What do you think of when you hear Barcelona? What is the first thing that comes to mind? Some people think of a Spanish-speaking place. Others familiar with the location will talk about its seashores and pleasant weather. However, most people think of football, also known as soccer, for Americans.
As an African girl who grew up watching football(soccer) religiously, Barcelona has always been on my mind. Before I could dream of anything else, I dreamt about watching an FC Barcelona game in Barcelona. When I confirmed my study abroad program in France, going to Barcelona was the first trip I planned for. Regretfully, I did not get to go to Barcelona when I lived in France. I had another opportunity to study in Europe when I got into a master’s program in Ghent, Belgium. The first thing I thought of was, “Oh, here is another opportunity to study in Europe; therefore, I can go to Barcelona.” As luck would have it, the world shut down because of the pandemic, so my plans to go to Barcelona were squashed again.
However, my experiences in Belgium made me want to have a “re-do.” Although I could explore Belgium, the pandemic made it hard to explore Belgium and other European countries the way I wanted because of the lockdown and strict protocols. In my plan for a “re-do,” I decided to visit places I did not get to see, and the first trip was Barcelona. Not only was this trip part of my “re-do” plan, a realization of a childhood dream, but it was also my 25th birthday present to myself. Therefore, I planned a week-long trip to Barcelona and had a wonderful experience. This trip was my first vacation; I was not traveling because of school or work, so I did not have the backing or social support I used to have as a student and a professional. I had to use safety measures I did not use with my other trips; I had to do things independently.
As someone who traveled for long durations, I thought seven days was not enough to explore a city. The benefit of living abroad for an extended time is that it allows you to integrate into the local community. Shorter stays put you in a tourist mindset where you feel you want to fit the big tourist attractions in your schedule and do not have room to indulge with the local community. Since my trips abroad were for an extended period, I did not put a lot of emphasis on big attractions, and now that I was going to Barcelona for a shorter stay, I wanted to find the right balance to see the big attractions as well as enjoying and indulging with the local community. I found so much to do and experience when I arrived in Barcelona. I went on amazing adventures and once again tested my limits. Should you want to spend seven days in Barcelone, here are the seven must-do activities you too can enjoy!
7 Must Do’s in Barcelona
The lists below are activities that I did during my trip. There is so much more you can do and see in Barcelona. You do not have to limit yourself to these activities only. However, a trip to Barcelona will only be sufficient with the adventure listed below. A link at the bottom of the articles will give you access to other attractions. These are the attractions I highly recommend for when you are on a short stay in Barcelona. Let’s begin!
- Take the Cable Cab at Montjuic( Teleferic de Montjuic)
This activity takes the first spot because it is simply breathtaking. Full disclosure: I am terrified of heights. A previous post discussed how traveling allows you to experience things you are uncomfortable doing. Therefore, when I learned about this activity, I had to face my fears since I did it on my birthday. ( What a way to try something new!) For only 10€( I used a discount from the online discount voucher offered on the tourist site), you get a beautiful view of Barcelona from the skyline. It is a hop-on-hop-off tour, meaning you can get out at each stop to explore the surroundings and return to the cable cab to go to another stop. There are three stops in the journey, and you can choose to stop at any of them, explore your surroundings, or take another cable cab to your next destination. Inside the cab, you enjoy a panoramic view from Montjuic, the most historic mountain in Barcelona. You get a beautiful view of the sea. The cables can house eight people. The tickets are roundtrip tickets. Therefore, you do not have to worry about buying a returning ticket regardless of the stop.
- Sail the Blue Seas at Porte de Barcelona
If you love the blue seas and exploring our oceans like I do, buying a ticket to sail one of the bluest bodies of water I have ever seen is a must-do. Porte de Barcelona offers many attractions that allow you to spend an entire day there and never get bored. The port has an impressive history and is a place where You can walk on the beautifully paved sidewalk filled with palm trees. There are different restaurants around Porte you can enjoy. You can go to the Barcelona aquarium and enjoy the sight of sea creatures and live shows the aquarium hosts. However, my favorite activity was sailing the blue sea.
As a girl born on the Atlantic, grew up on the Atlantic and is also a Scorpio, I love being near any body of water. My trips are complete if I visit a lake, a bay, or the Ocean. Therefore, I could not be in Barcelona, a port city, and not sail the Ocean blues. There are tickets for various sailing activities. Ticket prices vary depending on the time of day and the different companies. There are several sea tours you could choose from. You can go on a sunset cruise and enjoy Barcelona from the sea with live music. If you love the sea in the morning, you can go on a morning light brunch or snack on a yacht. There are more activities you can enjoy while at Porte de Barcelona. Click here for more information on sea tours.
- Try every Tapas Dish Barcelona can Offer
Before arriving in Barcelona, there is one word you need to be familiar with, and that word is “Tapa.” The Catalunyan capital has bars and restaurants on every street, and tapa is always on the menu anywhere you go for a bite. Tapas are delicious appetizers and snacks that are popular all over Spain. Although they come in small portions, you can combine them to make a complete meal. Tapas can be cold or hot. Because Barcelona is by the sea, most tapa dishes in Barcelona are seafood. If you are a foody and love trying new dishes, ordering different tapas will give you various tastes of Spanish cuisine. One of the significant aspects of experiencing this culinary is that you can bring it home with you. Tapas are easy to make, and you can find great recipes to try once you return home. Here are some recipes to try.
- Visit the Football Stadium FC Barcelona.
Whether you are a football(soccer) or not, visiting the FC Barcelona football stadium is necessary. If you ever dreamt of watching a football match, where better than in Barcelona? You can go to a game or visit the stadium if no games are on the schedule. FC Barcelona also has a museum you can explore. The tour of the stadium gives you plenty to see and do. You get access to the stands, the field, the away side’s changing room, and the dugout. On the museum tour, you learn about the football club’s history. Some activities you can participate include a robokeeper challenge, where you practice making a goal with a robot goalkeeper. For those who enjoy virtual reality, there is the Barça 360º Experience—so much to do and experience from one of the most famous stadiums in the world.
- Take the Touristic Bus Around the City(40 stops for your adventure)
I will not recommend taking tour buses on a long trip because I love exploring a city on foot and on my own. However, taking a tour bus is a must-do activity on a short stay. It is the best and most convenient way to see all of Barcelona. It is a hop-on and hop-off bus; therefore, you can get off however many times you want. You can go and explore an attraction and get back on the bus to the next. There are three planned routes. There were two different routes, the blue and red routes, when I visited in 2022. You can start with one and take the other with the same ticket at the transfer points. You can access all of the attractions listed here on the tourist bus. The bus has free Wi-Fi and a comprehensive audio guide with 16 languages to accommodate any visitor. The tickets are valid for 24 or 48 hours. It allows you to enjoy each attraction at your own pace without worrying about transportation. The 24-hour ticket costs 30€, and the 48-hour ticket costs 40€ for adults, which is half price for children(4-12 years old). However, there is an online discount voucher booklet that can lower that price. You can use the voucher at other attractions, restaurants, and bars. (My mother and I paid 37€ for two 24-hour tourist bus tickets). Click here to learn more about the options that they have.
- Visit Parc Guell
One name that is famous in Catalunya and Barcelone is Antoni Gaudi. You cannot explore Barcelone without hearing or reading the name Gaudi, nor can you go to Barcelona and not explore the work of this Catalan architect. Park Guell is one of Gaudi’s masterpieces. Listed as a UNESCO Heritage landmark, Parc Guell is a must-see, especially if you love nature. Visitors can access the park’s 12 hectares (29.65 acres), which are filled with green nature. Visitors also have a panoramic view of Barcelona. The park is not like any park you have been in. Parc Guell contains designs and elements resembling animals and tree trunks that spark your curiosity and bring out your inner child. Parc Guell welcomes everyone; whether you go alone or with friends, you will have a fantastic time. Also, it is affordable. General admission is 10€(which is very cheap for what you will enjoy!) Should you want a guided tour or a group tour, you can book that. Here are more details on tickets.
- La Sagrada Familia
A trip to Barcelona is complete with a visit to Sagrada Famalia. You cannot say goodbye to Barcelona without saying hello to Sagrada Familia. When you google Barcelona, the first and most images that come up are of La Sagrada Familia. La Sagrada Familia is the largest unfinished church in the world. It sits in the Eixample district in Barcelona. La Sagrada embodies a mixture of art nouveau and modernism. When you get out of the metro and turn around, you feel the grandeur that the church commands. Whether you go inside or stay outside, La Sagrada Familia is a must-see. The ticket to see the inside of the church starts at 36,00€. The tour in La Sagrada allows you to take an elevator inside one of the two towers and enjoy a breathtaking view of Barcelona. Inside the church, you will see the burial place of Antoni Gaudi, the father of Catalan Modernism. His work and influence are not only in La Sagrada; He is the architect behind many famous monuments in Barcelona. He is the architect of Casa Batllo and Park Guell(mentioned earlier). You may need to plan well to participate in a mass at this cultural heritage site. Mass services are free. However, the splendor of this masterpiece does not need any scheduled event to amaze you.
In conclusion, Barcelona has so much to offer. A short stay shouldn’t prevent you from experiencing the wonders that make Barcelona one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Whether you are a football fan, an architecture lover, or want to sail the bluest sea, you have so many activities to do. Check out this link for more ideas on what you can add during your stay.
Don’t forget to tell me whether you want to go to Barcelona or you have been to Barcelona. What did you do, see, or eat? What advice can you add, or what questions do you have in the comments box below?
Until next time, Bon Voyage!
Xoxo,
Cy!
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