Travel writer Simran Seera shares her love for Barcelona, a city that has everything you could ever want from a European getaway
Travelling in groups will always be like a turbulent plane ride – shaky, chaotic and potentially full of tears, screams and cheers. One of the reasons is because everyone may seek completely different things from the getaway. A nice beach? Great nightlife? History? Sightseeing? And let’s be honest, not many cities have it all. But just like the relief-filled excitement that comes after the plane has landed, we found one of the best cities to do it all. Cue Barcelona: from rich history and stunning architecture to the array of sandy beaches along the Spanish coast, Barcelona is teeming with adventure.
For me, Barcelona was an experience. We spent five days staying in the city’s tourist centre, Las Ramblas – the iconic street filled with outdoor markets, restaurants, fountains and more. We were right between the beaches and the city’s iconic sights, the essence of Barcelona in a nutshell. The best places to see here are the Gothic Quarter, Plaça de Catalunya and the Cathedral of Barcelona. In the interests of efficiency whilst wanting to absorb as much of the city as possible, we went on a 3 hour walk through Las Ramblas between stopping at all the picturesque sights, including seeing the Mural des Beso! Las Ramblas was the best place for souvenir shopping, gelato, and authentic horchata, so I would keep it for the end of the trip if you don’t plan on staying in this area.
We spent five days staying in the city’s tourist centre, Las Ramblas – the iconic street filled with outdoor markets, restaurants, fountains and more
Now for the beaches. La Barceloneta is by far the most popular strip and is the most crowded. Though we did spend an entire evening there, it was not our favourite – that was, in fact, Playa de Bogatell. This beach was beautiful; it had the clearest waters by far, was the least crowded and was a lot more peaceful despite it only being a 10-minute walk from La Barceloneta. But if you are going to visit the coast, a boat ride is a must!
From an architectural standpoint Barcelona does not disappoint! Antoni Gaudi’s influence graces the oldest and most prominent buildings in the city – from Parc Guell to major tourist buildings such as Casa Battló, Casa Vicens and Casa Milà. If you love the history or cultures that adorn cities then it’s worth going inside the centres or even doing the guided tours. In all honesty, I myself visited Casa Milà but not completely – while it had a great café and exterior, we spent most of our time in Casa Battló. Casa Battló was beautiful on the inside and the tour allows you to explore every room at your own pace including the rooftop at the very end. It explores Gaudi’s choices and use of colours in his mosaics and is an insight into Gaudi’s mind. They call it Gaudi’s Barcelona partly because Gaudi designed Barcelona’s most recognisable and cherished landmark – Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. This landmark is known for being the largest unfinished catholic church in the world and finally, after 142 years of construction, it is expected to be complete in 2026. If you only visit Barcelona for one day and have time to visit one location, put this one at the top of your list. The beauty of it from the outside is only doubled when you are inside. From the stained-glass windows to the carvings that grace every wall and ceiling, I can safely say this is Barcelona’s most prized and earnest possession.
They call it Gaudi’s Barcelona partly because Gaudi designed Barcelona’s most recognisable and cherished landmark – Basilica de la Sagrada Familia
And while there are many more exciting places in Barcelona to visit like the Barcelona Botanical Gardens, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya or even the exciting trip on the funicular to the famous Montjuïc castle, I want to talk about one final place. Now if you are a lover of FRIENDS (the TV series) or even a hiking fanatic, you may have heard of Mount Tibidabo. Mount Tibidabo is situated at the edge of Barcelona and in my opinion is much better than the Bunkers del Carmel if you want a picturesque and less crowded view of the city. At the top of the mountain there is a stunning cathedral – Sagrat Cor. Sagrat Cor is a peaceful church and has steps that allow you to reach an even higher peak; letting you see Barcelona from a new height. We spent our final day on Mount Tibidabo and it brought a nice closure to what was a beautiful trip.
Mount Tibidabo is situated at the edge of Barcelona and in my opinion is much better than the Bunkers del Carmel if you want a picturesque and less crowded view of the city
Overall, Barcelona was a city that we saw in many different ways. Whether it was in the eyes of a true tourist at Las Ramblas, an architectural connoisseur at Casa Battló, or just an average summer-loving beach goer at La Barceloneta, the city speaks in every language to every soul. And I recommend it – for the food, scenery and absolute diversity in activities or even just to live your ‘Amigas Cheetahs’ dream. I don’t think any city will ever solve the dilemma better.
The one that will appeal to everyone in the group. The one I implore everyone to travel to in their twenties. I give you: Barcelona.
Read more from Travel here:
Comments