Sharing Travel Experiences

Barcelona, A Fabulous City

by A Guest Writer

Today’s guest post is by Linda Olsson.

A fabulous city along the Mediterranean Sea… A city that offers possibilities for everybody… Founded as a Roman colony over 2000 yeas ago, Barcelona’s first name was Barcino and was part of a state named Catalonia. After many years of revolts, reversals, wars and many uprisings and upturns, the most recent important events in the history of Barcelona were the joining of Spain into the EU in the year 1986 and the Olympic Summer Games in Barcelona in 1992. Nowadays, in the area on the Montjuïc you can visit the Olympic stadium or museum or simply have a stroll along this quiet and natural area. Due to the bright history and the beautification of the city because of the Olympic Games, Barcelona has much to offer and many attractions and is a very popular destination for tourists from all over the world. That is to say: Barcelona is never boring!

Barcelona is beautiful! Whether you are strolling through the the old town, at the beachside of Barcelona, in the newest neighbourhood named Eixample or the student and artist area Gracia, you will see that this is a city that provides everything for everyone.

The Old Town

In the old town, a very important part of Barcelona, you will find the Barri Gótic. This part is actually where present day Barcelona originated from and is the real heart of Barcelona, where some Roman structures still exist today. Barri Gothic and its neighbourhoods are now the most fashionable places in the city, a witness to packed cafes at night, and restaurants which make claim to having one of the best pizza places in the city, near Passeig de Born. This place is quickly becoming a trendy, fashion magnet for people all around the city, and even those who visit the capital of Catalonia.

Las Ramblas

Pick pockets, masses of tourists, human statues, artists, painters, flower stands, outdoor eating, pets… Las Ramblas!

Las Ramblas is a long, pedestrian friendly road that stretches from Plaça Catalunya to the Christopher Columbus statue near the Port. And if you walk through these green avenues you can definitely feel the vibe of the Barcelona character and you recognise that this city surely never sleeps… Not having seen Las Ramblas whilst having been in Barcelona means you have not really been in Barcelona. You are only minutes away from the large and impressive marketplace, La Boqueria, which is filled with colourful exotic tropical fruits and vegetables, a variety of meats and seafood, cheese and eggs. You have to try a fresh-made fruit juice whilst discovering the rest of the market-hall. Just off of Las Ramblas there is the famous Opera house called Liceu, as well as many plaza’s, the big one being Plaça Reial, which is filled with restaurants, bars and clubs. The restaurants near or on Las Ramblas do not have the best food, and are a little over priced due to the amount of tourists. However it is a great place to grab a beer or a pitcher of sangria and watch people. There are many bars around Las Ramblas to choose from since it is the centre of nightlife in Barcelona.

Raval

In the district of Raval, on the left side of the Rambla are many cute bars where you can have some Tapas and fresh drinks before heading to one of Barcelona’s numerous clubs. One of the most famous ones at the moment is the ROXY BLUE Club near the Plaça Catalunya. It has a variety of Salsa, Dance, Pop, and R’n’B music and it is easy to spend a whole night in there!

Don’t forget, the Spanish eat late!  And you’ll want to watch your wallet and pockets at night too.

The Beach

If you want to spend your time near the beach, Barceloneta is a perfect option. The beaches are very lively during the hot summer days. Xiringuitos (beachside bars), are found all along the beach, and are great places to grab a drink and/or a snack. The Parc de la Cuitadella is a short walking distance, and is an amazing place to have a picnic or visit the zoo of Barcelona. If you want something more special there are many seafood restaurants along the boardwalk and around the port. In the street Passeig Don Joan Borbó Comte you can find a very good Spanish seafood restaurant with very delicious paellas and pan con tomate. El Rey de Gambas will pamper you with the best dishes and tasty Sangría on your table!

Food

If you are partial to Catalan dishes, don’t hesitate and bring the taste of Barcelona home with you! The Catalonia region hosts the best and most famous restaurants in the world and has amazing food, wine and cava. You can learn how to cook the traditional dishes right in the city. There are many different food and wine tours, which teach you about the food, as well as classes which teach you how to make some of the most popular dishes and tapas. Not only will you learn how to cook, but you will also learn the history of many of the ingredients and spices. At the end of the experience, you can enjoy the food that you have prepared with a bottle of wine or cava. It is a great activity to do with your friends or by yourself.

Architecture

Gaudí and Barcelona! Nothing goes so well together. The Park Güell, La Pedrera (Casa Mila) and even the Sagrada Familia, which has become an emblem of Barcelona and attracts hundreds of tourists every day, wouldn’t exist if Gaudí wouldn’t have been here. Moving from one interesting place to the other is very easy in Barcelona. With the availability of buses, taxis, and the metro, getting to your destination on time is not a problem. Although the bus system appears a bit complicated, the metro is simple, well-marked, and easy to follow. Another more exciting way to get around is Bicing. The popular form of travel has been supported by the city of Barcelona. With stations located throughout the city, biking is now easy, offering a more affordable and environment-friendly form of transportation. The more sporty way to explore the city is doing it by foot, by jogging or walking. It is a crazy possibility that offers both, something for your fitness and something for your brain. And if this doesn’t fit your plan of a great holiday try a helicopter or a boat ride! These rides provide the clients with the outstanding views of the city that normally, its inhabitants do not have the chance to witness. As you can see, Barcelona has something to offer for everyone.

The Magic Fountain

And even for less money you can have an unforgettable weekend night. Next to the Plaça Espanya there is the “magic fountain”. It is not crucial to write many words about it, just grab a bottle of wine and a little snack and go and experience the combination of hues, lights, music and the impressive water display.

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About Linda

Last but not least we come to the most crucial point of your holiday in Barcelona: What about the accommodation? Are you going to you stay in a holiday flat, in a shared room or in a luxury hotel? It is not easy to find a well located and affordable flat or room to spend holidays or long-term abode in Barcelona.

Barcelona-home is a company located in Barcelona with more than 15 years of experience in offering tourists, students and companies services such as short and long term accommodation in rooms and flats and can help you to get free access to some of the best clubs. They offer the services 24 hours a day and 7 days a week and in 11 different languages.

Photos by Visual Panic, jaybergesen, papalars, tranchis, papalars, fluzo, Laurea, papalars

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