Will you be in the city of Gaudy this year? Sagrada Família, Palau Nacional, and the Camp Nou stadium are only 3 of its most popular attractions. What to do in Barcelona besides visiting these destinations? Possibilities are endless once you’re there. Here’s a look at our top picks. They range from soccer games, best places to eat local food, and what to see if you have kids.
Lose Yourself in Font Mágica
Barcelona has a fairytale-like place for you and your family. The Font Mágica, or The Magic Fountain in English, is one of a kind in Europe. Built in 1929, this wonderful attraction receives more than 2.5 million tourists each year. The best time to watch the amazing show of light, water, and music is by night. If you’re in the city during summer, the hot temperature will melt away if you stick close to this fountain. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on one of Spain’s most beloved possessions.
Explore the City on Foot
Sometimes, the best way to discover a new destination is to ditch transportation altogether. By exploring Barcelona using just your feet, you’ll come across many hidden gems. Spend your days getting to know the city’s park. You can enjoy the nice summer weather in Barcelona’s Parc de la Ciutadella. Allow yourself some time off at one of the most delicious eating spots in the city: Mar de Cava.
Museu Picasso
A famous place throughout the country and the world, Museu Picasso is a tribute to the late painter. Barcelona was the city where he grew up. If you admire his work and you want to walk in his footsteps, you will have to walk down C/Reina Cristina. The area is rich in history and it’s one of the region’s most visited spots. One of Picasso’s favorite places to eat with good friend Salvador Dali was Els 4 Gats. Keep the Museu Picasso for last and make sure you reserve a full day for its exploration. That’s the only way you can see everything there is to explore there.
FC Barcelona Museum & Camp Nou Stadium
No trip to the City of Counts is complete without the Camp Nou stadium and the FC Barcelona Museum. In Catalan, Camp Nou means New Field. If you’re a football fan, nothing compares to attending a game there. Especially if it’s Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona in the Spanish League and the score is tight. If you want to buy a ticket or 4 to watch a match between the 2 rivals, you should watch this space starting today. Tickets sell like hot bread, so take your chance right now. In case you want to visit the FC Barcelona museum, you can go here.
La Sagrada Família
Just like the attraction before it, the next must-see on our list is the Sagrada Família. This should be the first thing you visit in Barcelona. Leave the airport, find your hotel, check in and go straight for Antoni Gaudí’s creation. You’ll experience awe and a sense of time travel, all at once. The now will fade away and you’ll feel like you’re back in time. Stay there for a while until you get your fill of this architectural gem.
Gran Teatre del Liceu Opera
You can’t leave Barcelona without watching a play or 3. The Gran Teatre del Liceu Opera is not one to miss out on. The architecture of the exterior is splendid and you should see the inside, as well. Paris boasts the largest opera house in Europe. Barcelona comes second with this fascinating building. Each year, famous actors and opera singers get together to show their craft here. If you want to know more about its history and other interesting aspects, make sure you book a guided tour.
Enjoy Delicious Tapas
You haven’t lived if you haven’t tried tapas at least once in your life. When it comes to this dish, the best thing to do is to enjoy it with pintxos and a glass of something called Vermouth. You haven’t tasted anything more appetizing than that, we promise. Coming back to tapas, you can choose between various eating places. If you don’t like fancy spots, try a tapas bar. Our recommendations are Bar Electricitat and La Pepita. Should you prefer restaurants over cafes, we suggest El Casal. Their patatas bravas are delicious and they don’t cost an arm and a leg.
Discover Montjuïc
Nature lovers will fall in love with Barcelona’s Montjuïc. What is it, you ask? It’s the name of a mountain that offers a great view of the city. It’s the perfect place if you want to stay as far away from tourists as possible. Keep in mind that reaching the top requires some serious effort from your legs. Once you’re there, the mountain does something magic: it reveals the city like you’ve never seen it before.
Make sure you take the Plaça Espanya route to reach your destination. Admire the telecommunications tower, the Olympic Stadium, and the Palau Sant Jordi from there. We also recommend talking a stroll through the wonderful Laribal gardens. Dante Alighieri will be waiting for you in the square that bears his name.
Visit Museu d’Historia de Barcelona
Barcelona is rich in history and the one place where you can verify this information is its History Museum. You’ll discover facts about the city’s population, how houses looked in prehistoric times, and so on. Barcelona’s historical heritage is revealed at the Temple d’August and other important landmarks.
If you ever decide to go on a spontaneous trip to a European city, we recommend Barcelona. What to do in Barcelona? You have so many options, dear readers. Today we looked at 9 of the most memorable attractions the city has to offer. Food, culture, history, and much more are waiting for you in Picasso’s favorite place! For more European destinations, check out our 10 best places to visit in Europe.
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