Overview:

Spain has been on my bucket list for the longest time! It makes a great destination for couples, families, and friends. Depending on how you spend your time, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Barcelona exceeded my expectations! My only regret is not being able to attend a futbol game. If you’re hoping to dive into the European futbol scene the typical season games usually fall between August-May. For me, this is an excuse for us to come back to Spain! Don’t forget to pack swimsuits and good walking shoes! The Mediterranean waters are worth the dip. 😉

Languages: The official language is Spanish although, in Barcelona many people also speak Catalan (which is very similar to Spanish). If you learn some Catalan words you’ll be sure to impress the locals! English is also widely spoken so we had no trouble getting by.
Weather: The weather in Barcelona is relatively mild. May-June is a great time to visit Barcelona due to the weather being warm and sunny but not too hot. Shoulder season tends to fall in September and is a great time to escape the summer crowds.
Currency: The official currency of Spain is the Euro. Most restaurants, businesses, and tourist shops will accept credit cards. You can purchase tickets for public transportation in metro stations as well as when you board busses. Cash may be needed for small, local establishments.
Transportation: Barcelona has a good variety of public transportation options including transportation to and from the airport to the city center, metro stations, high-speed railways, busses, and more. It is also a fairly walkable city. You’ll see many people biking and walking about.

Getting There:

Getting to Barcelona is fairly easy. We took a direct flight from JFK to BCN and arrived around 11:30am leaving us almost a full day to explore. There are two main ways to travel into the city. By train or by bus. We used both. On the way there, we navigated our way towards the signs leading towards metro/airport train. The Aeropuerto train was around 5 euros per person. We took the train to Estacio De Passeig De Gracia where we switched to the L3 metro line to get to our accommodation in the Gothic Quarter. I find that the Rome2Rio app and Apple Maps are my friend when navigating!

On the way home, we decided to try the alternative route on the bus to the airport. We boarded the terminal 2 bus at Pl. Catalunya-Fontella bus station and bought tickets with our credit cards upon boarding. Tickets were around 7 euros per person but gave a direct and relaxing trip directly to the airport.

Note: There are several metro tickets you can purchase at ticket booths in the metro station. Single tickets are a great option if you don’t plan to use the metro often. We used the T-Casual 10-journey ticket valid for 10 trips on the metro at a discounted price compared to single fare tickets. We used about all of our rides so it was perfect. Don’t be confused by the “zones” option when purchasing tickets. Most the city of Barcelona is considered to be zone 1. If you’ll be traveling there for many days, a multi-day ticket may be beneficial.

Where We Stayed:

Knowing we weren’t going to be spending too much time at our Airbnb, we opted for cheap and budget friendly! There were tons of last minute accommodations available. However, there were very few that contained private bathrooms or didn’t have shared spaces. We found a great Airbnb in the Gothic Quarter with a private bathroom. The room itself was nothing fancy, but was great for the price. The Gothic Quarter was the perfect location to stay. It was walkable to most everything and close to all public transportation. Not to mention, the streets are just charming!!!

What We Did:

Gothic Quarter:

– Walk down La Rambla: La Rambla is a tree lined walkway in the Gothic Quarter. It’s a great place to take a stroll! Note* I recommend not eating anything along the La Rambla as it’s more of a tourist trap and not authentic.

-La Boquería: This market (closed on Sundays) is a great place that will surely warm up your taste buds! It’s an awesome place to try local foods and grab a bite to eat.

-Explore Gothic Quarter Streets: These medieval streets are so fun to wander around and get lost. History along every corner!

-Barcelona Cathedral: A gothic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona. Beautiful cathedral started in the 13th century.

-Columbus Monument: Cool monument to see. Was constructed in 1888 as a reminder of Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the Americas.

-Palau de La Música Catalana: An incredible concert hall that is also a UNESCO world heritage site. The stained glass, mosaics, and architectural details are incredible.

Outside Gothic Quarter:

-Casa Batlló/ Casa Milà: Designed by Antoni Gaudí. Some of the most photographed buildings in Barcelona.

– Arc de Triomf & Ciutadella Parc: Beautiful park! Fun fact: this was one of the only green spaces in the city in the mid 19th century!

-La Sagrada Familia: Probably the most famous attraction in Barcelona! Definitely buy tickets in advance!!! The inside is like no other church with the stain glass windows portraying different colors at different times of day. Incredible. It’s been under construction for over 100 years and was Gaudi’s last project he oversaw before his death.

-National Art Museum: This amazing museum is worth the visit! It’s located on Montjuic Hill overlooking the city with gorgeous views. Popular for its magic fountains that put on a light show. We weren’t able to see the fountains due to drought warnings.

-Parc Güell: Another Gaudi designed project. This park is vast! So many picturesque nooks and crannies. This is where you’ll get the classic “postcard view” of Barcelona. Tickets are required and I recommend purchasing tickets in advance as it’s a popular tourist attraction. There is a train that takes you directly from the Gothic Quarter to Parc Güell. Sunset is a great time to see the Park!

Note: Parc Güell is located on a MASSIVE HILL (one of the reasons the views are so good). It is quite the trek from the metro stop to the top of the hill. The city is building escalators for the way up, but they were not completed as of the writing of this post. Keep in mind it is STEEP! Think San Francisco x2.

– Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: One of the most INCREDIBLE places we visited! This church is worth the commute! Take the L3 (from Gothic Quarter) to Catalunya Metro Stop. Transfer to the S1 or S2 metro to Peu Del Funicular. Take the Funicular to Vallvidrera Superior. Then follow the people to the bus stop right outside and take bus 111 to Pl Tibidabo. It sounds crazy but was actually fairly easy to navigate. There are also alternate routes including driving, taxi ride, or L3 to Penitents station + a 40 minute walk. There is an amusement park at the top that is fun for families. Don’t forget to grab homemade ice cream from the cutest owners at the bus stop!

Beach: Take an easy beach day at one of the many beaches near Barceloneta.

Day Trips:

Abadia de Montserrat: This monastery and abbey hidden in the mountains is a must see while in Barcelona. About 1hr from the city, this monastery is breathtaking! Built in the 11th century and home to the image of Our Lady of Montserrat, popularly known as La Moreneta, (the Dark One). You may have heard of the island of Montserrat… well Columbus named the island after this area!

How to get there: Take the L3 from the Gothic Quarter towards Zona Universiteria to Espanya station. Once there, you can purchase R5 train tickets in addition to cable car tickets to Montserrat. There is a large Montserrat Booth at this station that will help guide you. Once you buy your tickets, take the R5 train towards Manresa-Baixador and depart at Montserrat- Aeri station. Here, you will see a line to enter for the cable car. It’s worth the view!

Costa Brava: We decided a trip to Tossa de Mar would be right up our alley. And THANK GOODNESS WE DID. One of the most beautiful places we have ever been. The coast is incredible. Explore the beautiful village streets, the castle and lighthouse, Villa Vella (old town), spend time shopping, and basking on the beach. If you’re up for a scenic adventure, hike the Cami de Ronda trail towards the north where you’ll pass several private coves that will take your breath away. We spent most of our time swimming and enjoying the less crowded beaches here. It was only about 1 mile to the first cove.

Pro Tip: If you are traveling with the beach at top of mind, I recommend spending 2-3 days here or along Costa Brava. We truly wish we had spent a night or two in Tossa de Mar. You can buy bus tickets in advance (I highly recommend doing this) to make the most out of your day.

How to get there: Start at Barcelona Nord Station (near Arc de Triomf). You can buy Tossa de Mar tickets here as well. You can board your designated bus that will take you directly to Tossa de Mar in about 1hr 20 minutes.

What We Ate:

Spain is a culinary treat for food enthusiasts! Most restaurants are also considerably affordable. However, it can be challenging to avoid tourist traps. A general rule of thumb is to avoid La Rambla for all dining experiences entirely. The further you venture from La Rambla, typically, the better the food.

To try authentic Spanish food try paella, jamon iberico, croqueta, patatas bravas, esqueixada, and the local cheeses.

Some restaurants we particularly liked include pizzeria de Nanni, 365 Bakery, local empanadas restaurants (including La Fabrica), Chocolat-box (for churros and gelato), El Tio Che (for the yummiest horchata), Uaala! Gelateria (near Mont Tibidabo), and Hotel Diana in Tossa de Mar (for amazing patatas bravas).