If you are in Barcelona for only a day or a short period of time, this post is for you. Barcelona has some very unique vibe and crazy fun architecture. Here I want to list some of the must do of the city during a quick trip to this beautiful city. Barcelona's highlights will definitely include visiting some of the whimsical architecture from Antoni Gaudí. Besides these recommendations, I also suggest you walk around, eat tapas in many places and enjoy the vibe!
Sagrada Familia
I made a full post about visiting Sagrada Familia. The most important part is to book it ahead of time because it gets sold out and DO NOT BE LATE! Too many people did not make it inside because they were late from their reservations.
Previous post about La Sagrada Familia (with more details)
2. Park Güel
What was mean to be housing for the rich ended up to be this whimsical park built around the elements. Hard to explain the juxtaposition of the architecture with the surroundings which make it very special and magical.
3. Las Ramblas
For the record, the photo below is not quite Las Ramblas, but we found this place while walking around Las Ramblas. Walking around is one of my favorite "things to do" in new cities because you always encounter new spots. Barcelona has pedestrian pathway situated in the city, it gets super busy during the summer days and also the nights. You will not want to miss walking by it.
4. Casa Batlló
Casa Batllo and Casa Mila are not far from each other, we were able to walk from one place to another. I did not go inside them because I was there for a short period of time but I definitely walked by them to see their architecture. Casa Batllo is known for the vibrant colors and tile work and terraces. As you can see from the photo below, the roof depicts a dragon like structure with skeletal balconies. I hear that the inside and the roof top is stunning!
5. Casa Milà
As you can see by the photos, Gaudi was whimsical and brilliant. The nickname of Casa Mila is "La Pedrera" which is very fitting due to the stone structure. Its wavy stones like façade makes it very unique and hard to miss at the corner of the street. The waves, the metal structures by the balconies, railings and doors, everything about this building is incredible. People can visit at their own pace and if you do not have time to enter, at the very least, you have to go and see the outside of the building, you will not regret it.
6. Coast / Beach
I could not go to Barcelona and not visit the coast (it is just by the city(. I did not have enough time to visit the beach but I did go by the water to spend the evening and have a lovely dinner by the coast.
7. Churros y chocolate
OK, so I have to add one of my favorite snacks to this list. Churros y chocolate was a "must do" for me at Barcelona. The culture in Spain is that people have dinner very late (compared to Americans), so this is a great excuse to have a quick afternoon snack. This place I visited (the napkin has its name - Churreria Laietana) was a tiny little place where people come in, eat standing, and then go. It is a very local spot in Barcelona, and I wanted just that. You can even see them making these treats in front of you. The service was fantastic, since I was a bit clueless and they helped me and explained everything. There are two types of pastries, churros y porras, try them both and see which one you like best. The chocolate is extremely dense, so if you are with more people you may not want to order one per person, you can share the chocolate (as long as you can double dip with them).
There is so much to do and see in Barcelona, but if you are short in time, those are some suggestions to follow. My favorite part was the "vibe" and the people. Everyone was super welcoming and explained everything to me. The food is amazing too! I cannot wait to go back and enjoy this beautiful city!