Barcelona Things to do guide travel tips

Barcelona Things to do, Guide, Travel

4 Reasons Why Barcelona Is 

Great To Visit In Summers

Every summer there comes that time when you have to decide where to spend your vacation. 

Most often the decision making is compounded by what to do. The ‘where’ and the ‘what’ can often cause head scratching. This is where Barcelona scores on every level.

Let’s see now. The weather is warm in summer and just right. There are miles of soft sandy beaches; a hectic nightlife fuelled by a huge variety of bars, discotheques and clubs; entertainment in the form of concerts and fiestas; unbeatable cuisine – Catalan and international; natural beauty with a gorgeous coastline and nearby craggy mountains; an extraordinarily rich culture seen on every street and in museums. There is plenty more, of course, but above all there is endless sunshine!

Without attempting to push any particular itinerary, here is an outline that encapsulates what you can see and do in Barcelona in the summer!

• Beaches

If you are looking to just lay back, get a tan, not do much and release those work-related tensions then the beaches of Barcelona are just the ticket. There are five notable ones with individual characteristics.

Barceloneta Beach is the closest to the city centre with attractive beach shacks serving great cuisine. Nova Icària, is the prettiest and most popular beach with plenty of good restaurants. Marberlla is famed for its free-spirited and nude bathers. It has plenty of eateries and drinking places and easily accessible from the city. Sant Sebastià, the oldest, has calm waters and a long golden stretch of soft sand. Bogatell Beach is the most central. It is populated by the athletic and fitness types who can be found pounding the paved jogging paths and volleyball courts.

• Antonio Gaudí

Honestly, this man is synonymous with Barcelona. His works dominate the skyline, are architectural benchmarks and epitomise the city’s Catalan heritage and style in a spectacularly original way. He has done everything from parks to churches. Seven among his brilliant creations have been designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

His works are worth visiting just to see what a brilliant and creatively unfettered mind he had. Some of Gaudí’s creations are the Casa Vicens (a private residence); La Sagrada Familia Basilica (his definitive work, which is still incomplete); Park Güell (his creative and spatial genius is evident here); Casa Batlló (displays Gaudí’s fascination with nature’s shapes) and Casa Milà (aka La Pedrera, is his most innovative, daring and religiously inspired work).

• History

Barcelona can seem like a gleaming futuristic city but it has plenty of history. Many remnants of its past are still in well-preserved condition and can be seen all over the city. The best and most convenient place to see examples of Barcelona’s past are in the Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter). The heart of the city, this area has buildings dating to Roman and Medieval times. The beautiful narrow winding picturesque streets are worth wandering through. Highlights of the Quarter are the remains of the squared Roman Wall near Tapineria, Avinguda de la Catedral and Plaça Nova to the west, Carrer de la Palla to the south and El Call, the medieval Jewish quarter.

Just an hour’s travel out of Barcelona is the magnificent Montserrat Basilica and monastery. The Basilica is where the famed Montserrat Boy’s Choir (l’Escolania) sing every day at 1pm. Across the Basilica and underground is an extraordinary museum with a superb collection of paintings by the likes of El Greco, Caravaggio, Sisley, Picasso and Dalí and valuable artefacts and items from ancient Egypt.

• Entertainment

When your day of sightseeing or beachcombing is done the evening and night beckons and there is plenty to fill those hours. There is entertainment and leisure to suit all tastes and budgets.

You can have dinner while taking in a Flamenco show at one of the several notable tableaux. Barcelona is absolutely crammed with a variety of pretty and traditional tapas bars where you can treat your palette and sip on some excellent wine or beer.

La Ramba, one of the most famous and interesting boulevards in Europe is a super place to spend the night hours. This pedestrian only avenue is packed with buskers, living statues, mimes, artists and salespeople selling everything from lottery tickets to jewellery. There are plenty of bars and restaurants.

Barcelona has everything to give you that satisfied feeling of having had a real good holiday.

Five Fantastic Food Destinations

At isango! we believe there are two essential yardsticks to measure your experiences when travelling.  One is seeing the sights and the other is sampling the food.  Here we give you a taste of what foods to look out for at five popular destinations.

• Flavours of New York City

New York City has been and continues to be the gateway for people coming to the United States.  So you will find every ethnic and world cuisine available.  New York also prides itself on inventing many dishes and foods.

Taking a foodie tour of NYC is a delight for the taste buds.  Hot dogs and New York style pizzas in the East Village; a Manhattan clam chowder; Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches; savoury French quiche, and Mexican yucca are just some delights in store for you.  You could also try out a knish appetiser or some Greek spinach pie to go with a succulent lamb souvlaki.   Then there is a sinful choice of chocolates to top off your meal.

• Lyon, Gastronomy and Beaujolais

Lyon’s ancient fame lay in its silk weaving industry.  That has however changed.  Over the centuries it has become known as the capital of French gastronomy and its renowned cuisine.  The city and municipality has a deliciously bewildering array of traditional Lyonnais restaurants, called bouchons, serving local dishes such as salade Lyonnais; marrons glacés; coussin de Lyon, sausages, duck pâte and roast pork, and local wines.

The Lyon bakeries, fromageries patisseries and chocolatiers continue to make their wines, breads, cheeses and chocolates the way have for centuries.  In addition to its gastronomic delights, the Lyon area is at the heart of Beaujolais wine region.

• Tapas In Barcelona

Barcelona offers a variety of pleasures but none as staggering as tapas!  Choosing or even listing them is a near impossible task.  Salmon sashimi with cream cheese; honey and soy, or cod; passata and black olive pâté; fried fish and seafood, patatas bravas; Galician octopus and ensaladilla rusa; croquetas made with ham, fish, chicken or spinach are just some choices.

Whether you are strolling down La Rambla or feasting your eyes on the fruit, vegetables, fish, cheese or meats of La Boqueria (Barcelona’s food market), you will never be far from a tapas bar.  So feel free to wade into one of them and pick out your choice.  Don’t forget to wash it down with some cava, wine or draught beer.

• Bangkok & Food

The two are synonymous and no one needs coaxing to dig in to a plate of Pad Thai (or phat Thai).  Take a walk down any street in Bangkok and you will be constantly reminded of food.  The innumerable fragrances waft out at you from myriad street stalls and restaurants.

Thai street food is the safest and tastiest in the world and probably the most reasonably priced too.  Whether it be juicy pieces of grilled pork on a stick or a fiery bowl of ‘Tom Yum’ soup or Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup) or good yong tau foo and pork stew with green chilli dip, you will find it really difficult to pass it up or stop eating.  Thai food is among the most appetising and popular cuisines in the world and it is an exciting experience to take a cooking class and learn how to make some!

• When In Rome – Eat

That’s right!  Food in Rome is just as fascinating as the Colosseum, the churches and the Vatican museums.  Roman cuisine is some of the most delicious in Italy.  It is based on seasonal ingredients, plenty of fresh vegetables, meat and cheeses.  All put together in a simple way.  Lamb roasted with herbs and spices is a very important part of the cuisine so is pizza, of course.  In Rome they have three different ways of making pizza but a Roman characteristic is that it is thin with no lip to the crust.

• Pizza

The Testaccio is the best place to find the original and traditional Roman food.  Another great place is the Rione Monti area, a stone’s throw away from the Colosseum, where you will find a range of authentic Italian delicacies in local family run shops and pizzerias.

Montserrat – A Rocky Ensemble

There are many reasons to visit Montserrat. It could be religious, musical, architectural, historical, ‘must see; must do,’ discovery, hiking, rock climbing, or just good old fashioned sightseeing. Whatever your compulsion you will be gratified and probably get more than you expected.

Montserrat in Catalan literally means "saw (serrated as the teeth of a handsaw) mountain."  They are the handy work of nature’s sculptural efforts over millions of years. The multiple peaks rearing up to its highest 1,236 metres (4,055 feet) at Sant Jeroni are simply spectacular.

This rocky ensemble is just 50 kilometres (31 miles) northwest of Barcelona. The trip takes about an hour by train or ninety minutes by road. The route takes you through some truly beautiful Catalan landscape and along the Llobregat River.

Once you get to Montserrat itself there are a number of ways you can get up to the various delights that the place has to offer. You could drive up; take the cable car or the rack railway.

The Aeri de Montserrat cable car is a dizzying 5 minute ride. Since these are always full you could wind up squashed in the middle and miss out on the stunning views as the car crawls up to the halfway stage. The Montserrat Rack Railway is a 15 minute joyride taking you back to child-like thrills. Or you could take the road – bus or car.

The first phase of your rise up to the Montserrat experience ends at the roughly halfway mark. This is where the 1,000 something year old Montserrat Monastery (Benedictine Abbey) and the Montserrat Basilica home of “La Morenta,” the black-faced Madonna have been built.

Viewing the Madonna can be a bit of a chore. It has been placed in a tiny alcove reached by a narrow corridor and up a staircase on the right side of the Monastery. You may have to inch your way forwards for more than an hour. More than two million people visit the shrine every year and you only get a few seconds in front of it before you are forced to move by the visitors behind. If you can get there by 9am then there are not many people around.

The Basilica is where the Montserrat Boy’s Choir (l’Escolania) sing every day at 1pm.  Their musical performance is enough to fill your soul to overflowing. Across the Basilica and underground is an extraordinary museum with a superb collection of paintings by the likes of El Greco, Caravaggio, Sisley, Picasso and Dalí. It also houses valuable artefacts and items from ancient Egypt.

From the plaza in front of the Monastery you can go to the top of the mountain via the Funicular de Sant Joan. This is a veritable archaeologist’s delight. The mountain face is pockmarked with the caves of hermit monks who once populated the place. There are also several chapels, stairs and pathways.

The Funicular de Santa Cova is another rack railway that takes you down to the cave, which is the original location of “La Morenta. This grotto is where visitations by the Virgin Mary were first reported back in 880 AD.

If hiking is your thing, then the slopes of the Montserrat hills will be a joy for you. There are six recognised hikes with the longest one to Sant Jeroni. The walk starting from either the mountain base of the top of the Sant Joan Funicular will reveal breathtaking views of the surrounding plains and the Pyrenees.

There are interesting features for nature lovers because of the geology and plants along the way. All of the trails offer amazing views and the locals boast that on a really clear day you can see Mallorca.

Just so you are prepared keep in mind that the funicular railways don’t run in March and carrying a coat is advisable. Montserrat often has strong and chilly winds.

Five Exciting Things to do in 

Barcelona

There is so much to see in the city, sometimes it can be a challenge to decide what and how to do it. But if you’re on vacation, why not try being a tourist with a difference! Here’s a selection of different ways to explore the wonderful, vibrant city of Barcelona – and make sure you make the most of your trip by staying in one of the best Barcelona hotels.

• Kickbike and Scooter Tours of Barcelona!

For the eco conscious amongst you, why not take a cross between a bike and a scooter as a way of transporting yourself around the city. Kickbikes are suitable for pretty much anyone, and you can either join a guided tour or just rent the kickbike and take off for the day. Either way, it’s a great way of keeping fit and seeing the sights at the same time.

• Barcelona Ice Bar

barcelona ice bar

With a cool -5 ambient temperature, Barcelona’s Ice Bar is the only one of its kind in the world which is built on a beach. Situated at Playa de Barceloneta, the Ice Bar offers the perfect place to cool down from the hot Mediterranean sun. Just don’t forget your jacket and gloves!

• Antique Caravan Tours

If you fancy seeing the surrounding area from the back of a traditional horse-drawn caravan, then why not take a tour to discover a little more about the tradition Catalan farmers of the area. From years gone by up to modern days, these tours will give you an insight into the Catalan culture and how the locals live at one with the countryside. The tours last from half a day up to a week in duration.

• Rickshaw Tour

Rickshaws are a great way to explore the area, and the fact that someone else is doing the pedalling is always a bonus! What better way to have a local show you around their city, and you never know, you might learn a few words of Spanish along the way!

• Go Back to School

No, not seriously, but how about signing up for a cocktail making class and learn how to mix ‘em up like a pro. You’ll be taught some neat bartender tricks, and no doubt be allowed more than just a few tasting sessions along the way. Then at the end, you can watch the professionals show you exactly how it should be done. Cocktail classes are run in a few venues in the city and last a few hours.

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Valerie, Barcelona Travel Tips

Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city, which explains the city’s wide array of activities to partake in.  When I was a senior in high school I visited Spain with my Art History class.  Looking back, Barcelona was sadly the city where we had the shortest amount of time and I wish I had a couple more days to experience Barcelona.

As of recent, Barcelona has become one of the most visited cities in Spain because of the vast amount of activities to experience.  Whether you enjoy thrilling tours and experiences, the arts, or learning more about a city’s culture then Barcelona has something to offer.

• Thrills in Barcelona

If you are looking for a tour out of the ordinary then try a scooter tour of Barcelona.  One thing I hate about taking tours is the smelly bus filled with tourists and with this tour you would be able to bypass the large bus crowds.  Not only do scooters make sightseeing less crowded, it is more fun!  I have a scooter to get around the massive campus at the University of Florida and I love riding it!  It is exhilarating to zip around on the easy to operate scooter.  On this tour you are sure to see several of Barcelona’s top attractions like the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Olympic Harbor,  Forum Barcelona, Casa Mila, and the National Art Museum of Catalonia.

Another thrilling experience Barcelona has to offer is Port Aventura which is a theme park for all ages.  Coming from Orlando visiting theme parks in one of my favorite things to do.  So, during my next trip to Barcelona a stop at Port Aventura is without a doubt on my to do list.  This theme park offers thrilling roller coasters (my favorite) but, if that isn’t your style of ride they do offer more relaxing rides and shows.

• The Arts in Barcelona

One thing the city of Barcelona is especially known for is the architecture by Gaudi.  Barcelona is peppered with art nouveau inspired architecture.  During my one day in Barcelona I was sure to see the world famous architecture designed by Gaudi.  Some of my favorite works by Gaudi can be seen in Park Guell.  The most famous of the pieces at the park include the world’s largest bench which in the shape of a sea serpent and is covered in mosaics.  The bright colors of the bench are gorgeous.  Be sure to visit Gaudi’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia Cathedral.  It is a masterpiece in the making as it is not scheduled to be completed until 2026.  During my trip to Barcelona we just had time to view the Cathedral from the outside and it is truly remarkable, it is completely different from any other church I have ever seen.

• Cuisine in Barcelona

Barcelona is well known for their vast assortment of tapas.  In Spain, appetizers are known as tapas.  Whenever I have gone to a tapas restaurant loads of them are ordered for the entire table and everyone shares.  It is a fun way to try a little bit of everything!  A fun way to experience the custom of eating tapas is to partake in a tour that includes sampling several tapas from different restaurants.  One way to see the sights and find tapas bars is by bike.  By renting a bike you will be able to stop and see the sights as well as stop at tapas bars that strike your fancy!  Plus, after guzzling down tapas, riding a bike is a fun way to burn off those calories.  Although Barcelona is known for tapas there are also plenty of other culinary delights to be discovered.  Barcelona offers fresh seafood dishes, fine wines, and scrumptious cakes.   One thing is for sure is that during your time in Barcelona you are sure to indulge in gourmet food.  During my travels in Spain I found the food in Barcelona to be the most delicious!

• Cultural Attractions in Barcelona

If you enjoy sightseeing at your own leisure (like me) then a hop-on-hop-off tour is ideal for you.  During my travels in Europe I have purchased several of these tours and have been nothing but impressed with them.  By using these tours you are sure to see the major attractions and not have to deal with a tour guide ushering you around.

One of the must do attractions in Spain is a Flamenco show.  The Flamenco is a passionate dance that originated in Spain.  Traditionally, the dance is known for the intricate heel and foot work, graceful movements, and castanets.  During my visit to Spain I was sure to see a Flamenco show and it is one of my most memorable experiences from Spain.

I enjoyed my short visit to Barcelona and I can’t wait to visit again to experience all that the city has to offer!

WALKING CITIES, BARCELONA

• Sagrada Familia, Gaudi 

There is plenty to explore in Barcelona, a city notorious for its relaxed pace of life. Things work on a slower timetable here, great for a walk about! Take your time, you have all day! (Literally, dinner often doesn’t start here until 10 or 11pm, and nightclubs usually don’t begin filling up until around 2am). There’s plenty to do and see, and in recent years, Barcelona has become quite the multicultural hotbed. The area is home to a high population of immigrants, which means not only interesting people, but amazing international food, and a rich collection of books, art, and shopping. Cafés (yum, churros and chocolate!), galleries and parks (with lots of famous street art) galore!

As the home of nine UNESCO World Heritage sites (seven of which were designed by the famous Antoni Gaudí) there are plenty destinations for you to check out on that slow ramble around the city. Take a Gaudí walking tour for tons of historical information as you visit the artist’s most famous sites. An afternoon of art history not your top priority? Creativity-buff or not, see at least one Gaudí site! Walk your way over to the Sagrada Familia, it’s jaw-dropping.

Another one of Barcelona’s most notable figures is Pablo Picasso. Heard of him? He spent 10 years living and working in Barcelona, and the city has many now-famous spots to show for it. Take a tour through the Bohemian Barcelona and see the alleys, shops, and cafes that Picasso himself once frequented. Maybe a ramble through the streets will help inspire your creative mind.

Also, the Pablo Picasso museum is a must-see for all art-lovers, and it has free entry on the first Sunday of every month. Just remember to go early!

Flamenco - Bernardo Wolff

Flamenco - Bernardo Wolff

Don’t forget to rest your (now) tired legs with an evening of activity (on the dance floor, that is!). Not a single one of my world-travelling friends has returned from Spain without taking in a Flamenco show. Full of passion, color, and culture, Tablao Cordobés Flamenco show will surely be a night to remember! And it takes place in a night club, so feel free to try out your own moves after the show—if you dare!

And, if you happen to make in to Barcelona in September, be sure to check out the La Merçe festival! Though the holiday of “The Merciful Mother of God” (officially falling on the 24th of September) has been celebrated since 1871, more recently, the event has become a week-long festival. Music, cultural displays, crafts, and even a “fire-run” through the streets of the Gothic Quarter start up to a week before.

Scooter Tours – Spain’s 

Newest Way to Tour

Spain has always offered a variety of attractions from discovering hidden courtyards and junk shops in the Barri Gotic in Barcelona to sun-bathing on the golden sands of Mallorca. Choosing which of their hottest destinations to visit is a hard decision. Do you want to visit a water park in Mallorca, go to the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, or buy knick-knacks in Ibiza? If you do decide on Ibiza over Mallorca you’re immediately left with the sad feeling you’re really missing out on the soft sands of El Arenal beach. Luckily, now there are new tours to help you make the most of your time no matter where you choose.

Jogging tours allow you to stay out of that all-inclusive gym in your hotel and see the city instead. My personal favourites are the new scooter tours that are being picked up all across Spain. These little vehicles are like motorcycles only easier to handle and operable for beginners (like me). Tours can go up into the mountains and visit all the nooks and crannies of the destinations that bus tours usually have to skip due to terrain. As someone who has hiked halfway across Crete to avoid renting a car, any simple-to-book transportation is great for me. Open air, hot sun and beautiful scenery beats the sticky subway or the rental car with windows so dirty you can’t see out of, hands-down. To really enjoy a trip I always find myself under a pile of history and travel guides the week before departure, trying to understand centuries of history and art. Tour guides take on the learning and the paper cuts themselves and spare me lugging guidebooks in my backpack, which is great because now I can lug more souvenirs!

• Barcelona Gains Another Attraction… Eventually

Barcelona is known as one of the most beautiful summer get-aways in Europe but its architecture is reason enough to travel there. The Sagrada Familia is a gigantic church that has been under construction since 1883. Just by paying the entrance fee you’ve helped fund this creation that won’t be completed until about 2055. The grandest of its attributes will be the 580-foot centre tower representing Jesus which will be flanked by additional 400-foot towers already mostly in place. The city view from the church’s look-out bridge is unbeatable.

• Ibiza Remembers its Past

ibiza trave guide

Ibiza, now known for its ultra chic shopping and cruise ship filled ports, was once an under appreciated hippie haven. The hippie market at Sant Carles isn’t the only part of the 2009 Ibiza that’s making a throw back to the ’70s, many parts of Northern Ibiza are increasingly filled with neo-hippies and emoticon flower children. Don’t let the hype fool you, night clubs aren’t the only things on the island. Es Pujols is one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in Europe and boasts a view of either pines and dunes or breathtaking ocean. Descend down into the Can Marca caves for an adventure amongst the golden stalagmites.

PICASSO COMES ALIVE IN 

BARCELONA

The legendary 20th century artist Pablo Picasso spent much of his life in the city of Barcelona and indeed much of his earliest work is displayed in the city’s Museu Picasso.

However, a special event is currently running at the museum, called Living Things: Figures and Still Life in Picasso.

This exhibition focuses on how the artist created relationships between figures and objects, and uses around 60 of his pieces to display this.

Works on show at Living Things include everything from sketches to paintings and drawings to engravings.

Picasso’s family moved to Barcelona when he was a teenager in the late 19th century and thought of the city as his real home, according to some biographers.

In the early part of the last century, he mainly divided his time between the Catalan city and Paris, and it was in Mougins, France that he died on April 8th 1973.

During his lifetime, Picasso created thousands of works, with some estimates placing the number around 50,000.

FIESTA DE SANT MEDIR IN BARCELONA

Barcelona is known for its football, its culture and its architecture – but like all cities on the Iberian Peninsula, it knows how to put on a great festival.

One of the best occurs in early March and is known as the Fiesta de San Medir.

Taking place in the arty district of Gracia, the event celebrates the life of San Medir, or Santo Emeterio, who is the patron saint of broad beans.

Luckily, for those with a sweet tooth anyway, that tradition seems to have been widely forgotten about and now the sugar plant is the champion of the day.

A parade takes to the streets, with horses and carriages all dressed up in colourful costumes, and passengers throw sweets to the crowds gathered on the Calle Grande de Gracia.

At the end of the festival a firework display takes place in the Jardinets de Gracia, marking the end of a day where not a single broad bean has been celebrated.

BARCELONA’’S BEST FOOD 

AND DRINK

Barcelona”s best food and drink will be under public scrutiny at the Catalan Wine and Cava Show between September 17th and 24th.

The annual festival is held in the town of Maremagnum, and wines from across the region will be on show to tie in with the grape harvest.

More than 400 wine producers from Catalonia and Alt Penedes will have stalls set up at the show. A host of different businesses from all over the wine industry gather to compare and contrast their produce.

Cava is key to the show, as the dry and yeasty-flavoured beverage originates from Sab Sadurni de Noya, only 30 kilometres from the city of Barcelona, and many consider the wine to be better than champagne.

The show consists of a wide range of traditional producers and is worth a visit for anyone who may be holidaying in the region in late September.

The grape harvest is in fact becoming earlier each year as the effects of global warming cause the crop to ripen earlier than ever before.

Wonderful Gaudi architecture and a cosmopolitan atmosphere have made Barcelona Spain”s most popular city.