Barcelona was the final stop of our European adventure. In college I studied abroad in Spain and fell in love with Barcelona on a weekend getaway. I could not wait to show my husband the culture, architecture, and history the city had to offer.
Day 1
Sagrada Familia
Port Olympic
La Rambla
We began our tour of Barcelona at the famous Sagrada Familia. The Sagrada Familia is a temple designed by Antoni Gaudi that is still undergoing construction. It is approximately 70% complete with hopes of finishing it in the next 9 years. I hope to take my son when it is complete, if not before! There are several different ticket options available. You can buy a basic ticket to get inside the building as well as various audio guides or guided tours. If you are interested in learning more about Gaudi and his work there is a special audio guide available. The Sagrada Familia is open daily 9am - 6pm with longer hours April - October. Tickets start at 15 Euros.
Tip: Go first thing in the morning to beat the crowds!
After our tour, we ventured down to the Port Olympic to find lunch along the water. From there we walked La Rambla stopping at various shops and plazas along the way. At the end of La Rambla is the beautiful Placa de Catalunya.
If you are needing a break, Placa de Catalunya would be another wonderful spot to have lunch or coffee.
From there it was only a 10-minute walk to Casa Batllo, another of Antoni Gaudi's masterpieces.
This uniquely beautiful home is an Unesco World Heritage Site.
If you have time and are interested in seeing another architectural masterpiece by Antoni Gaudi, Casa Mila otherwise known at La Pedrera, is a short 5 minute walk away.
Our day would not be complete without visiting Parc Guell. Parc Guell is a public park as well as another Unesco World Heritage Site designed by Antoni Gaudi. After a full day of sightseeing, it was relaxing to stroll through the park and admire the scenery. Tickets are available online and are 7 Euros. The park opens at 8 am.
Day 2
MONTJUIC
Montjuic is a large hill in Barcelona. The easiest way to reach the top of the hill is via cable car from Barcelona Beach. Situated on top of this hill is Montjuic Castle. It was built to overlook the city and thus provides breathtaking views of it and the seaport below. The castle is open daily 10am - 8pm and costs 5 Euros.
The area of Montjuic is beautiful and nice to walk around. If you have time you can visit the Museum of Catalan Art, the Spanish Village, or the Olympic Stadium and Museum. We chose to visit the Olympic Museum. It is open Tuesday- Saturday 10am - 6pm and Sundays from 10am - 2:30pm. Admission is 6 Euros. Children under 7 are free.
After our day touring Montjuic we took the cable car back down to Port Olympic for a romantic dinner on the beach. The Port Olympic area has a popular nightlife scene along with many restaurant options for every taste bud!
WE COULDN'T LEAVE SPAIN WITHOUT ENJOYING DELICIOUS SEAFOOD PAELLA!
Day 3
BARIA GOTIC
PICASSO MUSEUM
It's hard to believe that it is our last full day in Europe. We took the morning to sleep in and relax before heading out for a walk through Baria Gotic. Baria Gotic is the oldest neighborhood in Barcelona. On our walk we saw the cathedral as well as...
THE ANCIENT ROMAN COLUMNS FROM 1 BC.
It is pretty amazing that this piece of history is tucked into a corridor in the middle of Barcelona! It is not to be missed.
