Barcelona Travel Guide

Destination
Barcelona, Spain
Sleep
Retrome Hotel
Eat
Tucco Real Food  |  Casa Portuguesa  |  Vins & Bens  |  The Bagel Hood
Shop
Zara  |  El Corte Ingles
See
Parc Guell  |  Barri Gotic  |  Mercat Sant Josep (La Boqueria)  |  Casa Batllo

When we went to Barcelona on a whim in March, all we wanted was sunshine. The weather in Paris was grey and dismal, day after day. We booked our trip only nine days in advance, which was uncharacteristically spontaneous for us. But it proved to be the best decision we could have made. Barcelona was so much more than just sunny and I would have absolutely regretted not visiting. In fact, I’m already contemplating when we might be able to go back – despite the fact that we have so many places in the world still to see!

Sleep
Retrome Hotel
I love hotels. Actually, I mostly love the act of choosing a hotel for a holiday. I happily browsed for hours to find the perfect last minute place to stay in Barcelona and the Retrome Hotel surpassed every one of my expectations. We loved the balcony in our room – almost every room has one – best of all. I still reminisce about the sunny afternoons we spent on it, drinking local wine and admiring the palm trees.

Eat
We expected it would be a challenge to eat in Barcelona. On our last visit, we ate out but found few restaurants we liked. And, to make things more difficult, Ian is now severely allergic to shellfish. But in reality, everything was easy. We ate so well – and probably too often! – during our visit.

Tucco Real Food – Carrer dels Codols, 27
We would never have found this hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant without a recommendation, but now that I know it’s there, I think everyone else should, too. They make their own pasta fresh daily and prices for dinner are still so reasonable. And, as a bonus, vegetarian options are available – which is still not always guaranteed in Europe!
Casa Portuguesa – Carrer de l’Or, 8
The best place to try pastel de nata, Portuguese custard tarts, is in Lisbon. But if you aren’t in Portugal, Casa Portuguesa in Barcelona comes very close to the real thing, at least in my opinion. If you visit early, you can get your tarts still warm and eat them in the square across from the bakery.
Vins & Bens – Carrer de Girona, 95
I admit we didn’t eat a lot of Spanish food in Barcelona. But we did drink a lot of Spanish wine, and we got it all from this little bar, also known as Carite Bar & Lounge, near our hotel. They offer a selection of local wines that is both impressive and well-priced.
The Bagel Hood – Carrer de Ferlandina, 61
Bagels in Barcelona? I know, I know. But hear me out.  Situated near the university, prices here are student- friendly. Just five euros will buy you lunch, with a drink, at The Bagel Hood. While the bagels aren’t exactly North American, they are made at the restaurant and the toppings are all cooked to perfection.

Shop
I didn’t bring anything home from Barcelona. But while you’re there, you may want to visit a few shops.

Zara – Multiple locations
I almost hate to include this, but visiting a fast fashion mecca in the country where it began is special. Zara stores in Barcelona are well curated and well cared for. The staff take pride in working for a local company, or at least it seems that way. And, as a bonus, prices at Zara in Spain are lower than anywhere else!
El Corte Ingles – Placa Catalunya, 14
I love big department stores. After all, I started my working life as a salesgirl. And El Corte Ingles is the department store in Spain. It’s worth a visit mostly just for the experience.

See
There is just so much to see and do in Barcelona. (And never enough time for all of it, of course.) This list is far, far from exhaustive, but these attractions are my personal favourites.

Parc Guell
This hilltop park defies conventional description – you have to see the way Antoni Gaudi designed it to believe it. It is easily my favourite place in Barcelona, particularly at sunrise, when the skies are pink and the crowds have yet to arrive.
Barri Gotic
Old Barcelona is a maze of narrow, winding streets, the buildings so close together that the sun rarely gets in between them. The neighbourhood is full of shops and restaurants… getting lost trying to find them is part of the fun!
Mercat Sant Josep (La Boqueria) – La Rambla, 91
The first historical mention of this large public market in Barcelona dates back to 1217. Since 1826, a market has operated on the same site, although the official inauguration didn’t take place until 1853. Today, the crowded market is popular with tourists. It’s not hard to see why – there are just so many food and drink options! Don’t miss the stalls at the back, which seem to offer the freshest fare. (And the only sugar-free juices.)
Casa Batllo – Passeig de Gracia, 43
Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi built three houses in Barcelona, along with Parc Guell and the Sagrada Familia cathedral (which remains unfinished.) Of the three, this is my favourite. The entrance fee is seriously steep – we’re talking close to thirty euros per person. I have yet to be able to justify it the cost myself, but just seeing the outside of Case Batllo is spectacular enough. There is truly nowhere else in the world like it.