Overview Hotels Things to Do Restaurants Nightlife Itineraries Facts Explore Travel

Travel Green to Barcelona

Description:

This Mediterranean city is full of dazzling architecture, delicious tapas, and beautiful beaches. It also has a long history of preserving its green spaces, and the city is full of parks with interesting histories and unusual designs.

user rating

Author: JennyMM

Day 1 - Barcelona

Gran Hotel La Florida may be one of Barcelona's nicest hotels, but it also happens to be one of its most sustainable. You can even request a carbon-neutral stay in their hotel. In addition, the location and the view of the city are unparalleled, and the rooms, cuisine, and service are top-notch. You can start out with your own walking or biking tour of the city centre, as there are lots of historical landmarks and museums to visit. The Arc de Triomf "welcomes the nations" to Barcelona, a fitting message for the start of your trip. Nearby is the Parc de la Ciutadella, previously the site of the largest fortress in Europe but now a peaceful park with a zoo, museum, and beautiful fountains and green spaces to enjoy. You can also get in some beach time right downtown if you want to, such as at the Platja de la Barceloneta, a good place for swimming and sunning. Just near the park is the Catedral La Seu, a huge gothic cathedral with lots of stained glass and a very impressive facade, recently renovated. Another fun way to see the city is to take a bike tour or to just rent a bike from a reliable company like Biciclot so you can get around a bit more. Ride along the Carrer Montcada, a street lined with the city's most impressive Medieval architecture. Several of the palaces here make up the Picasso Museum, which houses much of his earlier work that you won't see elsewhere in the world. Take a tour for some more historical background, or just explore the museum on your own. At dinnertime, stop into Sesamo for some delicious local cuisine, which is sourced from local farms, and is vegetarian but is enjoyable for carnivores as well.

1

Gran Hotel La Florida

Location:

view in google maps
Carretera de Vallvidrera al Tibidabo 83-93
7km (4 miles) from Barcelona
08035 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

93-259-30-00

Arc de Triomf

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
carrer de Roger de Flor 57
08002 Barcelona, Spain

Parc de la Ciutadella

user rating

Location:

view in google maps
passeig de Picasso 1
Entrances on the Passeig de Picasso and Passeig Pujades
08005 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 368 9700(Tourist Information)

Platja de la Barceloneta

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
passeig Marítim
08005 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 807 11 7222

Biciclot

Location:

view in google maps
Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta, 33
Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

(+34) 932 219 778

Catedral La Seu

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
Pla de la Seu
08002 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 310 0669

Carrer Montcada

Location:

view in google maps
carrer de Montcada
08003 Barcelona, Spain

Museu Picasso

user rating

Location:

view in google maps
Montcada 15-23
08003 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

93-319-63-10

Picasso and Miro Art Museums Tour

Location:

view in google maps
carrer de Montcada 15
08002 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 986 22 1399 (tourist information)

Sesamo

Location:

view in google maps
carrer de Sant Antoni Abat 52
08001 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

34 93 441 6411

Day 2 - Barcelona

Begin your second day with a walk through the Parc de Montjuic. You can see the Magic Fountain here, and get some spectacular views from the huge Montjuic fortress. There's another beautiful palace here too, the Palau Nacional, which is also home to the National Art Museum. There's a cactus garden in the park, and the Jardi Botanic de Barcelona on the north end, a garden actively involved in conservation of rare Mediterranean plant species. Take a walk along the Moll de la Fusta boardwalk for a relaxing beachside stroll, and you'll end up near the Iglesia Santa Maria del Mar, another example of a striking Gothic facade. The monument to Christopher Columbus is also here, and you can go up to the viewing platform for a panoramic view of the ocean. If you feel like getting a bit more walking in, meander down the Via Laietana, which has a number of buildings on it that are unusual in style for Barcelona. Then head out of town on the Cava Winery tour for the afternoon to see a bit of Barcelona wine country. You can also just hop on a train and go visit some of the small cava wineries outside of town yourself, which sometimes offer free small tours of their productions. When you get back into town, have dinner at 7 Portes, which has classic Catalan fare and more delicious wine, if you're up for it.

2

Palau Nacional

Location:

view in google maps
mirador del Palau Nacional 4
Parc de Montjuïc
08030 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 622 0306 (Museu)

Muntanya de Montjuïc

Location:

view in google maps
Montjuïc
08004 Barcelona, Spain

Jardi Botanic de Barcelona

Location:

view in google maps
carrer del Doctor Font i Quer 2
Doctor Font i Quer, s/n
08038 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 426 4935

Moll de la Fusta

Location:

view in google maps
passeig de Colom
08003 Barcelona, Spain

Iglesia Santa María del Mar

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
Plaça de Santa María del Mar
08003 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 3102390

Monumento a Colón

Location:

view in google maps
plaça del Portal de la Pau
08001 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 368 9700(Tourist Information)

Via Laietana

Location:

view in google maps
via Laietana 1
08003 Barcelona, Spain

Cava Winery Tour from Barcelona

Location:

view in google maps
Sant Sadurni D'Noia
Penedés wine region, Outskirts
Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 285 3834 (Tourist Office)

7 Portes

user rating

Location:

view in google maps
passeig d'Isabel II 14
08003 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

34 93 319 3033

Day 3 - Barcelona

There's plenty more to see downtown if you're up for another day of biking or walking around the city. Las Ramblas is definitely touristy and won't give you the most authentic impression of Barcelona, but is kitchy and entertaining in its own way and there are a number of talented street performers here. Also visit the Mercat de la Boqueria for snacking, drinking, and enjoying the sights and smells of the flowers and the market. Walk through Placa Catalunya, a huge square similar to many in Europe, filled with fountains, people, statues, and more people. Continue south to Casa Mila, a house designed by and dedicated to Gaudi, where you can take a tour that helps you understand the man and his architectural visions. If you continue south, you'll hit the Block of Discord, which houses the Casa Lleo-Morera, a fascinating of Art Nouveau. More art can be seen in the Galeria Manel Mayoral, which has both famous and lesser-known artists' works on display, and the MACBA, housed in an impressive modern building and showing some more modern works from area artists. Settle in for dinner at Pinotxo, which has the best breakfast in town but also boasts some amazing and unusual tapas dishes.

2

Las Ramblas

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
La Rambla
08002 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 368 9700(Tourist Information)

Rambla de Sant Josep (Mercat de la Boqueria)

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
La Rambla
08002 Barcelona, Spain

Plaça Catalunya

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
passeig de Gràcia
(Ronda de Sant Pere)
08002 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 368 9700(Tourist Information)

Casa Milà

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
passeig de Gràcia 92
08008 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 285 3834 (tourist information)

Casa Lleó Morera

user rating

Location:

view in google maps
Passeig de Gràcia 35
08007 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 368 9700(Tourist Information)

Galeria Manel Mayoral

Location:

view in google maps
carrer del Consell de Cent 286
08007 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 488 0283

Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA)

user rating

Location:

view in google maps
Plaça dels Angels 1
08001 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

93-412-08-10

Pinotxo

user rating

Location:

view in google maps
La Rambla 91
Mercat de la Boquería 66-67
08002 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

34 93 317 1731

Day 4 - Barcelona

You should take a day to explore some of the Barcelona's larger parks outside of downtown, such as the Parc del Laberint d'Horta, which has a romantic garden, pavilions, and a wonderful elaborate labyrinth for which it is named, or the Parc de Collserola, populated by the area's local flora and fauna, such as wild boar, foxes, badgers, and lots of birds. Another fun spot with a beautiful view is Tibidabo, a mountain-top lookout, which is right next to a great science museum. You can easily pop back on the train to visit some more wineries in the afternoon if you want to, or just relax at Parc Guell with a glass of wine and enjoy the scenery. When it gets dark, walk over to Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's architectural wonder, which is lit beautifully at night. End your busy day with dinner at Can Culleretes, one of Spain's oldest restaurants which is still going strong with Catalan classics made from fresh local ingredients.

2

Parc del Laberint d'Horta

user rating

Location:

view in google maps
passeig Castanyers 1-17
08035 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 428 39 34

Parc de Collserola

Location:

view in google maps
Carretera de l'Església 92
08017 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 280 3552

Parc d'Atraccions (Tibidabo)

user rating

Location:

view in google maps
Plaça Tibidabo 3
08035 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

93-211-79-42

Jean Leon Winery Tour

Location:

view in google maps
Cami de Mas Rovira
08775 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 899 5512

Parc Güell

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
carrer d'Olot
08024 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 317 39 74

La Sagrada Família

user rating

Location:

view in google maps
Majorca 401
08013 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

93-207-30-31

Can Culleretes

Location:

view in google maps
carrer d'En Quitana 5
Between Ferran and Boqueria
08301 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

34 93 317 6485 / 34 93 317 3022

Day 5 - Barcelona

On your last day, hit up the last spots you wanted to see around town. Another town square that has some beautiful architecture, fountain, etc. and some yummy food is Placa Reial, a quieter place in the city. A great place to visit to get a feel for older Barcelona is the old textile quarter, where the Catalan Music Museum is also located, and a stroll down Portaferrissa can give you an idea what life is like here for local residents away from the tourist spots. Camper foodBALL has an unusual name, but is a good quick place for a delicious organic lunch. For some more history, visit the Muralles Romanes in the Gothic quarter, where there are signs explaining the ruins of Barcelona's ancient history. Grab some afternoon ice cream on Carrer Ferran, and then head to the Platja de Sant Sebastia for some more afternoon beach relaxation. When you're ready for dinner, head to Via Veneto, locally sourced and one of the best restaurants in the area. This is Catalan cuisine at its most upscale and delicious, and this will most likely be a meal you won't forget any time soon.

2