Fyi right now they are doing construction and its a hot mess. We didnt know so we stayed in the…read morearea thinking it was going to be the happening stop. Plus because of construction its harder to walk around so not fun to get around.

An international centerpiece of the multi cultural city of Barcelona. It was a forty-five minute…read morewalk from one end to the other. Several outdoor cafe style seating in front of tapas eateries. Well known retail outlets lined most of the street on both sides. The best part was not the main street but the little side alleys with the mom and pop restaurants and "tchotche" shops. We had a blast in this hopping area and even found a small laudrymat to wash and dry our clothes since most European hotels do not offer dryers.

(Jan 2020) One of the best views of the city in Barcelona…read more It's a bit tricky to get there as it involves some uphill walking. Make sure to bring some snacks and drinks to enjoy the view. I was not able to stay and see the sunset but I bet it's a great place for it. The place is quiet, relaxing with a million dollar view. Uno de mis lugares favoritos en Barcelona. Me enamore de esa ciudad al ver lo linda que era desde los Bunkers del Carmel.

Easy to get to via the V19 bus. Various trails to hike, some more difficult than others. The main…read moretrail takes you to an open area, great for taking pictures, and even a picnic! There are tables where you can sit and enjoy a meal. There's a sidewalk towards the back where you get views of a nearby neighborhood.

What a cool quarter. It's beautiful in the day and even…read moremore beautiful at night. There is so much history and awesome buildings to explore.

The Gothic Quarter is the oldest section of Barcelona. My husband and I hired a guide to take us on…read morea private tour of Barcelona, and one of my favorite parts of our tour was walking around the Gothic Quarter. We enjoyed seeing the remains of a Roman wall, the Barcelona Cathedral, the Mercado de La Boqueria, the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, cobblestone alleyways, public squares, stores, restaurants, and more. If you are planning a vacation for Barcelona, then I highly recommend that you stroll through the Gothic Quarter.

First of all this is not La Rambla / Las Ramblas nor is it the southern end of it as some experts…read moreseem to claim. This is a bit of a counterpart to the busy Las Ramblas and starts just north of the Placa de Catalunya. As Las Ramblas it's a nice walking street lined with trees. But it's more quiet and at the same time more interesting. Trendy shops, luxury brands and lots of restaurants. And unlike on Las Ramblas there are actually good options to wine and dine. For fantastic Tapas just head around the corner onto Carrer Mallorca and eat at the "Cervesería Catalana". It's funny how this street isn't busier. Many just stop walking once the reach Placa de Catalunya. But you really should keep walking. This street isn't very long anyways and can be done in little time. But definitely worth it. W like it much more than Las Ramblas.

Be careful with your wallet? Otherwise a great place to promenade up and down the Old Town.read more

Truly a city worth visiting and admiring the history and culture. Having the chance to visit during…read morethe holidays made it all the better. From the holiday markets to La Sagrada Família, go get lost. Their public transportation system is superb and very efficient. A city I'll truly enjoy and want to visit again!

Barcelona is a city of contrasts ...where centuries-old streets sit next to bold, modern…read morearchitecture. In addition, busy city life blends seamlessly with the relaxed persona of the Mediterranean. For example, Arc de Triomp contrasts with bold, beautiful and modern public art. Barcelona is known for the work of architect Antoni Gaudí, whose designs define much of the city's skyline. His masterpiece, La Sagrada Família, is a spectacular basilica that has been under construction since the 19th century and remains one of the world's most recognizable landmarks. The Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic) is the heart of the old city, filled with narrow medieval streets, Roman ruins, and historic squares. It has been a central area since Roman times and is known for its architecture and cultural significance. Barcelona sits between the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding hills, giving it a scenic setting and easy access to beaches. This mix of coastline and city life adds to its appeal as both a cultural and leisure destination. Barcelona offers unforgettable cuisine, especially tapas and fresh seafood, alongside bustling markets like La Boqueria. While we were not able to have any this trip, we love their churros con chocolate...nothing in this world like it.

Man oh man, is this cathedral something else. It's so hard to fit in frame on a 35mm but the iPhone…read morecan do the zoom out. Obviously we had to show up for pictures spent the day out around the ground and in the park on all sides taking pictures with the thousands that come visit! Hot sunny perfect. We couldn't get tickets thru their app and scalpers were asking pretty heavy pricing. If you plan to go here then book in advance at least a month to be sure haha. The design is definitely kinda beautiful yet creepy at the same time. Here, there is so many details on the outside alone from every level of the massive church. Now the lady has been inside her last visit and told me there is only one floor and a lower level. Next time hopefully I'll be able to see it from the inside it was DEF packed with people so being sold out was expected especially as people vacation before returning to school (the kiddos) etc.

Our Sagrada Família tour was absolutely wonderful! We booked through Viator, and the tour was…read moreprovided by Crown Tours. The last time I visited Barcelona, I only saw the outside of the basilica. This time, I had the opportunity to experience the inside, and I truly believe it is a must-do for anyone visiting. Our guide, Albert, was incredibly knowledgeable and brought the history and story of this magnificent basilica to life. His insight made the experience even more meaningful and memorable. I highly recommend this tour, especially with Albert as your guide, to anyone visiting the Sagrada Família!

Gràcia was established in 1626, by a novitiate of Carmelites who established a Convent there called…read more"Nostra Senyora de Gràcia (Our Lady of Grace)." Gràcia was an independent municipality until it was annexed to Barcelona in 1897 along with other villages in the plain of Barcelona. The expansion of the Eixample district in the 19th century eventually led to the northward expansion of Barcelona, connecting Gràcia to the growing metropolis. Passeig de Gràcia connects the central Plaça Catalunya to Gràcia and other wide avenues in the area include Carrer d'Aragó, Carrer de Balmes and Passeig de Sant Joan (of which Gayle and I enjoyed a nice evening walk). The most well-known attraction in Gràcia is the Gaudí-designed Parc Güell which is located on El Carmel mountain and was on our "must see" list. Casa Vicens, Gaudí's first important work and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also located in Gràcia. Gràcia was also the original home to Teatre Lliure, one of the most prestigious theaters in Spain (the theater has since relocated to Montjuic). There are several notable squares in Gràcia including Plaça del Sol, Plaça de Rius i Taulet and Plaça de la Virreina.

My home in Barcelona! Gotta love the bohemian energy, the…read morestreets full of people, the great restaurants and markets. One of the best places in BCN!

Just so you know, I hate the word "Oriental" especially if someone calls me one. I ain't a rug, OK?…read moreHowever, it's acceptable to call the architectural style Antoni Gaudi used in the design of his first house as Oriental. The building has a Persian/Moroccan flavor with the constant use of decorative tiles, illustrated ceilings, and Moorish arches. It's not my favorite Gaudi building, not by a long shot, but it's a good starter course if you have time. It's up in the quieter Gracia neighborhood away from the crowds at the other Gaudi landmarks, but it's worth the trek. The grounds are unique in integrating the interior and exterior elements into a seamless picture of nature. There's a heavy dose of exotic Asian flair (...hey, I didn't say Oriental) in the ridged framing, the shape of the eaves, and the rampant idiosyncratic decorative touches. The rooftop is relatively modest for Gaudi, but this is where he started after all. RELATED - Other Gaudi landmarks I've visited in Barcelona: La Sagrada Família: https://yelp.to/SmWjkMcPwm Casa Mila: https://yelp.to/dFi2H3DRdL Casa Batlló: https://yelp.to/9us1P766zX Parc Guell: https://yelp.to/kfG-hLKx_Z Palau Guell: https://yelp.to/L67PFQbst- RELATED - Exploring Barcelona? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/4dTEx5T

This was Gaudi's first major commission, and it is mind boggling in the details. We were not able…read moreto get tickets at other Gaudi locations, but I feel like this was a good choice--not crowded, manageable size, and contextual information about Gaudi's contemporaries. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is a self tour--honestly the voice recording was a little grating, so we had one person in the group read from the text from theirs. The information is a must because there are otherwise very few placards identifying the rooms or highlighting details. The gift shop had lots of tempting stuff, much of it made in Barcelona.

The L'Eixample District in Barcelona is a gorgeous Catalan area full of vibrant colors, amazing…read morearchitecture, rich history, and delectable food and drink! Many of the things to do and see revolve around the artist Antoni Gaudi. The iconic Sagrada Familia, the gorgeous Casa Mila, and his topsy turvy work of art, the Casa Batllo. Aside from Gaudi's inimitable influence in the L'Eixample area, you can also visit the Plaça de Catalunya, which houses the Gothic Quarter (old style) and the more recent build architecture. There's a ton of space to walk around and see gorgeous sculptures, architecture and find a lot of local eateries, shops, and activities! If you're looking for an area to stay or visit while in Barcelona, you can't go wrong looking in the L'Eixample District.

The Extension! This neighborhood is a pretty great place to…read morehang out in Barcelona! This place has amazing designs, wonderful walkability, and fun stuff to do. Each block was originally designed to be a pretty much self-sufficient pod, which has its own markets, schools, housing, shops, and so on. You could live in your own block and never have to really leave. While building and designing this area, they got the architect Gaudi to come in and do some of the fancier places, which is pretty impressive. Everything about these places are trying to outdo their neighbors. No to balconies in here are the same! Everything is so ornate for fanciness. The walkways here are huge- there's not hard corners to the buildings, which gives a better walkway for the pedestrians. All the corners on the major streets are shorn off, so it has a diagonal entryway to the buildings, which makes for a larger area to congregate at the entrances. I felt safe in this neighborhood.