Barcelona – The City That Never Sleeps

Barcelona is a city full of culture and beautiful people. Home to artistic legends such as Gaudí and Salvador Dalí. The best spots for sangria, tapas, fútbol and more can be found here. If you are a foodie or enjoy extravagant art and good vino this city is for you! Indulge all of your senses in the unique, historical city of Barca.

The Basics

• Language – Spanish, Catalan, English
• Currency – The Euro. Most businesses accepted credit and debit cards.
• Transportation – Walking, Metro, Uber, Taxi
• Must-see – Las Ramblas, Gothic Quarter, La Sagrada Familia, Passeig de Gracia, Plaça de Catalunya, Casa Batlló, Park Guëll, Camp Nou
• Accommodation
  • Hostal BCN Port, $ (2-star), Av. del Paraŀlel
    • Budget-friendly hostel with solo room options
    • Basic, yet quaint
    • Walking distance to La Ramblas
  • Hotel Concordia Barcelona $$ (4-star), El Poble Sec
    
    • 15 min walk to Las Ramblas
      
    • Quick Uber/Metro to major tourist destinations
  • W Hotel $$$ (5-star), Plaça Rosa del Vents
    • Iconic waterfront hotel located by Barcelona’s beach
    • Glamorous design that fits in with the city’s unique architecture
    • Expect to pay big bucks for these amazing views
• Food & Beverage
  
  • Mil Grito’s Taberna – tapas, sangria, cocktails
    
    • Try the patatas bravas!
      
  • Enjoy sangrias on Las Ramblas
    
  • Tapas in the Gothic Quarter
    
  • We recommend not eating on Las Ramblas. The food is overpriced and not the greatest quality. This is a very touristy spot.
• Night life – Club Opium $$$
  
  • Located right on Barcelona’s famous beach boardwalk
    
  • Exclusive crowd and big name artists are often present
    
  • Sip on a refreshing mojito while people watching

Be sure to walk around the iconic La Rambla. The street is lined with gorgeous green trees and extends 1.2 km into Plaça de Catalunya. La Rambla separate the Gothic Quarter from El Raval. The street is filled with cafes, markets and restaurants. Enjoy the street performers as you stroll towards the city center. Be careful for pickpocketing in this heavily populated tourist location.

La Sagrada Familía, an extravagant cathedral designed by the renowned Antoni Gaudí and the most visited monument in all of Spain. This work of art has been under construction since 1882 is expected to be completed in 2026. Gaudí worked on the Basilica until the day he died. He thought the city would be known for the church. Some say the Sagrada Família represents Catalonia and the unachievable separation from Barcelona. The intricate details of the masterpiece is enlightening. Not one piece was designed without purpose. Gaudí had a vision for every inch of the space and even left room for future architects to add their own taste. He incorporates religious and historical stories within the design. You do not want to skip this tour on your visit to Barcelona. We recommend investing in the audible tour guide, so you can really appreciate the magnificent work. You can purchase entry tickets in advance and download the app (Sagrada Familia – Barcelona $2.99) to listen to a more in depth audio tour. Be sure to bring headphones!     

 Fun Fact: La Sagrada Família has taken longer to build than the Egyptian pyramids!

• 

• 

Camp Nou is home to the Futbol Club Barcelona. It is the largest stadium in Europe and home to futbol icons such as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez play here. If you are visiting when they have a home game (Find there schedule here), we highly recommend grabbing a ticket and witnessing the lively atmosphere in person! There is nothing like going to an international futbol game. The crowd is vibrant and cheering the whole game. They even have a group of singers that wave banners and sing the team’s anthem through out the game. If you have the opportunity to witness El Clásico (rival matchup between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid), don’t miss that game!

Plaça de Catalunya, which translates to “Catalonia Square”, is considered the city center of Barcelona. This square is where the famous La Rambla and Passeig de Gracia ends, as well as a couple others. Here you will find luxury brand shops, fountains and statues. Oh..and lots of pigeons! Expect crowds of people and hagglers selling selfie sticks in this big tourist area.