Barcelona is one of my favorite places- rich with art, great food, and architecture. Antoni Gaudi is largely credited for its memorable designs that Barcelona is artistically crafted and known for.
Where We Stayed
NH Barcelona Centro
We stay close to La Rambla at NH Barcelona Centro. We arrive around 3 am in the morning and walk through some alleyways with closed metal garage doors and graffiti in the middle of the night. I am curious to see what these streets are like when everything is open.
When we awake for the day and swing into the streets, it is like a whole different world. We mix in with the flow of people now exploring the alleyways. The streets are lively filled with people shopping and stalls that have all opened up for the day. We no longer see any more closed doors or graffiti anywhere. It is now replaced with hip and modern stores for people to shop for clothes, makeup, and souvenirs.
It was a pleasant stay here at the city center with great access to transportation and major destinations.
Memorable Visits
La Rambla
La Rambla, one of the main streets in central Barcelona filled with shops, tourists, and locals. I love the bustle and energy! I feel like there is so much to see and explore here.
La Boqueria
We reach La Boqueria and I am overwhelmed with excitement with all the stalls of the local market, food, and fruit juices that just dazzle your sight. I do not know where to start!
I begin to wander in and every corner is vying for my attention. I do not know where to turn to– it is definitely an explosion of the senses.
It gets quite packed so it can be difficult to get around or lose your friend in the crowd. There are so many great finds here. Just take the time to comb through.
There are lots of great eats within the boqueria. One of my favorite places there to eat at is Pinotxo Bar.
Click here for my review and suggestions on what I loved to get at Pintoxo!
La Sagrada Familia
We walk towards the La Sagrada Familia, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The large unfinished cathedral by Gaudi, towering in front of us in gray and sandstone started its construction in 1882, over a century ago. The estimated completion date is 2026.
We make it just in time for our reservation time to enter. Who knew that a building that looked the way it does outside can have the complete opposite feel on the inside! The detailing before you even enter is incredible!
We walk in through the gray stone facade and walk into bursts of colorful green, blue, yellow, orange, and sun that explodes through the intricate stained glass windows.
I am truly blown away by Gaudi’s creative architecture splendor inside and outside. What a contrast between the interior and the exterior.
There is so much beauty in every corner of the basilica.
I keep seeing more that I miss the first time I look. Make sure you leave no space unseen with your eyes.
I do not want to leave the center of the church but it is time to go up to one of the towers for a view up top.
There are two towers we can choose from to go up for an additional cost. We choose the Nativity tower since we hear it is a higher view.
We scan our tickets to wait in another line to go up the elevator and we enjoy our views up top and walk back down spiral steps, leading back into the glorious center of the church.
By the time we come back down, it seems like, with the way the sun has moved, we notice different things and it provides new views that I attempt to capture with my camera.
I wish I can bring this magical place back with me or live here with the vibrant pure colors and happiness the sun rays make me feel through the stained glass windows.
After taking as many photos and videos I can, I reluctantly say my goodbyes and look forward to my next return.
For more fascinating facts and history about La Sagrada Familia from Culture Trip, click here.
Parc de la Ciutadella
We find that Parc de la Ciutadella is nearby so we take a stroll around the lovely park. There is a lot to see there. There are magnificent structures and good people watching there. Kids and adults enjoy rowboats in the small lake within the park. I loved seeing the large fountain structure with a gold sculptured top.
There is also a castle that houses the museum of natural science.
One can spend an entire day there, but we took a brisk walk through and am glad to see the green mixed with the arts where people can relax and enjoy.
Palau de la Musica Orfeo Catala
This is a concert hall that is designed by the eccentric and brilliant Gaudi. We purchased tickets to see a Spanish Guitar concert at Palau de la Musica Orfeo Catala. I couldn’t wait to experience this concert in such a unique concert hall in the Catalan Art Nouveau style, especially after seeing what La Sagrada was like.
We tried to get in about half an hour earlier so we can snap photos of the architecture and alluring corners.
The stained glass fixture above the concert hall is so detailed and astonishing.
We enjoy the talented guitarist and the percussionist as their music resonated throughout the concert hall. It is advised that you take all photos before the performance as they do rush everyone out soon after the concert.
Parc Guell
We get up early in the morning and take a bus ride up to Park Guell designed by yet again, Gaudi. It started as a housing development but eventually became a public park in 1926. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1984. I am so curious to finally see this place live.
Again, with photos of Park Guell everywhere with it reminding me so much of Dr. Seuss makes me wonder what it is like to see it in person.
It is quite a trek up with a beautiful view as it sits upon the hill overlooking Barcelona. We make it a bit late to our early reservation time, but we have half an hour leeway to get in…and glad that they did because it is confusing where to go.
We apparently went through the back roads to reach the front where the two main buildings are at for the entrance of the park. Even at 8 am, the park is filled with tourists and there is a line forming to go inside the house museum.
I love the blue paint indoors and the curved architecture which Gaudi seems to make his signature style.
We enjoy all the mosaics throughout the park and the unexpected columns of Sala, fountain, and colonnaded footpath that all seems so eccentric. What was supposed to be the church is now where the gift shop is housed.
This is an excellent outdoor visit destination for families with plenty of space to relax, explore, and kids to run around.
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
We head to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya which is covered by the Barcelona Card. This place is beautiful! It sits on a hill and has an incredible two fountain front that leads to the entrance.
The art collections are delightful and enjoyable to see. I think it is appropriate that it is the National Museum of Catalunya.
Picasso Museum
The Picasso Museum is also covered by the Barcelona Card.
We are glad we have this card to skip the line because there is another ridiculous wait outside to purchase tickets and get headphones if we do not have a reservation or the Barcelona Card.
We are blown away with Picasso’s talents! He is most famous for his modernist and abstract art, but this museum shows all his other artistic abilities that really exemplify how diverse his artistic talents are. Unfortunately, we aren’t allowed to photos within the museum. Sometimes, seeing his artwork, I wonder what is really going through his mind with the choices he makes on the canvas…interesting nonetheless!
