Our 10 Highlights

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Barcelona is one of our favorite cities in Europe, not without a reason. Whether you wanna go to the beach or admire the most beautiful architecture – Barcelona is always the place to be. We’ve already been there twice and would like to share our 10 favorite places with you in this post!

Arrival, Transport & Safety

From Barcelona airport you can either take a taxi for around 40 euros or simply take the metro. Depending on the traffic situation, taxi rides take around 20 to 45 minutes. Depending on the terminal, a metro ride can take between 30 minutes and an hour. Neither requires prior booking and is relatively easy to manage at the airport.
Using the metro within the city is also very simple and relatively cheap for example with an 8-ride ticket for approx. 11 Euros.
Safety concerns in Barcelona depend very much on the area. Most areas are very busy in the evening because the Spanish have an evening culture. However, you should be very careful with your belongings because pickpockets are very common.

Barceloneta Beach

The most famous beach in Barcelona is called La Barceloneta. There are countless restaurants & bars, volleyball courts and opportunities to relax here. If you’re very lucky with the weather, you can even watch surfers. So be sure to pack your swimsuit and plan to spend a few hours here!

Montjuïc

Montjuïc is a mountain in Barcelona that has a lot to offer. The mountain can be reached via the metro station Plaça Espanya, where you first walk up to the Montjuïc National Palace. Then you can either take the gondola to the top or walk, which we highly recommend as you can see many beautiful palm trees. The destination is then the Castell de Montjuïc from where you can continue walking down towards the harbor.

Tibidabo Amusement Parc

Tibidabo is an amusement park located on a mountain behind Barcelona. To get to the top you have to take a mountain railroad, which costs 12 euros per person (both ways) and is named Funicular del Tibidabo. If you also want to enter the amusement park it costs an extra 39 Euros and you have to check the opening hours, as the park is not always open. We decided not to enter the park, but only to look at the view and the church, which was very beautiful. Nevertheless, it should only be done if you have plenty of time, as it takes around half a day including the bus and the metro ride to the railroad.

Bunkers del Carmel

For us one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Barcelona are the Bunkers del Carmel. The best way to reach this spot is by bus, but it still requires some walking which may be a bit exhausting. However, we can say that it is absolutely worth it! Unfortunately, you can no longer enjoy the sunset here, as the bunkers close at 7:30 pm (at 5:30 pm during the winter)… But it’s just as beautiful during the day!

Parc de la Ciutadella 

Near the beach you will find this beautiful Parc called Parc de la Ciutadella. Here you will find a beautiful fountain with turquoise water and a lake where people sail in small wooden boats. The park invites you to enjoy the sun with plenty of places to sit and lie down and you will also find the Barcelona Zoo next door which requires an entrance fee, the Parc itself not.

Plaça Reial & El Barri Gòtic

La Rambla is the most famous shopping street and invites you to stroll around with its old buildings and many stores. Just besides you will find a cute courtyard with lots of palm trees called Plaça Reial. This courtyard is also the perfect starting point for a trip to the Gothic Quarter el Barri Gòtic. With its dark alleyways, the district has a gloomy, mysterious feel. Here you will find hidden little boutiques and attractions such as the Catedral de Barcelona, the Pont del Bisbe and El mundo nace en cada beso.

El Mercat de la Boquerìa

In the center of La Rambla, at the Liceu metro station, you will find Barcelona’s largest market hall: El Mercat de la Boquerìa. From fish to fruit and sweets – everyone will find what they are looking for. Here you can find every Spanish delicacy for a very good price and opening hours are from 8 am to 10:30 pm – perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Port Vell

Port Vell is located right before Barceloneta beach and is a harbor full of yachts and beautiful boats. It offers a lot of bars & restaurants and is the perfect place to stroll along when you’re on your way to the beach. However, this is not necessarily a cheap area.

Salts Terrassa Bar

On the way up to the Castell de Montjuïc you will find a hidden bar called Salts Terrassa Bar. In 1992, this pool was used for the Olympic Games and now offers food & drinks with a view over the whole of Barcelona. Everything has been preserved from back then, including the grandstand and the pool. What we can highly recommend are the Patatas Bravas which only cost 6.90 Euros!

Mood Rooftop Bar

If you want to relax in the evening and enjoy the view over Barcelona, then the Mood Rooftop Bar is a possible place for you. This bar is a little fancier, as the hotel has five stars and of course the drinks are not really cheap – you can get a cocktail for around 16 to 18 euros. We took a drink here & enjoyed our last evening – You also have to treat yourself sometimes!

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We would definitely recommend spending about 3-4 days in Barcelona. As we were able to stay with family, we can’t give you any information about the exact budget or hotel recommendations, but the Eixample district is definitely a nice area to stay in. Also, if you have a day to spare, we highly recommend taking the train to Madrid – check out our blog post on that!

And now – what are your highlights in Barcelona?