Barcelona, Spain & vicinity

Travel Dates: April 2025

Things to do in Barcelona

Park Güell – One of Barcelona’s most iconic landmarks, Park Güell—designed by the legendary Antoni Gaudí—is located slightly outside the city center. To get there, we took a taxi from our hotel, which cost around €20, as it was the most convenient option. The park has three entrances: one on either side of the Porter’s Lodge Pavilion—relatively close to Plaça de la Natura, the park’s iconic viewpoint—and a third on the east side, where taxis typically drop off and pick up visitors. We used the east entrance, which I’d recommend, as it seemed less crowded. We arrived just a few minutes past our scheduled entry time (you can enter any time within a 30-minute window after your designated time) and walked in without having to wait. We also purchased our tickets online in advance, which I highly recommend to guarantee entry and avoid delays.

Basílica de la Sagrada Família – Another must-see Gaudí masterpiece in Barcelona, the Sagrada Família is absolutely worth a visit. The architectural details of the church’s façade are stunning, but it’s the interior that truly takes your breath away. The stained glass windows are a highlight: cool tones of green and blue shine through on the east side, while warm reds, oranges, and yellows illuminate the west side. The time of day makes a difference—visit in the morning to see the cool hues at their brightest, or in the afternoon to experience the warm shades. Entry is on the east side of the basilica. We arrived just a few minutes past our designated ticket time and only had to queue for the security check. As with Park Güell, we highly recommend purchasing tickets online in advance.

Things to do outside of Barcelona

Costa Brava Tour – A day trip to the stunning coastal region of Costa Brava is something I highly recommend. We booked an 8-person group tour through GetYourGuide, which cost €115 per person. Check-in was at 8:15am at their central office in Barcelona (conveniently equipped with bathrooms), and the tour began promptly at 8:30am.

Our first stop was the charming town of Blanes, where we enjoyed a panoramic view from Castell de Sant Joan. We then had about two hours of free time to explore the Jardí Botànic Marimurtra (entry included) and relax at the nearby Cala de Sant Francesc beach. The beach offers a lovely coastal walking path, a restaurant, and a free public bathroom.

Afterwards, we had lunch at a local restaurant, which was included in the tour. The menu varies daily, and the tour guide will inform you of the options just before arriving. The meal consisted of a starter, main course, dessert, and a drink.

The last stop of the day was Tossa de Mar, where we had another two hours to explore. The highlight here is the medieval fortress Muralles de Tossa de Mar, with walkable walls and nearby beaches. For the best views, head to Mirador des Codolar—it’s just a short walk outside the castle walls, and you can follow directions easily using Google Maps. There’s a free public restroom located in the parking lot by the beach, where the tour guide will park.

We returned to Barcelona a little after 6pm and were dropped off near the tour office. Overall, it was a well-paced and scenic escape from the city—definitely worth the time and cost.

What to eat in Barcelona

Kook – This restaurant specializes in paella, so we opted for the seafood variety. While the rice was flavorful and well-cooked, the portion of seafood was quite limited, which was a bit disappointing. Ordering and payment are done entirely through your mobile phone, and the system prompts you to leave a tip at checkout.

Lluritu 3 – This seafood chain restaurant in Barcelona impressed us—especially with the scallops, which we highly recommend. We also tried the mixed clams, grilled turbot, and beef tongue with clams–I wasn’t a fan of the latter. While it seems easy to get a table if you arrive early, by 8:30 PM the place was packed, so booking a reservation online is a good idea if you’re dining later.

El Quim de la Boqueria – Located inside Mercat de la Boqueria, this popular stall serves a delicious mixed tortilla that we highly recommend. We also tried their house specialty—eggs with baby squid—which was salty and not particularly enjoyable. The seafood platter was a decent value, though nothing memorable. Be prepared to wait for a seat as it’s often crowded. A good strategy is to keep an eye on diners who are nearly finished, stand behind them, and make yourself visible to the staff at El Quim so they can help you claim the seats as soon as they become available.

There’s a public bathroom located downstairs in the market, with a €1 per person fee. It’s cash only, but a change machine is available. If you have a receipt from one of the restaurants, you can use the bathroom for free.

Jon Cake – This spot has gained social media traction for its cheesecake, and it definitely draws a crowd. We arrived a little after 2 PM and waited about 10–15 minutes in a line across the street from the shop. We tried a slice of the classic cheesecake and the chocolate cake. The chocolate cake was more of a rich mousse—overly sweet and skippable, in our opinion. The cheesecake was enjoyable if you like a creamy, mousse-like texture. That said, I still stand by the cheesecake I had in Ibiza as the best overall.

Chao Pescao – Don’t let the “self-service” label deter you—this spot is a hidden gem for fresh, affordable seafood. When you enter, it feels more like a seafood market, with a wide selection of fish, shrimp, lobster, and more displayed on ice. Simply choose what you want and how much, and they’ll send it to the kitchen to be freshly cooked. Seating is self-serve, and your food will be brought to your table once it’s ready. We especially enjoyed the scallops and shrimp, but the Dorada fish and anchovies were also good.

Where to stay in Barcelona

Hotel Europark – We found this hotel to be an excellent value with its competitive pricing and highly convenient location. The room was also surprisingly spacious, especially considering that accommodations in major European cities are often quite small. We also appreciated the welcome glass of Cava and two complimentary bottles of water in the room.

Other tips when traveling to Barcelona

Taxi vs Uber –

• If you’re arriving at Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) and plan to take an Uber, proceed to Parking Lot C. Look for the Uber signage and set your pickup location in the app as “Terminal 1 – Module C.”
• While getting around Barcelona, we found that Uber tends to be cheaper for longer distances, though wait times can take a while—sometimes more than 10 minutes. For shorter trips (under 10 minutes), flagging down a taxi is usually faster and can even be slightly cheaper.
• There were a few times when we tried to flag down an available taxi, and the drivers would slow down but refuse to pick us up. While we eventually got a ride, it was a bit confusing. It’s possible that certain areas have restrictions on where taxis can stop. We did read online that Barcelona regulations may prohibit circling taxis from picking up passengers within 50 meters of a taxi stand.