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Barcelona is a city full of character and life. Located along the Mediterranean coast, the city boasts wonderful beaches and great food, with especially great seafood. Barcelona has great shopping, museums, and churches that will keep you on your feet and exploring for hours. The city is also known for its unique architecture throughout which helps keep all the walking interesting and fun.
Saturday 9 am – La Sagrada Familia
Begin your trip with one of, if not the greatest, architectural projects you will ever see. Designed by Antoni Gaudi, this massive Roman Catholic Church has been under construction since 1882 and completion isn’t expected to happen until at least 2026! The spires on the church rise over 100 meters and, when completed, the tallest spire is planned to be 180 meters. Take the 400 stairs to the top and enjoy some views of Barcelona, check out the crypt where Gaudi is buried as well, and in general just wander and enjoy Gaudi’s unique designs.
Saturday 11 am– La Rambla
La Rambla is the most famous street in Barcelona and is actually a series of boulevards that connects the Placa de Catalunya to the Monument a Colom. There are an abundance of shops, restaurants, and cafes along the street with a pedestrian area in the center. Spend the afternoon wandering the shops and hang out in the pedestrian area where you can people watch and be entertained by street performers.
For lunch stop at La Boqueria Mercat, a large public market that has some great food and is fun to wander and explore. Eat some fresh produce, seafood, or at one of the many tapas bars. Even if you decide to eat lunch elsewhere this market is still worth a trip just to experience the radiant colors and atmosphere.
If you’re looking to browse unique shops visit the side streets Carrer del Carme and Carrer del Hospital. They both have a very wide variety of shops that are perfect for window shopping or picking up cool souvenir items you won’t find elsewhere.
Saturday 3 pm – Olympic Grounds
Although most people in Barcelona no longer take siestas in the traditional sense, many smaller shops and less touristy destinations will close between the hours of 2 pm and 4 pm. This is a perfect opportunity for you to head back to your hotel or a grassy area and perhaps enjoy a little bit of relaxation and rejuvenation for the rest of your day.
If you’re looking to keep on trekking through your day then head over to the stadium used in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Although built and ready in 1929 the stadium had to wait 63 years until finally used for the Olympic events. It’s a fun place to walk around and imagine what it’d be like to watch and experience the Olympics there. If you’d like to explore the surrounding area more take the metro to the Placa Espana exit. The stadium is a 20-minute walk from the metro stop and is a perfect way to spend the afternoon strolling through and familiarizing yourself with a part of Barcelona.
Sunday 8 pm – Gracia
This area is north of the city center and a great location for the evening if you’re looking to get away from all the tourists and mingle with the locals. In Spain, dinner is served later than in the states and nightlife starts later so prepare for a late dinner and staying out to the wee hours of the morning if you go out.
For dinner head over to Can Xurrades and enjoy some authentic Catalan and Spanish food. The staff is known to be extremely friendly and the restaurant has a great wine selection. If you like meat make sure to try any of their meat dishes cooked in traditional Catalan style.
For a place to go afterwards, check out El Dorado which has a great dance floor and drinks. One of the great things about Barcelona nightlife is you don’t have to have a set plan. Just head over to Placa del Sol, an area with lots of bars, and follow wherever the music may take you.
Sunday Morning – Museu Picasso
The Picasso Museum is a distinct experience because it takes you chronologically through some of Picasso’s work. Picasso himself donated some of his pieces and the museum now boasts a collection of over 3,800 pieces. This is the perfect destination if you’re interested in learning more about and viewing Picasso’s growth as an artist and how his special connection with the city of Barcelona played into his work.
Sunday Lunch – 7 Portes
For lunch you must go to 7 Portes, a Sunday tradition. It’s one of the oldest restaurants in Barcelona and features great service and wonderful meat and seafood dishes. Many extended families come here on Sundays to enjoy the cuisine and one another’s company. Order: Seafood Paella
Sunday Afternoon – Park Guell
Spend the “siesta hours” lounging at another Gaudi creation – the Park Guell. This park embodies the seemingly magical essence of Gaudi’s structures. The atypical buildings and beautiful tiling embodies the essence of Barcelona. It’s a beautiful place to spend the afternoon wandering aimlessly and discovering the many quirks to Gaudi’s architecture and design.
This afternoon is also a great opportunity to enjoy the Barcelona beaches. A great one to head over to is Barceloneta. Its one of the best urban beaches in the world and not far from the main city - there’s a metro spot that’ll take you straight to the area! If it’s sunny this is the perfect area to take a break from the sights, lounge and hang out in the sand.
Sunday Evening – El Tablao de Carmen
Spend your last night enjoying dinner and a Flaminco show at El Tablao de Carmen. The club was designed to imitate a “typical Spanish artisan village” and can be fun to walk around and explore before the show begins. The show itself is high energy, entertaining, and will keep you engaged from beginning to end.
Where to Stay?
Marina View B&B
Located right along the water promenade, this bed and breakfast offers beautiful views and great service. It’s also close enough to the city center to make it a convenient location to get to the main city sites and the beaches. The owner Jose is a friendly and helpful host who will even give you breakfast in bed if desired.
Casa Camper
This unique boutique hotel is located in the perfect location if you’re looking to be in the city center. They offer distinctive amenities like a full breakfast buffet, free wi-fi, and an all you can eat 24-7 snack bar in the lobby. The staff is also very friendly and accommodating, making your stay at Casa Camper even more memorable.
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