5 Reasons to Extend Your Stay in Barcelona
Sagrada Familia
Let’s start big!
The Sagrada Familia is Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece and Barcelona’s indisputable icon. Gaudi’s great work attracts thousands of tourists each year and it’s easy to see why. It is recognisable from afar thanks to its sky-scraping towers, while its two highly detailed facades impact visitors at first sight. However, it is inside where Gaudi’s genius is most evident. The basilica is still under construction and is not expected to be completed until 2026.
Top Tip - It's best to visit in the early morning or late evening as the sun shines through the stained glass windows on the walls filling the church with an abundance of colour. You're also likely to have less of a wait and crowd to navigate through around these times. Timed tickets are available in advance and the lines can be long so take advantage of this service.
Las Ramblas
This central boulevard cuts through the heart of the city centre and is a vibrant and lively promenade filled with Barcelona action at its best. It’s crowded atmosphere and exciting street performances make this the perfect spot to take a moment to enjoy a jug of Sangria and people-watch.
Las Ramblas is also home to mosaic artwork by Joan Miró. Located on Pla de l’Os, it is composed of 6,000 tiles drawing a circular shape with an arrow inside to guide the traveller to the entrance of the city.
Top Tip – Las Ramblas is brimming with opportunities to sample local delicacies. With many restaurants and cafés withstanding the decades of change on this famous street. Tapas is taste on everyone’s tongue on this lively street and you simply cannot leave without experiencing this fiesta of flavours for yourself.
Park Güell
By far one of the most impressive public parks in the world. Designed by the famous and much-loved architect Antonio Gaudí, this beautiful park boasts some of his best pieces of work. Park Güell is a strange and enchanting place where the architect’s passion for natural forms really took flight.
Top Tip - Access to the central area is limited to a certain number of people every half-hour so, book ahead online to avoid disappointment (you'll also save on the admission fee). The rest of the park is free and can be visited without booking.
Visit the beach
One of Barcelona’s most wonderful and unique features is over 100 miles of coastline making this vivacious city a beach lover's dream come true. Barceloneta is probably the most famous beach in Barcelona and offers great seafood eateries, street performers and plenty of entertainment.
Top Tip – If you are looking for a quieter and more relaxing beach visit then look no further than Bogatell Beach. Just a 15-minute walk from Bogatell metro station, you can find yourself in a tranquil, golden sands paradise that is well worth the commute.
Palau de la Musica Catalania
This concert hall is one of the most distinctive in the world – for over a hundred years it is a privileged place of musical life of Barcelona, nationally and internationally. It is one of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks where you can catch concerts from Sarah McLachlan to the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. So spectacular is the Palau de la Música that the building has been opened to the public for daily guided tours to satisfy the public urge to see the inside. With a façade that pays homage to classical music and its most-talented composers and a kaleidoscope of stained glass, sculpture, golden-age acoustics and a chandelier centre piece, it is one of Barcelona’s most loved gems.
Top Tip - Why not have a drink under the sparkling mosaics of the palace’s columns before taking the majestic staircase to enjoy your concert in the auditorium. Let this jewel of modern architecture take you into a whirlwind of fantasies.
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