Must-Sees in Barcelona: Gaudi, Tapas, Fiesta

May 2024

Barcelona - The City of Counts

Discover the enchanting allure of Barcelona, known as "The City of Counts," where history and modernity beautifully intertwine. Stroll along the bustling La Rambla, marvel at Gaudí's masterpieces like the Sagrada Família, and unwind at the scenic Park Güell. Don't miss a day trip to the historic city of Lleida and the breathtaking Montserrat mountain, offering panoramic views and spiritual serenity. Barcelona is a vibrant tapestry of culture, cuisine, and captivating sights waiting to be explored.

49 Notable Places in Barcelona, Spain:

1. La Sagrada Família (entrance fee €26)

Of course, there's also La Sagrada Família, which costs 26 euros to enter. It's the most colorful, artistically designed basilica I’ve ever seen. With so much color and character, it could pass as a quirky Disney castle. You can also check out Plaça de Gaudí, the park in front of Sagrada Família.

2. Plaça de Gaudí

3. Parc Güell (entrance fee €10)

4. Casa Vicens (entrance fee €18)

5. Casa Batlló (entrance fee €35)

6. La Pedrera - Casa Milà (entrance fee €28)

7. Taller Refractari

Taller Refractari is a ceramic shop. The artist is very nice; she makes handmade ceramics herself.

8. UBIKA VINILO

Another store I recommend is UBIKA VINILO, where you can get a very high-quality apron printed with your name for only 26 euros. However, you won't get it on the same day—you'll have to come back after a day or so to collect it. It is a very good souvenir from Barcelona. Also, the owner/staff are very warm. We were happy to stumble upon this place while walking around Barcelona.

9. Albert Carnisseria

We also passed by Albert Carnisseria. It's very local, with kind sellers and owners. We bought some delicious and affordable salami and ate it while walking around Barcelona.

10. Mural Alicia

Nearby is the Mural Alicia — check out the Alberto León mural as well. This one caught my attention more, but there's no Google pin for it. So yes, you can check out two street art pieces in this area.

11. Església de la Mare de Déu de Betlem

12. Font de la Portaferrissa

13. Boludeces

You can find local handmade jewelry here. The artist is kind and explains everything well.

14. HUMANA Vintage

15. Antic Teatre

16. Artesanat Same

17. Torre Glòries

18. Monumental La Monumental

19. Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (entrance fee €10.80)

20. Plaça de Catalunya (we saw many birds here)

21. Avda. del Portal de l'Àngel

Avda. del Portal de l'Àngel is a notable street where we saw sellers offering soaps, leather products, jewelry, etc.

22. Planelles Donat

Planelles Donat has been in business since 1859. We got two scoops of ice cream here for 4.20 euros. Mikko got Blanc i Negre, and I also got a local drink called Horchata for 1.95 euros, which you can buy here.

23. Reial Cercle Artístic de Barcelona

Reial Cercle Artístic de Barcelona — we just came across this gem while exploring Barcelona. What a generous place! There’s so much to see, including a free art exhibition right in the heart of town.

24. Catedral de Barcelona (entrance fee €14)

25. Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi (entrance fee €8)

26. Parròquia de Sant Agustí

27. Mercat de la Boqueria

28. Palau de la Música Catalana (entrance fee €19)

29. Mercat de Santa Caterina

Another option is Mercat de Santa Caterina, which boasts nice architecture and is less crowded than Mercat del Pi.

30. Picasso Museum (entrance fee €12)

31. Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món

32. Moco Museum Barcelona Museu Moco Barcelona (entrance fee €14.95)

33. Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar (entrance fee €5)

34. Museum of the History of Catalonia (entrance fee €6)

35. Port Vell (Marina)

36. Port Cable Car - Port Station Telefèric del Port

37. San Sebastian Beach Platja de Sant Sebastià

38. L'Estel ferit

39. Somorrostro beach

40. El Peix d'Or Frank Gehry | El pez Olímpico (Sculpture)

41. MUHBA Turó de la Rovira

42. Tibidabo

43. Poble Espanyol de Montjuïc (entrance fee €15)

44. Parc del Laberint d'Horta (entrance fee €2.23)

45. Torre de les Aigües del Besòs

45. Pg. de Gràcia

Pg. de Gràcia is another notable street with brands such as Cartier, Prada, Fendi, Rolex, Gucci, Chopard, Bulgari, and Dior — so many luxury stores around here.

46. Parish of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus Parròquia Sant Gregori Taumaturg

47. Parròquia de Sant Fèlix Africà

48. Mercat del Pi

At Mercat del Pi, they sell jams, cheese, beeswax candles, honey, salami, nuts, chocolates, etc.

49. FOCO

Other Useful Information and Tips for Traveling Around Barcelona

The B&B Hotel Barcelona Rubí offers the convenience of free parking, with additional street-side parking available in front of the hotel. Guests can enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, and hot chocolate 24 hours a day. Breakfast is available for 10.50 euros per person, though it would be better if they used real mugs instead of paper cups, which can feel dangerous to hold when filled with hot tea. There is a noticeable smell of cleaning chemicals upon entering the room, but overall, it was a good stay, and I do recommend it. The Esclat supermarket is within walking distance, and we enjoyed a delicious dinner of salami, longaniza, and jamón from there. To my surprise and delight, when I asked if I could purchase some small pieces of salami, they generously gave me three different types for free, even though I clearly mentioned I wasn’t asking for a free taste. The hotel is about 25 minutes away by car from the city center in Barcelona, and if using public transportation, it will take about 40 minutes. For two people, it cost us 25 euros to travel to Barcelona from this hotel (15 euros for parking and 9 euros for tolls). Consider whether this is worth it for you, as you can always choose to stay in the city center. However, for us, this hotel was good enough.

We paid 15.60 euros for 8.5 hours of parking at Parking Villarroel in the Barcelona city center.

Paradiso, once named the world's best bar and still highly ranked, was a huge disappointment. We arrived shortly before opening and joined a long line. Inside, the place was smoky, and we couldn't freely choose our seats. They placed us in a dark corner which made it impossible to talk to the staff, which is an important part of the experience at these bars. Despite the wait, many seats were empty when we got in, making the enforced queuing seem like a deliberate tactic, especially since they don’t take reservations. We’ve been to many top-rated bars, and Paradiso is one of the worst. It’s hard to believe it was once number one. The drinks were very expensive and boring, even though some had fancy effects like fire and glow-in-the-dark ingredients.

We strongly suggest skipping Paradiso and trying Foco instead. A bartender from another famous bar (Wax On in Germany) recommended it. We didn’t go to Sips, another top-ranked place, because of their unusual reservation policy requiring advance payment. It reminded us of a bad experience we had at 1930 bar in Milan. So far, Salmon Guru is the only Spanish “top bar” we’ve liked.

Street performers work hard to make a living. I've seen many rude tourists, including one guy who pushed his big camera right into the faces of a band playing on the street in Barcelona. The musicians looked really uncomfortable, but the guy didn't care and left without giving them any money. We saw him in this video taking photos of the first guy. You can see he’s clearly uncomfortable and bent his head. Then, he went to another guy and took photos right in front of his face, much, much closer than this—which, unfortunately, I didn’t take any video of. Yes, they are performing publicly, but do you really have to do this to them? I just happened to be taking a video, so I captured this—the photo is a screenshot from one video. Please don’t be this kind of tourist.

There was another performer blowing bubbles for people. Most people just walked by, but I gave him some money. Unexpectedly, he insisted that I try blowing bubbles too and let me use his tools. During our travels through Spain, I've been consistently experienced the kindness and generosity of some of the Spanish people. One memorable incident occurred when I excitedly pointed out chicharrón on a menu, having never tried it in Spain before. To my delight, the staff went above and beyond by sharing a taste of a different, raw variety. This unexpected act of hospitality left a lasting impression on me.

Day trip to Lleida

Exploring Lleida

La Seu Vella | Lleida (cathedral)
Castell de la Suda (entrance fee €7)
Parc de Santa Cecília

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We tried to visit La Seu Vella Cathedral in Lleida, but unfortunately, it was closed when we arrived. Our stay at Hotel Nadal was decent, and they offered a good breakfast for an additional 6 euros per person. Car parking at the hotel requires a reservation and costs around 7 euros or more. Since we hadn't booked a space in advance, they were full, so we had to find parking elsewhere. Luckily, the hotel staff was helpful and suggested a free public parking area called Zona d'aparcament. Barris Nord (you can find this on Google Maps).

Day trip to Montserrat

Montserrat, a magical mountain range near Barcelona, is a must-visit for nature and culture lovers alike. Its jagged peaks, home to the iconic Montserrat Monastery, offer breathtaking views and spiritual serenity. Don't miss the chance to hike through lush trails, marvel at the Black Madonna, and immerse yourself in Catalan heritage.

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Notable Places in Montserrat, Spain:

Museu de Montserrat (entrance fee €8)
Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey Abadia de Montserrat (entrance fee €8)
La Moreneta
Explanada Ovni Montserrat
Roca Foradada
Monestir de Sant Benet de Montserrat i botiga de ceràmica
Sant Jeroni (Observation deck)
Reserva Natural Parcial de la Muntanya Montserrat
Funicular Aeri de Montserrat Aeri de Montserrat (entrance fee €8.95)
Ermita de Sant Joan
Mirador de KOR (Observation deck)
Ermita de Sant Salvador
Ermita de la Santa Creu
Mirador dels Apòstols
Escolania de Montserrat
Stairway to Heaven Escala de l'enteniment (Escultura)
Ermita de Santa Anna
Santa Cova Funicular Railway
La Botiga (Souvenir store)
Creu de Sant Miquel
Abat Oliba (Sculpture)
Monistrol de Montserrat
Aqüeducte de Cal Pla
Pont Gòtic
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The churches around here cost money to enter, even if they show free entry on Google Maps. If you visit the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey (Abadia de Montserrat), it costs €8 to enter, and inside is La Moreneta. We find the Funicular de la Santa Cova overpriced. I recommend going to La Botiga (Souvenir store), where they offer a €3 tasting of four types of liquor from Montserrat. I also got some souvenirs from here, such as chocolate olive oil, Mallafré virgin olive oil, and a Montserrat soap. Just walking outside, you will find some street vendors too, where we were able to get some cow cheese honey for €2.50. If you go to Monistrol de Montserrat, there is a nice view from there. The roofs of the walking path here are covered by solar panels.