abroad travel

Top 10 things you should see if you are in Barcelona

Sagrada Familia
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This was one of my best vacation in my life, this one week in Barcelona. I admit, I did not really think about going to Barcelona before. I do not know why it might have been, perhaps because it is a highly visited destination, or because I’d rather choose Italy. Anyway, browsing the page of Wizzair (since we have membership), this year we finally decided besides the Catalan capital. And I did not regret it at all. I was worried only about the weather alone, but it turned out good as well.

We spent 8 days there, from May 27 to June 2. Our plane took off in the evening, but unfortunately due to delays, we arrived at Barcelona in midnight. I do not know what’s going on with the airplanes lately, but they are always late, once the French air traffic controllers strike, other time it’s because the weather conditions. What are your experiences with this? Have you been flying to/from Budapest?

Now, here come the 10 attractions I think – and perhaps many people say – you should check out once you visit Barcelona.

Pin this for later. 😉

top 10 things to see in Barcelona

1. Sagrada Familia 

I do not think I shouldn’t present this temple, but I would say that it is the masterpiece of Antoni Gaudi’s life, which is still built today. It is planned to be completed in 2026 on the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death, making this building the world’s largest basilica. It is the main attraction of Barcelona, which is not a coincidence because I think this is the most amazing and most special temple in the world. As a religious woman, I love churches and I’ve been in so many, but I have not seen such a miracle yet.

Anyhow, it is worth buying the ticket (which costs 15 euros per person if you buy it online), because it offers an exquisite look from the outside, but the real miracle is hidden inside. As I entered I did not know where to look, it was incredibly beautiful. Each motif, pattern has a meaning, nothing has happened by accident. The whole basilica has a magical emanation, I have not experienced anywhere.I liked the windows mostly, as the sun shines thrugh the colored glasses, and this way it paints the walls colorful. The temple itself is monumental, 172 meters high, symbolizing the greatness of God. You can go to the tower, but unfortunately this was not included in the price of our ticket.

Sagrada Familia belülről

Sagrada Familia from inside

Szent Család Templom
Amazing interior
The museum under the temple

However, it is worth to go to the museum section, where you can see previous plans, highlighting the details, and watch a small movie about Gaudi and Sagrada Familia. What I would like to emphasize here is that although Gaudí’s name is related to the creation of the church, he did not start building, but Francesc Paula de Villar, and later Joan Martorell, who already worked with Gaudi on the temple. After Gaudi took control of the construction in 1884, he completely transformed his predecessor plans and started off in another direction. They designed the church to have 18 towers, 12 for the Apostles, 4 for evangelists, one for Virgin Mary and one for Jesus. Unfortunately, the works were slow, maybe because the costs of the construction were funded from various donations, and there was no separate budget. In 1926, Gaudi died in an unlucky accident, so he could not live to see the completion of the temple (although it did not taken place yet), but he still worked for 42 years, which is not a small thing. Another interesting thing is that they placed Gaudi’s body in the crypt of the church.

2. Güell Park

The well-known Güell Park also belongs to Gaudi’s works. Is there anybody who does not like parks? I can’t imagine that someone does not feel amazing in this wonderful park. The park occupies 17 hectares, some of which can be visited free of charge, to see the other section you have to pay 7 euros and I think it is worth it. Gaudi’s house is here, where he lived for a while with his father. Gaudi was quite solitary, he never founded a family, lived only for his work (for that we are grateful though). There are many beautiful buildings here, but I liked the Mediterranean plants most. It is quite far from downtown, but it is worth to come. You should bring a hat because the sun is very hot!

Güell Park
Güell Park
Güell Park
Güell Park
Güell Park
Güell Park
Güell Park
Güell Park

3. The parks of Montjuic 

You should take the chairlift, which goes from the port (Port Vell), but unfortunately we missed it. But the parks, the botanical garden are very beautiful. You can spend hours here too, so it can be really good for a person who lives in Barcelona and can come here a bit. Of course, there are beautiful parks in Budapest, but somehow they do not even come up to these parks. Oh, those palm trees … 🙂

4. Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (National Art Museum of Catalonia)

Perhaps this was the most beautiful building for me after the Sagrada Familia. Maybe it just me, but the monumental works impress me. It is worth to go up to the museum because of the beautiful view to the city. If you can, go with the chairlift (as I mentioned earlier), it can be a wonderful experience as well. But anyway – and it quite surprised me, as this is not usual in Hungary – there is an escalator, what leads to the building if someone can’t go on the stairs. Although unfortunately it does not go up to the entrance. In the museum, our bags are screened, just like at the airport, and they ask you nicely to have your backpack in front of you as a kangaroo. But the staff is very nice and helpful, and most people speak English as well. If you are planning to visit Poble Espanyol, which will be the next must-see sight on this list, you may want to buy the combined ticket, which includes the museum and the Poble Espanyol. So it’s worth it, 20 euros per person, and you can enter 2 places.

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
Beautiful view from the top

We spent a whole day exploring the spectaculars of Montjuic, but this was not enough. The museum itself takes several hours, and after that you can still walk a lot in the neighborhood.

The greatest Catalan artists

But what does this museum offer? Inside, outside beautiful and full of wonderful works of art that are exhibited by eras. There is medieval romance, medieval gothic art, Renaissance and Baroque, modern art, photography and numismatics. The lovers of Christian art will feel very well here, as the exhibition is full of religious themes in lots of variations. Beside the pictures you can see statues, carvings and beautiful church interiors. Many famous painters and artists are featured here, such as Tiziano, El Greco, Rubens, Picasso, Joan Miró, and of course Gaudi.

5. Poble Espanyol

It has an impressive mood, I loved walking around the buildings of different Spanish regions. When we were there, there was no big crowd, so we could easily look around.

The purpose of this place is to present the country’s culture, architecture and art. In addition to the buildings, there are museums, bars, restaurants and craft shops. We spent our lunch here. It is very worth it, because for 15 euro per person, you can have a 3-course lunch, and it includes a drink. The cookie was particularly delicious, as if it were half ice cream.

Poble Espanyol
Poble Espanyol
Poble Espanyol
Poble Espanyol
Poble Espanyol
Poble Espanyol

There was an interesting short film about Spanish festivals and traditions. It is called Fiesta. The film was very spectacular, they showed it not just on a small canvas, but on both sides of the room. For me there were some meaningless and dangerous habits, such as the tomato festival, when many people toss a lot more tomatoes. No wonder they did not give tomatoes to breakfast at our hotel. : D The other one, is the bull running. It must be a great adrenaline bomb, but it may end up with a fatal accident. Sometimes I do not understand people …

Anyway, we felt very good at this place, and great photos can be made. But you should go and see for yourself!

6. Ciutadella Park

The first beautiful place we went to after we arrived in Barcelona was Ciutadella Park. It is located in a huge area, and there is a zoo too. We did not have the opportunity to see it, but we walked around the whole park. There is a big boating lake that reminded me of the lake in Budapest City Park (Városliget), but in a much more beautiful form. And somehow I’m fascinated by palm trees, I do not understand why. 😀

Ciutadella Park
Ciutadella Park
Ciutadella Park
Ciutadella Park

Anyway, it was Children’s day when we went there and there was a lot of families there with the kids, so it was quite crowded. Maybe on other days they are fewer. I liked this beautiful building the most, it was impressive with the fountains, waterfalls and statues.

7. El Bosc de Les Fades (Fairies’ forest)

It’s not a famous building or monument, but it’s worth to look it, it’s so special. Next to it there is the Wax Museum, which is similar to Madame Tussauds, but it’s not that amazing – as we heard – so we left this out.

But the fairies’ forest is a very enchanting place, a small cafe, in a secluded place, where we escaped from the rain. Okay, not by accident, because we planned to go there. But you should definitely look in because it has a unique mood, I’ve never seen anything like this. As its name suggests, it is essentially like a forest, even storms and lightning effects. The trees have a face, and of course you can see little fairies here and there. Anyone who likes such fabulous places should definitely visit this one. Even the design of the toilet is interesting enough …

El bosc des les Fades
El bosc de les Fades

8. Casa Milà/La Pedrera (The stone quarry)

It’s just a Gaudi masterpiece again, it’s really impressive and it raises the city’s light.

Casa Milà, popularly known as La Pedrera or “The stone quarry”, a reference to its unconventional rough-hewn appearance, is a modernist building in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was the last private residence designed by architect Antoni Gaudí and was built between 1906 and 1912.

The building was commissioned in 1906 by Pere Milà and his wife Roser Segimon. At the time, it was controversial because of its undulating stone facade, twisting wrought iron balconies and designed by Josep Maria Jujol. Several structural innovations include a self-supporting stone façade, and a free-plan floor, underground garage and the spectacular on the roof-terrace.

In 1984, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. From 2013 is the headquarters of the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera, which manages the visit to the building, exhibitions and other cultural and educative activities at Casa Milà.” Source: Wikipedia

Casa Milà/La Pedrera
Casa Milà/La Pedrera

In any case, I really liked it, and it is worth watching at least from the outside. The entrance fee is 22 euros, which I was slightly waving. But maybe next time.

9. Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló is a building in the center of Barcelona. It was designed by Antoni Gaudí, and is considered one of his masterpieces. A remodel of a previously built house, it was redesigned in 1904 by Gaudí and has been refurbished several times after that. Gaudí’s assistants Domènec Sugrañes i Gras, Josep Canaleta and Joan Rubió also contributed to the renovation project. The local name for the building is Casa dels ossos (House of Bones), as it has a visceral, skeletal organic quality.

Like everything Gaudí designed, it is only identifiable as Modernisme or Art Nouveau in the broadest sense. The ground floor, in particular, has unusual tracery, irregular oval windows and flowing sculpted stone work. There are few straight lines, and much of the façade is decorated with a colorful mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles. The roof is arched and was likened to the back of a dragon or dinosaur. A common theory about the building is that the rounded feature to the left of centre, terminating at the top in a turret and cross, represents the lance of Saint George (patron saint of Catalonia, Gaudí’s home), which has been plunged into the back of the dragon.” Source: Wikipedia

Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló

This was the first famous building we’ve ever seen in Barcelona. We came by night by train (which is half a subway) and as we came to the surface at Passeig de Gràcia, we looked at this beautiful building with amazement. I’m so sorry I could not see it from inside, because after I arrived home I watched a video and it was simply wonderful. That is another reason to return to Barcelona.

10. Montserrat and the Black Madonna

Perhaps this was my most enjoyable and determinative experience of all. Although not explicitly located in Barcelona, but within the province there is this wonderful mountain. I’m not saying it’s easy to get here because it is not. We started from Sitges, went by train to Bellvitge, where another train took us to Montserrat’s foothill. From there we went up to the monastery with a mountain rail, and the view was simply breathtaking. What is worth to go inside is the Benedictine monastery, Santa Maria de Montserrat. Here is the famous black madonna statue with the little Jesus. We waited for an hour to get in here, but it was worth it. The church is beautiful from the inside, and the statue is very old and special. According to the legend, Luke evangelist carved it and St. Peter himself brought it to the rocks 50 years after the birth of Christ. A shepherd found it, who noticed the light that filtered from the inside of the mountain and heard singing.

The whole of Montserrat is built around facilitating the worship of the Black Madonna in the Basilica. The Black Madonna was believed to have been carved in Jerusalem at the beginning of the religion. It is a wooden sculpture. It is one of the most famous Black Madonna statues in the world and in 1844 Pope Leo XIII declared the Virgin of Montserrat the patroness of Catalonia.

I was lucky to touch the statue and ask for something from the Virgin Mary (which also came true).

Én és a Fekete Madonna
Me and the Black Madonna
Where to eat and hike

If we get hungry, there’s a good all you can eat restaurant here, it’s only fault that is only open until 4 pm. We arrived at 15:30, so we had to hurry, but anyway we could taste a lot. You have to pay € 16 per person, and for that money you eat and drink as much as you want. There are soups, pasta, meat dishes, salads, separate areas for children, fruits and cakes. Among the drinks, from the water, soft drinks to beer, to wine, almost all popular drinks can be found. Worth to go inside. 🙂

After we had a good meal, we decided to work off the many food and go up to the mountain. We used the funicular, which is not cheap, but it’s better than walking. From the mountain there is a magnificent view of the surrounding landscape, and I have never seen such a beautiful place. We walked to a small chapel where, unfortunately, it was impossible to enter, so we just looked inside. There are plenty of routes to go, but we had no more time to hike. So we must come back again. 😉

me at Montserrat
Suzie
Montserrat
The little chapel
Montserrat
Montserrat

+1. Sitges

Our accommodation was here, in this wonderful seaside town. I’ve been searching on the web for a long time to see where you should go if you want to stay close to Barcelona, yet on a beautiful beach. Sitges was cheaper and closer to the city than other towns near the sea. And indeed, we arrived in a very nice place, it was easy to reach, and Barcelona downtown could be reached in 40 minutes by train. The mood of the small town fascinated me with its narrow streets, the proximity of the sea, the cute church. It was just like on the pictures.

Sitges beach
Sitges’ beach

Sitges Sitges Sitges Sitges

El Greco szobra
Statue of El Greco

The hotel was also super, one of my best experiences, the receptionists were very nice and helpful. The only disturbing factor was when at breakfast both the women and men were staring at my boyfriend… If you understand what I mean. 😀

Well, that’s all, I hope is pretty convincing! 😉

Have a good summer everyone! Write to me if there is any question. 🙂

Suzie

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About Author

Hello, I am Suzie the face behind Suzinpsire. I am here to share my passion for gastronomy, vegan lifestyle and travel. I believe that if you want something in life you should give something first. This is why I blog. :)

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