Assuming you are healthy, have a hearty appetite and a rapacious capacity for Rioja and Cerveza we are set for a real travellers city. The best way to move around, with a few exceptions, is on foot and is an excellent way to keep off the calories while enjoying Barcelona’s fantastically varied cuisine.
A street performer on Las Rambla, Barcelona A street performer on Las Rambla, Barcelona In keeping with our theme we are going to plan out a 24 hour assault on the Catalan capital and explore the nooks and crannies of this exciting city in a time frame that many travellers have either chosen or had to make do with. So grab your day pack and a bunch of Euros and let’s hit the streets. First we need to find somewhere to stay; there are plenty of options, however as with any popular city getting value for money can be a tough challenge. As this is quick and dirty I am suggesting either the Alberguin Hostel near Barcelona Sants station (great for a quick getaway) or the Kabul Hostel in the Plaza Real just off La Rambla (party central); the choice is yours. With that out of the way it is time to explore! If you are meeting friends or want a good place to start the Plaza Cataluña is an excellent choice, airport buses run from here and there is a metro station with several connections. Dropping down La Rambla we pass street entertainers and a collection of livestock stalls, quite amazing in a tourist area. Hang a quick left and we enter the Barri Gothic, probably the most visited area in the city with its old winding streets and the lovely Barcelona Cathedral. After pottering around here for a while it’s time to jump a metro to the unfinished La Sagrada Familia. The sight as you exit to street level is surreal; walk a complete circuit to get a good feel before going inside, and you will need to plan your time carefully to avoid a long ticket queue. The Barri Gothic is accessed through archways like these all around the quarter The Barri Gothic is accessed through archways like these all around the quarter It’s exercise time; take the metro to the Funicular de Montjuic and follow the path to the top of the hill to the impressive Castelo for glorious views over Barcelona city and the Mediterranean. After a quick cold drink at the snack bar, head back down towards the Museo Nacional de Arte de Cataluña for a bit more culture in this impressive building with its cascading fountains and views down to the Placa D’Espanya. A visit to Barcelona would not be complete without homage to Gaudi so we head off to the Park Guell armed with plenty of water and good footwear. It’s not possible to do full justice to this place in such a short time, however if this is your one time trip it is a good idea to pack it in. By now you should be either dead on your feet or have calves of steel so it must be tapas time, oh how I love those words! Barcelona has a great selection including specialties from the Basque region as well one or two more unusual offerings. I like to start just off the Plaza Real in the Bari Gothic at Taverna Mikel Etxaya on Carre de Ferran – this busy bar has a wide range of finger food on display and has tables for diners but it is much more fun to struggle to the bar and point out your choices. One thing to remember is that here, as with most of the others, you pay for the tapas by the numbers, dictated by the toothpicks left on your plate afterwards. After one or two here we could hoof it down to the El Born area down the Carre de l’Argenteria and sit out on tables near the old church of Santa Maria del Mar. This area is packed out in season and has several top notch tapas bars ranging from the elegant to the more basic traditional eateries. Barcelona by night; have a drink or two at the Caracoles Barcelona by night; have a drink or two at the Caracoles For those who fancy something more substantial I would suggest the irrepressible Caracoles restaurant, drop south a block from the Plaza Real and you will find this eccentric eatery. The building has a rabbit warren of rooms and tables and is always packed solid; entry to the restaurant is actually through the kitchen where you pass chefs flambéing dishes and tossing knives around seemingly oblivious to the foot traffic gawping as they pass through. Even if you don’t want to eat, it is worth popping into the bar where, if you are fortunate, you will be entertained by its famous barman, an engaging guy who will make you laugh at the same time as getting you merry. The area to the back of this bar is where they make the Crème Brule with huge hot irons to burn the sugar, it’s an amazing sight. After all this eating it’s nice to get back out into the street for a stretch and a bit of fresh air, head south from the restaurant to Carre Ample – the area here is a little sketchy so be aware as you walk around. Turn left at the bottom and head to a great little bar called Hook. This kitschy place is done out in full Pirates of the Caribbean style with interesting nick-knacks all around. Cosy little booths provide some intimacy but the place gets jumping later at night when the staff kick in with some old time disco sounds and the fun begins. If your itch is more modern, head a little farther down the street to Margarita Blue for some fancy cocktails and sounds spun by the local DJ. Night birds can head over to the Maremagnum complex for some serious club action and dance until dawn before catching their train or plane onto the next destination.
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