Sunday, 2 August 2015

What To Do and See in Barcelona - Photo Diary

Barcelona has been on my bucket list for years, and I finally got to visit at the beginning of July. I soaked up the sun as well as the culture.

We flew from Liverpool Airport, this is about a 45 minute drive from where I live in North Wales. The car parking facilities are right next to the terminal, so there are no transfer buses. It's so easy to book the car parking online, you just enter the dates and your registration plate number. When you arrive, the barrier and camera recognise your number plate and it lets you in without a hassle. The car park is literally right next to the Liverpool Airport terminal, so it's not far to drag your luggage.

We only stayed Monday to Friday morning so we had to cram attractions in, I thought I'd share my favourite parts in photos.

Sagrada Familia

The Basilica created by Gaudi is a must see when staying in Barcelona. The outside is still under construction and has a completion date of 2026, it's incredible in its size. In all honesty, it's a little crazy. Statues, carvings and features adorn the outside, you could stare for hours, looking at every little feature.
I'm not a spiritual person but I was in awe of the architectural genius and how light was used to create an awe inspiring view and atmosphere.
I would recommend buying tickets for this in peak summer times, it cost under 20 euros for an audio guided tour.

Park Guell

Higher up in the hills sits Parc Guell, a stunning woodland area with mosaic buildings and houses. Many people sit and pose on the famous tiled waved seats for their photo to be taken and below sits the mosaic houses. These houses were originally meant as a luxury housing for the well off, sadly the Parc didn't have many buyers so it was bought out and made into a tourist attraction soon after. Another artistic influence to the city's lively culture. You need tickets to go down into the monument area, but the grounds are free to roam. I would also advise buying tickets in advance for this, they cost around 4.90 euros to visit the monument area.

Barcelona Cathedral

Tucked away down side streets is the Barcelona Cathedral. Not as grand as the Sagrada Familia but it's rich in history. You can also tour the buildings and areas with tickets but we just explored the outer walls and took photos.

La Ramblas

Our hotel was located about a 10-minute walk from La Ramblas; a busy tourist street which is filled with shops and restaurants. This area is infamous for pick pockets, so please do be on your guard, we didn't have any trouble though. You can find the makeup mothership Sephora at the top end and European shops like Pull and Bear, H&M and Zara in this area.

Cable Cars

The best way to take in the views if you aren't scared of heights. You can either go up into the hills to the castle or down to the beach.

St Josep La Boqueria Food Market

I didn't really think I would enjoy visiting a food market but an hour later I had hundreds of snaps and 20 euro worth of sweets. The colours and smells are incredible, it's a delight for the senses. I would recommend going in the morning when everything is super fresh and there are fewer tourists.