Barcelona is a city full of life. The architecture ranges from vibrant colors to detailed designs, the people are nice, and the food is filled with flavor. With walking tours of the city, museums, and an exciting nightlife right on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona left a great impression on me as I’m sure it will do for you!
The city is always sunny and everyone is dressed like summer never ends! There are food trucks everywhere, ranging from meals to Spain’s finest fresh fruit. And, of course, Sangria is a must whilst in Barcelona. So, with an endless choice of options, where do you start planning your trip? Here’s a list of the five things to do in Barcelona that you cannot miss on your first visit!
1) THE CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY CROSS AND SAINT EULALIA
Located in Gothic Square this Cathedral, also known as Barcelona Cathedral, is one of the best pieces of Gothic architecture I have ever seen. The inside has two floors and tall ceilings, with the grave of Saint Eulalia, who died at the age of 13 for protecting her religion. The large open ceilings and organ give this church major Phantom of the Opera feel to it. The inside has a peculiar dark color with a mixture of red, brown, and black. Aim to visit on a Sunday to get the full experience of the Cathedral.
2) PARK GÜELL
This is the famous park where everyone sits on a colourful bench to overlook the city. This park is located at the top of Barcelona but, if you’re not a fan of walking uphill, there is a city bus you can take instead. The park is smaller than you think, but it is the most colourful park I have seen in my life. (Warning: Since it is a small tourist attraction, it can get very busy!)
The art there is made of glass that represents nature. For example, there is one statue that looks like an Iguana, and a tunnel that looks like trees. There are also buildings that look like small houses. The houses have small pieces of glass with different colors that look texturized. The view on top of the park is beautiful; you can see the entire city. This one is definitely worth ticking off your bucket list!
3) CASA BATLLTO
I’m sure you have seen pictures of this beautiful building, the bright colors and creative architecture is hard to miss. It is located in the middle of Barcelona. The building is in between two average ones, which makes the colours stand out even more. Casa Batllo is the work of the famous architect’s, Antoni Gaudi. It is supposed to resemble the legend of St. George, whose story is famous for slaying a dragon to save the princess. The top of the building resembles a dragon with its scaly look and different colors. I personally did not go inside, but there are tickets to those who would like to go.
4) LA SAGRADA FAMILIA
This is a must see in Barcelona, and it’s another great work from Antoni Gaudi. The church has been under construction for over a 100 years. Why? Because the only client is God. When you first walk in, the main floor has open tall ceilings with stain glass windows everywhere you look. If you go in the church at the right time, the entire walkway is filled with colors from the windows.
The entire church has a lot of detail inside and out. On the outside, there are statues of the crucifixion of Jesus and other statues to resemble stories from the bible. If you are not scared of heights, you have the option of going up one of the towers. The only trouble is you can take an elevator up but you have to walk down a spiraling staircase to the main floor (if you are claustrophobic, I do not recommend going up the towers). It’s different from any church I’ve ever been too, which makes it so unique. There is a museum downstairs dedicated to the life and work of Antoni Gaudi, but this is only included with a certain type of ticket.
5) CLUBS ON BARCELONA BEACH – OPIUM CLUB
I can’t forget the nightlife in Barcelona! In my opinion, Barcelona has the best nightlife out of any city I’ve ever been to. The club I went to was called Opium. It’s a huge club connected to a strip of clubs along the beach and was packed with people. The drinks are a little pricey but that is expected when you are in a city. When you walk out of the club, you are looking directly at the beach. It’s fun to cool off and dip your toes in the water while talking to friends. I felt like I was in a movie the whole time!
Barcelona feels like a whole different universe. The colorful and gothic architecture brings you back in time to the history of the city. The churches give you a different perspective on how Christianity is represented in another part of the world. You can even see an entire view of the city from the famous Park Guell. Last but not least, the nightlife will have you dancing until sunrise. Don’t forget to try Paella and Sangria while you are there!
It’s another city that is packed with adventure. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Have you been to Barcelona? If you have any additional tips for our readers or questions please leave these in the comments below.
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We Are Travel Girls Contributor Josi Tiffany
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