I was lucky enough to stay in Barcelona for one month. I stayed with a family that I found through Workaway. It is a great program you can sign up for and speak with a number of different people in a number of different countries.
While I stayed here, I had the opportunity to explore a lot.
Here are what I think are the best places that are definitely worth a visit while you're here. I expect most people do not have a month of vacation, so I created a 5 day guide to seeing the most during your stay in Barcelona.
While I was here, I stayed in Gràcia.It is a great neighborhood to stay in. It is close to Parc Güell and Sagrada Familia. I definitely found that it was a more local area to stay, so if you're looking to stay somewhere more authentic and less touristy, I recommend staying here.
Day 1
I don't know anyone who isn't jet-lagged after a long flight, so take it easy on yourself. When you get to Barcelona, go for a walk, enjoy the city, and stop at a restaurant to enjoy some tapas.
Go see Gaudí's first major project, Casa Vicens, in the neighborhood of Gràcia. It was built between 1883 and 1885 and was designed during his orientalist period and uses many ceramic tiles to decorate the house.
Sagrada Familia by Gaudí has been a work in progress since 1882, making it the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. Gaudí died in 1926 and is buried in the crypt of the church, which is still under construction.4 The best time to visit is the late afternoon. Sagrada Familia is full of stained glass windows that give off brilliant colors with the right sunlight at the right time of the day.
You can find tickets to visit Sagrada Familia here.
Rooftop restaurant, La Dolce Vitae which overlooks Sagrada Familia. This restaurant is usually crowded so make sure you make a reservation. I went at night so I could see Sagrada Familia lit up.
Day 2
Parc Guëll is another creation by Gaudí and was constructed from 1900 to 1914. It is impressive, like all of the work by Gaudí, with its multicolored mosaics that decorate the park.
Get your admission ticket to Parc Guëll here.
Turó de la Rovira
This is an uphill climb, literally. But the views of the city make it worth it. And if you go here after Parc Guell, you're halfway there. It was the location of anti-aircraft artillery to defend the city during the Spanish Civil War. There are no remaining anti-aircraft guns, but there are signs that give details on the site.
If you're worried about all the uphill walking, you can always take the bus !
Day 3
Take the funicular to Montjuïc. It is out of the way, so plan on spending the day here visiting some magnificent sites.
Get your cable car ticket here.
Visit the castle at Montjuïc and the Joan Miro foundation, featuring over 14,000 of his artworks. And after, head to the botanical gardens.
Go see the light show at the Magic Fountain. Make sure to check the schedule and times before you go, the show is not every night.
While waiting, I went to get tapas at a very small but very good restaurant called TAPS. Of course I ate great tapas. I've become a less picky eater over the years, especially when I'm travelling, and usually choose anything from the menu.
Day 4
Casa Batlló is one of Gaudí's works of art. The upper floor is full of arches and the theory goes that this represents the ribcage of a dragon representing the dragon slayed by Saint George, the patron saint of Catalonia.
The design of the roof (yes, you get to go to the roof !) was designed to look like the back of the dragon. It is a large house that was inhabited by one family, the Batlló family, in the early 20th century.
Get your ticket to Casa Batlló here.
Walk around the Gothic Quarters. This is the historic center of the old city of Barcelona. The Gothic Quarter is where you'll find the Barcelona cathedral.
Also while you're in the Gothic Quarter, check out the mural, el peto, the kiss of freedom, designed by Joan Fontcuberta and uses images shared by locals.
Sign up for a walking tour through Get Your Guide : <Gothic Quarter Walking Tour>
Visit Cookona (Homemade Cookies Online Shop Artisan Cookies All Spain – COOKONA) for some amazing cookies for dessert !
Day 5
The beach in Barcelona is nice. And for your last day here, take a load off and go to the beach.
The beach also has a number of bars. I went to a bar called Jefferson. I had really good tacos and a jalapeño margarita.
Of course, you can't experience a whole city in five days, but this is a good list of places to start ! So use this list to make your next travel to Barcelona great !
*This post contains affiliate links that will give me a little money with no extra charges to you !
Comments