If you are heading to Barcelona then you can spend so much time in the city discovering new things and new places but some people are not fortunate enough to spend a large portion of time in Barcelona so I have decided to compile a day where you can see some of the many delights in Barcelona. I should warn you however to be prepared for a busy day ahead.
To start your day, find a nice local cafe and enjoy a pastry and “Cafe con leche” (coffee with milk”) to set you up for the day ahead. To beat the vast crowds that gather and que daily to enter the spectacular La Sagrada Família then arrive either early or late in the day so for me then this is the perfect place to start. La Sagrada Família is still a unfinshed cathedral that may be completed by 2026 (the 100 year anniversary of the death of its creator, Antoni Gaudí). A visit to La Sagrada Família is a must for any visitor to the city as it has become a visual icon of the city and it is now the most visited attraction in the whole of Spain. La Sagrada Família has been in construction for over 100 years and the exterior is worth analysing, espcially the Nativity Facade, where the closer you look, the more little details that you will notice.
From La Sagrada Família, you can continue your Gaudí adventure by visiting his attempt at creating a English style garden park in the heart of Barcelona. Parc Güell is just a short metro ride from La Sagrada Família and it is a fantastic park full of many interesting sculptures as well as a musuem dedicated to Gaudí. The two buildings in Parc Güell are fantastic to look at and enjoy as are the many other sculptures in the park such as the incredible lizard sculpture on the main stairway. If that is not enough, due to Parc Güell being built in the “high side” of Barcelona, Parc Güell overlooks the city and whilst here, take in the breathtaking views of the city.
For lunch, grab the metro and head to Paral-lel station and then take the finicular to Montjuïc where you will arrive near the El Xalet next to the Diving pool used during the 1992 Olympic games. The view from the restaurant is spectacular as you enjoy seeing the city below you and food is good too making it the perfect place to stop and take a breather.
Montjuïc is home to a impressive Castle at the top of the mountain and opposite the restaurant next to the metro station is the fenicular station which will take you to the top of Montjuïc. The ride offers some of the most stunning views of Barcelona and also out to sea. When you arrive at the top, leave the fenicular and explore the impressive castle and enjoy the spectacular views that are on offer here before getting back on the fenicular and heading back down. Once you arrive back, then take a bit of time to explore the Olympic site, entrance into the Olympic Stadium is free and enjoyable as is the rest of the site. From here, head towards the Palau Nacional (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya), this building is one of the most impressive buildings in the city and looks down the Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina toward Plaza Espanya. Enjoy the walk down until you arrive you arrive in the Plaza itself.
Take the metro to Diagonal station and take the Passieg De Gracia exit, where you enter one of the most exclusive streets in Barcelona. Passieg De Gracia is home to many of the world´s finest brands as well as two of Gaudí´s finest buildings. Start walking down Passieg De Gracia towards Plaza Catalunya and on your left is La Pedrera. A house built by Gaudí for a wealthy widower and her new husband. It is now a museum and the roof of the builidng is spectacular with many futuristic designs and the exterior of the building too is very eye-catching.
Continue walking down Passieg De Gracia and on the other side of the street is Casa Batlló. This is for me, more impressive than La Pedrera. The building is one of the most extraordinary that I have seen, with the exterior being awash with colours and like the Nativity Facade, looking closely at the building allows you to see more and more details. If you have time, a visit inside the Casa Batlló is also a great experience as the interior is as spectacular as the exterior. From Casa Batlló, continue along Passieg De Gracia and you will arrive at Plaza Catalunya, the centre of the city. A great meeting place, Plaza Catalunya has some spectacular fountains and is famous for the amount of Pigeons that congregate in the centre.
Plaza Catalunya is also where the world famous La Rambla starts. This bustling street is a must visit place in Barcelona as there are very few places that I have been to that are as alive as La Rambla. Take a stroll along the main strip and stop and enjoy watching the human statues or the many street performers. Stop at the bustling market, La Boqueria and pick up one of the freshly made fruit juices and continue your journey until you reach the Columbus statue in the harbour. Grab a bench here and watch the sun set.
By this stage, you are probably starving so head to the nearby 7 Portes. 7 Portes is certainly the city’s most famous paella restaurant and head here and enjoy the food and drink on offer. After you have eaten then head to the beach, take a walk along the promenade and enjoy watching the sea breaking on the beach to the background of complete darkness and this is the perfect way to end your Barcelona day.
This is a very shortened version of a Barcelona holiday and there are many many more things and places to visit in Barcelona that are impossible to see in the same day. If you have longer then visit some of the cities many musuems with the Museu Picasso being my favourite, head to Tibidabo and see the magnificent Sagrat Cor and not forgetting the Camp Nou, the home of FC Barcelona.
[box]Article written by Sean, travler and blogger from apartime.com, providers of Barcelona Holiday Apartments.[/box]
