Barcelona in Six Days!
- Debbie Rogers
- Jun 30, 2024
- 7 min read
Over the last few years, I have seen an increased number of friends and acquaintances in my circle visiting Barcelona. Pictures of the architecture, vibrancy, and food enthralled me and went to the top of my list for my own “spring break”!
Tips and Hints:
(Scroll all the way down for pics!)
Best time to visit- Anytime! Keep in mind though that summer is extremely hot and crowded, like a lot of places in Europe.
Direct flights are available from the East Coast
There are various options to get to the City Center from the airport including cheap options of the bus and train. However, since this may not be the easiest with luggage, you can also take a taxi. A taxi is approximately 40-45 euros depending on where you are going. Make sure you only get a taxi from the official taxi line at the airport.
There are many neighborhoods you can stay in depending on what vibe you are looking for Gothic, Exiample, Barceloneta and Gràcia,
Book tickets for La Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell at least 2 weeks in advance
Barcelona is a walkable city, but there is also a wide network of both bus and metro for public transportation.
Be aware of your surroundings and of pickpockets and scammers as in most large cities
The food is amazing, but you might be disappointed in the paella! (depending on where you are visiting from)
Vermouth and different types of vermouth is a popular drink!
You will meet many transplants from all over Europe who now call Barcelona their home!
Things I missed:
Visiting more of the markets:
Mercat de la Boquería. Mercat de la Boquería, known locally as La Boquería, is arguably the biggest and best market in Barcelona. (this is the only one I got to visit)
Mercat de Sant Antoni.
Mercat de la Concepcio.
Mercadillo De La Plaça De Sant Joseph
Fira De Santa Llucia
Mercat Del Encants.
Mercat de Santa Caterina
Mercat de Sant Andreu.
Barceloneta, the city's most famous (and traditional) beach. It's named after the seafaring neighborhood par excellence, built during the 18th century by Barcelonans expelled from La Ribera in 1714.
Parc de Montjuïc
Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar
Day 1
I try not to schedule any paid timed activities on arrival day. Flight delays, tiredness, etc. cause unnecessary stress. However, I do walk around to fight off jet lag or join “free walking tours”.
I arrived on Good Friday, which is a big Holiday in Barcelona so be prepared. Shops and restaurants might be closed, or close early. After getting to my hotel, in Eixample, I got an early check-in, showered, and ventured out.
I had a 3 pm “free walking tour” of the Gothic Quarter which was great to both keep me awake and get me acclimated to one of the most popular neighborhoods. After the tour, I headed to Las Ramblas but noticed that several streets were closed due to the Good Friday procession. After watching these local traditions for a bit, I walked back to my hotel and got a bite and of course sangria at a nearby bar before I turned in for the night.
Day 2-La Sagrada Familia
I have realized It is hard for me to get great pictures traveling solo, so I look into local photographers and get photo shoots done. I tend to do it in the morning for the best light and less crowds (hopefully). I went back to the Gothic quarter by the Cathedral since that neighborhood tends to have the best little streets, history, and character.
I had booked tickets in advance for Barcelona’s most famous attraction La Sagrada Familia for around noon. Make sure you book this in advance as it's next to impossible to get tickets on the day of unless you get really lucky. This area is extremely busy and lively, so also watch out for pickpockets.
If you are an art and architecture lover, La Sagrada Familia is amazing! The sunlight streaming in casting amazing light from the stained glass as well as the outdoor and indoor sculpturing is a sight to behold. The front and back were designed by 2 different sculptors, and this is very apparent in the different styles.
La Sagrada has been under construction for a while and continues to be so for the foreseeable future, but it’s still worth the visit. Note: I did not visit the towers. One of the towers is currently not open, and between the cramped and treacherous walk down it was something I chose to skip.
I stopped by a local restaurant for a quick lunch and then returned to my hotel for a siesta before my evening activities.
I was looking forward to my Saturday evening “tapas bar crawl experience.” I purposely chose a different neighborhood (Poble Sec) that would give me yet another area to learn and explore. It was a 4-stop tour with all the local delicacies and drink options ranging from non-alcoholic, to beer, wine, and vermouth! The last one was a surprise since I had no idea there were so many diverse types and that it was so popular in Barcelona! That was my drink at all four of the locations!
Day 3-Casa Batlló
I had booked tickets to Casa Batlló in the morning. It was not too far from my hotel, so I chose to walk. After the tour, I sat on the rooftop terrace which has some amazing sculptures, and enjoyed a croissant and beverage. Note: they do not serve coffee or any type of warm beverage at the café.
It was a grey and rainy day, so I chose to stay close to the hotel for lunch. I had booked dinner and a flamenco show in the evening because let’s face it unless you are going to the south of Spain next, you want to see a Flamenco show in Barcelona. Dinner was buffet style and delicious and you had about an hour to enjoy before the show. The show was both interesting and amazing and about an hour long. No photography or videos are allowed until the end.
Day 4-Montserrat
Monday I took a day trip to Montserrat. It’s doable by train from Barcelona, but I opted for an early morning tour which meant my pick-up was at 6:10! Our tour guide was awesome & I highly recommend him. I got there for a spectacular sunrise & no people.
Besides the amazing views, Montserrat is famous for:
The Black Madonna- oxidized over the years from the candles & finally painted black. ( no pics since they weren't allowed). You can see her through the window above the altar in the church as well. However, there is a completely separate entrance for the visit.
The boy's choir - school was closed this week, so we missed this.
The singing of the monks-we got to hear them at the early service.
You can hike or take the funicular to the top for a fee. There are many more hiking trails up there as well.
Additionally, there is a museum & local vendors with local cheeses, honey & meats to sample & buy!
For the evening, I booked another Gaudi experience to visit, La Pedrera (Casa Milà). You enter a beautiful courtyard & then either take an elevator up to the 6th floor or walk if you don’t want to wait. I walked up & it felt like 12 floors 🤣.
Your visit is to the tenant's apartments. I didn’t take too many pics here since they were just a setup of everyday life. The attic & rooftop are where you want to be.
The attic built from the inspiration of a whale structure is where you understand Gaudi’s inspiration & also get to see many models of his work. He was very influenced by nature & the curved lines of his work are inspired by the curved lines in animals & nature.
The rooftop similar to Casa Batlló has many amazing pieces. Some are similar to Casa Batlló .
Day 5-Exploring
Palau de la Música Catalana-It’s the only concert venue in this style to be designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
It was designed by architect Luis Dominech Montaner & is privately owned. Once again, I did a guided tour & it was very informative. Many famous artists & conductors have had the privilege of performing here. It’s truly a beautiful building to behold.
I spent the afternoon exploring the Gothic Quarter, including a trip to the hotel rooftop bar at Hotel Colon (very popular), followed by a visit to the Cathedral. It’s a stunning cathedral, of course Gothic, built between the 13th and 15th centuries.
After the cathedral, you get a chance to go to the cloisters. One of the unique things you will see is 13 geese! That’s the age Eulalia died who was then martyred. This church is dedicated to her.
Day 6-Parc Guell
On my last day I visited Parc Guell. Another Gaudi marvel, but not finished by him. This is not in the main section of Barcelona, so make sure to plan your trip accordingly and buy tickets in advance. Also, it gets very, very busy with bus loads of tourists all rushing & vying to get their pictures so make sure you line up in advance of the 9:30 am entrance time, or you can try towards the end of the day.
Tip- if you are with a guide, they let you in through a separate line, but still get there early.
After Parc Güell I visited Hospital Pau. This is no longer a functioning hospital, but at one point it was. The architect & designer is the same as the Palau de Musica. Louis Montagner. It was declared a world heritage site in 1997.
While not all the buildings were open, (probably had access to maybe 3), the architecture from the outside itself is stunning. There’s also a great view of the Sagrada Família which is only about a 15-minute walk from there. It's a great stop if you have the time.
All this walking made me hungry, and I stopped at La Boqueria for lunch. La Boqueria is a famous market located in El Raval with an entrance to the market from La Rambla. It’s the equivalent of a huge farmers market and provides a wide variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, sweets as well as meat, fish, cheese, and dairy. However, even if you're not looking to buy anything at the market it is well worth a visit just to soak up the atmosphere and the explosion of colors from the fresh fruits in the stalls. It’s a not-to-be-missed stop for cheap eats. However, there are very few places with seats. You will see most people outside either standing and eating, or on the curb eating their delicious food!
Day 7
Sadly, it was time to leave Barcelona after an amazing trip!
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