Six :: Barceloneta Beach and Platja de Barcelona

According to TripAdvisor Barceloneta Beach is the best city beach in Europe.

I took the following video at Platja de Barceloneta, a wonderful open square surrounded by restaurants and bars on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other.

Although you can expect it to be pretty crowded with tourists year round you can see it is a really delightful area to hang out. Whether you’re there to sunbathe, swim, dine, drink, people-watch or just stroll around here you will find the perfect atmosphere.

Tips:
1. Be aware that you will be approached by vendors trying to sell you everything from a circular towel to massages. Sometimes it can be annoying but you might actually enjoy some of their wares.
2. August is the most crowded month so if you’re not into waiting in lines you might want to choose another time to visit.

Five :: Try the food

Of course you know I’m going to talk about the local food. Food in Barcelona is all about making the most of the best local produce and boasts some of the best gourmet delicacies in Spain. I’m just going to touch on a couple of options here. In another post you can read more details :: Beginner’s Guide to Eating in Barcelona.

Tapas

Known for its Tapas (small plates) bars, Barcelona does not fall short of variety and flavor and quality.

This is actually my favorite way to eat: small plates of a variety of flavors and textures. I prefer this type of dining over a big piece of meat with a big helping of potatoes and vegetables.

Paella

Another recommendation I have for you is the paella (rice and seafood cooked and served in a large flat shallow pan). Paella originated in Valencia and you can therefore find the best of the best in that beautiful coastal town but with a little research you should be able to find quality paella in Barcelona as well.

There is much too much to cover when it comes to the food in Spain so I’ve gone into more depth in my post Beginner’s Guide to Eating in Barcelona.

Tip: Do your research to find places that serve authentic cuisine rather than the cheap and tasteless tourist versions. Once you taste the real thing you won’t want to settle for less.

Four :: La Rambla

[AKA Las Ramblas. Originally a series of 5 smaller “ramblas” have been incorporated into one big La Rambla]

La Rambla is the most famous promenade in Spain, a beautifully tree-lined pedestrian street 3/4 of a mile long, stretching from the Christopher Columbus Monument on the south end to Placa de Catalunya on the north end. La Rambla is filled with restaurants and shops and souvenir shops and street performers, etc. This very popular Catalonian landmark is visited by tourists from all over the world all year long. Once you experience it you’ll understand why.

Mercat de Sant Josep La Boqueria

My hotel in Barcelona was located less than a block off the center of La Rambla, not far from probably one of the reasons why (you might have guessed) I love finding local markets everywhere I go: Mercat de Sant Josep La Boqueria.

Font de Canaletes

On the north end of La Rambla and the heart of Barcelona by Placa de Catalunya you will find Font de Canaletes, a popular meeting point.

Font de Canaletes’ legend is this: “If you drink water from the Font de Canaletes you will always be in love with Barcelona. And however far away you go you will always return.” I can attest to that! I DO love Barcelona and I DO plan to return, so in my eyes this saying is not just a legend.

Tips for La Rambla:
1. Barcelona is known as the Pickpocket Capital of the World. Be very aware of your belongings when walking the streets, especially in the crowded tourist attractions and late at night. Your pockets are not safe. I would recommend you wear a money belt or a jacket or vest with inside pockets in which to keep your money, phone, etc. I’ll tell you what happened to Roydio in my next post: Don’t Do’s in Barcelona
2. There is no way to avoid crowds altogether in Barcelona but August is their busiest month. Just a heads up.

Three :: Camp Nou

My Roydio is a futbol player and therefore a huge futbol fan [not to be confused with American football: in the US futbol is known as soccer]. And because of him I’ve become a fan as well. Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe, in fact the third largest in the world in capacity – just over 121,000 and home to FC Barcelona whose captain is Lionel Messi who happens to be my fave player. So my visit to Camp Nou was compulsory. And it certainly did not disappoint.

**CHEESE WARNING** The following video is a little cheesy I admit, but Roydio was over-the-top excited about visiting this iconic stadium and couldn’t help himself from getting in front of the camera (not that he’s shy by any means). So I decided to include it here for you. You’re welcome.

Here is a panoramic shot for you as well.

For those who are fans (or not), Camp Nou is about as impressive as it gets. 25EU will get you in the door without paying for a tour. We went on a self-guided tour of the museum, the changing rooms, the press room and commentary boxes. We experienced the audiovisual and multimedia installations, sat in the VIP area, then down in the stands.

We were not allowed to go onto the field which was a disappointment but it was well worth seeing this massive stadium in all its glory. The next time we watch an FC Barcelona game we will feel as though we’re right there!

Tip for Camp Nou: Go during futbol season so you can catch a live game!

Two :: Montjuic

Montjuic “Jewish Mountain” is Barcelona’s biggest hill. On the side of the hill is the Montjuic Cemetery which you can’t help but notice as you drive into Barcelona from the airport. It is quite a beautiful sight.

Castell Montjuic itself is not near as impressive as other castles we have visited but what makes it so special is the view from the top.

From the castle I took a zoomed in shot of La Sagrada Familia that shows how big this cathedral is compared to the houses around it. So IMHO it was totally worth paying the reasonable entrance fee of 5EU.

Montjuic itself is a huge 57 acre park that sprawls over the entire hill and includes several parks within itself. Entrance is free, making this the best deal in Barcelona IMO.

I took the local bus to Montjuic and took the cable car up. I then walked around the parks and fountains and took the local bus back into town.

Don’t do what I did. Since the distances between the attractions on Montjuic are spaced fairly far apart I missed seeing several of them because of how long it took me to walk everywhere, although I saw more of the details by walking which was very cool.

Having said that, I would still recommend taking the Hop On Hop Off bus.

Tips for Montjuic:
1. Start at the top and work your way down.
2. Set aside an entire day if you want to see it in its entirety
3. Take the HOHO bus and get off at the different attractions in order to see it all because there is a LOT to see
4. Visit the castle on Sunday after 3pm to get in for free

One :: Works of Gaudi

Barcelona is home to the works of world-renown genius architect Antoni Gaudi, the world’s best practitioner of Catalan Modernism. Here are 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites of his you shouldn’t miss when visiting Barcelona:

1. Casa Mila

La Pedrera “stone quarry” as it is popularly known. One of Antonio Gaudi’s main residential buildings, his last and a total work of art. The next time I’m in Barcelona I’d like to go back and take the full tour so I can see its rooftop terrace.

2. Casa Batllo

Antoni Gaudi was commissioned by its owner to restore this old house originally built in the 1800’s and to make it stand out. One of Gaudi’s most spectacular works.

3. Parc Guell

Located on Carmel Hills, Parc Guell is now a garden complex comprised of a series of Antoni Gaudi’s houses (including his own). It was originally designed as a housing development project that ultimately failed. The city took it over and made it public in1926. Parc Guell has been one of the city’s most important acquisitions since.

4. Basilica de La Sagrada Familia

Maybe not many people realize this but Antoni Gaudi was not the original architect on this project but took it over after one year of construction and completely changed its original design. This is considered the most famous of Gaudi’s works. La Sagrada Familia has been in construction since 1882 with its completion not to be expected until 2030.

Click here to find out more about UNESCO.

Other tips for Barcelona: 
1. Put that gratuity away. Tips are almost unheard of among the locals in Spain. If you feel your server has gone above and beyond in your eyes in an elegant restaurant, a 5-10% tip is more than enough. If your server is waiting for a tip, you’re probably in the wrong restaurant.
2. With the exception of the touristy areas and a few grocery stores, Spain closes many of its shops on Sundays. Restaurants are usually open only in the mornings on Sundays but closed in the evenings.

Click here to check out everything Barcelona has to offer and use it to book tickets, restaurant reservations, tours, etc. Goooooooaaaaaal!

Read More ::

9 Don’t Do’s in Barcelona

Beginner’s Guide to Eating in Barcelona

Bangkok :: How to See It in 3 Days

Lisbon :: One of My Very Favorite Cities in Europe

I definitely want to return to Barcelona in the future – there is only so much you can do in one visit or even two and there are just way too many amazing things to see here. Tell me what you think about Barcelona so far?

In my next post I will share with you what NOT to do in Barcelona. Because I want to make sure you are fully prepared for a great time without running into snags. “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” — Benjamin Franklin

The post Top 6 Must Do’s in Barcelona appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.

Barcelona, what a pleasure it was

Experience Barcelona. From La Rambla to the works of Gaudi such as Casa Batllo, La Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera + Parc Guell, to Castell de Montjuic + Cemetery to the famous Camp Nou + everything in between. Barcelona is never a disappointment + has something for everyone.

If you’ve been to Barcelona what did you like best about it?

The post 20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Barcelona appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.

I’ve created a list of things you might want to pay attention to before you visit Barcelona. Not to say that they are all things to avoid, rather things that you should know that will make your stay so much more enjoyable.

1. Don’t expect to see a bullfight

As of January 2012 the ruling by the Catalan government banned bullfighting in Barcelona + the Catalonia region came into effect citing that they saw it as animal torture. Four years later a Spanish court voted to overturn Catalonia’s bullfighting ban.

Despite the ban being lifted, the bullfights have not returned.

There is only one remaining bullfighting arena remaining in Barcelona, La Monumental. But it is now home to a museum (Musea Tauri) about bullfighting.

The nearest active bullfighting arena near Barcelona is about 200 miles away in Zaragoza.

2. Don’t think you’ll be allowed to smoke just anywhere

In most areas in Europe smoking is still very popular. However, as of January 2011 in Barcelona tobacco consumption is prohibited in all public buildings + on public transport, including taxis. You can’t smoke at workplaces, railway stations, bars, restaurants or nightclubs. It’s also not allowed on hospital grounds, health centers + schools. Previous rules such as separate smoking areas in restaurants or free choice in bars no longer exist.

Up until the ban Spain + Barcelona had a reputation whereby the smoking in pubs + bars was so heavy that you couldn’t see your hand in front of your eyes + that the smoking bans were consistently ignored. But this is definitely not true for Barcelona. Even the majority of smokers were actually in favor of the strict law. Recent polls show that about 70% of the people in Barcelona are now non-smokers.

3. Don’t plan on going to a nightclub before midnight

Lunchtime in Spain doesn’t hit it’s peak until 1:30-3:30pm. Dinner is usually around 8:30-10:30pm. So you can see that it wouldn’t make sense for nighttime adventures at the bars + clubs to start earlier than closer to midnight. Right? But what if I told you that it doesn’t really get into full swing until about 2am? Well, that is exactly what you can expect. 

Barcelona has a well-deserved reputation for having some of the best nightlife in Europe, from greasy dive bars to high-class beachfront clubs + pretty much everything in between. Clubs are almost always busy until the bars close their doors at 6 a.m.

Tip: Although Barcelona is pretty laid back in their dress code for nightlife, leave your shorts + flip flops at home. As a matter of fact the only other item looked down on is tennis shoes. Anything else goes.

4. Don’t think you’re smarter than pickpockets

After having an absolutely fabulous time in Barcelona we had an unfortunate occurrence during our stay. And although this is definitely an amazing city to which I hope to return it has one flaw that can’t + shouldn’t be overlooked: Barcelona has been coined with the title “Pickpocket Capital of the World.” Unbeknownst to us before our visit, unfortunately. Let me confirm: this is not just a rumor.

So here’s what happened. Roydio went out late on our last night in town to buy some water at the store which was about a block away from where we were staying. As he was walking back to our hotel which was located in a dark alley less than a block off the main promenade, he was approached by a guy trying to get him to come to a nightclub. When told no several times, the guy kicked his leg between Roydio’s legs. Thinking it was strange Roydio turned around ready for an altercation, then kept walking.

About a minute later another guy came up behind him + asked “is this your phone?” And it certainly was! Apparently guy #1 had used the “kick between the legs” method of pickpocketing to kick Roydio’s phone out of his pocket maybe thinking it was a wallet! Wow! Apparently Roydio’s broken phone was of no use to the pickpocket so he must have just dropped it on the street – at least that’s what we figured happened. 

To this day we still aren’t really sure. All we know is that you cannot carry things in your pockets at all because they have found creative ways to rob you.

Tip: keep your money, phone, etc. in a jacket or vest with inside pockets or wear a money belt under your clothes that is not visible to pickpockets. If they don’t see an opportunity they will leave you alone.

 5. Don’t wear your swim suit in the street

Barcelona has a pleasant Mediterranean climate year round + is particularly warm + sunny from May through October. With a large stretch of beach not far from the city center it’s as much a beach town as it is a cultural mecca. However, unlike some other vacation hotspots, don’t stroll the streets in a bikini or swimming trunks even if you’re heading to the seaside. You might be able to get away with it on the beachfront promenade but cover-up elsewhere. It’s not just considered tasteless + inappropriate, it’s actually illegal. You can be fined 100 to 200EU if you are caught walking around in skimpy beachwear. Even men wandering bare-chested in shorts is not acceptable.

 6. Don’t choose the wrong airport

Europe’s budget airlines are infamous for flying to airports that are nowhere near the actual cities for which they advertise. For example Ryanair describes both Girona + Reus as Barcelona airports even though they are a long way from the city proper. Expect to spend at least an hour getting to the center from either of these airports.

BCN is the airport you want. It is closest to Barcelona’s city center.

7. Screaming after quiet hours — they will pour water on you

Being loud after quiet hours (around 10-11pm), is a major faux pas + violating this rule has consequences. You know why locals always keep a carton of eggs handy? Because they throw them at people who are being too loud! Throwing water down from balconies is another popular punishment for loud visitors. It’s really just about being considerate of the people who live here. Not everyone in Barcelona is a tourist without early morning commitments.

8. Don’t think Barcelona is like the rest of Spain

Barcelona is known as the capital of Catalonia + Madrid is the capital of Spain. Even though Catalonia is part of the Spanish nation it is a distinct region that has its own customs that make it unique.

Catalonia is one of a few regions in Spain that has its own language apart from Castilian Spanish. Catalan is a romance language closer to French + Italian than Spanish or Portuguese.

Catalonian food is also different from the typical Spanish cuisine + most known for its specialties such as butifarra (a cinnamon pork sausage), fideuas (a type of noodle) + calcots (spring onions).

Tip: Try to learn a few Catalon phrases. Bon dia = good morning, perdo = excuse me, sisplau = please. The locals will really appreciate that you are aware of the region’s uniqueness + that they speak their own language. Try this Kindle edition app of the English-Catalonian phrase book

9. Don’t try to see it all

Don’t try to see all of even the most important sites in Barcelona in one visit. There are people who have lived here for years + are still exploring new sides of the city. I’ve been in Barcelona twice + haven’t even come close to seeing most of the places Barcelona is known for.

I would recommend that you plan to see one major attraction for each day of your visit. Slow down enough to have a local beer + do some people watching, take in the atmosphere. Savor the local cuisine (I’ll cover that in more detail in my Beginner’s Guide to the Best Food in Barcelona post). Try to just enjoy being here because the best part of the city is the city itself. Immerse yourself in the culture. Barcelona is a truly amazing place.

Barcelona is a great city filled with history + culture + fun! But you will enjoy it much more by considering the things I’ve mentioned above. You don’t need to necessarily blend in with the locals but you certainly don’t want to upset their way of life.

My next post will go more into detail regarding the food. Because this is definitely a subject that deserves a post all its own. Bon profit!

Click here to check out everything Barcelona has to offer + use it to book tickets, restaurant reservations, tours, etc. Goooooooaaaaaal!

The post 9 Don’t Do’s in Barcelona appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.

Six: Barceloneta Beach and Platja de Barcelona

According to TripAdvisor Barceloneta Beach is the best city beach in Europe.

I took the following video at Platja de Barceloneta, a wonderful open square surrounded by restaurants and bars on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other.

Although you can expect it to be pretty crowded with tourists year round you can see it is a really delightful area to hang out. Whether you’re there to sunbathe, swim, dine, drink, people-watch or just stroll around here you will find the perfect atmosphere.

Tips:
1. Be aware that you will be approached by vendors trying to sell you everything from a circular towel to massages. Sometimes it can be annoying but you might actually enjoy some of their wares.
2. August is the most crowded month so if you’re not into waiting in lines you might want to choose another time to visit.

Five: Try the food

Of course you know I’m going to talk about the local food. Food in Barcelona is all about making the most of the best local produce and boasts some of the best gourmet delicacies in Spain. I’m just going to touch on a couple of options here. In an upcoming post I’ll go into more detail in my Beginner’s Guide to Eating in Barcelona.

Tapas

Known for its Tapas (small plates) bars, Barcelona does not fall short of variety and flavor and quality.

This is actually my favorite way to eat: small plates of a variety of flavors and textures. I prefer this type of dining over a big piece of meat with a big helping of potatoes + vegetables.

Paella

Another recommendation I have for you is the paella (rice and seafood cooked and served in a large flat shallow pan). Paella originated in Valencia and you can therefore find the best of the best in that beautiful coastal town but with a little research you should be able to find quality paella in Barcelona as well.

There is much too much to cover when it comes to the food in Spain so I’ll go into more depth in my upcoming post Beginner’s Guide to Eating in Barcelona.

Tip: Do your research to find places that serve authentic cuisine rather than the cheap and tasteless tourist versions. Once you taste the real thing you won’t want to settle for less.

Four: La Rambla

[AKA Las Ramblas. Originally a series of 5 smaller “ramblas” have been incorporated into one big La Rambla]

La Rambla is the most famous promenade in Spain, a beautifully tree-lined pedestrian street 3/4 of a mile long, stretching from the Christopher Columbus Monument on the south end to Placa de Catalunya on the north end. La Rambla is filled with restaurants and shops and souvenir shops and street performers, etc. This very popular Catalonian landmark is visited by tourists from all over the world all year long. Once you experience it you’ll understand why.

Mercat de Sant Josep La Boqueria

My hotel in Barcelona was located less than a block off the center of La Rambla, not far from probably one of the reasons why (you might have guessed) I love finding local markets everywhere I go: Mercat de Sant Josep La Boqueria.

I’ll go more into details in my post Beginner’s Guide to Eating in Barcelona.

Font de Canaletes

On the north end of La Rambla and the heart of Barcelona by Placa de Catalunya you will find Font de Canaletes, a popular meeting point.

Font de Canaletes’ legend is this: “If you drink water from the Font de Canaletes you will always be in love with Barcelona. And however far away you go you will always return.” I can attest to that! I DO love Barcelona and I DO plan to return, so in my eyes this saying is not just a legend.

Tips for La Rambla:
1. Barcelona is known as the Pickpocket Capital of the World. Be very aware of your belongings when walking the streets, especially in the crowded tourist attractions and late at night. Your pockets are not safe. I would recommend you wear a money belt or a jacket or vest with inside pockets in which to keep your money, phone, etc. I’ll tell you what happened to Roydio in my next post: Don’t Do’s in Barcelona
2. There is no way to avoid crowds altogether in Barcelona but August is their busiest month. Just a heads up.

Three: Camp Nou

My Roydio is a futbol player and therefore a huge futbol fan [not to be confused with American football: in the US futbol is known as soccer]. And because of him I’ve become a fan as well. Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe, in fact the third largest in the world in capacity – just over 121,000 and home to FC Barcelona whose captain is Lionel Messi who happens to be my fave player. So my visit to Camp Nou was compulsory. And it certainly did not disappoint.

**CHEESE WARNING** The following video is a little cheesy I admit, but Roydio was over-the-top excited about visiting this iconic stadium and couldn’t help himself from getting in front of the camera (not that he’s shy by any means). So I decided to include it here for you. You’re welcome.

Here is a panoramic shot for you as well.

For those who are fans (or not), Camp Nou is about as impressive as it gets. 25EU will get you in the door without paying for a tour. We went on a self-guided tour of the museum, the changing rooms, the press room and commentary boxes. We experienced the audiovisual and multimedia installations, sat in the VIP area, then down in the stands.

We were not allowed to go onto the field which was a disappointment but it was well worth seeing this massive stadium in all its glory. The next time we watch an FC Barcelona game we will feel as though we’re right there!

Tip for Camp Nou: Go during futbol season so you can catch a live game!

Two: Montjuic

Montjuic “Jewish Mountain” is Barcelona’s biggest hill. On the side of the hill is the Montjuic Cemetery which you can’t help but notice as you drive into Barcelona from the airport. It is quite a beautiful sight.

Castell Montjuic itself is not near as impressive as other castles we have visited but what makes it so special is the view from the top.

From the castle I took a zoomed in shot of La Sagrada Familia that shows how big this cathedral is compared to the houses around it. So IMHO it was totally worth paying the reasonable entrance fee of 5EU.

Montjuic itself is a huge 57 acre park that sprawls over the entire hill and includes several parks within itself. Entrance is free, making this the best deal in Barcelona IMO.

I took the local bus to Montjuic and took the cable car up. I then walked around the parks and fountains and took the local bus back into town.

Don’t do what I did. Since the distances between the attractions on Montjuic are spaced fairly far apart I missed seeing several of them because of how long it took me to walk everywhere, although I saw more of the details by walking which was very cool.

Having said that, I would still recommend taking the Hop On Hop Off bus.

Tips for Montjuic:
1. Start at the top and work your way down.
2. Set aside an entire day if you want to see it in its entirety
3. Take the HOHO bus and get off at the different attractions in order to see it all because there is a LOT to see
4. Visit the castle on Sunday after 3pm to get in for free

One: Works of Gaudi

Barcelona is home to the works of world-renown genius architect Antoni Gaudi, the world’s best practitioner of Catalan Modernism. Here are 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites of his you shouldn’t miss when visiting Barcelona:

4. Casa Mila

La Pedrera “stone quarry” as it is popularly known. One of Antonio Gaudi’s main residential buildings, his last and a total work of art. The next time I’m in Barcelona I’d like to go back and take the full tour so I can see its rooftop terrace.

3. Casa Batllo

Antoni Gaudi was commissioned by its owner to restore this old house originally built in the 1800’s and to make it stand out. One of Gaudi’s most spectacular works.

2. Parc Guell

Located on Carmel Hills, Parc Guell is now a garden complex comprised of a series of Antoni Gaudi’s houses (including his own). It was originally designed as a housing development project that ultimately failed. The city took it over and made it public in1926. Parc Guell has been one of the city’s most important acquisitions since.

1. Basilica de La Sagrada Familia

Maybe not many people realize this but Antoni Gaudi was not the original architect on this project but took it over after one year of construction and completely changed its original design. This is considered the most famous of Gaudi’s works. La Sagrada Familia has been in construction since 1882 with its completion not to be expected until 2030.

Click here to find out more about UNESCO.

Other tips for Barcelona: 
1. Put that gratuity away. Tips are almost unheard of among the locals in Spain. If you feel your server has gone above and beyond in your eyes in an elegant restaurant, a 5-10% tip is more than enough. If your server is waiting for a tip, you’re probably in the wrong restaurant.
2. With the exception of the touristy areas and a few grocery stores, Spain closes many of its shops on Sundays. Restaurants are usually open only in the mornings on Sundays but closed in the evenings.

Click here to check out everything Barcelona has to offer and use it to book tickets, restaurant reservations, tours, etc. Goooooooaaaaaal!

Read More ::

9 Don’t Do’s in Barcelona

Beginner’s Guide to Eating in Barcelona

Bangkok :: How to See It in 3 Days

Lisbon :: One of My Very Favorite Cities in Europe

I definitely want to return to Barcelona in the future – there is only so much you can do in one visit or even two and there are just way too many amazing things to see here. Tell me what you think about Barcelona so far?

In my next post I will share with you what NOT to do in Barcelona. Because I want to make sure you are fully prepared for a great time without running into snags. “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” — Benjamin Franklin

The post Top 6 Must Do’s in Barcelona appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.