Beautiful Barcelona

Bienvenido! Once you get settled at your hotel, you will head out for a walk around L’Eixample for your first taste of this lively city. Aside from its wide array of shops, restaurants, and entertainment, there are several stunning buildings designed by renowned Modernista architect Antoni Gaudi. One of his most famous creations is Sagrada Familia, the organic and unfinished cathedral where he is buried. You’ll also find Casa Batllo and Casa Mila, two residential buildings located on Passeig de Gracia.

Later on, you’ll have traditional tapas at one of the many local restaurants as you watch the city truly come to life during the nighttime. Crowds of both natives and tourists flock to this area after dark to party well into the early morning hours.

Parc Guell, located on Carmel Hill, serves as a permanent outdoor display of Gaudi’s work and was once reserved just for the wealthy. You’ll head there right after breakfast at any of the local cafes for a multitude of incredible photo ops. The Dragon Fountain, covered in hundreds of vibrant tiles, greets visitors at the entrance. A walkway supported by twisted pillars perfectly showcases Gaudi’s love of organic design and natural shapes. At the top of this park is a terrace, featuring both a perfect city-wide view of Barcelona and a stunning display of colorful mosaics. And a house that Gaudi lived in for some time now functions as a museum, which displays much of his custom-designed furniture.

Delve even deeper into Spain’s history by walking around the Gothic Quarter, or Barri Gotic. There, you’ll find the stunning Gothic Cathedral, which was completed in the 15th century, as well as the ancient Roman temple d’August. Walk the narrow streets of the Jewish Quarter and head down Calle Avinyo, which was once the sight of Picasso’s art school. While in Barcelona you must visit the Picasso Museum, a genuine work of art in its own right. Afterward, you’ll explore La Boqueria, one of Europe’s oldest markets, to see and sample the incredibly colorful products it has to offer.

Wake up early enough to walk down Barceloneta Beach before it gets crowded. Barceloneta is the widest beach in the city, and while there you’ll find a picture-perfect view of clear blue waters and a long row of palm trees on one side and even more stunning architecture on the other. Although it’s cleaned daily, take a moment to up all the pieces of trash you may find along the way. While there, you can either sit and gaze at the ocean or take a dip into the water for an amazing cool-down.

From there it’s only a quick walk over to Parc de la Ciutadella where you’ll find even more incredible architecture. At the north end of the park is Castell des Tres Dragons, the site of the Zoological Museum. The Hivernacle and Umbracle, both designed by Josep Amargós, each house a vast and unique variety of plant life. And your trip will be far from complete without visiting the Cascada, an extravagant fountain inspired by the Trevi of Rome.

Today you’ll head over to Montjuic Hill, considered to be the birthplace of Barcelona due to its proximity to both the Mediterranean and the Llobregat River. Here, you can walk in a 17th-century fortress, pay a visit to the cemetery, and visit the botanical gardens. It’s also here that you will find the Fundacio Joan Miro, a modern art museum dedicated to Miro’s work. Arguably Montjuic’s greatest attraction is the Renaissance-inspired Palau Nacional, which serves as the site of the National Art Museum of Catalonia. Below this structure is the Magic Fountain of Montjuic Hill, which draws visitors every evening with its incredible light displays.

Spend your last full day at what may be Barcelona’s most famous boulevard, Las Ramblas. This series of tree-lined streets form a straight path from the Mirador de Colom up to the Font de Canaletes. Aside from the numerous cafes and kiosks, you’ll also find such landmarks as the Casa Bruno Quadros and the Palau Moja. As the evening approaches, you’ll walk west to El Raval for your last dinner in Barcelona and one last chance to take in the nightlife.

Enjoy one last breakfast and make time for a quick walk along the beach before finally departing to the airport and back home, now with plenty of incredible memories for you to look back on.