2 Days in Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is a city filled with beautiful architecture and so many tourists! I explored Barcelona with a small group of people. We spent our evenings on the ship but there are many hostels in Barcelona to stay at as well! We also decided to travel on the ship from Barcelona to Valencia to save a bit of money but it sounded like people had great experiences on the overnight train!
I was surprised about the number of tourists in Barcelona. Everywhere we went was quite busy and we didn’t experience much of a language barrier. We walked most of the time to different destinations. The first day in Barcelona we walked over 25km! The only time we took the metro there was when we accidentally went the wrong direction and were short on time. La Sagrada Familia was definitely my favourite tourist attraction to see in Barcelona!
Food and Drink
Everywhere we ate in Barcelona was incredible and I’m sure any restaurant you wander into will be the same! Being such a tourist filled city, we tried to wander off the main roads and support the local coffee shops and cafes. So many croissants and chai tea lattes! A few glasses (or jugs) or sangria is also a must! We also enjoyed many of Barcelona’s famous tapas!
One restaurant I highly recommend is called Travel and Cake! We had the most delicious and interesting brunch ever! They had matcha pancakes, acai and yogurt filled pineapples, charcoal waffles, and more! There are a few different restaurants in Barcelona that are run by the same people including Brunch and Cake. One of these local restaurants in the area is a must!
La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia was the highlight of Barcelona for me! I was completely blown away by how incredible this Expiatory Church of the Holy Family is! This giant cathedral takes up an entire block and was originally designed by the famous Antonio Gaudi.
The construction of La Sagrada Familia started in 1883 and it is hoped to be finished by 2026 – marking the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death. Once finished, the cathedral will have 18 different towers. 12 of the towers will represent the apostles, 4 represent the evangelists, 1 for Virgin Mary, and the one (the highest one) represents Jesus. The central tower will eventually reach 170 meters! There used to be a small school on the grounds for the children of construction workers to attend. This is now an exhibition visitors can walk through.
We spent almost an hour walking around the cathedral in awe of all the detail and different colours of the building’s exterior. For just 13 euros (the price for people under 30), we were able to go inside. Be sure to order you tickets ahead of time online since they sell out fast. The inside of the cathedral was equally as jaw dropping as the outside. What stood out the most to me was the stained glass surrounding us on all sides. There was so many different designs and colours! The roof went up so high with many intricate designs. There was even two tall elevators there! We were lucky enough to witness a wedding taking place! We spent almost two hours in this incredible cathedral!
Pictures do not do La Sagrada Familia justice! I highly recommend visiting this jaw dropping cathedral! I know that I cannot wait to return once it is finished!
Casa Batlló
La Sagrada Familia was not the end of the amazing architecture by Gaudi. We were able to see many more of the buildings he designed including Casa Batlló!
Guadi redesigned this house in 1904 for a wealthy aristocrat named Josep Batlló. The different colours and shapes of this building were inspired by natural coral and marine life. There were many people, including us, admiring Casa Batlló from the outside! People can pay to go in but we decided not to. What I found interesting with the bone-like columns on the windows and the scull-like balconies.
Casa Mila
Another building designed by Gaudi we were able to see was Casa Mila! The Mila family chose Gaudi to redesign this home for them. The construction of it started in 1907.
Just like Casa Batlló, we admired Casa Mila from the outside. The walls of this building curved in and out like waves. The balconies were made out of black metal that looked to me like dead vines and flowers creating their own design and story.
Park Guell
The last work done by Gaudi that we were able to admire was Park Guell. The construction of this park started in 1900. Walking through the park, it is easy to tell that Gaudi was influenced by natural shapes. There were arches made of stone, winding staircases, and beautiful flowers! There was also several locals selling different souvenirs and snacks.
We were disappointed to not be able to go into the main part of the park since the tickets were sold out. The park itself is free but be sure to book ahead online if you want the full experience of the terrace! Even though we were unable to go onto the terrace, we spent over an hour walking through the park. We kept walking up the many stairs until we eventually made it to a lookout point where we had a fantastic view of Barcelona! We were also able to see the stunning tiling and fascinating buildings designed by Gaudi. Everything in this park is so interesting and seems like a different world. A must visit!
Barcelona Cathedral – Gothic Cathedral
Another cathedral we were lucky enough to visit was the Barcelona Cathedral – the main Gothic Cathedral and one of the most historic buildings in the city. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona. Construction of this cathedral started in the 13th century and took 150 years to finish. On the roof are many gargoyles and other mythical animals. The tallest point of the cathedral reaches 93 meters and has a beautiful bell tower.
We spent a while looking at all the details on the outside of the cathedral before heading in. Walking into the cathedral literally took my breath away! Everything inside seemed to glow! The details were incredible with stained glass dating back 500 years! The alter is raised to allow a clear view into the crypt. There are also 11 smaller chapels! A secluded cloister has 13 white geese and a small pond. For 3 euros, we were able to take the elevator to the roof of the chapel for an amazing, unique view of Barcelona!
More Photos of Barcelona!
