Barcelona is in the Catalonia region of Spain. Catalan and Spanish are the two official languages but many people understand and speak English. Barcelona is a tourists as well as a gastronomer's delight.
Best time to visit: Early summer and fall (May - June and September - October are the best). Catalan and Spanish are the two official languages but many people understand and speak English. Barcelona is a tourists as well as a gastronomer's delight.
Begin the day with a visit to the famous Sagrada Familia.
Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia is the most iconic structure of Barcelona. Designed by Antoni Gaudi, the famous Catalonian architect, the construction of the Sagrada Familia was started is 1882 and even after 135 years, it is still under construction with about 70% of the structure complete. It is one of the world’s most famous living architecture.
The Sagrada Familia was started in Gothic style but Antoni Gaudi later changed it to a new style inspired by nature in which colour and light played vital roles. It is this new style that makes the Sagrada Familia very unique.
The Sagrada Familia (Basilica and Expiatory church of the Holy Family) has aisles arranged around central naves forming a Latin cross. The basilica has three facades, each representing one of the three crucial phases in the life of Christ - the Nativity façade representing the birth of Christ, the Passion façade representing Christs Passion, Death and Resurrection and the Glory façade representing the celestial future glory of Jesus.
In 2005, the Nativity façade and the crypt of the Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Família were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage.
The Sagrada Familia is a must see in Barcelona.
There are usually long queues. So it is best to book your ticket online here , before you go. You can book your ticket for entry to the basilica as well as to go up the tower. When we visited, the tower was accessible by lift but we had to take the staircase on our way down.
Also, we suggest you take a guided tour either with a specialist guide or with an audio guide to better understand Gaudi's masterpiece.
Have lunch at the many restaurants near Sagrada Familia serving the famous Paella.
Park Guell
Park Guell is one of the most impressive parks in the world. Situated on Carmel hill in Barcelona, this is truly Gaudi at his best. The park was built between 1900 and 1914 and in 1984 it was declared a UNESCO world heritage site under the “works of Antoni Gaudi”. It is a work of Gaudi’s naturalist phase where he has drawn inspiration from nature.
From the main entrance of the park, visitors can enjoy the beautiful dragon stairway leading to the hypostyle room. The park features some of the finest examples of organic architecture by Gaudi. There are beautiful columns, archways and an undulating continuous bench with the perfect anatomical curve along with multi-coloured mosaics in Park Guell.
How do you get there?
Take the Metro green line and get off at Lesseps or Vallcarca. Walk for about 20 minutes from the Lesseps station and then take the escalator to reach the entrance on Passage de Sant Josep de la Muntanya.
There are buses too. Take bus on line 24 from Plaça Catalunya stop and get down at Carretera del Carmel-Park Güell which is one of the main entrances.
We suggest you buy your ticket in advance for a guided tour. The park is quite big and without a guided tour you may not be able to see the main highlights of the park. Also, the ticket prices online are cheaper than if you buy at the ticketing office in the park. Buy your ticket here.
The park timings can be found here.
Casa Mila
The casa Mila is also known as la Pedrera or “The Quarry”. It is a famous modernist residential building and the last one designed by Antoni Gaudi. In 1904 the building was commissioned and in 1984 it was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. The façade looks like a massive rock. The highlight however is undoubtedly the courtyard. The courtyard has uniquely designed chimneys, shafts and stairs. One can also visit a modernist apartment in the Casa Mila.
How do you get there?
It is located at 92, Paseo de Gracia. It can be reached by metro station Diagonal. It is the next station to Plaça Catalunya. From Placa Catalunya, you can also walk down to Casa Mila (about 15 mins).
Ticket price: €22
Buy tickets online here.
Opening hours
1st March - 4th November
Monday to Sunday: 9:00 am - 8:30 pm
Night tour: 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
5th November – 28th February
Monday to Sunday: 9:00 am - 6:30 pm
Night tour: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
During Christmas
26th December– 3rd January
From Monday to Sunday: 9:00 am - 8:30 pm
Night tour: 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló is located at Number 43, Paseo de Gracia.
The building was originally built by one of Gaudi’s professors in 1877. It was bought by Mr Josep Batlló y Casanovas, a textile industrialist, in 1903. The house including the façade was completely refurbished by Antoni Gaudi between 1903 and 1904. Casa Batlló is a fine example of Gaudi’s modernism and is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Ticket price: €24.5
Please note that online tickets are cheaper by €4 than at the ticket office at Casa Batlló.
Buy tickets online at https://www.casabatllo.es/en/online-tickets/
How do you get there?
By Metro L2, L3 and L4; stop: Passeig de Gràcia.
By bus H10, V15, 7, 22 y 24.
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Opening times: 9 am to 9 pm 365 days of the year!
Montjuïc Castle
Montjuïc Castle has played an important role in the history of Barcelona, the foundation of which was laid out in 1640.
How do you get there?
We suggest you take the cable car and enjoy the panoramic views of Barcelona. Board the Montjuïc cable car at the Funicular station and the cable car will take you to the top of Montjuïc hill. A round trip on the cable car costs 12.70€
Opening times:
10 am to 8 pm
Closed on 1st Jan and 25th Dec.
Tickets:
5€ but free every Sunday after 3 pm and on the first Sunday of each month.
Gothic Quarter, Barcelona
The Gothic quarter is in the centre of the old city of Barcelona. Some of the streets are lined with medieval buildings though not all buildings are of the medieval period. It lies between La Rambla to Via Laietana. Most parts of this area is closed to traffic.
Travel tips: Try to blend in with the locals. Pickpocketing is common in Barcelona so if you blend in with locals then you can avoid being in the eye of pickpockets.
Also, do not carry all your cash with you. If you have to carry all your cash, then keep it distributed. I know of people whose bags along with passports have been stolen at La Rambla. This place also has overpriced restaurants and shops. Never leave your phone on the table in restaurants. The metro in Barcelona is also a haven for pickpockets. So be careful of your wallets.
Also, eateries in Barcelona serve lunch and dinner quite late. Dinner is typically served after 9pm. Try the black rice paella.
We stayed at Hotel Indigo Barcelona - Plaza Catalunya for its convenient location. Find details here.