and Casa Batlló
After leaving the heavy crowds of La Rambla behind, we continued our walk towards Casa Batlló, one of Antoni Gaudí’s most spectacular masterpieces.
Its famous facade looks like ocean waves or dragon scales, and the balconies look like masks or bone fragments, which is why locals also call it the “House of Bones.” It is located in a beautiful, very elegant area, full of buildings with impressive architecture. It’s one of those neighborhoods that is truly worth exploring on foot.
Plaza de Gaudí and Sagrada Família
We really wanted to tour the inside of the famous Sagrada Família, but because we planned everything last minute, we couldn’t find any available tickets for the days of our trip. So, we had to settle for admiring it from the outside. Even with all the scaffolding – since it’s still under construction – the building is impressive. We took a few pictures through the crowd that was doing the exact same thing as us, and then stopped for a break at a shaded terrace in Plaza de Gaudí.
Bonus: A Quick Escape to Castelldefels
My cousin and his wife spoiled us and took us to a place just outside Barcelona, called Castelldefels. It was the exact opposite of the busy city: a very uncrowded beach and a long, spacious boardwalk. We walked a lot, caught up on everything, and had dinner at Solraig, a restaurant well-known and awarded in Spain for its rice dishes. We ordered a seafood paella, which was incredibly delicious, but sadly, it didn’t stay down for long! 🥴😂 That was the exact moment I started wondering if I might actually have a seafood intolerance. 🤔
Barcelona City Break: Takeaways
What we (well, I) loved:
- The Food: Excepting my little seafood incident in Castelldefels 😅, the culinary experience was a perfect 10/10.
- The Architecture: Barcelona is quite simply an open-air museum.
- The City Vibe and the Locals: I loved how relaxed everyone was. Locals are constantly out, filling up the terraces at lunch or in the evening, socializing, and simply enjoying life. This atmosphere is incredibly catchy and makes you forget all about rushing anywhere.
What we (okay, I) didn’t like:
- The Crowds: We expected it to be full of tourists, but in certain places (like our experience on La Rambla) the chaos was overwhelming and took away a bit of that relaxed vacation vibe we wanted.
- The Fear of Pickpockets 😥: This was probably the most exhausting part. Every single step of the way, I had to be careful with my bag, phone, and pockets. It’s pretty hard to completely relax and enjoy the architecture when you’re constantly worried about keeping an eye on your belongings.
Where we stayed:
We stayed at The Level at Meliá Barcelona Sky, located in a very modern part of the city: the Poblenou neighborhood, in the Sant Martí district. We chose it mainly because it’s close to the beach and the boardwalk, but also relatively close to the center, with a tram stop and bus lines right next to the hotel. We absolutely loved the panoramic restaurant where we had breakfast while enjoying the views of the surrounding buildings from above. But the absolute highlight was that we could see the Sagrada Família directly from our bed. 🤩
Next stop: Tenerife! 😉
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