A long weekend in Barcelona
A weekend away is good for the soul and Barcelona has everything a soul needs – history, architecture, food, art, music, shopping, great atmosphere and Cava!
My visit was with my sister and we went in memory of our mother who had recently passed away and who loved Spain. We stayed at Hotel Barcelona Universal on Av del Paral-lel between Port Vell and Sant Antoni districts and walking distance to La Rambla.
October is not the hottest month to go but we wanted to mark our mum’s birthday while there, so warm outer wear was needed.
Walking is the best way to see this beautiful city and soak up the atmosphere in the alleyways off main streets. It also burns off some of the excess calories that are easily piled on.
Get restaurant and bar recommendations from friends and Instagram. A friend recommended Sensi Bar and we headed their first. Great recommendation and started our weekend off with Cava and Tapas, perfect.
We felt perfectly safe walking at night, but I would always suggest public transport or a taxi.
Our first full day was a food tour of St Joseph Market, located very near our hotel. The variety of fish, meat, vegetables and fruits is outstanding and a feast for the eyes and a little bit of shopping.
The Sagrada Familia is a must but pre book entrance tickets to avoid a queue. Just the most stunning cathedral and still in construction! We found a cute bar nearby for refreshment before walking on towards the beach and reflecting on the beautiful building.
This is when a summer trip is a good idea, as the beach was in need of sunshine! There are bars and restaurants along the front that I can imagine would be perfect on a sunny day.
Our hotel had a roof top bar and pool, so this was a draw to get back to the hotel and sample a cocktail or two overlooking the Barcelona skyline while watching the sun go down.
The metro system here, I am informed is good, however we were keen on walking and didn’t get to experience this.
Day 2, shopping here is great and we ambled up the Rambla to Placa de Catalunya where we jumped on an open top bus, after browsing the shops. A great way to view the Gaudi buildings, so pretty! Placa Del Rei was our lunch time spot for sit down with a cool string duo playing some cracking tunes.
We dragged ourselves away to head to the harbour passing the zoo and Citadel Park, really pretty space.
Who doesn’t like fireworks and a visit to the Magic Fountains at Parc de Montjuic are fantastic and rival the Bellagio in Vegas - music, colour, fountains and fun. We grabbed a beer from one of the local sellers and enjoyed the spectacle. I think getting a spot to sit early is a good idea but we were happy to stand watch.
Day 3, The Picasso Museum is a short walk from our hotel passing lots of alleyways which open into unexpected squares with little shops and cafes. One can pass time very easily just casually walking and soaking up the atmosphere.
The Museum is lovely, take a tour using their recorded handsets, its eye opening to hear about the paintings. The building is very beautiful too. Pre book tickets, again to avoid queues.
This was our last day and we just enjoyed revisiting one of our favourite bars just off La Rambla, El Gotic, very art deco with super friendly staff and great food!
Our only regret of the weekend was a flamenco show we got roped into watching. That was 2 hours of our lives we will never get back! It was awful, don’t get talked into it.
This is a perfect city for a weekend getaway, 2 hours from London, and the airport is just ½ drive from the centre of the city. There’s lots more to do, so I will have to go back for another weekend away!