One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.Henry Miller
We both have sworn allegiance to the queen and were officially British Citizens and one of the biggest perks which comes with being one is – Visa free travel to most parts of the world and primarily Europe. Wanted to plan a big surprise for Amoli and what better than Spain. We headed for Spain for a 10 days’ trip and wanted to begin with a weekend in Barcelona to visit the top attractions in Barcelona including La Sagrada Familia, La Rambla street, Camp Nou and more.
We aren’t much of city lovers but I had heard a lot of the vibes in Barcelona and what better than a weekend in Barcelona taking in the top attractions and get a feel of the city’s heartbeat. So here is a list of the Top attractions in Barcelona
Let’s begin with Day 1 (Saturday)
- Casa Mila (La Pedrera) – Well to start with – Barcelona is an Architecture lover’s dream city – famous for the many works of Antoni Gaudi. There are quite a few of modernist buildings in Barcelona and the highlight among them is the Casa Mila. This is one of Spain’s premier art museums and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Skip Line tickets be booked at the official site online – Click here
- La Rambla Street – Famously known as Las Ramblas, the street is not as such a tourist attraction. I would term this as the human heartbeat of Barcelona – the crowd, the street vendors and the buzzing atmosphere is too much to take in. A pleasant stroll in the evening on the La Rambla is a must do, however be vary of pickpockets in this area.
- Boqueria Market – A little way down the La Rambla street is the city’s oldest market and a foodie heaven – The Boqueria Market. The Vibrant colors, enticing Aromas greet you to the market which sells everything from fruit juices, meats, fish and Spanish specialties like salted cod, manchego cheese etc. A lot of bars and restaurants are also present on the perimeter of the market which offer great choices of food and drinks.
If you are visiting the Boqueria market, please make sure to come with an empty stomach. The market is very crowded and again be careful og your belongings. The market is open Monday to Saturday 8AM – 8:30PM
Relive our Barcelona Weekend :
- Gothic Quarter – Another 10 mins walk from the Boqueria market is Barrio Gotico – the medieval city of Barcelona. Again, this is not an attraction but a walk in the gothic quarter of the city reminded me of a similar walk in Edinburgh’s old town. Beautiful churches, plazas and buildings are dotted around in this part of the city
- La Barcelonate Beach – A further 15 mins walk from the Gothic quarter and we were at the docks of Barcelona lined with some luxurious Yachts and Blanket sellers. Along the docks is Barcelona’s most famous beach on the Mediterranean Sea – The La Barcelonate beach. While the weather wasn’t ideal for a beach day we did spend some time taking the views from waterfront promenade
- Park Guell – Again a UNESCO world heritage site Park Guell is considered one of Gaudi’s most Artistic works and is considered one of Barcelona’s top attractions. Get off at Vallacarca metro station and you can take a short walk and then Escalators up to the Carmel hill where the attractions are located. One of the main tips here is to purchase the tickets online beforehand as with many Barcelona’s attractions the tickets sell off real fast. We hadn’t bought the tickets, so had to be contend with a walk in the park which is worthwhile as well.
- Barcelona Football/Camp Nou – As I said you in the start Spain trip was a surprise for Amoli, but how could I not be a little selfish! It was my boyhood dream to visit Camp Nou and see Barcelona play and I had timed the trip to fall with a home game against Real Sociedad. A visit to Camp Nou and to see Barcelona and specially Messi destroy Real Sociedad to win 2-0 was a dream come true and one more bucket list item off my list.
That was end of Day 1 (Saturday) in Barcelona – A jam packed day where we saw most of Barcelona on foot and metro and enjoyed Messi mania in the evening. A day well spent! So what’s in store for Day 2?
- La Sagrada Familia – The top attraction of Barcelona would be fabulous and still unfinished church of La Sagrada Familia. This unique and breath-taking construction designed by Antoni Gaudi in 1882 is the most visited attraction in Spain and one of world’s top attractions as per TripAdvisor. The interiors of the church are like no other in the world and the natural light through the colored windows lights up the place so beautifully. Do ensure to book the skip line tickets online – Click here
- Montserrat – We had more than half a day left in Barcelona and decided to visit the Montserrat Monastery which is more than an hour outside Barcelona. Monteserrat is a rocky mountain range in Catalonia and translates to Saw mountain. The Train journey offers beautiful views of the Spanish countryside. Located on top of the mountain is the Monastery – Santa Maria de Montserrat. Located inside the monastery is a statue of the of the Virgin of Montserrat, one of the few black Madonna’s of Europe. The views from the monastery are simply breath-taking.
Relive our Barcelona Weekend :
This was a perfect weekend trip to Barcelona. While it was too occupied it gave us an in-depth insight into this beautiful city. Please leave a comment below with any feedback or queries and I’ll get back to you at the earliest.
This is Aldrin and my partner Amoli. We bring you "Earths Pilgrim" - a unique insight into our travel escapades while leaving life in a cubicle. If you are looking for some inspiration to break the shackles of a regular life, then you are the right place. Read more about us- Click here.