Placa de Sant Felip Neri

May 19-29, 2019

To get from Madrid to Barcelona, you can take the high-speed train, which only takes 2.5 hours (using the Eurail pass if you have one). I took a long 8-hour Loco2 bus ride -made even longer by going to Guadalajara and back first- for €36.86. If you’re going in or out by airplane, the Aerobus is your friend.

I stayed at St Christopher’s Barcelona, conveniently close to Plaça Catalunya, for €29.90/night.

I spent a lot of days in Barcelona with family and friends, and honestly, it’s now one of my favorite cities with beautiful churches, white sand beaches, and dragons on dragons!

Some of my favorite things:

• Have a glass of vermouth or absinthe. 
• Hop-on hop-off tourist bus with Barcelona City Tour for €30 (but cheaper if you book online). From what I hear, the other bus tour is better.
• Best to book tickets for Sagrada Familia early. Architect Antoni Gaudí disliked straight lines and angles because they don’t often appear naturally, so he based the design of this towering basilica on the swirling curves of nature. It’s the most impressive cathedral I’ve ever seen. It really did feel like I was in a heavenly forest. I paid €32 for admission, an audioguide, and a trip up the Nativity facade tower. Gaudí devoted himself exclusively to this project until his death. This project is still considered under construction, following the plans and models that Gaudí left.
• Barcelona has a terrific nightlife, tapas and clubs included.
• At the end of Passeig de Sant Joanis is the Arc de Triomf, a monument with fun events and festivals nearby. Next to it is Ciutadella Park, one of the city’s main open spaces, laid out on the site of an old military fortress.
• El Born Cultural Centre is a small, free cultural center where you can see an archaeological site of streets and houses of the 1700s.
• Park Guell was built in the early 20th century. This project is intertwined with the architect’s life since he lived in what is now known as the Gaudí home and museum.
• Beach, beach, beach.
• The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia was built between the 13th and 15th centuries, but the main facade and all the visible gothic elements were added during the late 19th and early 20th century. Admission is free outside of 1-5:30pm.
• Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar, also known as the cathedral of La Ribera, is the only surviving church in the pure Catalan Gothic style. Free admission before 1pm. 
• Pastisseria Hofmann has the best croissants I’ve ever had.

Some things I might do on my next trip:

• Aire spa.
• Learn to flamenco dance.
• Hike up to the Carmel bunkers.
• Visit the Picasso museum and Museu de Cultures del Món.
• Go up to Tibidabo. Tibidabo is the highest point on the Collserola Mountains, a green area that offers breathtaking views of the city and where you can take in all its majesty from. Also, it has an amusement park.
• See the Fuente Magica de Monjuic night show on Montjuic Mountain.
• Day trip to Montserrat.