There are some cities that leave a lasting impression, and then there are those that capture your heart completely. Whenever the word Barcelona comes up, anyone within ear shot perks up and starts gushing about their love for the city. It’s borderline insufferable. It can’t be THAT great, right? Well, now I’m one of those people. There was something special about this Barcelona – special enough that while sitting at the bar at Homeslice Pizza the other night I heard a neighboring bar stool mention it and had to chime in. The city seems to hum with the kind of life I love and even after exploring for a week there, I can say with confidence that I could have stayed a lifetime. Barcelona became more than just a destination—it quickly became my favorite city in the world, surpassing both New Orleans and Paris.
What I discovered in Barcelona isn’t just wild eye-popping architecture, or the incredible food served on tiny toasts, but an energy that’s palpable in every corner. It’s a city that invites you to be active in it – the inhabitants are fit and active, mostly found living and sharing time together outside. Everyone is running, cycling, walking their dog, or enjoying the outdoors at all times of the day. It’s a vibrant sleepless city – if you’re a nightowl, the city will suit you – but it’s also okay if you aren’t one there. Whether I was wandering through its quaint and endlessly fun streets or soaking in the golden sunsets over a park or the ocean, Barcelona left me feeling inspired and fulfilled. This Barcelona travel guide is my personal love letter to the city—and an urge for you to book your ticket today so that you can fall head over heels for Barcelona the same way I did.
Barcelona Travel Guide: First Impressions
When you first start to wander the streets of Barcelona, it is immediately striking how effortlessly the old and the new coexist. It is a strange symbiosis: the maximalist works of Antoni Gaudî, combined with the minimalism of the rest of the city. It’s a city that strives to be simple: simple in it’s wine, simple in it’s eateries, simple in the daily traditions, the simple serving of the pinchos shared with friends.
Every corner reveals new surprises, from lively plazas bustling with locals to narrow, winding alleyways that felt like secret passageways. Each neighborhood has it’s own personality. We decided to split our time in two different areas, staying up by the parks the first week adjacent to Gràcia, and then closer in the action, but just outside the Gothic Quarter the second half, in l’Eixample. l’Eixample was a perfect landing spot to explore almost all of Barcelona – with easily accessible metro stations and proximity to almost every neighborhood you might want to hit within walking distance, it’s provides the quiet you want for sleep, but convenience for exploration.
Barcelona Travel Guide: Must See Landmarks
Generally, the first thing out of anyone’s mouth when I mentioned Barcelona is The Sagrada Família. This landmark has clearly become synonymous with it’s identity. Here are a few of my recommendations for what to hit (and what to skip).
Sagrada Família: A Masterpiece in the Making
The Sagrada Família is perhaps the most famous symbol of Barcelona, and it’s not hard to see why. Designed by the legendary Antoni Gaudí, this basilica is kind of insane. It has wacky towering spires, intricate façades, and dreamlike shapes feel almost otherworldly. The building feels alive: it’s been under construction for over a century and although it’s supposedly almost done, it’s hard to imagine that point with all the work happening on it still. The interior is awash in color and the stained glass windows are colored to represent the towers they are adjacent to. If you forget to purchase a ticket ahead of time, it seemed like single tickets were released from travel services for the next day at 9 AM local time and I was able to secure entry that way. Make sure you purchase a ticket that includes on of the towers, as the views from the top are outstanding and unparalleled anywhere else in the city.
Park Güell: A Playground of Imagination
Another Gaudí masterpiece, Park Güell is a place where art and nature blend seamlessly. This park feels a bit like a Doctor Suess and Alice in Wonderland got together and threw a party. There is a serpentine bench that both mirrors and overlooks the city. There is a mosai-covered salamander. There is also a really inviting and beautiful serenity to the way that the park both flows and the built aspects blend into the nature. You must also have a ticket for the park and I would recommend getting first entry when it is less crowded (and less hot).
The Gothic Quarter and Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria
I could wander the streets of Barcelona for a lifetime and we certainly did. The streets of the Gothic Quarter feel like stepping back in time – they are paved with cobblestones, filled with medieval architecture and have walls that surround hidden courtyards. Despite what many tourists do, I would urge you to wander the Gothic Quarter and then skip La Rambla entirely. La Rambla is a tourist trap and not an enjoyable one, despite what the internet would have you believe. Stretching from Plaça de Catalunya to the waterfront, La Rambla is a long hub of nonsense where hustlers will try to hustle you and bad restaurants will try to entice you to eat poorly made paella. Whatever you do, do not eat paella on La Rambla. My suggestion is that you cross over it just long enough to step into Mercat de la Boqueria – if you’re going to eat food adjacent to La Rambla, eat in the market only.
Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria is one of the most famous food markets in Europe. It’s a sensory overload but OH SO FUN. The stalls overflow – there is a fruit section, a vegetable section, a paella section, a fish section, a jamon iberico section. There is candy and bars with wine and endless options. Bring cash for ease and snack your way from the front to the back.
Casa Milà and Casa Vicens
We really enjoyed visiting both Gaudi’s Casa Milá and Casa Vicens. Casa Vicens is Gaudí’s first major work. It is a vibrant, Moorish-inspired house that stands out with its bold colors and intricate ceramic tiles. It is a little off the beaten path and the opposite of crowded. You can listen to a history guide while you explore to understand how he combined nature with architectural innovation. Casa Milà you will find on a main thoroughfare in the Eixample and you cannot miss it – it’s a weirdly mesmerizing and undulating facade. We discovered an opportunity to go to a sunset jazz concert on it’s rooftop, which has surreal chimneys and epic views.
Barcelona Travel Guide: Eat and Drink
The best part about Barcelona is that you just eat and drink your way through this city filled with small plates and natural wine. Here are a few standouts that you should not skip.
- Quimet y Quimet – One of our favorite dining experiences was in this tiny bar that is standing room only. Small pinchos are served from men slinging tinned fish behind a small bar, in a room with floor to ceiling wine bottles.
- Bocanariz Wine Bar – natural wines, fun bites, dark vibes, and spinning vinyl make this the perfect late night dinner spot in Gracia.
- 14 de la Rosa – a tiny bar filled with equally tiny tables that’s the perfect stop for pinchos.
- Funky Bakers – pop into this Gothic Quarter coffee shop for a sweet treat, a morning croissant and a latte to keep you going through your morning walk.
- Bar del Pla – extremely fun and quirky in both atmosphere and wine list. Natural wines, narrow room, delicious snacks, witty merch.
- Can Cisa/Bar Brutal– This place is hipper than you are but d0n’t sleep on it. The food was exceptional and the wine list is full of extremely fun natural wines.
- Bar Marsella – Barcelona’s oldest bar opened in 1820 and was frequented by everyone from Hemingway to Picasso. It feels like stepping straight into La Havana, Cuba and I know because I’ve been there.
How Barcelona Became My Favorite City
Lively markets, laid back vibes, a beach at one end and mountains at the other – Barcelona might just be the perfect city. What makes Barcelona truly unforgettable for me is how effortlessly it balances old and new, the historic and the modern, maximalism and minimalism. Whether I was marveling at Gaudí’s architecture or getting lost in the narrow, ancient streets of the Gothic Quarter, Barcelona has a way of pulling you into its rhythm. And it’s not just the sights—it’s the warmth of the people, the vibrant art scene, and the unmistakable Catalan pride that flows through everything. There’s a genuine joy for life here that’s contagious. Barcelona isn’t just a place you visit, it’s a place you feel. And somehow, for all these reasons, it’s quickly wormed it’s way into my heart and now I’m the person who will constantly interject into stranger’s conversations about how great it is.
I love to travel. If you enjoyed this and want to know where else I’ve been, head here. If you’d like to see all the photos from our trip to Barcelona, I’ll be posting them on my instagram, or you can see the entire gallery here.
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