Ultimate Guide to Barcelona Spain
- Amanda Pimentel
- Aug 27, 2023
- 5 min read
After spending about a month in Barcelona I feel as though I can properly help my readers plan their trip to the beautiful city by sharing my personal experiences! The culture, history, and food is very rich in the city so we will talk about all of those. Let's also talk about the best places to visit in Barcelona, places you should be aware about, and Food & Drink to try in Barcelona. Here is an ultimate guide to the city of Barcelona.
Best Places to visit in Barcelona
Areas to be aware of in Barcelona
Food and Drink to Try in Barcelona
History
Culture
Nature
Best Places To Visit In Barcelona
Gothic Quarter: My favorite area to stay in by far but also great for a day trip or two. The gothic district is loaded with tons to do. This is the oldest part of Barcelona, beautifully preserved. We purposefully wandered the streets getting lost over and over because it is like a big maze full of great things to see.
It is known for it’s narrow streets, medieval buildings, and the beautiful Barcelona Cathedral. You will find hundreds of store fronts both local/ tourist, bakeries, restaurants, and bars!
Walk around, enjoy the shops, and get lost in the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter.
Las Ramblas: Next we have Las Ramblas which is one of the most liked areas by tourists. Las Ramblas is located right next to the gothic district and is extremely popular for tourists. La Boqueria is also located next door. What is it? It is a beautiful tree lined street packed with shops, restaurants, street performers, artists, and more! You must have a cold glass of Cava and one of the restaurants located directly in the middle of the street.
La Boqueria Market: Absolutely Must see for the foodies reading this. On the top of my list to tell people to visit. I absolutely love going here when in Barcelona, there are so many foods to look at and try! Check out my YouTube video on La Boqueria HERE! To see some of the amazing foods that we tried inside!
This is one of the oldest markets in Barcelona and it is full of fresh products like meats, seafoods, fruits, cheeses. Then there are sweets and cooked foods for you to try. You can even have a drink on the outskirts of the market and enjoy!
The Sagrada Familia: Can you say beautifully unfinished? The UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is considered one of Antoni Gaudi’s most famous works and considered one of the most important pieces of architecture in the world.
Here is a picture of me in front of it on our most recent trip to Barcelona!
Park Guell: Also designed by Antoni Gaudi. Park Guell is wonderful, colorful, and combines gardens with the brilliant and unique architecture created by Antoni Gaudi. There is a combination ticket to see Park Guell and The Sagrada Familia. It will take a few hours to do both and should be added to your adventure through Barcelona.
Several other buildings designed by Antoni Gaudi include the Casa Mila, and Casa Batllo.
Hidden Gem: Labyrinth Park of Horta. If you like gardens but don’t want to deal with the crowd at Park Guell then Labyrinth park is a great substitution. There are gardens to wander and even a hedge maze that makes you feel like you’re in a movie. It is the oldest garden in the city (1791). Part of the park has an Italian influence while the rest of the park has a romantic influence. Bring 2.23 Euro per person if you want to wander this garden!
Areas to be aware of in Barcelona
It’s important to remember that Barcelona is considered generally safe but you should always be aware of your surroundings and take necessary precautions to avoid crime.
Here are some safety tips good to remember wherever you go!
Keep your belongings close to you, especially in crowded areas.
Be aware of your surroundings and avoid walking alone at night.
Don't flash expensive jewelry or electronics.
Use ATMs in well-lit, busy areas.
Report any suspicious activity to the police.
El Born: Located in old town Barcelona known for narrow streets and trendy shops is considered to be a target for pickpockets, especially at night
Las Ramblas: A very popular tourist destination known for pickpockets as well.
Sant Adria de Besos: located south of Barcelona known as an industrial area has reports of muggings and pickpockets.
La Mina: located in the northeast part of Barcelona is considered one of the most deprived areas in the city. There are reports of gang violence and drug trafficking.
Raval: located in old town Barcelona known for street art and nightlife. There are reports of muggings, pickpocketing, and drug dealing.
Food and Drink to Try in Barcelona
Barcelona has some delicious food, I'm so happy I tried all of the different treats I could find. Let's talk about some food and drink to try in Barcelona Spain.
Paella: My favorite is chicken Paella but the classic Paella is made with rice, seafood, and meat. Made with Saffron this rice-dish is typically packed with flavor and a must try in Spain!
Fideua: This is the Catalan version of Paella made with noodles instead of rice and is typically made with seafood.
Tapas: What are Tapas? Well there is a huge variety considering Tapas are small sharable plates meant for a snack or appetizer. Some of the most famous tapas to get are Patatas Bravas which are spicy potatoes topped with a mayonnaise based sauce, Croquetas (fried savory pastry) they are filled with different things like ham, cheese, or potatoes, and montaditos (open faced sandwiches), Boquerones (pickled anchovies), and calcots (grilled spring onions).
Jamon Iberico: This is a very popular cured ham and is considered one of the finest hams in the world. For whatever reason it is prohibited in the United States so Americans you better eat up!
Bocadillo: Spanish sandwiches made with bread, ham, cheese, and tomato. This is a very popular meal or snack in Barcelona.
Cava: Ever wonder what the Spanish version of Champagne is? Well here it is, Cava. I absolutely love Cava. We must have had Cava everywhere we went and it was good every time!
History
The city of Barcelona was founded by the romans and was called Barcino. Barcelona was then conquered by the Visigoths in the 5th century, by the Moors in the 8th century, and recaptured by the Christian's in the 12th century.
By the 14th century it was the capital of the Crown of Aragon and then in the 16th century ruled by the Habsburgs, and by the Bourbons in the 18th century.
Culture
The city is home to several famous world by Antoni Guadi including the Sagrada Familia, park guell, Casa Mila, and Casa Batllo. Barcelona is a major cultural center.
Nature
Whether you are visiting the Jardi Botanic de Barcelona - botanical garden or visiting the Parc de la Ciutadella you will find that Barcelona has many green areas. Not to mention Montjuic, Laberint D’horta, and Parc Guell.
I have ended up in Barcelona on a whim several times now and each time I have visited I have found some great new areas to see and foods to try. Let me know in the comments if you thought this blog was helpful!
Don't Forget to Support Local! It feels good to support local! Local businesses appreciate every dollar and every person who supports them! It's also great to try new things, who knows, you might like them!
If you are interested in collaborating send me an E-Mail at worldtravelwithmandy@gmail.com
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