Barcelona is a beautiful seaside city with a rich culture, legendary architecture, and a top-notch nightlife.
More than 2000 years of architecture may be found in Barcelona. A peek into Roman-era Barcino is provided by soaring temple columns, ancient city walls, and underground stone passageways. By strolling through the Gothic quarter’s shady alleyways, past serene plazas and towering 14th-century cathedrals, you can travel back in time about a thousand years to the Middle Ages. Other areas of the city are blooming with Modernisme sculptures, a collection of clever and humorous works by Gaud and his Catalan architectural contemporaries. Picasso and Joan Miró, both of whom have significant Barcelona museums devoted to their works, were among the many painters who have long been influenced by Barcelona.
The famed and lengthy legacy of Catalan cooking includes the masters of molecular gastronomy, Albert Adrià, Carles Abellan, and others. Seafood, jamón (cured ham), and market-fresh veggies are just a few examples of simple, flavorful items that are converted into extraordinary dishes and then served in enticing settings. At a table outside with a view of the ocean, tuck into hearty, creamy paella, or travel back in time to the 1920s at a chic art nouveau restaurant. The diverse cuisine of Barcelona adds further complexity: The gastronomic panorama is not complete without avant-garde Japanese eateries, seafood taverns from Galicia, Basque-style tapas cafes, and indulgent chocolate stores.
Beaches bathed in sunlight provide a lovely setting for a jog, bike ride, or long, leisurely stroll along the shore, followed by a cool dip. On the sea, you may also take in the scenery while kayaking, SUPing, or relaxing on a sunset cruise. The sloping, forested Collserola hills, which tower behind the city, offer a picturesque location for hiking, mountain biking, or simply taking in the vista. The hilltop Montjuc, which is closer to the city centre, offers unlimited exploration opportunities among botanic and sculpture gardens, a mediaeval castle, and top-notch museums with 360-degree vistas at every turn.
In Barcelona, the possibilities for the evening are endless. Start your evening with drinks on a magnificent balcony or sink your toes in the sand at a chiringuito by the beach (temporary snack bar). As dusk approaches, live music alters the city, with brassy jazz flowing out of cellars, quick-fire flamenco rhythms, and hands-in-the-air indie rock at historic concert halls. By midnight, the bars are full. Choose from quaint pubs with murals from the 19th century, comfortable lounges in lamp-lit mediaeval rooms, or raucous cava bars. If you’re still up at three in the morning, go out and discover Barcelona’s unapologetic wild side.
