MY FAVORITE FINDS
a city with so much art and architecture, and never quite enough time to see it all
Barcelona was the second stop on my solo trip to Spain, and I fell in love with it almost immediately. I can’t really explain it, but I think and feel in color, which Barcelona has everywhere you look. It made my eyes happy, and I wanted to explore every neighborhood. I spent three days there, and it wasn't nearly enough.
Eat & Drink
EAT
Casa Alfonso
My first dinner in Barcelona was at Casa Alfonso, a tapas restaurant near my Airbnb. I was a little nervous about showing up without a reservation, but I got lucky and snagged the last available seat at the bar. The whole place was packed, but there were others eating alone at the bar, so it felt like a great spot for a solo dinner.
I ordered patatas bravas, the Casa Alfonso bomb, and Iberian rigatoni, which were all fantastic. A glass of Spanish red wine complemented the meal perfectly, and I tried my best to eat slowly while I people-watched.
Casa Alfonso doesn't take reservations, so I'd recommend going early or being prepared to wait. I certainly wouldn't count on getting as lucky as I did!
EAT
Bar Andorra
I went to Bar Andorra for a late lunch on my last day in Barcelona. It was right down the street from my Airbnb, so I popped in for cochinita pibil tacos and a glass of sweet sangria. Both hit the spot, and the tacos were especially good (but messy!). The bar had a great retro vibe, and I could see it being a fun spot for evening drinks.
TREAT
Xurreria Trébol
When in Spain, you absolutely must take part in the Spanish tradition of enjoying churros in the afternoon. I went to Xurreria Trébol and their churros were delicious, but there are plenty of places to grab a bag of churros and a cup of hot chocolate for dipping. Calories don’t count if it’s culture, right?
Things to Do
SEE
Sagrada Família
This seems like an incredibly obvious recommendation, but Sagrada Família was every bit as breathtaking in person as everyone promised it would be. I highly recommend researching the best tour times before booking. I chose mine specifically to catch the afternoon light streaming through the church’s iconic stained-glass windows, and I'm so glad I did. Construction was still underway when I visited, and I got an up-close look at the incredible artistry and attention to detail involved in building it.
EXPLORE
Antoni Gaudí’s Architecture
I spent a lot of my time in Barcelona exploring Casa Vicens and Park Güell, plus an afternoon walking around the neighborhood surrounding Casa Batlló and Casa Milà. You can also see Casa Amatller and Casa Comalat by other modernist architects—works of art in their own right.
I recommend grabbing a good old-fashioned map (if you stay at Yök, they’ll give you one!), marking the places you want to visit, and creating your own route like I did. It was such a fun, phone-free way to explore the neighborhood and enjoy the fall weather.
WANDER
Gràcia, Eixample, and the Gothic Quarter
Give yourself plenty of time to wander through Gràcia, Eixample, and the Gothic Quarter without a destination in mind. Each neighborhood has a completely different feel, and you could easily spend an afternoon just exploring. I especially loved walking through the Gothic Quarter at golden hour, when the sinking sun made the buildings glow.
RELAX
Ciutadella Park and the Umbracle
My first afternoon in Barcelona was spent at Ciutadella Park. The sound of salsa music carried me over to the Cascada, where I found a group of strangers taking turns dancing together in the sun. I sat on the stairs nearby and watched them for a while, enjoying the music and laughter (and really wishing I knew how to dance).
Eventually, I continued my walk through the park and ended up at the Umbracle, a covered botanical garden with gigantic tropical plants arching over small benches.
SHOP
Flea Markets & Thrift Finds
I absolutely love European flea markets and thrift stores. They're so much better than what we have in the U.S. that it's hard to even compare them. So, when I plan a trip, I always try to stop into at least one or two.
On my first day in Barcelona, I walked from my Airbnb over to Mercat dels Encants (a rather ambitious 25-minute walk) to hunt for treasures. As soon as I walked into the enormous, covered market, I was overwhelmed. Like, really, really overwhelmed. There were vendors and people absolutely everywhere. The market had multiple levels, with people selling everything from antiques to bolts of fabric. I managed to walk through the entire market before making a beeline for the exit and some welcome quiet. Was it overstimulating? Yes. Would I still recommend going? Also yes.
Later that afternoon, I stopped by another flea market down at the port, where I bought two unique portraits to take home as souvenirs. I also stopped into several Humana Vintage stores later in my trip (my favorite thrift stores in Spain) and couldn't help but leave with a few new items.
