Must-Visit Places in Barcelona - Part 2
Further to my previous article about Barcelona, I wanted to give you a few other tips for when you visit the city. This blog post will focus on things you can do quickly if you're short on time, or things you can do if you just want to chill, or even things to do on rainy days.
Aquarium Barcelona
I don't care if aquariums are usually kids' favourite... I just love watching fish. On our first day in Barcelona, it was raining, so we thought it was the perfect time to go visit the aquarium. It is located in Port Vell near Maremagnum shopping center. It's easily accessible, and there was no line up when we got there, although we had purchased our tickets online for more comfort. The aquarium is quite nice, and there are two long underwater tunnels where you can see manta rays and sharks.
Casa Battló
*Just a little hint to help you avoid sounding stupid in front of people (like I did 🙄). It's pronounced "Casa Batillo".
This magnificent house was built by famous architect Gaudi. As most places in Barcelona, you can visit it for approximately €20-25, and you can purchase your ticket online. I did not visit any of Gaudi’s houses on this trip just because we already had so many things planned, but I will definitely go back to see it because it looks absolutely gorgeous based on pictures I’ve seen.
La Pedrera (Casa Mila)
Just like Casa Battló, this building was designed by Gaudi. I did not visit it either, only from the outside. One of the best spots to view it without a crowd is to go enjoy a drink at Terraza Alaire - Hotel Condes, which is located one block away.
Interesting fact: both Casa Battló and Casa Mila can be visited early in the morning before they open to the public. It’s obviously more expensive to choose that option, but I’m thinking it might be worth it because there is less people during the visit, which gives the possibility to enjoy the location even more and to take nicer photos without being rushed.
Montjuïc
This place is a small hill near Barcelona center on top of which there are many things to do, including watching the animation at night at Montjuïc’s famous magic fountain. On top of this hill you’ll also find Montjuïc Castle, the Botanical Garden, Poble Espanyol, the Olympic Stadium and the National Palace.
Tip: don't forget to check the timetable on Google if you want to go see the Magic Fountain show.
Museu Picasso de Barcelona
On a rainy day, there are tons of museums you can visit while in Barcelona. We decided to go visit Picasso Museum which was nice, but it wasn’t my favourite. We took the audio guide to learn more about the artist's life, but we found that it was extremely long to listen to - especially since there was a ton of people surrounding us. If you go, definitely purchase your ticket online before, otherwise the waiting line will be pretty long.
The museum was divided into two distinct parts - Picasso's early works, and Picasso's later works. Although he is undeniably talented, I much preferred the latter based on personal preferences.
*No pictures are allowed inside the museum, except here ⤵️
Gothic Quarter
This neighbourhood is one of the most famous, and it's worth wandering around its streets. There is a beautiful church you can visit, but for the most part it’s famous for all its shops. It’s a good place to go if you want to buy some souvenirs or new clothes! ✨
Lastly, here's a list of places to get some good food, I recommend checking them out:
Flax & Kale - 3 different locations to enjoy flexitarian food. Their menu is mostly vegetarian/vegan, and it's delicious.
Taller de Tapas - many different locations to try out some cheap tapas.
Buon Appetito - 100% Italian restaurant where they make their own pizza and pasta.
Bar Cañete - a typical tapas restaurant where I would suggest booking a table in advance, otherwise the waiting list can be very long (1 hour +).
Bar Lobo - just because you can never get enough tapas 😉.
Casa Lolea - a super cute traditional tapas place where they make their own sangria. You must go there! Don't forget to make a reservation.
Don't forget to eat a lot of churros, and jamón ibérico while you're there. You can get these two things pretty much anywhere. I got my churros at Tibidabo amusement park, and they came with a ton of camarel! 🤤
