What to Do and See in Barcelona

Stay in a Hostel

This was not the first and will not be the last time I stay in a hostel when traveling. Firstly, it is cheap. At around $45 a bed, most hostels make your wallet happy. Also, you will get more out of your experience. Hostels are made for people who are hungry to travel, learn, and experience. They organize outings, cooking nights (Paella cooking night below!), bar crawls and other social activities. Everyone else staying in a hostel is interested in meeting you, connecting with you, and helping you plan out your stay (and help you make plans for your next trip!). Many times, you can find hostels that almost exclusively cater to English-speaking crowds so it is easier to connect with people, ask for suggestions, and ask for that extra bar of soap. Hostel staff members know where to go and how to get there. They can give you all the advice you need. They also will let you access the phone, printers, computers, and more. During my latest trip, my crew and I chose Black Swan Hostel and were not disappointed. 

Drink Espresso

We’re used to getting our big cups of coffee here in America. We want all the froth, milk, and ounces we can get. The Spanish take a more minimalist approach to caffeine. A tiny tea cup holds all you need. Forget your daily habits, and indulge in something more simple for your coffee routine. Drink it more than once a day. Any restaurant or cafe you walk into will have it available. It all seemed to be pretty much the same high quality espresso wherever we went.  Get a cup after your meals. If you order it with your meal, they’ll think you’re crazy! If you are dying for traditional coffee with milk ask for an “Americana con leche.”

Eat Tapas

This is the culinary style Spain is known for. I honestly wish all of my meals were tapas style. The idea is that you get several small plates (like appetizers) and share them all with your table. You get to try new foods without too much commitment. You can try more things. Dinner will take longer, but that’s also the point. Relax, be spontaneous and be brave! We  had an excellent meal at Taller de Tapas. The Sangria was also delicious. (Picture taken from Hungry Chicken. A great food blog!)

Eat a meat you’ve never tried

We ate hake (a type of fish), rabbit, and eggs with dinner, oh my! We were never disappointed when we ordered something unfamiliar to us. It’s better to order what the locals know how to cook best than ask them to cook your own unfamiliar comfort foods. Take a breather. It won’t bite. You will live. And you will be full. We had a fabulous lunch at La Candela outside on the terrace, which was in the middle of a gorgeous neighborhood square.

See Gaudi’s Masterpieces

Artist, architect, and hot head Antoni Gaudi’s  fingerprints and wild mind are all over Barcelona’s homes, parks, and important buildings. He turned Barcelona into his own personal canvas. If you want to get in touch with the city’s history and melt your mind a little bit, get on your feet and see as much as you can. Here is a good list of the greats. I recommend a walking tour. We used Tour Me Out, which was organized through our hostel. The tour guide was a history major, full of energy, and made sure we saw as much as possible in a 3-hour time period. We were able to see Casa Batllo, La Sagrada Familia (still unfinished but the most epic work of art I’ve ever seen), La Pedrera, and Palau Guell.

 Las Ramblas

If you want to do some serious people watching, buy local jewelry and art, and experience street performers, Las Ramblas is where you want to go. At the city’s center, this is the highest concentration of people we saw in once place. It was almost overwhelming, but totally invigorating to be here. If you get overwhelmed, pop into the shops, bars, and restaurants on the sides of the street to recuperate. Beware of pick pockets! This is where they roam. I was very cautious for the entire trip, but this is where they got me. Luckily it was just my debit card and license and NOT my passport. I’ll provide some international travel tips in the next blog post to help you cover your bases here.

Drink

There are a lot of place to do this in Barcelona. I personally recommend ordering gin and tonics, red wine, and sangria. Don’t ask for Fireball, they don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. I cannot explain it, but I have never tasted something more refreshing than the gin and tonics I had in Spain. That is my go-to drink at home, but after my first one in Barcelona, I couldn’t go back to anything else when we were out to eat or bar hopping. We had a great time at The Lime House in Barcelona. That is a wall of gin, people. A WALL OF GIN.  Also, the wine is incredibly cheap. I recommend buying bottles to keep around for your down times and to take home. I’m talking $3 for a decent bottle of red wine. I did not once taste a wine I didn’t like. After about 10 bottles over the vacation, I’d say I know what I’m talking about.

Sail Away

Visit the Port of Barcelona. We found our way their by just walking around by ourselves and seeing where the streets took us. It’s no wonder they all lead to this beautiful port. It is located near Las Ramblas and the city center, so there is also a lot of great people watching, art, and national pride on display. There are many restaurants and bars on the water, as well. I, personally, would come here to chill out. Grab some snacks, sit on a bench and and let an hour of life in Barcelona unfold before you. Take it all in. Get a little sun on your face. Notice how slowly everyone walks. Notice the breeze. Make up stories about who owns all those boats. If you want a little more, take the Barcelona Port Cable Car. I wish we had the time. For only $16, you can take a round-trip ride and view this beautiful, vibrant place from above. You can buy a one-way ticket  for $11 and land yourself at the beach to waste away the afternoon. Siesta, anyone?

What do you think?! 

Have you been to Barcelona recently and have more tips to share?  Have any questions for an upcoming trip?