Best Places to Visit in Barcelona
I have heard so many amazing things about Europe but I did not get to experience what it’s like until I stepped foot in Barcelona, Spain. Yes, this is the first country in Europe I’ve visited and it definitely did not disappoint. I traveled to Barcelona initially in June 2016 then came back in 2017 and 2018. That’s right—3 years in a row! I just LOVE this place. There are so many things to see and do. Now, here are the best places to visit in Barcelona:
FOOD
As you walk through Las Ramblas, you will come across Barcelona’s large public market called La Boqueria. There are a wide variety of food in this market from fresh seafood, cheese, fruits, desserts…you name it! My personal favorite is Bar Central inside La Boqueria. I don’t think you can go wrong with anything on their menu. It’s absolutely fresh ( my fave order: prawns & salmon). My other recommendation is La Fonda del Port Olimpic inside the marina area (my fave order: lobster paella with cava sangria). This is the best paella I’ve ever had!
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DRINKS
Barcelona has plenty of little cafes/restaurants where you can quickly grab a drink. I’m into craft cocktails so these are my recommendations. Boca Chica Restaurant & Boca Grande Bar –these two spots are in one building. There are plenty of drinks to chose from and it’s Barcelona’s “IT” scene if you like that type of thing. The cool/fun thing about the restaurant & bar is that they have a DJ in the bathroom. It was definitely a lovely surprise. haha!
Another great place for a drink is Dry Martini. The bartenders/servers are so awesome and very friendly. If you order their original dry martini, you will get an official drink certificate as they count how many people have ordered that specific drink. Pretty unique I must say! (my fave order: mango martini). Another place is the Wet Deck at W Barcelona. This has good cocktails with beach view (my fave order: guava martini).
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SIGHT-SEEING
Barcelona has so many places to explore, among them are: Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Gothic Quarter and La Barceloneta. First, Sagrada Familia is a Roman Catholic church which was built years ago and it is still not finished. It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage site and the architecture is just unbelievable. You can pre-order tickets to go up to the top where you can get one of the best views of the city.
Second, Park Guell is a huge park, work of art by architect Antoni Gaudi and has absolutely breathtaking views and architecture. Third, if you’re into shopping, go to the Gothic Quarter. There are so many cute little boutiques and I absolutely love shopping at Claudine Barcelona. This place has so many cute jewelry/clothes/bags. I want to go back to Barcelona just to shop here! haha.
Lastly, La Barceloneta, this is my fave place to enjoy the beach/sun and mixing with the locals. Be sure to buy one of the beach blanket nearby to use and take home.
HOTELS
After traveling 3 times in Barcelona, I have been in quite a few hotels. My personal fave is the W Barcelona.It is a bit pricey but totally worth it due to location, view and just the overall vibe of the hotel. They have a pool area overlooking the beach with great drinks.
I also stayed at the AC Hotel by Marriott Barcelona Forum. I got lucky and was upgraded to a beautiful suite with ocean view. However, even if you are in a smaller room, I think this hotel is still worth it. It’s quite clean/nice but a little bit farther from the marina/las ramblas, perhaps a $10 ride. I have also stayed at Pullman Barcelona Skipper. This is in such a great location for people who love to party. This is walking distance to the lounges/clubs (I’d recommend Shoko, Pacha and Opium) and the marina.
Lastly, the first hotel I stayed at was Barcelo Raval. The hotel is modern and super good location if you want to be walking distance to Las Ramblas. The hotel has a 360 view of the city at the top of the building which is a plus. Overall, I recommend any of these hotels.
If you like Spain, check out the Best Places to Visit in Ibiza (click here).
Have you been to Spain? Which places do you recommend? What are your best places to visit in Barcelona? I’d love to hear from you. Comment below…
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