This week we are exploring another Spanish city.
We are in Barcelona and this video is going to highlight 25 things to do here.
Barcelona!
After a few days in the Spanish capital, we headed over to Catalunya to see what this
popular seaside city has to offer.
We ended up discovering an eclectic mix of funky architecture, distinct neighbourhoods,
and stretches of golden beaches.
It was vibrant, it was stylish, and it was addicting.
Here's a look at what we got up to during our visit to this world class city:
It wouldn't be a proper visit to Barcelona without going to the beach at least once,
so first things first, we headed down to Barceloneta Beach, which is popular with locals and travelers
who don't want to trek out too far in search of waves and sandy shores.
The sun was out, the water was inviting, and the beach was packed.
Chilling like a villain.
I hope the door is planning to close soon because we are about to take off.
Here we go.
Oh ho ho.
Next up we took the cable car to Montjuïc for a look at the city from above.
It was a brief journey, but it gave us a great perspective of how spread out Barcelona really
is.
So we just finished riding the cable car.
And now we have arrived on top of Montjuic.
Which is a hill located in Barcelona.
You get some great views of the city and they also have a lot of different attractions here.
So first up we're going to visit Castell de Monjuic which is an old fortress here atop
the city.
So we've got our tickets.
Let's go in.
Over the years the Castell de Montjuïc has played many roles including military fortress,
prison, and now, a museum.
Seriously guys, you've got to come here early in the day.
There are sections of this place that we have all to ourselves.
Park Güell is not your average park.
This outdoor space was designed by Antoni Gaudi, and as such, it makes you feel like
you've tumbled down the rabbit hole and suddenly set foot in the world of Alice in Wonderland.
Inside the park you can admire the serpentine mosaic benches, a colonnaded pathway that
seems to attract lots of performers, and a colourful salamander made of broken tiles.
So up next we are going to visit one of the most iconic churches in all of Barcelona.
This is Sagrada Familia and it was designed by Antoni Gaudí.
And this church has actually been under construction for decades.
I remember I visited about 8 years ago and it was still under construction.
There was drywall everywhere and bags of concrete.
And that hasn't changed.
You can still see the cranes in the background so we're going to show you that in a second.
Right now we're visiting Barcelona football club.
One of the most famous teams in the world.
And I just picked up a hat.
And let me tell you that is the most crazy team store I've ever seen.
Right now it is the off-season, so unfortunately we can't watch a football game but there are
stadium tours.
And if you want to get merchandise you get into that fan store because it is absolutely
packed.
So next up we're about to enter Mercat de la Boqueria which is one of the most popular
markets in the whole city.
And you can get food to go or maybe some fresh produce, some healthy juices.
So we're going to take a walk through.
Whether you want to enjoy some tapas or pick up some fresh produce to take away, this market
is not short of options.
La Rambla is probably the busiest street in the whole city.
This tree-lined, pedestrian only boulevard, stretches for 1.2 kilometres and is packed
with street performers, food vendors, and pop-up souvenir shops.
If there's one thing to love about seaside cities, it's that they always have lively
boardwalks, and Barcelona proved to be no different.
There were joggers, skateboarders, bikers, and rollerbladers.
And if you needed a break in the shade, there were lots of benches where you could kick
back, relax, and enjoy the views of the marina.
As you head down the boardwalk, you can also swing by the Museum of Catalan History which
seeks to make Catalan history more accessible to the public.
So this morning we are exploring the neighborhood of Barri Gotic.
This is a pretty cool area because they have a lot of narrow little lanes, courtyards,
plazas.
So you can just go and explore without much of a plan and see what you stumble upon.
The Gothic Quarter truly is a beautiful neighborhood to wander on foot.
The twisting lanes can make it seem a bit confusing, but you never know what you're
going to discover around each bend.
While wandering around the Gothic neighborhood you can check out the Gothic market.
It has a lot of different antiques and flea market types of items.
In the neighbourhood you'll also find Barcelona Cathedral, which is a Gothic cathedral that
was constructed between the 13th and 15th centuries.
Santa Maria del Pi is another nearby church.
Artists like to set up shop in the square right outside the church, so you can also
browse some of the artwork on your way out.
Like a lot of European cities Barcelona also has a triumphal arch.
And what is cool about this place is that it is a really open space and you can see
a lot of people just walking around.
It is kind of a good place to just hang out and have a leisurely stroll.
Casa Batllo is one of Gaudi's architectural masterpieces.
The facade is covered in beautiful mosaics, and the balconies have a skeletal quality
that also make you feel like you're going to a masked ball.
Casa Mila, also known as La Pedrera is another work by Gaudi.
The building has an organic and curvy exterior, and unique twisting chimneys with human characteristics.
Gaudi gets a lot of the attention in this city, however, Barcelona was home to many
other influential architects including Josep Puig i Cadafalch who designed several local
buildings including Casa Les Punxes.
If you find yourself in Montjuic, you can also consider visiting one of the parks and
botanical gardens found on the hill.
We chose the lesser known Laribal Gardens, and it was a nice little retreat.
The idea for the Miro Foundation came from Miro himself, who wanted to create a space
where young artists could experiment with contemporary art.
Just a few streets down, you'll find the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC for short),
which showcases a mix of church paintings and Catalan art from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Then just down the steps from the museum you'll find the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc.
We made the mistake of visiting in the daytime, but it's at night when it really shines in
a colourful display of lights.
Also, if you're planning to be in Barcelona for a while, you can consider signing up for
their bike sharing system which makes it super easy to get around the city.
Wax museums have popped up all over the world, and in Barcelona's you can pose next to Spanish
celebrities and royalty.
The Palace of Catalan Music is a concert hall where you can catch performances that range
from classical to Catalan song.
Definitely one for the music lovers.
It is kind of hard to believe our time in Barcelona has expired.
So final thoughts.
Well, it was a really fun city to visit.
Great architecture, really nice beaches.
It is very lively especially at night.
The only downfall is that we were here in the middle of summer so it was super hot and
super crowded and sometimes that made it a little bit difficult to enjoy.
Especially at midday or in the mid-afternoon.
So keep that in mind.
Maybe consider visiting in the springtime, fall, winter.
Well, so what did you think of the city?
It is definitely a fun city.
We had a lot of fun going to the beaches.
One thing that is really different about this city compared to some other European cities
though is that it is really spread out.
In order for us to visit all of these different attractions we had to chunk them together
into groups to visit them day by day.
Overall, it was a decent city.
It didn't quite click with me the same way that Madrid did.
But that is just personal preference I suppose.
And that is a wrap for Barcelona!
Our 5 days in the city flew by, and while this guide didn't cover everything, we hope
we were able to give you a feel of what this fun seaside city has to offer.
As always, if you have any suggestions of things to do around town, feel free to add
them in the comments below.
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