Traveling to Spain. Barcelona was one of the best cities to explore. There is so much energy, ambiance, amazing food and culture. I was craving a European flare yet with the simplicity of navigating the city.
Barcelona gave me such Rome vibes, from the alleyways featuring shopping, to multiple churches, parks and hidden restaurants. It was so vibrant and friendly. Also, I loved the fact that I would see a few Mexican restaurants. My heart would warm up any time I saw a bit of my culture in other beautiful destinations.
I enjoyed my vacation by staying in Hotel Duquesa de Cardona Barcelona located right in front of Port Vell. It is an upscale hotel with port views with somewhat of traditional glamour decor, with dining, and a rooftop deck with a pool and bar. However, the pool is on the smaller side. The rooftop views were amazing. Enjoy a cocktail! It was a perfect place to enjoy my holiday because it was amongst the attractions on one side and yet it had water views on another side.
La Sagrada Familia
First and foremost, La Sagrada Familia. It is a beautiful historic church. The texture, the colors and the atmosphere were all very much special. There is a nearby park with beautiful tall trees and so much greenery. You will need to buy tickets ahead of time as they do sell out, especially during high tourism season.
Park Guell
I made this journey walking from our hotel to Park Guell. It was the best way to explore other cities in between and enjoy some tapas along the way. In this way, I relished on being present in each moment that was presented. It was so interesting and wonderful to see the artistic graffiti and street art surrounding the town. So much talent.
Casa Batllo
A historic architectural value created and design by Antoni Gaui. The art building is meant to convey artistic elements with functionality. The current owners display the art for culture viewers to come and witness the work created. Casa Batlló is a UNESCO World Heritage site and an icon in Barcelona, this is a testament to Gaudi’s work of fine art and modernism.
Barceloneta Beach
It is located near Port Vell. There is a promenade that runs alongside the beach that displays musicians, bicyclists, beach bars, street performers and sand sculptors. It is a great beach if you want to relax by the beach and enjoy the sound waves and a tan or wonder in the promenade.
Arc de Triomf Barcelona
A beautiful, rich, vivacious red bridge brick stone aligned with beautiful tall green palm trees. The bridge represents so much including various countries’ participation in the World Expo and Barcelona thanking them for their attendance. On the other side, there are reliefs which attribute to the agriculture and industry and art.
The best neighborhoods to explore
Barri Gotic
The charming old Gothic Quarter or Barri Gotic has a wonderful medieval vibe. There is so much to explore in this part of Barelona. From the cute tapas and bars to shopping in the alleyway boutiques. It felt vibrant filled with a bit of darkness due to the architectural design.
- Dining tip: You have to secure dinner reservations at either:
They served the best tapas!
Las Ramblas
It is a street lined pedestrian walkway in the middle of a city that features so much shopping, antique buildings, dining, gelatos shops and tapas. Las Ramblas is close to Barri Gotic and Port Vell.
Explore and learn about Museu Picasso Barcelona. The museum is home to an extensive artwork collection made by Pablo Picasso.
Have you traveled to Barcelona?
What is something you would love to see there?
Melissa Medina
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