Barcelona is the capital of the region of Catalonia. It’s the 2nd most populous municipality of Spain and the 5th most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid, and Milan.
This was the last leg of our 2-week long trip to Spain. Journey from Granada to Barcelona takes about 6-7 hours via the Renfe train. So, for this we decided to spend more Euros on the first class seats.
Tip: I recommend first class accommodation if you have more luggage. Otherwise, regular seats seem as comfortable. Snacks are available for sale onboard, anyway.
It was late night when we reached Barcelona, so without any further discussion we took a taxi to our AirBnb accommodation.
With the 3 days we had in Barcelona, I think we have covered pretty much the best things to do there. Below you can read our 3 full day itinerary. While we ate at some random places and sometimes at home (AirBnb), you can find the ones that stood out to me. And at the end of the article is the itemized cost that we spent, except on food, local transportation, and shopping as they may vary for each traveler.
Enjoy reading!
Day 1
Chocolate Tour
Surprisingly, our first activity was fun! For a chocolate lover like me, I had no idea that a chocolate tour exists in Barcelona. Oh yes! We were able to snap some photos as we arrived few minutes earlier to the meeting place.
La Rambla is a tree-lined pedestrian street stretching 1.3 km crowded by tourists and locals alike. It’s lined by news stands, souvenir shops, flower shops, cafes, etc.
Finally, we met our beautiful and friendly guide Carla. The tour started in Escriba, then we walked from one shop to another, and before we knew it we were on a sugar high. Another good thing about this tour was it’s like a walking tour with sweet stops. As we passed by important structures, Carla would share us some information.
Tip: If you’re in the mood for gothic architecture, visit the cathedral inside as it has received a lot of good reviews.
Most of the chocolate shops we went to are in the Gothic Quarter. Gothic Quarter is the center of the old city of Barcelona. It’s also one of the go-to streets for antiques.
We visited 10 shops in a span of 2.5 hours, each with different specialty; Escriba in La Rambla, Vicens, Xurreria Banys Nous, La Granja, Be Chocolat by Michel Clement, Caelum, Fargas, Santa Clara and La Colmena in Gothic Quarter, and ended in Bubo in El Born. I’ll make a separate writeup about this tour. Please watch out.
El Born is a different neighborhood on the outskirts of the old walled city, famous for its bo-ho feel, artistic edge and tapas bars.
DIY Architectural Tour
Barcelona is home to several buildings declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Especially remarkable are the works of Architect Antoni Gaudi. His best known work is the still unfinished church of the Sagrada Familia, which has been under construction since 1882. It is said to be completed by 2026.
Clueless where to eat lunch, we checked Tripadvisor’s recommendation. Tuscania Food and Wine is on top of the list. It’s a mediterranean restaurant just across the park where the above photo was taken. All our food tasted great and the service was good. For me, it was the best meal I had in whole of our trip.
Another famous street in Barcelona, the Passeig de Gracia, is a must-go too. The architectural masterpieces and designer shops that line along the boulevard made it the most expensive street of Barcelona, and also of Spain. Casa Milà and Casa Batlló are among them, which are both works of Gaudi.
Casa Milà was named after the Milà family, who owned the building. It’s also called La Pedrera because of its modernist stone facade.
A block away from Casa Milà is Casa Batlló. The building was bought by Mr. Josep Batlló y Casanovas and granted Mr. Gaudi to rebuild it completely changing its facade. Alternatively, it’s called Casa dels Ossos because of its skeleton-like structure.
Tip: To appreciate the lighting of Casa Batlló, visit during the evening. This photo was taken around 8 pm.
Thought 💭: Although expensive, I should have went inside Casa Batlló.
Day 2
Montserrat & Nature Park on Horseback
It’s a 6-hour private tour outside of Barcelona, inclusive of tickets and transportation.
First part was a visit to Montserrat.
Montserrat is 50 km north west of Barcelona. After about 30 minutes, we reached the feet of the mountain and took the Yellow Cable Car (Aeri de Montserrat) to get to the top. It was an enjoyable 5-minute ride as the views are breathtaking.
Actually, Montserrat is a territory of the United Kingdom. With an altitude of 720 meters above sea level, the peculiar shape of the mountains is no doubt noticeable. Here you’ll find the Monastery of the Lady of Montserrat and the Basilica of Montserrat. That’s why it’s also popular among pilgrims.
Thought 💭: I wish to hike there someday. Montserrat offers a range of trails to access it on foot.
Second part was horseback riding.
We went to a ranch to explore the Montserrat Nature Park on horseback. A brief orientation was made. Initially, I was skeptical as it would be my first time to ride a horse unassisted. Any level of ability will do, they said. As I took a deep breath, I hopped on my horse. I got comfortable after a while and enjoyed every second of it. The beautiful view of Montserrat and the tranquility of countryside is just so awesome.
Tip: Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and closed shoes. You need not bring a hat or cap as you’ll be using a helmet. And don’t forget to put on your favorite sunnies 😎
Camp Nou Experience
Camp Nou is the home stadium of FC Barcelona. With a seating capacity of more than 99,000, it’s the largest stadium in Spain and Europe, and the 4th largest football stadium in the world in capacity.
If you’re a fan, you’ve got to experience it too. We began the tour in the Barca Museum then wandered around the stadium.
Day 3
Magical Park Güell
Park Güell was named after its sponsor Count Eusebi Güell. Originally, it was constructed for a high-class housing development. But the plan failed as no buyer was interested in the project. Only 2 villas were built out of 61 proposed houses. Antoni Gaudí and his family moved into one of them where they lived for 20 years. Presently, it’s a museum where you can also visit for an extra fee.
A classic blessing-in-disguise event, everybody can now enjoy the park. Park Güell is the most visited park in the world. To beat the crowd, we came early. The park opens at 8 am, that is during the high season May to August. Entry is free of charge. But, the part where you see photos of Park Güell in social media isn’t. It’s called the monumental zone. The zone covers the entrance area with the salamander, the curved bench and the market hall. You get to pick the time when to enter this zone, but you can stay as long as you like.
Aside from the sight of Gaudí’s masterpieces, we got to enjoy nature and the view of Barcelona.
Indeed, Park Güell is not your typical park. It’s rather enchanting, like a theme park without the rides.
Since we still had time to eat before our next destination, we went to Passeig de Gracia. We found this cafe at the heart of Barcelona called Farggi Café. It offers a wide range of delicious pastries, beverages and more.
Shopping at La Roca Village
As it’s our last day in Spain, it’s time for some shopping. La Roca Village is a luxury outlet mall just 40 minutes from Barcelona. There’s an express bus with return available for your comfort. It’s best if you purchase the tickets online through their website in advance to reserve the most appropriate time that’ll fit your schedule. The pick up point is where else, at Passeig de Gracia.
Cost breakdown (per person): Renfe train (1st class) - EUR 55, PHP 3,078 AirBnb (4 nights) - EUR 195, PHP 10,940 Chocolate tour - EUR 60,PHP 3,293 La Sagrada Familia (with audio guide) - EUR 26, PHP 1,458 Montserrat & Nature Park - EUR 95, PHP 5,294 Camp Nou (basic tour) - EUR 31.50, PHP 1,765 Park Güell (monumental zone) - EUR 14, PHP 773 La Roca Village (bus return) - EUR 20, PHP 1,226
Tip: Book your tickets online to avoid long queues. Sometimes, the cost is even cheaper.
Barcelona is truly an interesting city. Someday I’ll go back with my family.
With ❤️, Sugar
Sounds amazing would love to go to Barcelona