By Carly Bayroff
A trip to Barcelona should be a priority on everybody’s travel list. In a city with so much to do, planning a holiday here can feel overwhelming. Use this list to guide your planning for where to eat and what to do in your time in Spain.
Where to eat:
Brunch and Cake: This brunch restaurant is amazing and if you don’t believe me here are the facts: everything is made from the freshest ingredients, the food is almost too pretty to eat, and in my weekend trip to Barcelona I ate here twice. They don’t take reservations but put your name down (the earlier you get there the better) and soak up the sun while you sit outside and eagerly wait for your name to be called.
Comaxurros: Spain’s infamous street food is something you can’t miss out on. While you can grab yourself a cone of hot churros from any cart that lines the streets, this dessert shop is delicious and fun with its hot pink neon sign and walls full of cartoon churro drawings. You can try all different kinds of churros here with unique fillings and toppings, but you can never go wrong with the classic combo of churros and chocolate.
BcN (Birres i Tapes): If there is ever a place to order paella, Spain is it. While BcN has a menu full of options, the paella is your golden ticket. Choose from a few different kinds like vegetable, seafood or black paella made from squid ink. Prepare for a huge portion that’s so good you’ll wish it was even bigger.
What to do:
Visit La Sagrada Familia: If something from your list has to go, this cannot be it. Prepare for your jaw to drop with amazement when you walk inside this church. The architecture and stained glass windows are so dramatic and beautiful your pictures won’t do the building justice. Make sure you buy your tickets ahead of time to save yourself hours of waiting in line to get in.
Park Guell: You might get a little sweaty on the hike up, but the view of the city from the top of this park is worth it. You can roam around the park’s beautiful grounds for free but to get inside the area with the mosaic tile bench for pictures that overlook the city you need tickets. Get them at the park or ahead of time online.
Spend a night at the Dow Jones Bar: Although this bar is super small it’s stock market idea makes it such a fun and interactive experience for you and your friends. As you order, check the screens above the bar to see drink prices fluctuate. Get your wallets ready for a market crash so you can buy, buy, buy!
Take a trip to Happy Pills: This candy store is just so happy. Fill up jars that look like medicine containers with candy from the wall of options. To complete your experience, choose a fun sticker to label your jar with, ranging from ‘Happy Pills: Instant Happiness’ to ‘Happy Pills: for when the wifi is out.’