A city trip to Barcelona is always worthwhile – no matter the time of year. The Spanish metropolis on the Mediterranean promises pleasant temperatures and plenty of sunshine all year round. And, by the way, there is simply so much to discover in the city. It’s incredibly fun to get lost in the streets and alleys and just let yourself go.
Barcelona captivates with so much charm and flair that you’ll want to stay longer. We’ve been to the city of Barcelona several times and have found many great spots that we don’t want to withhold from you. Just browse through; maybe you’ll find something cool for your Barcelona city trip.
- 1. Rent a bike and head to the seaside
- 2. Explore the beautiful Gothic Quarter
- 3. Cool vintage market “Mercat del Encants”
- 4. Simply sleep on a boat
- 5. Immerse yourself in “Virtual Reality” for free
- 6. Bad taste and retro? Then head to VV!
- 7. Cool design shops for shopping
- 8. Cafés with good internet for working
- 9. Street art in Barcelona
- 10. Take a trip to the surrounding area
1. Rent a bike and head to the seaside
One of the first things we did in Barcelona: rent a bike and head to the beach. You’ll quickly see that you can rent one on almost every corner. You can get two hours for just €5 to €6. This allows you to leisurely cycle along the beach and enjoy the sun and the atmosphere. Along the way, you can take a break on the beach, sit in a café, lose track of time, and simply enjoy the moment. It’s especially fun if you’ve just come from cold Germany and can finally soak up some sun again.
2. Explore the beautiful Gothic Quarter
It may not be a Barcelona insider tip, but this district is simply a must-see. It’s easy to get lost in the beautiful alleyways. But that’s not a big deal, because you’ll eventually discover the coolest shops and cafés by simply strolling through the streets – without a destination or plan. We found the architecture particularly beautiful; we rarely put the camera down. This city is so photogenic!
3. Cool Vintage Market “Mercat del Encants”
There are many beautiful markets in Barcelona, but unfortunately, they are often completely overcrowded. A really cool market is the “Mercat del Encants.” It takes place every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Vendors from all over the region gather here—it’s a huge flea market. Lovers of vintage and retro items will definitely get their money’s worth here. We would have loved to pick up a quaint record player or two.
4. Just sleep on a boat
Why always a hotel, hostel, or apartment? Barcelona is right on the sea! Book a night on a small boat and enjoy the Relaxed hours together. We found a variety of houseboats and cutters on Airbnb that are available for rent through this platform. Whether at the port of Barcelona or Badalona – the well-organized public transport makes both areas easy to reach.
5. Immerse yourself in “Virtual Reality” for free
At the Mobile World Center, you can play a free round of “escape the room” until September 1, 2017. This is part of the current exhibition on innovation and virtual reality. The whole thing only takes about 10 minutes, so if you’re in the area anyway, you can just give it a try.
You’ll be given VR headsets that place you in a virtual room where you have to solve a few tasks. You control your movements only with your hands. It’s best to book your appointment in advance for free (book an appointment for free here). We had tickets, but nobody wanted to see us because there were only two other people playing.
6. Bad Taste and Retro? Then off to VV!
We only found this place by chance. At VV, you feel like you’re at a giant Bad Taste party. Here you’ll find second-hand clothes and accessories. Whether shirts, jeans, jackets, tracksuits, hats, or shoes – everything looks like it’s from the 80s. If you’re into these retro clothes, you should definitely visit the store. Even if you just need an outfit for the next bad taste party.
7. Cool Design Shops for Shopping
There are so many cool shops in Barcelona, many of which you discover simply by chance. You can find really cool gadgets at Montfalcon, La Nostra, and Ale-Hop. Here you’ll find great pictures, postcards, funny gadgets, useless cool stuff, chic notebooks, funny things…oh…just beautifully packaged things. And as you walk through the streets, you’ll discover many other cool stores.
8. Cafes with good internet for working
Barcelona has countless cafes for so-called “digital nomads.” The internet is generally not bad in the city, but sometimes it’s much better to work in a different environment. At least, that’s how it is for us. We’re more productive in a cafe or co-working space than in a hotel bed. We thought the Fab Café was really cool. Here you’ll find a great internet connection, delicious lattes, smoothies, and cakes. The co-working space is located in the back, subject to availability.
9. Street Art in Barcelona
If you carefully stroll through the streets of the city center, you’ll often see cool graffiti on the walls. The best place for this is the Gothic Quarter, but many other corners of the city are also excellent. You can find more spots here: The best street art spots in Barcelona (English).
10. Take a trip to the surrounding area
Barcelona is super relaxed; you can spend several weeks here without getting bored. If you have more time, explore the surrounding area. For example, the tour to the Montserrat mountain and monastery might be of interest to you. A beautiful view of the sea and mountains awaits you. Or how about a trip to the Costa Brava? Not far from Barcelona are Sitges, the pretty little town of Castelldefels, Figueres (the birthplace of Salvador Dali), and Badalona.
