With short, cheap flights from the UK, Barcelona is a popular spot for British tourists. The warm climate, along with reasonable prices make it an ideal destination for a short city break. We were lucky enough to spend a few days in the beautiful city and it’s somewhere I always look back on with fond memories and long to go back to. If you’re planning a trip, here’s my top 5 things to do:
- Watch a film at a beautiful castle, nestled in the hills above the city. Sala Montjuïc is an open air cinema within the grounds of Castell de Montjuïc. We chose to watch a surprise film, which turned out to be Fight Club, excellent choice! We brought our own food and sangria but there is also food available to purchase. Transportation is easy, you simply catch a bus from the centre of Barcelona – but be prepared to queue! Tickets are reasonably priced and films are shown between June and August – check out the shows and purchase your tickets online before you leave here. Finally, bring a jacket! Despite the lovely Mediterranean climate, the evenings can be a little chilly.
- Eat your bodyweight in mussels. There are lots of places offering a variety of seafood in Barcelona, it is Spain after all! But we fortunately stumbled upon this brilliant little place whilst wandering the streets of Barcelona. La Muscle, Muscleria serves 3 courses for less than 10 euros, which includes a huge main of muscles and they have every kind of sauce you could ever dream of. A big must for foodies.
- Dance the night away at Harlem Jazz Club. Spending the next day hungover by the pool like my mama did is an optional extra. An excellent drinks selection + electric atmosphere + talented musicians = one of the best Jazz bars I’ve visited. I’d recommend arriving early to get a good dancing spot as it gets very busy. As it’s a little off the beaten path it can be easy to miss – get some good directions before you go.
- Take a picnic to Parc Güell, relax in the sun and enjoy the views. We had a love affair with the juices and salads from Faborit over the 5 days we spent in the city, so we picked up some lunch from there to take with us. After climbing what felt like a million steps, the juice was tasted like it was sent from heaven – and I’m sure my body appreciated the vitamins! You can buy a ticket if you want to see the whole park but you can walk along most paths for free. Take extra time to ensure you can appreciate all of Gaudí’s magnificent work.
- Explore the unfinished beauty of Sagrada Família. With over 4 million visitors per year, it’s obvious, but it wouldn’t be a complete Barcelona itinerary without it. Ask for an audio guide to hear about the history and architecture of the church where building commenced in 1882. I opted to practice some of my A-level Spanish when asking for a guide from the gentleman behind the desk but panicked and caused a lot of laughter when he gave me a spanish guide (¡ingles por favor!). Don’t forget to go up one of the turrets in the lift for the best view of Barcelona.
Barcelona is the perfect destination for a laid back, easy going city break that won’t break the bank. Unlike many city breaks where a busy atmosphere and a hectic itinerary can leave you needing an extra break afterwards, Barcelona’s climate, beaches and chilled out vibe makes it a relaxing, yet cultural break. If you have any more Barcelona ideas please let me know in the comments below or tweet me @_teachertravels !
thisteachertravels 