Barcelona is one of our favorite cities and there are many reasons to visit this wonderful city. Although you don’t really need a reason to visit Barcelona, this article will certainly convince you if you are looking for a nice destination for a city trip.
#1 The abundance of tapas and pintxos
If there’s one thing you can do well in Barcelona, it’s good food. Everywhere in the city you will find nice tapas and pintxos bars, cozy restaurants and lovely terraces. I’ve been to this nice city many times and I’ve been able to test all the necessary tapas places and restaurants in Barcelona. I have listed my favorite restaurants and tapas bars in Barcelona for you. You can eat here not only very tasty, but also very affordable.
#2 The beach and the harbor
Want to combine a city trip with a beach holiday? In Barcelona it is possible. This city has a beautiful beach and a large harbour. Lovely to get a breath of fresh air. Do you find the beach in Barcelona itself a bit too busy? You can reach various seaside resorts on the Costa Brava in 10 minutes by train, where it is a lot quieter, especially in the low season.
#3 The view from Tibidabo mountain
Tibidabo mountain is the highest point of Barcelona. From here you not only have a beautiful view of the city, but there is also plenty to do. A large amusement park has been built on top of the mountain, where part of the clip Hoe of Miss Montreal and Nielson was also recorded. In addition, on top of the Tibidabo mountain you will find the beautiful church Sagrat Cor, which is definitely worth a visit. The Tibidabo mountain can be reached via an old tram and funicular, which makes the trip just worth it.
#4 The fresh fruit juices from la Boquería
La Boquería is the largest covered market in Barcelona. This market is located on the popular Las Ramblas street. You can buy the tastiest fresh products here, but walking around this market alone is also worth it. You open your eyes. We were especially a fan of the delicious fresh fruit juices that you can buy here from €1.00. Our tip: buy some sandwiches, delicious Spanish spreads and fresh fruit and eat it afterwards at the harbor, on the beach or in one of the many parks that Barcelona has.
#5 Gaudí’s colorful artworks
When you say Barcelona, you immediately think of artist Gaudí. The whole city is full of its beautiful buildings. Be sure to visit the impressive Parc Guell, a park designed entirely by this artist. Casa Mila and Casa Battlo, located on Las Ramblas, are also recommended if you are interested in Gaudí’s unique architecture.
Keep in mind that these famous structures are often very busy. Would you like to avoid the long lines? Book tickets in advance for Parc Guell, Casa Mila and Casa Battlo.
#6 The tranquility in Parc de la Ciutadella
Have you had enough of all the hustle and bustle? Then relax in Parc de la Ciutadella. Despite the fact that the park is located almost in the middle of the city, it is fairly quiet here on weekdays. During your visit to this park, be sure to check out the beautiful fountain in the middle of the park. If you exit the park via Passeig de Lluís Companys, you’ll also walk straight into Barcelona’s beautiful Arc de Triomf.
#7 The cozy shopping streets
Besides good food and beautiful sights, Barcelona is also a perfect city for shopping. You will find many pleasant shopping streets and beautiful shopping centers if you want to look up the air conditioning. An additional advantage is that stores such as Zara, Mango, Pull&Bear, Bershka and Stradivarius are of Spanish origin. As a result, the price in these stores is on average 20% lower than in the Netherlands. So if you still need a new summer wardrobe, Barcelona is the place to be.
#8 The Magic Fountain
The Magic Fountain is for many a highlight of their visit to Barcelona. During the day this is a fairly quiet fountain, but at night it turns into one big light show complete with matching music. From March 31 to October 29, a show is performed every half hour. This beautiful colored water show will stay with you for a long time. The surroundings of the fountain are also beautiful. It is located between the beautiful Placa d’Espanya and the steps to Montjuic mountain.
#9 The Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous churches in the world. This unique basilica was designed by the aforementioned artist Gaudí. The foundation stone was laid in 1882, but the imposing structure is still under construction. The Sagrada Familia is expected to be completed in 2026. Despite the fact that the building is often partly under scaffolding, it is definitely worth visiting this church. Both the outside and the inside are beautiful and a perfect example of Catalan modernism. Would you like to avoid the long lines? Book tickets for the Sagrada Familia in advance.
#10 The lovely weather
A big plus about Barcelona is that the weather is almost always great. Because Barcelona is right on the Mediterranean Sea, it has a warm Mediterranean climate. In the summer it is therefore around thirty degrees, but also in the spring and autumn the temperature is still around twenty degrees. So enjoy your well-deserved sun!
Have you been to Barcelona before and do you also love this city?
