3 DAYS IN THE CITY.
If you are planning a long weekend in Barcelona then below is the list for you. I have picked out some of the obvious attractions and a few hidden gems for those with a limited time in this amazing city.
The Corner Hotel
Credit: Select Media Group – Photographer Gurpreet Singh
This is one of the best boutique hotels I have stayed in anywhere. If you are planning to only be in the city for a few days then I would highly recommend this hotel. The location is great and very handy to get to various tourist spots such as La Pedrera and the Sagrada Familia. Also, the Eixample district where The Corner Hotel is located has plenty of great restaurants and bars for you to explore. The hotel has a modern yet luxurious feel to it. The room size is what you would expect for a boutique hotel, the service was great and the icing on the cake was the impressive rooftop pool!
www.thecornerhotel-barcelona.com
Sagrada Familia
Credit: Wikimedia Commons – Photographer Montse Poch
Well, this is the most iconic tourist attraction in Barcelona and maybe even in Spain. If you are visiting the city then you will surely go to see the Sagrada Familia. This cathedral has a very rich history and the first stone was laid down in 1882. Currently, there are still cranes surrounding the temple as the building is due to be completed in 2026. My tip would be to book tickets in advance if you are planning a visit inside the cathedral, as the queues and waiting times can get very long.
Tandem Cocktail Bar
Credit: Select Media Group – Photographer Gurpreet Singh
I was surprised in a good way by this cocktail bar, and firstly let me say that their website does not do any justice to this fine establishment. The ordinary exterior of this place is part of the charm and once you enter you realise that it is not so ordinary when it comes to drinks. The bar was one of the best stocked that I have seen which is saying something. An extensive list of whisky, gin, rum.. you name it and they’ve probably got it. So what to pick from the menu? Well, there actually is no menu at Tandem bar. The extremely skilful bartenders will ask you what you fancy, what your tastes are and then create a bespoke cocktail for you to enjoy.
La Boqueria Market
Credit: Marco Verch (foto.wuestenigel.com/st-josep-la-boqueria-market-in-barcelona-spain/)
If you are a fan of food markets then this is the place to come in Barcelona, and even if you’re not La Boqueria is worth a visit. Some guise of a market is said to have been organised in this location as far back as the 13th century. Nowadays the vibrant market is full of traders selling an array of seafood, cured meats, cheeses, sweets and fresh fruit juices. It is a great place to come for lunch as many of the stalls act as pop up restaurants, with tables and stools surrounding a chef who will be cooking some of the freshest produce you can possibly eat. If my recommendation isn’t enough, then those of you who are into your gastronomy may be aware that Ferran Adria (previously Head Chef at El Bulli) used to regularly visit this market due to the quality of the produce.
Vivinos Wine Tasting
Credit: Select Media Group – Photographer Gurpreet Singh
Being in a country with such a plentiful supply of wine encouraged us to try and learn some more about the different qualities and regions. If you don’t have time to go out to one of the wineries, then the Vivinos wine tasting experience is the ideal way to learn more in the heart of the city. They have various options including Wine & Cheese pairings and Cava & Spanish ham pairings. Our session lasted about 90 minutes, they were very generous with the wine even offering top ups on the ones we enjoyed the most. The host was very knowledgeable providing a few tips for us to take away.
Gothic Quarter
By MARIA ROSA FERRE ✿ [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
This is one of the more popular tourist areas in Barcelona, although it is busy it is a great way to spend the afternoon/evening. The Gothic Quarter has a great mix of shopping, restaurants and bars for you to peruse. However, amongst this commercialisation, there are also some old elements of the city to discover. As you walk through the winding streets you will stumble across an old cathedral with a beautiful courtyard or the impressive looking town hall. The Gothic Quarter also leads on to the Port area in Barcelona, so you can easily end up spending several hours walking around this part of the city.
www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com
