DAY 1:
The old town, the maritime area and views from Montjuïc are the basis of our first day in Barcelona.
A walk round the historic centre
The first thing to do in the morning is have a spot of breakfast in the most charming area of Barcelona, the Gothic quarter, because of the plethora of traditional chocolate and cake shops. After this you can lose yourself among the Roman and medieval alleyways. Walk around and take in the Plaza del Rey, the Cathedral, the Sant Felip Neri Church, the palaces of the Generalitat and the City Hall, and the Santa María del Pi Church. There are scenes that seem to come from a fairytale world, such as the beautiful Bisbe bridge which connects the Generalitat with Casa dels Canonges.
From here you can make your way to the most famous street in the city: La Rambla, 1,200 metres long and any visit to Barcelona would be incomplete without walking along it. Terraces, streets artists, florists and kiosks are spread out along the road and as you move along you will find some very famous places including the Boquería Market (interested in doing a Spanish cooking workshop?), the Plaza Real and the Gran Teatre del Liceu. When La Rambla reaches the sea you will come across the Colombus Monument with views of Barcelona from its viewing gallery.
Eat with views of the sea and the cable car to Montjuïc
At the end of La Rambla is the area known as Port Vell (old port). If you keep walking through Moll de la Fusta (wooden dock), you will see contemporary sculptures, moored boats, and much more. And you can keep going until you reach Barceloneta beach. Make the most of it by reserving a table in one of the area’s restaurants specialising in paella, ‘fideuá’ and sea food. And you'll be even luckier if there is a terrace with a view of the sea. If the weather is good enough you can also take a dip in the sea.
If you have time before dinner and want some special views of the port and the city then why not climb up the Montjuïc mountain. It is easy to get to with the funicular or cable car from Paral·lel station. This is where you will find the National Art Museum of Catalonia and the Joan Miró Foundation.If you are pushed for time then it might be better to just stroll around the beautiful Parc de la Ciutadella, the lungs of Barcelona.
Magic Fountain and dinner in El Raval or El Born
If you have been to Montjüic then you will definitely like watching the show of lights, music and water at the Montjüic Magic Fountain at night (depending on the season it usually occurs between 8 pm and 10 pm).
When it is time to have dinner you can head to El Born, a charming, cool neighbourhood that also includes some of the city’s major attractions, such as the Picasso Museum and Santa María del Mar church. It is, without doubt, an ideal place to have dinner and a drink.
What to see
Activa JS