I have to say that Barcelona was my favorite large city that I’ve visited thus far. It could have been the sunshine and cool sand between my toes on the beach that swayed my vote, but regardless of the reasons, it just felt right. A deceptively large city for those who don’t know much about it, and rich with “modern” architecture (Gaudi is in a world of his own, and you’ll see why from my pictures). Northern Spain, especially the are known as Catalonia, is well known for being more financially wealthy than other regions of Spain. This aspect is not hidden within the city. A well maintained metro system, clean streets, a lively atmosphere and a generally well oiled metropolitan infrastructure makes it easy to love Barcelona. There are parts that appeared more traditional in the sense of honoring the well-known afternoon nap starting around 2pm and ending roughly at 6pm, labeled the siesta, but Barcelona has really geared itself towards a traveler friendly environment.

With a few Spanish cities under my belt as I write this, it’s become apparent that English is not commonly spoken, which is lucky for me that Spanish is the only language I happen to be familiar with… phew. Barcelona is not an exception, but I did encounter more English speakers here than anywhere else in the country, so soak it up while you can. Let’s go ahead an move onto some things to see and experience while you’re hear. Become familiar with this name, Antoni Gaudi. A beloved architect that has erected a large number of buildings and public structures within Barcelona. If you can see them all, go for it, but I’ll tell you which areas of the city he had his hand in that are the best. First and foremost, take the metro or hike it out to Park Guell. It’s one of the most inland sights you’ll want to see so it’s a great starting point, from here you can walk towards the coast and catch some more. Park Guell is a large hill-filled piece of terrain that hosts a common area and a few structures by Gaudi. Most of which are decorated with mosaics of broken tile in a wide array of colors, fun for the eyes. Take a moment to hike up to the top where you can get the best views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. After a relaxing stroll through the park, you head one of two ways, both of which will lead you to more Gaudi work. Close by is possibly his most famous structure La Sagrada Familia (Temple to the Holy Family). This massive cathedral almost materializes out of the ground, or possibly looks like it’s melting into it, you can chose. Only a small part of it was completed while Gaudi was alive until 1926, leaving a large part part still to be finished. Estimates have put its completion at least 50 years out. Once you’ve seen this extremely unique cathedral, you should cruise down the street called Passeig Gracia, a long stretch of road that houses two more Gaudi buildings and a slew of others that try to out do him, and fail miserably. Those two buildings happen to be Casa Mila and Casa Batlló. Both are rather expensive to enter, but may be worth it depending on how much you have to spend and if you really enjoy his style.

Moving away from Gaudi, there is so much more to see in Barcelona. I’m going to ramble off a quick list and leave it up to you to find them (it wouldn’t be much fun if I didn’t). A central plaza that a lot of buses end up at is Placa Catalunya, a large open area commonly covered in a sea of people. Just off this plaza is La Rambla, a long stretch of pedestrian walkway that terminates at the bay, a fun place for street performances and random activities. Be sure to wander into the Catedral, not quite as unique as La Sagrada Familia, but very nice as well. Some what close by is the Parc de La Ciutadella, a very nice park close to the ocean that features a magnificent fountain (cascade fountain). Just around the park area is the Museau Picasso. Nothing hidden in the name, the Picasso museum is a collection of his works in chronological order. While it happens to be missing some of his more famous pieces, Picasso lovers have to go, and try to make it on the first Sunday of the month because it’s free. I wasn’t a huge fan, but I’m not much of an art buff either. The last major stop should be Montjuic. Translated as “Hill of the Jews” in medieval Catalan, this area holds multiple gardens, the Olympic Stadium, various fortresses and the MNAC (museum of art of Catalan). You’ll have you hands full with all of this, so enjoy!

Once your feet have cooled off from burning rubber all day trying to see everything, cool them down even more by dipping them in the Mediterranean Sea. The beaches are quite nice, but not as amazing as further south. That shouldn’t stop you from spending time on the sand, soaking up the sun and just basking in the glory that is Spain. Be sure to grab some tapas and sample some of the local cuisine (I was only able to munch on some scraps, but they were delish). Barcelona was simply amazing to me, and hopefully I am able to return sometime in the near future. If you enjoy it only a fraction of what I have, then you’ll have a great time. Don’t just make it here if you have time, mark it as a premiere destination.