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Things To Do When Visiting Barcelona
The city of Barcelona is the capital of the community of Catalonia in Spain, and is the country’s second-largest metropolitan area. In addition to being one of Europe’s most significant economic, financial, and cultural hubs, Barcelona is a popular destination for tourists worldwide.
Antique pastry shop on Ramblas Street, Barcelona
Barcelona was founded as a Roman city in the European Middle Ages and, over the next thousand years, endured several sieges, wars, power struggles, and leadership changes, while also attracting immigrants from around the world. As a result, the city has evolved into an abundant and multilayered center of a diverse heritage, and is the cradle of a genuinely unique saga in European history.
Also See: Where to Stay in Barcelona, Spain
As is common among Mediterranean cities, Barcelona cultivates an air of welcome that is dynamic yet refined. The city offers the perfect mix of modern vibrancy and a dignified legacy of Spanish and Catalan heritage.
Beautiful sightseeing, temperate weather, and a rich cultural mosaic make this sumptuous Spanish jewel a city to enjoy to one’s fullest. If you’re planning a trip to Barcelona in the near future, here are five recommendations on what you absolutely don’t want to miss while you’re there:
1. Visit Barcelona’s churches.
The many religious structures and cathedrals of Barcelona are a significant draw for spiritual folk and art lovers alike. Barcelona is famous for its iconic modernist and Gothic architecture, and nowhere is the breathtaking art of Spain more beautifully showcased than in its churches.
Perhaps the most famous church in Barcelona, La Seu, is a majestic, soaring cathedral that overlooks the entire Gothic Quarter. Another is La Sagrada Familia, a strikingly creative brainchild of the renowned Spanish architect Gaudí, filled top to bottom with art and statuary that range from divine to disturbing. Finally, Sant Pau del Camp is one of Barcelona’s oldest churches, dating back to medieval times and standing as a striking example of Spanish Romanesque design.
2. Browse the boutiques for the latest fashions.
Barcelona is one of the fastest-growing fashion centers of Europe, quickly catching up with Paris and Milan, and recently boasting its own Fashion Week. In particular, the Raval and Borne areas of downtown Barcelona are home to a growing number of cutting-edge designers and boutique shops.
In fact, the sheer number of unique, one-off designer shops may be one of the strongest distinguishing features of Barcelona among other European cosmopolitan cities. While window-shopping in a trendy urban area of Barcelona, you may find colorful tunic tops, high-quality handmade leather goods, designer jeans, the latest upcoming shoe styles, and everything in between.
3. Eat, drink, and be merry.
The food scene in Barcelona is quite unique to the area, as the culture largely follows a Mediterranean-type diet rich in fish, legumes, and vegetables seasoned with olive oil. In contrast to the tapas bars that feature prominently across the rest of Spain, most people in Catalonia snack on meat-and-cheese plates known as raciones.
Lunch is the most essential meal in Barcelona and is colloquially known as menú del día, literally “meal of the day”. A traditional lunch typically includes three or four courses: soup and salad, grilled meat and fish, a side of fresh bread, and a light dessert of fruit and yogurt. Some classic Catalan dishes you’ll want to try include botifarras (a local sausage variety, crème brulee, and the essential Barcelona snack, pa amb tomàquet (a rough bread topped with olive oil and tomatoes and served with cold cuts).
4. Soak in the Mediterranean Sea.
The city of Barcelona sits on the beautiful Mediterranean coast and boasts exquisite beaches of golden sand and warm, shallow waters, perfect for a day in the sun. All of Barcelona’s beaches are easily reached by bicycle or by public transportation, and they offer a comfortable array of amenities from quaint eateries and tranquil terraces to sailing tours and water sports.
Beaches are open to the public and generally even offer Wi-Fi, so you can lie back and watch Netflix as you sunbathe. St. Sebastia and St. Miquel are two of Barcelona’s oldest and most traditional beaches, and are a perfect destination if you’re looking to soak up some sunshine.
5. Explore the city’s rich art heritage.
Barcelona is home to some of history’s greatest painters, sculptors, and architects. The works of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and the architect Antoni Gaudí are an essential part of Barcelona’s culture, and their pieces can be found throughout the city. Museo Picasso showcases the paintings of Picasso, and the Joan Miro Foundation museum in the Gothic quarter houses over 14,000 Miro paintings, sculptures, and sketches – a day’s worth of sightseeing for any art enthusiast.
If museums aren’t your thing, take a stroll down La Rambla, Barcelona’s main pedestrian thoroughfare, which offers a wide array of statues, mosaics, medieval architecture, and picturesque cafes.
Barcelona Travel Tour Packages You Should Try
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Read:
- Brilliant Streets and Genius Architecture: Two Days in Barcelona, Spain
- Top 15 Best Things To Do In Barcelona, Spain
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