Barcelona, Spain
Trip Highlights
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Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona
One of my favorite architectural pieces in Barcelona that is not in the gothic quarter is the Arco de Triunfo. It is accompanied by a beautiful grassy area that is perfect for a picnic with friends :)
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Park Güell
Both times that I’ve been to Barcelona, I have LOVED going to Park Güell. Not only is the Gaudi architecture very stunning and unique, but it is a nice spot to go for a walk in the morning. There is a perfect photo spot as well, where you have a view of the entire city!
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La Sagrada Familia
A trip to Barcelona would not be complete without a visit to La Sagrada Familia. This church is absolutely incredible and never in my life have I ever seen such beautiful stained glass. The entire structure will just take your breath away! I recommend spending half a day here, as there is a lot to see and take in :)
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Museu Picasso
Museo Picasso is a beautiful, quaint museum in the center of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. Both times I’ve been I’ve loved the way they structure Picasso’s work, starting with smaller sketches and then moving into rooms with large paintings. A must do if you are in the Gothic District!
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Gothic Quarter
One of the most unique parts of Barcelona is the gothic area! Both times that I’ve visited the city I have enjoyed strolling through the gothic streets, as they are quite petite compared to many other areas of the city. The gothic era architecture is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before and the best way to see it all is definitely by foot!
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Shopping
There are TONs of great places to shop in Barcelona! This place is one of my favorite skin care boutique shops that was right outside of my hotel, the Almanac Barcelona! Highly recommend exploring various boutiques and bigger stores because there are great finds that are hard to find outside of Spain!
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Mercat Gótic
Street art, antique fairs and markets are everywhere around Barcelona. My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this antique fair and loved it! There are tons of unique pieces - definitely go with some time!
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Gran Teatre del Liceu
Gran Teatre del Liceu is a beautiful opera house in on La Rambla, Barcelona. I highly recommend taking a tour of the opera house, as you learn all about the history. The architecture, stained glass ceiling and painted walls are all incredible. It all took my breath away!
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Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló is a historic Barcelona building that was first built in 1877. For many years, the private residence housed many wealthy Spanish families. The private residence was built by Gaudí, whose beautiful architecture can be found all around Barcelona. I recommend taking an audio guide through the residence, as it will walk you through all of the history of the residence from 1877 to today!
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Day Trip to Monserrat
The mountains of Monserrat are a quick day trip outside of Barcelona, one I highly recommend taking if your trip has enough time. You can spend time exploring the church that houses monks, hiking the surrounding trails and going wine tasting. The views from the short hike my mom and I did while visiting were incredible and one of the highlights of my trip!
Food & Drinks!
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Galú
Galú was an incredible Italian restaurant that we visited twice during our stay because it was so delicious! My boyfriend ordered their bolognese both times that we were there and it was incredible! Also, not pictured, were the artichoke appetizers that we got both times and were quite yummy! (the perfect amount of crisp)
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Lokál
Lokál was a restaurant that we stumbled upon looking for a place to eat and it did not disappoint! It also doubles as a beautiful wine bar! The highlight of the meal was when we ordered the steak and they lit it on fire right in front of our table to smoke the rosemary, allowing the steak to absorb all of the flavor from the herb
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Brunch & Cake
Brunch & Cake is an iconic brunch spot in Barcelona that I had to go back to this trip because I loved it so much! Pictured here is one of their green juices that I enjoyed while reading my book in the afternoon (a great solo date idea btw!). Everything here is delicious, though my favorite meal was their matcha pancakes! A must-go and instagram worthy
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Almanac Barcelona
The breakfast at our hotel was truly to die for, I recommend anyone in the area stopping by for it! There was a beautiful spread of various pastries, bread, dessert, chia pudding and more every morning. My favorite piece had to be the fresh honey which you could scrape right from the comb onto your plate!
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Dow Jones Bar
You definitely will stand out as an American tourist here but it is quite fun to pop by for a drink or two! (beware of many college students on their study abroad trips lol). Definitely a unique spot!
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Flax & Kale
Flax & Kale is one of my all time favorite restaurants. When my mom and I traveled to Barcelona together, we went quite literally every single day of the trip for lunch. They have the absolute best acai bowls that I’ve ever had in my life, but everything on the menu is delicious!