If there’s one place I’ve been that has made me want to stay indefinitely, it’s Barcelona. Everything about it is just so… cool. The food is incredible, the beach is right there, the streets are full of character, the sun shines and the people are gorgeous! They’ve also completely mastered the relaxed-but-at-the-same-time-impressive interiors which I’m down with. It’s a hard task to fit in because the Catalan’s are just so… dare I say the word ‘cool’ again without seeming like a creep? but one can definitely try. And when trying involves bike riding, replacing water with sangria and eating enough fresh fish to fill a small boat? Then so be it.
Once again you guys furnished me with enough recommendations to keep me going for months, and with intel from my cousin who’s lived there and another friend of ours who’s a local, we were pretty well equipped for this amazing city. Just sad it was only 4 days!
You must (MUST!) hire a bike and ride the entire city, ending the day with Paella and a swim!
Barcelona Travel Guide
Stay
In the barrios of El Born or Eixample. We stayed at the gorgeous Casa Bonay which I very much recommend, it was somewhat reasonably priced and was saaaaaa hip, kinda Ace Hotelesque, a vibe which I am unapologetically into. The only thing I would be careful of is that I think some of the inner facing rooms may not have many windows, which is a pet hate of mine, so maybe check if you are going for the cheaper ones. I also liked the look of the two Praktik locations and also Margot House.
See & Do
Hire a bike and explore the city, you’ll find bike shops everywhere although we loved the guys at Vespa Soul (the bikes are cute without any crazy ‘please rob me I am tourist’ branding and they gave me a basket!)
Visit the gorgeous cactus gardens at Jardins Mossèn Costa i Llobera, and then have a drink at the top of the hill overlooking the city.
Wander the different neighbourhoods of Barcelona, my favourite being Barceloneta (quaint beachy vibe), El Born (gothic quarter) and Gracia (design/artsy quarter).
Tour Gaudi‘s works, my favourite being Parc Gruell and La Sagrada De Familia.
Shop at La Manual (read more about our visit here), StudioStore and La Clinique.
Get to know the Gothic quarter, start early and wander the quiet streets.
Eat & Drink
Have delicious fresh seafood by the beach at either Gallito, Pez Vela (both right on the beach) or Barraca (across the road overlooking the beach). This was obviously my favourite spot to spend hours and hours.
Have an Aussie style breakfast at Federal cafe.
Eat incredible mexican at Hoja Santa (not cheap so good for a more fancy evening).
Have a drink at El Nacionale.
Have a drink and some delicious tapas at Quinmet & Quinmet.
Drop in for lunch at Boqueria, the main food market. Or even just ride by to pick up some frutas for your beach afternoon. Touristy yes, but so worth it!
At one of the restaurants in our Hotel – Libertine, Elephant Crocodile Monkey, Mother or Satan’s Coffee Corner.
Grab a coffee at Nomad.
Good to know
The best thing to do is to live like the gorgeous Barcelonean people – wake up late, ride around on a bike, have paella by the beach and then spend the afternoon in a sangria haze on a towel. A late dinner tops it all off!
Drinks and shoefies at El Nacionale
A visit up the hill to the cactus garden (wearing Paddo to Palmy top, vintage levis, Springcourt sneakers)
Plants & Coffee
My fave plants and coffee place in Poblenau.
More plants (sorry guys!). Wearing Cecelie Copenhagen top, Cotton On tank, The Simple Sandal and Coach bag.
Gorgeous gothic architecture.
Bought this record in a little shop.
Frutas! At Boqueria
My usual view… Ben on his bike.
Exploring the gothic quarter
La Manual Espadrille Shop
Sweets in El Borne
I loved the Example neighbourhood, with the chamfered buildings (the corners of the blocks cut out).
Shopping in El Born
The Catalans just totally get how beachside interiors should look.
Up close and personal with cacti.
All about the greens.
A few little personal snaps – the yummiest fish at Gallito and Ben and I in the cactus garden.
Just booked my flights back to spain in a few months, this time it’s Sierra Navada, Granada, Cordoba and Seville! xxxx
Love your blog!! Definitely going to save this post – may I ever find myself in Barcelona 🙂
Just uploaded an outfit-post on my blog (incl. Levi’s 501 shorts and a vintage Nike sweatshirt). Why don’t you check it out? 🙂
Xx from the Netherlands,
Roos
http://rooskoks.com
You write the best travel guides Geneva! I’m heading to Barca in Oct so have saved this post, I went there years ago so it’s nice to see what new and current going on there. I’ve also been reading your Japan posts for another trip 🙂
I am glad you enjoyed my city. I love living in Barcelona and never get tired of discovering new places. My favorite quarter is, undoubtedly El Born 🙂 I see you liked it too. It’s been nice to read all this beautiful lines of thoughts about the place I live and looking at the pictures. You should come again soon for more days 😛
XO
Maria
http://www.emerjadesign.com
I have been wanting to go to Barcelona for some time now, this is a great guide! x
http://flareaforte.blogspot.co.uk
Oh great, thank you! I’m planning to go there in October.
This is great, I haven’t been to Barcelona in years and I’m keen to get back there. I absolutely loved the Alhambra Palace at Granada, if it isn’t already on your must do list then it should be.
Strangely I’ve never been to Barcelona before. It was never really high on my must-see list. Too bad actually, it looks gorgeous! Maybe going next year.
Amazing travel guide! I really want to visit Barcelona.
Abigail Alice x
Ah, Barcelona! I had a marvellous time there this summer (but for the AirBnb incident which apparently is a very common occurrence in Spain) but wished I knew about the cactus garden – it looks amazing! x
Daydreaming With…Stanley Kubrick – Posh, Broke, & Bored
I almost forgot how wonderful Barcelona is 🙂
Love the pictures!! Definitely saving this post for our next trip, been to Barcelona once before and we want to go again soon 🙂
xxx and all the best from Berlin
Tina
bookmarking this for future reference! loved following your travels on snapchat and now reading about it on your blog. gorgeous pictures as always 🙂
xo Sarah
Absolutely Sarah | Bloglovin | COMPETITON
Wow, I’d love to visit Barcelona one day, it seems like a beautiful place!
Diana | http://www.thechicdiary.com
Beautiful pictures, love them all and your tips and recs! 🙂
x
StephC
http://sstephcc.blogspot.com/
These pictures are gorgeous! they brought back many happy memories-last year a dear friend and I had a girls week there and it’s one of my favourite memories 🙂
Julia
ExploresMore.com
Totally agree with you – Barcelona simply is the best!! The best of everything and I could easily live in this city for the rest of my life:-)
This is such a stupidly beautiful post!! I’d give anything to visit barcelona, it just looks so stunning. If I ever get round to booking a trip I’ll come back & read this again, so helpful my love!
Katie // wordsbykatie.com
You did put up a great guide too. Lovely photos! I love the first one with the bike, amazing contrast!
Barcelona is just such a beautiful city, I want to get back there as soon as possible!
https://www.makeandmess.com/
Agh, beautiful photographs! Taking note for when I visit Barcelona someday soon, hopefully!
Lauren Espino
http://poshpossibilities.blogspot.com
Hi Geneva,
Another fantastic city guide – thank you. Fabulous photos. What camera do you use?
Hi Geneva,
Another fantastic city guide – thank you. What camera do you use to take your fabulous photos?
Would love one for Greece and Antibes/Nice!
Love these tips, Barcelona was so much fun when i went
Mel x
http://www.mediamarmalade.com
Barcelona is one of my favorite cities to visit! Mainly because of all of Gaudi’s works around the city and the food! Sounds like you really saw so much of the city =o) Good idea to bike!
http://www.dreamofadventures.com/
Barcelona’s definitely on my list <3 🙂 Loving how pretty all of the photos look! Looks like you had such a great time!
XO, Elizabeth
http://clothestoyouuu.com/
So so glad I stumbled upon your blog just in time for my upcoming trip to Barcelona … it’s lovely. xx
Can we make the Espadrilles with our own design in Espadrille Shop or just to buy the already existing?