Itinerary: Two Days in Barcelona, Spain

We did lots of leg exercises during our walking tour in Madrid, Spain, in the past few days. We saw a unique blend of old-fashioned traditions and hipster culture, and although we loved Madrid, we had to move on to our next destination, Barcelona.

Barcelona is the capital city of Catalonia. It is Spain’s second-most populous city. I have heard and read about Barcelona several times in the past, and although I was really looking forward to exploring more of Spain, a part of me missed Madrid. Nevertheless, when I got to Barcelona, I was in for a fun tour reminding me that each part of Spain was unique, beautiful, and unforgettable.

Day One: Arrival in Barcelona

I left my heart in Madrid via a two-and-a-half-hour train ride to Barcelona. It was such a comfortable train ride that I forgot we had already left Madrid. How I wish the Philippines had a train system as efficient as this!

When we arrived in Barcelona, that was the only time I realized we had already left the Spanish Capital. I was in Barcelona, and it was, once again, a whole new adventure for me. We checked into our official accommodation for one night, Hotel del Mar (hotel info)(which translates to “Hotel by the Sea”).

While my other companions went to their respective hotel rooms, I waited for Monette, a good friend of mine who flew from Switzerland to Barcelona just to meet me in Spain.

Monette and I had a very long catching-up conversation and did not notice the time. Before I knew it, Maria Martinez, our English-speaking tour guide, was already in the hotel lobby. Since Monette did not have any specific plans for that day, I offered to have her join us on our tour. I asked Maria for permission, and she gave the nod and a gentle smile. And with that, our walking tour began.

Our first stop was in the El Born District, an area with walkways lined with cafes, bars, and various shops that all seemed fashionable and interesting on their own. Amongst the shops were galleries, such as the Textile Museum, which also had a café. Visiting at least one shop wasn’t on our schedule, but walking the streets, with bustling shops and tree-lined walkways, was very relaxing and enjoyable.

Next to the El Born District was La Ribera, where our next destination, the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar, was located. The basilica was completed in 1383 and continues to overlook La Ribera today. The massive door of the church is decorated with figures that show how the church was constructed centuries ago.

The church’s façade is grandiose, but its interior has more impressive displays. It has dome ceilings and high stained-glass windows. The windows, struck by sunlight from outside, illuminated the church’s interior with their various colors.

While on our way to the next place on our itinerary, our tour guide, Maria, reminded us to take extra care of our belongings while touring the streets, especially in La Rambla, Barcelona’s famous, tree-lined pedestrian shopping street. As someone from Manila, I understood what Maria was trying to say, and, of course, I knew well enough how to avoid perpetrators of that sort. Unfortunately, Barcelona had the problem of pickpockets (I guess all cities do), but we did not let that issue affect our enjoyment of the walking tour. After all, we were headed next to Viana Restaurant for lunch.

Viana had a very clean and chill atmosphere. It was mildly busy when we got there, but we enjoyed our meal. We had some of their highlight pintxos, drinks, and desserts.

Our last stop for the day was the Catedral de la Santa Creu y Santa Eulalia, commonly known as Barcelona Cathedral. The church was built between the 13th and 15th centuries and is the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona.

The church has towering spires that contrast sharply with the afternoon sky. I could also see the gargoyle statues on its roof from afar.

Since the church was not opening for another 30 minutes, we decided to drop by the street bazaar across from the cathedral. The vendors sold various items, including old books, jewelry, and antique-looking pieces like gemstone rosaries. Crowds of locals started to gather when the church finally opened.

The church’s interior was mostly bathed in golden hues, probably because of the orange afternoon light outside. The chatter of our group, as well as of the other people who visited the church, reverberated.

Before returning to Hotel del Mar to retire for the day, we took our time to visit some souvenir shops and a few snack bars along the way. I’m so glad I could travel again with my friend Monette, who, although she went to Barcelona without many plans, still enjoyed herself.

Day Two

We started our second day in Barcelona earlier than the first. If our tour on the first day focused on the local way of life, our second featured more of Barcelona’s artistic and architectural culture.

Our first destination was the L’Eixample District, known for its artistic, modernist buildings. Walking through the district was very refreshing. It had a clean, grid-type city planning, which reminded me of Sapporo. However, what is unique about this district is its octagonal blocks. Although it is not immediately apparent at street level, an aerial view of L’Eixample reveals the district’s highly organized, clean urban planning.

Around the corner was Casa Batlló, a very artistic building that stands out among the buildings on its block. Casa Batlló is a house built in 1877 and purchased by the Batlló family a few years later.

From afar, the building looks like the back of a scaly dragon and is very eccentric compared to its very traditional neighbors. This building was artistically transformed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí, whose Obra Maestra we were also set to visit afterward.

Casa Batlló’s interiors were equally as stunning. This is one of the few former residential buildings with intricate stained-glass windows I have ever seen. In fact, it was one of the most colorful houses I have ever seen! The furnishings were bizarre, the roof was colorful, and almost every corner was decorated.

After the colorful attack on our eyes, we headed out for La Sagrada Familia, one of the world’s most monumental unfinished churches. Like Casa Batlló, La Sagrada Familia was partly constructed under Gaudí’s direction, who unfortunately passed away before the church was completed.

We shrank as we neared the church grounds. La Sagrada Familia was colossal, and we felt like tiny ants walking near it. Its construction began in 1882 and is still ongoing. The church exterior was grandiose and intricate, and I couldn’t wait to explore its interiors by 2026, the year the church is expected to be finally completed and the same year that marks Gaudí’s 100th death anniversary.

An interesting thing about La Sagrada Familia is that its construction is funded solely by the entrance fee and private donations. It is amazing that such an iconic church is run only by dedicated individuals worldwide.

The Basilica was our last stop for the day, and when we left as a group, I breathed in as much Barcelonan air as I could. With that, our stay in Barcelona was about to end. We headed back to our hotel afterward to pick up our bags, then went to the train station for our trip to Logroño. More stories coming up!

This 12-day street photography tour of Spain was a sponsored trip organized by the Spain Tourism Board. We would like to thank Barcelona Turisme for providing us with press passes to some of the most important tourist destinations in the city. I would also like to thank Maria, our English tour guide for Barcelona, for giving us such a fun and informative two-day tour.

To know more about Barcelona, check out VisitBarcelona.com. Follow them as well on their official Facebook page (facebook.com/VisitBarcelona), Twitter (@VisitBCN_EN), and Instagram (@visitBarcelona) for more updates.

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This Spain Street Photography and Food Tour was made possible by Spain Tourism Board, Turkish Airlines, Madrid Tourism, Visit Barcelona, La Rioja Tourism, Donostia San Sebastian Tourism, Convention Bureau, and Turismo Bilbao.

Read:

• Top 15 Best Things To Do In Barcelona, Spain
• Europe Visita Iglesia #6: Basilica De La Sagrada Familia In Barcelona, Spain
• What To Do In Barcelona
• Beautiful Barcelona