I’m a sucker for research, especially when it comes to travel. Not really one to reach a place and ‘figure it out’, I like to ask locals, chefs in the region, and read up reviews and tips from people across the world before I even get on the flight. Thus, it’s not surprising that I am often cajoled for my itinerary of a particular place when friends or family decide to visit it. In a world of inaccurate and unverified AI suggestions, for people in my circle, I am their personalised travel itinerary planner and Chatgpt rolled into one. 

Still, it took me so long to realise that I haven’t formalised this wealth of information by putting it on my blog and making it easy for everyone to access it. It still lies scattered in notes jotted down on my phone or a personal journal that I tend to carry. So, in an unselfish attempt to share my favourite corners of the world, I’m starting a series of Must-Do Itineraries. Starting with Barcelona. 

I visited Barcelona in February this year, when the winter had just softened around the edges, for the locals anyway. I was still caught off-guard, and found myself layering up like it was the tundra. But in the one week that I spent here, mostly solo, wandering the streets and winding cobbled lanes of Barcelona, Costa Brava and smaller villages in Catalunya like Pals and Girona, I discovered gems often unspoken about, and misses that the internet raves about but turned out to be a downer. 

If you’re visiting Barcelona or Catalunya soon, here’s my list of Must-Dos you should include in your itinerary.

What You Must Visit in Barcelona:

1. Sagrada Familia sits right on top of this list and for good reason. Gaudi is all over Barcelona, but it is here, in the temple of his artwork, that he can truly be understood. Sagrada Familia is breathtaking, and even more so if you take a guided group tour to understand its nuances such as the stained glass windows on the east wall being painted in warm colours for sunrise and on the west wall in cool blues for dusk. 

My tip: Take a fast track and small group tour so you’re not standing around in lines forever. I took this one.

2. Park Güell is the second ticketed Gaudi masterpiece that I recommend. Started as a cluster of private houses for Barcelona’s rich and famous, it was never completed due to the outbreak of the world war. Still, the parts that he did complete, astound. The practicality behind each design feature is way ahead of his time.  

My tip: Like Sagrada Familia, Park Guell tickets sell out. Book these in advance. And again, take a tour to be able to appreciate the genius of Gaudi. 

3. Casa Batlló, Casa Vicens and Casa Mila: These beautiful buildings sit on Passeig de Gràcia, the luxury shopping street of Barcelona, always a pleasure to walk on. Just stroll around and admire these buildings from afar every time you cross them. They sell entry tickets too but you can skip that.

4. Catedral de Barcelona is beautiful and in a way reminds me of Notre Dame Paris. This will be a part of your old town walking tour, if you do one. If not, just come by and appreciate the facade of this beautiful church. 

Where to Stay in Barcelona: 

1. Do NOT stay on La Ramblas, whatever you may read. It is noisy, touristy and known for petty theft (for good reason).  
2. Instead, stay in Eixample, especially around Rambla de Catalunya. I stayed at a boutique hotel called Granados 83 which was perfect for me…walking distance from everything and in a quiet and safe lane just off Rambla de Catalunya! PS- Rambla de Catalunya is not to be mixed up with La Ramblas. They are poles apart in vibe and the sort of crowd you may find.   
3. El Born is another charming area, just next to the Gothic Quarter. It has a bohemian vibe, not too grungy but not luxurious either. I would recommend this as a second choice. 
4. The Old Town (Gothic Quarter): This medieval and atmospheric area, though charming, can get quite chaotic. I would recommend you do a walking tour through this area, instead of staying here. 
5. The area to avoid is El Raval – the western side of La Ramblas. It has a distinctly rougher vibe and I wouldn’t recommend walking around in this area alone at night either.    

Tour I Did: I did this free walking tour of the Gothic Quarter/El Born and recommend it – Old town tour.

Lastly, travel for me is all about finding the best food markets, especially the ones that locals visit, not just tourists. Like London, Barcelona did not disappoint, with a variety of local food markets to visit. These were recommended to me by locals, Spanish chefs and guides. Here are my favourites.

Food Markets in Barcelona You Can’t Miss

1. Mercat Sant Antoni – My absolute favourite, tucked into a residential area where you will find no tourists whatsoever. Barely any English spoken but you can easily get by with sign language. Sunday closed. 

What to buy: I got 2-3 varieties of chorizo to take home, lots of cheese, olives and sun-dried tomatoes (they vacuum pack for your flight).

2. Mercat de Santa Caterina – In El Born, near the Picasso Museum. Here, I enjoyed a tapas lunch sitting on the counter, surrounded by locals again. 

What to buy: I picked up a great olive oil from here. There are also a sprinkling of boutique stores in the vicinity that I loved, and thrift stores if you like vintage wear. 

3. La Boqueria – The most touristy food market in Barcelona, this one is open all day from 10-8:30. I recommend the best time to visit is 10am-12pm. Don’t buy things here, but if you want to eat, there are good tapas options. El Quim, famous for its fried eggs topped with baby calamari, fried baby fish, mushrooms or foie; or Bar Pinotxo for traditional Catalan recipes such as chickpeas with black pudding or white beans with baby calamari; or El Kiosko Universal, hidden in a corner, that specialises in the freshest fish, shellfish, and seafood in the market (get one of their daily menus – they are a very good deal!).
4. Mercat Dels Encants – A flea market that’s super fun to walk around in. Only open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 am to 8 pm

Day Tours From Barcelona

It would be remiss to travel all the way to Spain and not explore the region outside the city. If you have a day free in your itinerary, I suggest you take a Day Tour to explore the beautiful coastal towns of Costa Brava and the medival villages like Pals and Girona (Game of Thrones fame). 

Tour I Did – Highly recommend this day trip to Girona & Costa Brava