Why You Shouldn't Overlook Barcelona
There are very few places that I visit where I can genuinely say I feel settled. As much as I love jetting off on an adventure I am a home bird, I like spending time at home and so often, no matter how much I enjoy a trip, I never feel truly settled. So when I landed in Barcelona last July and fell almost instantly in love with the city no one was more shocked than I was.
I had a suspicion that I would really like Barcelona, most people do, but I didn't anticipate quite how much. Sometimes the big European cities can feel over done, they can often be more expensive than their smaller and less popular counter-parts and you know you will need to contend with so many other tourists. However, Barcelona is worth every cent of it and really shouldn't be overlooked for the sake of being one of the more popular destinations. It is a city that really does have everything, from beautiful beaches to shopping, to plenty of places to eat and of course amazing architecture it really is a city that does it all. Over the course of our 4 day trip we packed in almost everything, but it's already a city that I am itching to get back to, and here's why.
The beaches that surround Barcelona are truly beautiful. With plenty of beach bars and cafes you can easily spend all day soaking up the sun feeling as though are a million miles away from the rest of the world. In the height of summer they are of course busy, but the beaches stretch for miles so you're sure to still find a spot to lay down your towel. If you're on the hunt for sandy beaches then you're going to be a little dissapointed, but if the pebbles dont bother you then this won;t be an issue.
Shopping is surprisngly strong in Barcelona. It isn;t a city that I would ordinarily associate with shopping and fashion but they have plenty on offer, from high end to high street and some of the most beautiful shop interiors around. If you're into fashion then there is always something exciting about heading into the local branhes to see what is on offer and potentially take some inspiration back home (even if your suitcase won't allow you to actually buy anything).
If you head to Barcelona and don;t go to either the La Sagrada Familia or Park Guell then you have missed out. Both of these spots are very different but both are amazingly breathtaking. We headed for Park Guell as early as we could, arriving just after 8am and it was quiet. Bar a few other early birds we were the only ones there and it really was the best way to enjoy the park. We were able to explore and discover all of the different areas and get all of the photographs we wanted before the hundreds of other tourists arrived. The seated area at the top is the perfect spot for breakfast so grab some pastries and enjoy them as you overlook the rest of hte city and out to sea. The sculptures are beautifully impressive and wherever you look there is something new to see.
The Sagrada Familia takes everything to a whole new level. Not only is the outside of this Bascillica totally mesmerising but as soon as you step inside you understand why this is such an essential stop on your visit. I have never seen anything like it, and can't wait to go back when it is finally completed to see the finished thing. There is no real way to describe this, you just have to see it for yourself. Head via the lift to the top for an incredible view of the city and to see some of the most intricate details more carefully. Even if you aren't a religious person it's hard not to feel utterly overwhelmed by this beautiful part of the city.
When you think of Barcelona the chances are the Sagrada Familia is one of the first things that you think of. It, arguably quite rightly, overshadows everything else. But head down towards the beach and make sure you don't miss Barcelona's Gothic quarter. It's easy to get lost in it's winding streets, but that's part of the charm. The Cathedral is beautiful and choosing to have dinner in one of the opposite was possibly one of the best decisions of the entire holiday. Watching the sun go down whilst eating in front of the Cathedral was magical.
If you want to step away from the crowds and head to somewhere else in the city then make sure you visit Montjuic. Up here you can find the stadium from the 1992 Olympics, along with all of the pools, courts and remanence of The Games. It;s a beautiful spot and once you've explored the stadiums the Gallery makes the perfect spot to catch some shade a a quick drink as you overlook the rest of the city. There is only really one way to get back down, take to cable car from the top all the way down to the beach. If you're scared of heights this may not be the one for you, the cars to tend to sway a little when the wind picks up, but if you can stomach it then the views are incredible and it's worth every second.
Eating in Barcelona is renowned however in honesty we didn't discover that many amazing spots. There are plenty of guides to the city but given we were only there a few days and food wasn't the top priority for us there is only one place that I could honestly reccomend; El Veledrome. Just off of Diagonel, this art-deco inspired restuartnt instantly feels incredibly cool. The menu was extensive and everything was not only served brilliantly but also tasted amazing. They like to swtch everything up every month or so, so if you want to head down there check online first. If you're a fan of gin then I would highly recommend their Mallorcan gin on offer.
Barcelona is a city with so much to do and so much that you can see that a few days really doesn't feel like enough. We didn't stop the entire time we were there (except for a few hours on the beach one evening, it was a welcome change to how I would usually be spending a Monday evening) and I can't wait to return soon. With flights from all over the UK being affordable throughout the year and endless options for accomodation it's hard to resist the charm of Barcelona.