tiqets.com
  • City Guides
    • All
    • Amsterdam
    • Barcelona
    • Berlin
    • London
    • New York
    • Paris
    • Rome

    Cool and Unusual Things to Do in New York

    Visiting the Vatican: Tips, Trips & Hidden Gems

    Visiting the Vatican: Tips, Trips & Hidden Gems

    Amsterdam Light Festival 2019 – 2020

    Amsterdam Light Festival 2019 – 2020

    The best things to do with kids in Amsterdam

    The best things to do with kids in Amsterdam

    Five fun facts about the London Eye

    Five fun facts about the London Eye

    Things to do in London that your teenagers will love

    Things to do in London that your teenagers will love

    Meet me in Mitte- unique things to do in Berlin’s city center

    Meet me in Mitte- unique things to do in Berlin’s city center

    The best thing to eat near every major museum in Amsterdam

    The best thing to eat near every major museum in Amsterdam

    7 interesting ways to spend a weekend in Barcelona

    7 interesting ways to spend a weekend in Barcelona

  • Destinations
    • All
    • America
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • UK & Ireland
    Five Creepy Places to Visit in Europe

    Five Creepy Places to Visit in Europe

    Top rollercoasters in Europe that are off the rails

    Top rollercoasters in Europe that are off the rails

    Best European cities to visit in October

    Best European cities to visit in October

    Guide to the 2019 Rugby World Cup host cities

    Guide to the 2019 Rugby World Cup host cities

  • Culture
    • All
    • Architecture
    • Art
    • History
    • Museums
    The beer necessities – best beer experiences in Prague

    The beer necessities – best beer experiences in Prague

    Forgeries, theft, and the criminal underbelly of the art world

    Forgeries, theft, and the criminal underbelly of the art world

    5 Cool Things in the Rijksmuseum that aren’t The Night Watch

    5 Cool Things in the Rijksmuseum that aren’t The Night Watch

    Creation of Adam fresco in the style of Picasso

    How I learned to stop worrying and love art

    Enryaku-ji: War, Peace, and Beauty

    Enryaku-ji: War, Peace, and Beauty

    The Year of Rembrandt – 350 Years of Golden Age Art

    The Year of Rembrandt – 350 Years of Golden Age Art

    Matsuri Madness: Japan’s Most Fascinating Festivals

    Matsuri Madness: Japan’s Most Fascinating Festivals

    Architecture in Barcelona: the Gaudí Essentials

    Architecture in Barcelona: the Gaudí Essentials

    The Joy of Nature at the Van Gogh Museum

    The Joy of Nature at the Van Gogh Museum

  • Travel tips
    The Japanese Tea Ceremony: where to go and what to expect

    The Japanese Tea Ceremony: where to go and what to expect

    Our 7 top tips for traveling solo

    Our 7 top tips for traveling solo

    Sustainable Ticketing

    Sustainable Ticketing

    Seven Tips for Greener Traveling

    Seven Tips for Greener Traveling

    Tiqets’ Top Venues – in the Snow!

    Tiqets’ Top Venues – in the Snow!

    Why a staycation is better than going abroad (sometimes)

    Why a staycation is better than going abroad (sometimes)

    Making the perfect city break

    Making the perfect city break

    Here’s what you need to know about EU roaming

    Here’s what you need to know about EU roaming

    cities to visit this summer

    Our top cultural seaside cities to visit this summer

  • Things to Do
    • All
    • Christmas
    • Halloween
    Vienna in Winter: The Best Things to Do

    Vienna in Winter: The Best Things to Do

    The Best Christmas and New Year’s Traditions and Destinations

    Christmas in London

    The Best Family Christmas Experiences in London

    12 Best Christmas Destinations for Singles, Couples, and Families

    Unique New Year’s Traditions Around the World

    Fascinating Christmas Traditions Around the World

    How to Spend Thanksgiving in New York

    How to Spend Thanksgiving in New York

    10 Best European Cities to Celebrate New Year’s Eve

    The Best Christmas Markets in Europe (And What to Eat When You Go)

No Result
View All Result
tiqets.com
  • City Guides
    • All
    • Amsterdam
    • Barcelona
    • Berlin
    • London
    • New York
    • Paris
    • Rome

    Cool and Unusual Things to Do in New York

    Visiting the Vatican: Tips, Trips & Hidden Gems

    Visiting the Vatican: Tips, Trips & Hidden Gems

    Amsterdam Light Festival 2019 – 2020

    Amsterdam Light Festival 2019 – 2020

    The best things to do with kids in Amsterdam

    The best things to do with kids in Amsterdam

    Five fun facts about the London Eye

    Five fun facts about the London Eye

    Things to do in London that your teenagers will love

    Things to do in London that your teenagers will love

    Meet me in Mitte- unique things to do in Berlin’s city center

    Meet me in Mitte- unique things to do in Berlin’s city center

    The best thing to eat near every major museum in Amsterdam

    The best thing to eat near every major museum in Amsterdam

    7 interesting ways to spend a weekend in Barcelona

    7 interesting ways to spend a weekend in Barcelona

  • Destinations
    • All
    • America
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • UK & Ireland
    Five Creepy Places to Visit in Europe

    Five Creepy Places to Visit in Europe

    Top rollercoasters in Europe that are off the rails

    Top rollercoasters in Europe that are off the rails

    Best European cities to visit in October

    Best European cities to visit in October

    Guide to the 2019 Rugby World Cup host cities

    Guide to the 2019 Rugby World Cup host cities

  • Culture
    • All
    • Architecture
    • Art
    • History
    • Museums
    The beer necessities – best beer experiences in Prague

    The beer necessities – best beer experiences in Prague

    Forgeries, theft, and the criminal underbelly of the art world

    Forgeries, theft, and the criminal underbelly of the art world

    5 Cool Things in the Rijksmuseum that aren’t The Night Watch

    5 Cool Things in the Rijksmuseum that aren’t The Night Watch

    Creation of Adam fresco in the style of Picasso

    How I learned to stop worrying and love art

    Enryaku-ji: War, Peace, and Beauty

    Enryaku-ji: War, Peace, and Beauty

    The Year of Rembrandt – 350 Years of Golden Age Art

    The Year of Rembrandt – 350 Years of Golden Age Art

    Matsuri Madness: Japan’s Most Fascinating Festivals

    Matsuri Madness: Japan’s Most Fascinating Festivals

    Architecture in Barcelona: the Gaudí Essentials

    Architecture in Barcelona: the Gaudí Essentials

    The Joy of Nature at the Van Gogh Museum

    The Joy of Nature at the Van Gogh Museum

  • Travel tips
    The Japanese Tea Ceremony: where to go and what to expect

    The Japanese Tea Ceremony: where to go and what to expect

    Our 7 top tips for traveling solo

    Our 7 top tips for traveling solo

    Sustainable Ticketing

    Sustainable Ticketing

    Seven Tips for Greener Traveling

    Seven Tips for Greener Traveling

    Tiqets’ Top Venues – in the Snow!

    Tiqets’ Top Venues – in the Snow!

    Why a staycation is better than going abroad (sometimes)

    Why a staycation is better than going abroad (sometimes)

    Making the perfect city break

    Making the perfect city break

    Here’s what you need to know about EU roaming

    Here’s what you need to know about EU roaming

    cities to visit this summer

    Our top cultural seaside cities to visit this summer

  • Things to Do
    • All
    • Christmas
    • Halloween
    Vienna in Winter: The Best Things to Do

    Vienna in Winter: The Best Things to Do

    The Best Christmas and New Year’s Traditions and Destinations

    Christmas in London

    The Best Family Christmas Experiences in London

    12 Best Christmas Destinations for Singles, Couples, and Families

    Unique New Year’s Traditions Around the World

    Fascinating Christmas Traditions Around the World

    How to Spend Thanksgiving in New York

    How to Spend Thanksgiving in New York

    10 Best European Cities to Celebrate New Year’s Eve

    The Best Christmas Markets in Europe (And What to Eat When You Go)

No Result
View All Result
tiqets.com
No Result
View All Result

7 interesting ways to spend a weekend in Barcelona

Neesha Kanagarajah by Neesha Kanagarajah
in Barcelona, City Guides
8 min read
Home City Guides Barcelona

There’s so many fun things to do in Barcelona that knowing where to even start can be a challenge. From pristine stretches of white sandy beaches to elegant streets lined with Catalan Modernisme, and secret places hidden from the tourists, it’s a wonderland of culture that makes for the perfect city break, no matter what your idea of fun is.

We’ve rounded up seven of the most spectacular spots from across the spectrum of Barcelona’s cultural treasures, to make sure you’ve got all your bases covered for your weekend adventure in the Catalan capital.

1. Park Güell / Carmel Hill

Two birds, one stone. Park Güell, is located in Barcelona’s green heart, Carmel Hill – and both are cool spots in their own right. Carmel Hill is located on the northern face of the Collserola mountain range, so hiking it pretty much counts as going partway up a mountain… right?

Luckily, getting there isn’t a monumental task, as the hill is easily accessible from the city center by metro. After a short hike up along a sleepy hillside neighborhood, you’re in Park Güell. You can explore lookout points that give way to incredible ocean views and stroll along various footpaths to find Gaudí’s playground of artistic outdoor design carved into the slopes.

Park Güell is art imitating nature in its purest form. Jagged manmade columns sink into the rocky hill surface, while mosaic structures dot the landscape. Entrance to Park Güell is free, but you need to pay to enter the Monumental Zone, which has museums, the famous ‘el drac’ mosaic salamander, and Gaudí’s house.

Walk another 20 minutes from Park Güell to find Bunker del Carmel, pop open a bottle of Spanish wine, and enjoy the panoramic views of Barcelona and peaceful seclusion from this less-traversed lookout point.

2. Montjuïc

Here’s a fun fact: it’s said that Montjuïc derives its name from an old Jewish cemetery that was once on the mountain. Montjuïc itself means ‘Jew mountain’ in Catalan. Whatever the real story is, Montjuic offers a stunning lookout point over Barcelona, and you’ll spot the castle on the mountain from most places in the city.

Venture up on Montjuïc’s breathtaking cable car for the most exciting view in Barcelona. It starts at Barceloneta Beach and whisks you 70 meters above the ground in 10 minutes flat. At the peak, you can explore Montjuïc Castle, which was an old military fortress, visit the Joan Miró Foundation, and see a World Exposition site in the form of the Teatre Grec. Another fun fact: Montjuïc’s municipal pools were the set of Kylie Minogue’s music video for ‘Slow’.

3. Camp Nou

Camp Nou needs no introduction, but here’s the general lowdown: it’s the home stadium of FC Barcelona, it’s the largest stadium in Europe, and the third-largest in the world. As a structure, it’s a celebration of football. For most football fans, Catalan or otherwise, Camp Nou is a pilgrimage site.

While some might be lucky to catch a match here, you can always opt for a tour of the vicinity if there’s nothing on. Though we highly recommend shelling out for a seat if there’s a match happening, and you can purchase affordable match tickets from various official booths scattered around the city. Nothing quite beats being surrounded by 98,000 fans screaming ‘Barça, Barça, Baaaaarça’ as football’s greatest show off their dazzling skills.

Make sure to check out the Camp Nou museum which has immersive exhibits like giant touch screens, sound installations (including match-day sounds), historical stats and the endless trophy cabinet that’s the envy of Europe.

4. Montserrat

Another great way to make your stay in Barcelona memorable is to take a day trip to the ethereal mountainous terrain of Montserrat. Its jagged ridge stands out like a serrated blade against the sky; hence the name. If you’re looking for adventure, the best way up is on foot. It’s the only way to appreciate the mountain’s wild beauty, and at a mere 1,236-meter elevation, it’s not too challenging. But if you’re looking for an easier route, consider the cable car.

Once there, the picturesque town of Montserrat appears to be carved out of the mountain’s face and is home to the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey. There’s an array of cafes and restaurants here, but be warned, they can be pricey. For the best experience on this side of the mountain, trek further up to an abandoned chapel at the peak, and scale the rocks to a natural lookout point for unreal, uncrowded views of the Catalonian countryside.

If you’re departing from Barcelona, the ‘Tot Montserrat ticket’ makes things getting there convenient, as it gives you transport from Plaça d’Espanya to Montserrat, and round-trip access to both the cable car and funicular.

Credit: Amadalvarez

5. Jujol Grottos

We like to talk about Gaudí here at Tiqets, but his collaborator, Josep Maria Jujol, deserves his day in the sun too. Some iconic works attributed to Gaudí are, in fact, Jujol’s creations, such as Park Güell’s sinuous mosaic benches, most of Casa Milà’s facade, and the colorful exterior that Casa Batlló is so famous for.

Jujol was 27 years younger than Gaudí and he crafted his own path in Catalan Modernisme, opting for a softer and more playful style. If we’re talking secret spaces, it doesn’t get any better than hidden caves. Beneath the Sansalvador estate is a series of tunnels designed by Jujol. They are eerie, grotesquely organic, and surprisingly functional.

The story goes that during the construction of the house, a water mine was discovered with alleged radiological and medicinal properties. Dr. Sansalvador commissioned Jujol to build grottos to access these medicinal waters. Visitors can enter Jujol’s underground world on the second Saturday and fourth Sunday of every month.

6. Santa Caterina Market

You can’t experience any place properly without tasting its food – and Barcelona has a lot of food to offer. From turn-of-the-century market halls to the tourist-heavy La Rambla, you’re spoilt for choice. While La Boqueria draws the crowd, you’ll find that lesser-known spots, like Santa Caterina Market, offer tastier tapas at more appetizing prices.

Located in the trendy El Born neighborhood, this place is packed with young locals, drinking cerveza all day long while nibbling on freshly made tapas. Santa Caterina Market is small but packs flavor. The exterior has an unmistakable wavy roof while its interior is airy and features colorful mosaics. You can easily score a decent meal for two here for under 30 euros, wine included!

7. Bar Marsella

When you drink in Bar Marsella, you’re not just drinking in Barcelona’s oldest bar, you’re also drinking in a bar that’s said to be once frequented by Dalí, Picasso, Gaudí, van Gogh, Hemingway, and other famous creatives.

This iconic absinthe bar dates back to 1820 and has persevered through centuries of development that has otherwise changed the city’s landscape. Stepping inside takes you back to a time when the spirit of Bohemia was rife with energy, and the revolutions of the 19th century were knocking on the doorsteps of Europe.

Bars such as these saw history come and go, and served it up a drink along the way. It’s a local gem, hidden in a nook of El Raval, and while its floor tiles get more weathered and its once opulent chandeliers become grimier, Marsella only seems to grow on you the longer you stay here. Then again, that could be the absinthe!

When short on time, these seven places are probably more than enough to fill up an exciting weekend in Barcelona. If you’ve never been to the Catalan capital before, you can swap out some of these lesser known locations for one of Gaudí’s glorious structures. Do you know of any other interesting places in Barcelona that weren’t mentioned in this post? Let us know on Facebook!

For a comprehensive list of things to do in Barcelona, check out our city page. Need more travel inspiration? Take a look at our Instagram for ideas!

Neesha Kanagarajah

Neesha Kanagarajah

Neesha is an amateur hiker (clamberer) who likes to put her own life, and the life of her boyfriend, at risk by going on advanced hikes completely unprepared. Having grown up in multicultural Malaysia, she likes good food, sunshine, and learning new things each day.

Related Posts

City Guides

Cool and Unusual Things to Do in New York

Visiting the Vatican: Tips, Trips & Hidden Gems
City Guides

Visiting the Vatican: Tips, Trips & Hidden Gems

Amsterdam Light Festival 2019 – 2020
Amsterdam

Amsterdam Light Festival 2019 – 2020

The best things to do with kids in Amsterdam
Amsterdam

The best things to do with kids in Amsterdam

Five fun facts about the London Eye
City Guides

Five fun facts about the London Eye

Things to do in London that your teenagers will love
City Guides

Things to do in London that your teenagers will love

Next Post
The Year of Rembrandt – 350 Years of Golden Age Art

The Year of Rembrandt – 350 Years of Golden Age Art

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us

  • 43
    When festive cheer meets rocket science         Galaxy Lights at  spacecenterhou is on a mission to light up your winter and make it a bit brighter  See 250 000 dancing lights  an indoor meteor shower  and lots more at this special display in Texas  biggest city              P S  We offer an exclusive Instagram discount on tickets to our experiences  Click on any square in the link in bio to redeem            tiqets  spacecenter  fantastic universe  nightscaper  milkywaychasers  astronaut  natgeospace  galaxylights  spacecenterhouston  houston  htx  hou  houstonholidays  houstontx  festivelights  lightdisplay  holidaylights  astronauts  holidaylighting  christmaslightdisplay
  • 98
    This famous cathedral is more resilient than you think         From the Great Fire of London to issues in engineering  the London landmark hasn t always had the best of luck  Almost a century ago  a grand plan was devised to restore it to the glorious structure you see today  The new exhibition at  stpaulscathedrallondon takes you on the inspiring journey of its reconstruction and will go on until May 24th  2020          londonist com says   Don   t miss the opportunity to catch the special exhibition all about the Great Restoration of the 1920s  compiled from lesser-known stories and the Cathedral   s own archive materials               Save on tickets to the cathedral and the exhibition through the link in bio
  • 82
     Efteling is what dreams are made of  - Karen  UK         We couldn t agree more  This magical park in the Netherlands celebrates fantasies and dreams and will fill you with joy once you step through its gates  We especially love going to Efteling during the winter season  when the park transforms into an icy wonderland  From cozy bonfires to an elaborate ice skating rink  Efteling Winter is a dream you won t want to wake up from                   click the link in bio for tickets to Winter Efteling           arabellasaaliste         tiqets  efteling  winterefteling  eftelingfotografie  eftelingpark  worldofefteling  amusementpark  ferriswheels  eftelingfan  efteling  eftelingthemepark  themeparkphotography  winterfun  winterwonderland  themeparklife  themeparkphotograpamusehy  themeparks  amusementparks
  • 77
    What s Christmastime without a little Tchaikovsky                  George Balanchine s take on the Christmas classic is  en pointe   This New York City Ballet production of the holiday favorite includes 90 dancers  62 musicians  40 stagehands  and over 125 children in the cast  They ve even added immersive effects like crystal-shaped snowflakes falling at random from the ceiling to take you front and center into the Sugar Plum Fairy s fantasy  Sign us up      click the link in bio for discounted tickets              by  nycballet     tiqets  thenutcracker  thenutcrackerballet  ballet  pointe  pointeshoes  balletdancer  instaballet  instadance  worldwideballet  balletshoes  dancephotography  balletpost  balletlife  worldwidedance  enpointe  newyorkcityballet  nycballet  balletnewyork  thingstodoinnyc
  • 141
    Christmas Market Hidden Gems  Bath  England              Tucked in Somerset  the former site of glorious Ancient Roman baths  what gave it away   is also a British Christmas market hot spot  Who knew  For two more weeks  the historic city center of Bath hosts the UK s most charming winter festival  From blowing your own glass bauble to making your own Christmas wreath from scratch  this is one holiday market you don t want to miss  Check out the link in bio for our favorite way to get around this adorable little city               by  theromanbaths     romanbaths  romanhistory  greatbath  autumnal  lovegreatbritain  photosofbritain  beautifuldestinations  capturingbritain  ukshots  visitbath  igersbath  christmastime  christmasmarkets  weihnachtsmarkt  weihnachtszeit  weihnachtsm  rkte  weinachtsmarkt  igengland  somerset  birdphoto  birdpics
  • 228
    Go big or  van  Gogh home                    The annual  amsterdamlightfestival is back for the 8th time  This year s theme is  DISRUPT   and will tackle issues relating to humanity   s disruptive effect on our climate and natural environment  all interpreted through incredible light art  Curious yet  To get a perfect view of the festival s exhibits  we recommend taking a convenient boat tour through the canals where most of the artworks are on display   link in bio for more details         Art by  ivanajelich and  pajaga
  • 147
    Kicking off Thanksgiving like           therockettes    Wherever you are in the world  we re thankful for you  Happy Thanksgiving         P S  Make sure you check out Tiqets com tomorrow  we ve got a few Black Friday deals you ll want to gobble up          tiqets  therockettes  macysdayparade  turkeyday  macysthanksgivingdayparade  thanksgivingdayparade  newyorkphoto  newyorktrip  newyorkgram  iloveny  icapture nyc  newyork world  newyorklovers  instanewyork  instanewyorkcity  instanyc  nycevents  macysdayparade2019  macysthanksgivingdayparade2019
  • 160
    London                       Thank you to our followers who ve been tagging us in their wintery city pics  Continue to tag us in your wintery wonderlands and we ll repost the favorites in our Stories                 sara yanochko       londoneye   tiqets  thisislondon  londonlife  igerslondon  england  visitlondon  londoncity  prettycitylondon  ilovelondon  londontown  londonlife  ig london  londoniloveyou  london city photo  visitlondon  londonphotography  wonderfulplaces  londoneye  thelondoneye  autumninlondon  winterinlondon
  • 226
    What s better than a trip to Prague  A trip to Prague during Christmas market season                 When you first enter the market  you ll be hit with the divine mixture of smells coming from chestnuts roasting  Christmas cookies and seasonal potpourri  If that s not enough  add the aroma of mulled wine  grog and warm medovina  honey liquor  to the experience  You get the point  The already gorgeous Prague is now lit up with festive illuminations centering around the two main markets at the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square  If you re lucky enough to go this year  please send us pics and we ll repost them in our Stories     P S  Head to our link in bio to read more about the best Christmas markets in Europe this year               Lady helena k
  • 419
    Stendhal Syndrome  noun  a psychosomatic condition involving rapid heartbeat occurring when individuals become exposed to objects or phenomena of great beauty                            One look at the Northern Lights makes it pretty clear why experiencing this natural light display makes it to the top of most travel bucket lists  But luckily for most of us  it s never been easier to catch a glimpse of this Aurora  Head over to Reykjavik s harbor and take a  heated   boat tour with an open deck for panoramic views of the sky   link in bio for all the details about this special tour         Thank you  mydetoxtravel for the stunning pic          tiqets  nordic  icelandair  wheniniceland  ig iceland  northernlightsphotos  igersiceland  glacier  icelandic  icelandtravel  exploreiceland  reykjavik  goldencircle  geysir  geyser  bluelagoon  northernlights  northernlightsiceland  northernlight  auroraphotography
  • 67
    Why is the  metmuseum so iconic  It s a secret we ll never tell -XOXO Tiqets        Just kidding  we re guessing you already know about Edgar Degas  dancers  George Washington Crossing the Delaware  the self-portrait of Van Gogh  the imposing Temple of Dendur and many of the other countless masterpieces awaiting you at one of the world s finest museums  So bring along the Serena to your Blair and go explore this New York City treasure   link in bio for priority entrance tickets            itskellydarling         tiqets  thingstodoinnyc  newyorklife  newyorkphoto  newyorktrip  newyorkgram  newyork world  newyorktravel  newyorklovers  instanewyork  instanewyorkcity  instanyc  newyorktrip  gossipgirl  themet  themetropolitanmuseumofart  themetmuseum  metmuseum  metropolitanmuseumofart
  • 123
    Need a little sunshine this winter  Head to Malta              Valletta  the beautiful and historic capital of Malta may be one of the smallest capitals in the world  but there   s plenty to see and experience  The fascinating mix of 6000 years of history and modern society  combined with non-stop events ranks it high up on our travel lists  Don t miss the old architecture and iconic balconies as you stroll its magical streets  Planning on bringing a coat  Think again  With around 3000 hours of sunshine each year and an average yearly temperature of 23 degrees Celsius  Malta is the perfect winter escape               snowglobe sailor         tiqets  maltagram  maltaphotography  unlimitedmalta  mittelmeer   europeandestinations  visitmalta  mediterraneo  travelog  marmediterraneo  instapassport  lovemalta  gozo  valletta  bluelagoon  malteseislands  ig malta  igmalta  discovermalta  exploremalta  mymaltaguide
tiqets.com

Tiqets is an innovative ticketing platform that is revolutionizing the way visitors discover, buy and use tickets for museums, shows and attractions.

© 2019 Tiqets

No Result
View All Result
  • City Guides
  • Destinations
  • Culture
  • Travel tips
  • Things to Do

© 2019 Tiqets