Barcelona baby! — InTheEyesOfLiz

Clear skies and golden sands… welcome to Barcelona!

Seeing as the weather is currently cold and horrible in England, I’ve found myself reflecting on my short trip to Barcelona, Spain! This was my first trip and was relatively brief, but I thoroughly enjoyed my few days there and tried to make the most of every minute!

This was another solo trip (of course), but I stayed with a family friend who moved to Barceloneta this year. Unfortunately, due to work I hardly got to spend time with them, but it was ok since the city was busy and friendly enough to explore alone.

Day 1 - Time to explore! Oh, and I bought a selfie stick!

I also had a friend there at the time but we didn’t get to link up. She did help me with basic phrases (though it wasn’t needed) and answered any questions I had! Barcelona was fun… One day I came home so late I got locked out so hit the bar (naturally) and accidentally got too waved! It might not have been the best plan of action at the time but it was eventful, to say the least… but don’t worry, you’ll see all of that in my upcoming vlog! Lol.

First impressions? It was pretty chilled. People seemed relaxed, friendly and helpful. Silly me used up most of my phone battery on the plane there so it meant that I had limited resources and was pretty clueless on where to go (not the best start I’ll admit).

I asked those at the airport train station what I needed and where to go and it didn’t seem like a fuss at all as they gave me instructions on where to go. On the train to Sans, I was treated to a live saxophone performance (it’s one of those trains with open carriages) and his speakers created a cute little vibe. It’s funny actually, once I got onto the underground there was another saxophonist - does everyone just play the sax in Barca or was it my lucky day? - and the whole experience reminded me a little of the London underground.

Since I’m on the topic of transport I might as well give you more insight! The transport system is easy to follow and is actually pretty good! From the airport, there are multiple ways to take into Barcelona and with alternative cheaper options.

Finally! After two train stops and much confusion, I had made it!

The route I initially took was a bit lengthy and cost more but hey, we learn and move on! Transport wasn’t ridiculously expensive, but since I was going to Barcelona it meant that I had to change from the train at the airport to the underground (basically overground to underground). It was only later on that I found out there was a service called the Aerobusservices that goes from the airport to central Barcelona (and vice versa) for €5.90 one way or €10.20 for a return. Not only that, but the shuttle bus is only a 30-ish minute drive directly and you don’t have to book in advance! It even has wifi and charging ports and the buses come regularly (every12 minutes) so I’ll be using that any time I visit.

I’d advise you to take this if you need to go to Barcelona because it’s seriously handy! Whilst in Barcelona, it’s worth getting a T10 card. What’s that? It’s an integrated travel card that helps you save your coinnn! It’s just over €10 and allows 10 journeys on ANY transport (underground, bus, etc) which works out to be just over €1 a journey! - That’s better than TFL btw.

One journey includes hopping between transports as long as it’s within a 1hr 15 min window so if you’re going for a short stay, this is a great option! Other transport is available and there is a load of taxi’s in central Barcelona that you can just hail on the side and are reasonably priced.

Barcelona was busy… not as busy as London but it had a similar vibe that I was familiar with. The great thing about Barcelona is that it’s small enough to walk around and walking isn’t as bad as it sounds!

The breeze and fresh air from the sea, fresh food and with loads to see, you can easily find yourself walking for hours. The architecture is great and the city has so much going on including the docks, beaches, old towns and much more.

Since Spain is usually hot, it’s great to know that there are water fountains around the city where you can top up a bottle to stay hydrated. On the first day, I found my “bearings walk” ending up to be over 4 hours. (I know I know). I only stopped walking because my feet started to tire in my sandals. Let’s just say, I knew I had walked a lot but I didn’t realise I had walked 26,000 steps! I guess it’s great exercise but if walking isn’t your thing, there are seaways and bikes that you can hire too!

I won’t go through all the days but I spent a good amount of time on the beach and walking around, getting lost and eating ice-cream. There are a few spots I recommend you to see for various reasons that are all walkable and in the same area.

Firstly, there’s a great rooftop bar at the top of the Museu d'Història de Catalunya (which is a museum). After checking out any exhibitions downstairs you can head up to the top floor and take in the view of Barcelona whilst sipping cocktails to chilled music - as you do!

Along the docks you can hop on a boat and take a boat tour where you can see all around. Mine didn’t actually have commentary but maybe others do. Still, it was good to get an idea of where things were. After that, it’s worth checking out the mall and local area. There are a lot of shops, cafes, bars, and little restaurants with really good lunchtime deals so you’ll never get bored and there’s always something within the budget!

For a slightly more exciting tour, you can get on the Montjuïc Cable Car which is further down the port and takes you to Castell De Montjuïc on the other side. The ride is about 10/15 minutes and travels over the water, giving you panoramic views of Barcelona and connects to the top of Montjuïc hill has fantastic views of the Catalan capital with a little restaurant there too. You have the option for a one-way ticket or return which then allows you to roam around for a bit before heading back.

I found this little lunchtime deal (until 4pm) at Terrazza Aperol Spriz Barcelona which included a three-course meal and a drink for under €15!

For those who are into the historical stuff and enjoy a little variety, the cable car will take you to the Parc de Montjunïc on the castle grounds and is a lovely place to walk through before you get to the castle. I would recommend you checking out the castle and you can find out more about what it is here. I wish I knew more about it at the time but I was running out of time so I roamed around the ground for a bit which was nice and peaceful before my walk back to town, which, by the way, was a lot longer than I thought and I got lost! Facepalm it’s all part of the experience!

Basílica de la Sangrada Família from the outside! It’s MASSIVE!

Nearby, there are trains and buses so this is not the only way to get there - but it is a more exciting way! Another spot I’d highlyyy recommend is the famous Basílica de la Sagrada Família although you will need to hop on a train for this one. This was one of the last places I visited and it’s magnificent from the outside and it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been under construction since 1882 and is forecasted to be completed by 2026… but we’ll see!

No time to go in… but next time for sure!

I won’t lie and say I went in because I had a flight to catch, but it’s worth booking a ticket in advance and getting there earlier on in the day to really enjoy the beauty of the architecture and history. I will be going inside next time I go for sure, and it currently attracts in mass of over 10,000 tourists a day so you know it’s something to see!

Food-wise, you have to try the paella if you’re in Spain since this is a traditional rice dish and is best by the waters. You’ll find LOADS of restaurants along the strip and each one has great deals with cocktails or wine thrown in for good measure. I was recommended Meson Barceloneta as one of the best which happened to be super close to where I was staying and had a cute little vibe to it. I really enjoyed the food and although I was alone, the waiters were super nice and attentive and the music was loud enough to not want to whip out my phone constantly.

By the way, the Spanish are GENEROUS with their alcohol so don’t worry about that! If you want to DRINK you can! I swear they free-pour because the cocktails I was having around town were like triple the alcohol for the same price. I’m not complaining though, and it was directly the cause of me falling off when I was locked out! Barcelona is also the place where you can get all levels of Absinthe for under €11. As mad as I am, I didn’t buy any since I had no-one to turn up with and even I know that an absinthe turn-up is a reckless decision… I can’t say I wasn’t tempted though...

There are also places just out of Barceloneta which are worth the extra journey and can also be reached using transport. There are a few beaches too, and if you have the patience to go a little further out, you’ll find that they’re quieter and less congested. ** Other things to see include the Cava Vineyards in the Spanish countrysides where you can learn about the history and sample some wine (why not?). Another place is Park Güell which is a public park with colourful architect. I didn’t get to see it this time around but it’s on my list for next time!

Finally, I did have some time to check out the nightlife and it was surprisingly fun… although strange in some ways, I actually did have a good night with my friend and his work-mates. We went to a club called Razzmatazz and it was giving me serious high school musical and Eurovision vibes (I think that night was some event night). Usually, these kinds of themes would be enough for me to U-turn out of the door and leave but it was very entertaining and the lights and set-up inside are actually pretty cool! It’s a large club with a few floors and the music isn’t half bad either! There’s a stage where the DJ is and on the night I went there were even dancers on stage with a routine to each tune and everything!

All in all, Barcelona is a fantastic getaway with friendly people, good weather, nice scenery, and a relaxed atmosphere. It’s perfect for a solo trip but it’s even more fun with friends, a weekend trip away, baecation or any other excuse you can think of. It’s one of those places where you could go again and not get bored. This is only the beginning of my trips to Barcelona! I plan to go many more times and I know I’ll have plenty of things to see!

As many will be pleased to hear, after much demand I have vlogged this trip and it will be available to you very soon so keep your eyes peeled for the visuals to this trip!

As always, If you have any questions let me know via my socials, the comments or ping me an e-mail and I’ll do my best in answering! If you haven’t gone to Barcelona before or you have a trip coming up soon, I hope this inspired you for your next trip!

The Beach with Barcelona’s W hotel in the background - That’s another spot you can go to for drinks and a great view of Barcelona!

** Note, you’ll find that most people are topless on the beaches. This doesn’t mean that you need to strip down yourself but a lot of tourists visit for this reason so that they can properly soak up the sun.

I’m inclined to give you a little prep talk on using sun-cream and staying hydrated blah blah, so this is your reminder that, although a tan is great, make sure you’re wearing a good SPF (regardless of race) to protect your skin. You don’t want to ruin your skin in the long run now do you!?

Liz x

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