My very dear friend Chad was one of the few lucky ones to scoop up one of those outrageous airfare deals to Europe a few months ago. He somehow managed to get a ticket to Barcelona from NYC for less than $250 (yes, r/t!) and carry out his dream of visiting the bustling Spanish city.
Check out his Barcelona tips below!!
Chad’s Guide to Barcelona
I was inspired to travel to Barcelona after seeing the movie Vicky Christina Barcelona a few years ago. From the amazing Gaudi architecture, wonderful nightlife, and friendly locals, I knew this city on the Mediterrian coast was the perfect travel destination for me. Luck stroke earlier this year when Delta slashed their fares to Europe and the price for a roundtrip ticket to Barcelona from NYC dropped to $236 w/ tax! I booked right away, and was able to spend 5 amazing days in the city!
Resources
I’m not a big fan of carrying around a lot of bags when Im walking around a new city as It can weigh you down. For most of the trip I used my iPhone to navigate me through the city!
- TimeOut Barcelona App (http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/barcelona-travel-guide-time/id404444687?mt=8)- Perfect app to use explore the city. The app has everything you need to get you by in Barcelona from attractions to restaurants to nightlife, museums and tours. The best thing about this app, is that it works offline. There is no need for a wifi connection, which is a life saver on the go. I was able to pull up a map and locate my location and all attractions nearby in seconds!
Attractions
There is a lot of see in Barcelona. Tons of museums, parks and amazing works of Spanish Catalan architect Gaudi.
- Sagrada Familia- A must see attraction when you’re in Barcelona.This beautiful church designed by Gaudi has been under construction for xx years and still isn’t complete. The design is unreal.
- Museu Picasso- I wasn’t lucky enough to get a chance to experience this museum while I was there (late planning), but locals recommended it the next time I was in town. This museum houses one of the most extensive collections of artworks from Pablo Picasso.
- Parc Guell– Park designed by Gaudi is the perfect afternoon trip. Beautiful views of the entire city.
- Las Ramblas– Another must see attraction while in Barcelona. This is Barcelona’s version of Times Square. Vendors, street performers, and tourists from around the world line this block almost mile long street.
Eating
The best part of vacation to me is being able to enjoy foods from different cultures. Barcelona is known for their Paella, wonderful seafood, Sangria and Hot Chocolate (that surprised me too!)
- La Paradeta- This in-expensive seafood restaurant was amazing. Walk in and choose from a wide selection of raw seafood (shrimp, crab, lobster, calamari), grab a bottle of wine and wait for your number to be called. When your food is cooked they’ll call your number and you can start enjoying the yummy food. Be alert though because not all your food is ready on once, so listen for your number to be called more than once.
- Can Majo– The go-to place for the best seafood paella and Sangria! Amazing views of the sea outside on the terrace. Be sure to make a reservation, they rarely accept walk-ins.
- La Boqueria- This is Europe’s biggest food market. Tons of fresh seafood, cheese, and produce. There are several tapas bar inside the market that serve food. I picked up a few snacks and headed up to Parc Guell for a nice afternoon picnic.
- El Fornet- One of my favorite Bakeries in Barcelona. The breads are baked fresh and just smell alone will make any passerby stop in. I visited here at least 3 times on my visit to Barcelona for their amazing Bocadillos (sandwiches with meat and cheese)!
Nightlife
The city has a plethora of nightlife options because the Catalans know how to party. Be warned though, most of the action doesn’t get going until after 2AM. I spent most nights in the “Gayxample” a nickname for the gay area of the Example district. This area holds most of the gay nightlife in Barcelona.
- Punto BCN- Great place to start your night out! This bar is always packed and attracts locals and tourists. Tip: Free passes to other Arena bars are available from the bar!
- DBoy– Dance your Saturday night away! This huge space has great music, nice décor, two dance rooms and good looking boys!
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