Your cart is currently empty!
Top 10 – Barcelona Voyage Plan
#travel #inspiration #experience #motivation #barcelona
In Spain, the dead are more alive than the dead of any other country in the world.
As a large number of you would expect, there would be no chance whatsoever to finish my Barcelona Trilogy without a decent top 10. But there is a reason why I decided not to pick a “Top 10 things to visit in Barcelona the first time around”. I don’t want you to wander carelessly, as if Barcelona were a check-list. I want you to feel the spirit, the same one I felt, my friend Johnny before me, Antoni (Gaudi) before us, as much as countless inspired individuals have, and will. I wish that you live through the spirit of the city, the strange shroud that expands across the sensible reality and charms the visitors into being their utmost unique self. My goal is for all my readers to FEEL the Barcelona Spirit!
Top-list are a very util weapon against delving into the unknown, on the other hand. Without any further ado, let us jump into the top 10 actions to plan for a trip to Barcelona (visits included) – granted you’re flying in to El Prat.
1. Don’t seek out the metro station
Suffice to say I wasted quite some time seeking out the metro station. Although the subway is my favorite means of transportation, it’s quite unpleasant to walk around the airport facilities, dragging a suitcase behind you (or worse, pushing it forward). There is a bus that takes you to city center, and the ticket costs around 6.5 EUR / 7 USD. Just buy the ticket and go to the heart of Barcelona. The expense can save you even an hour of reasonless search.
El Prat airport is organized solidly. However, I prefer to have subway stations right at the exit, or even within the airport itself. This one is connected to El Prat, but it is not anywhere inside. In fact, one would need to follow a set of stairs and hallways to find the nearest entrance. And if I’m not mistaken, the metro does not even go directly from there to the center. Just pay the extra money and cut yourself loose from the worry.
2. Hola BCN Card
These are the tickets you can use for any means of public transport. Although (do not hold me to it, I am 99% certain) you can utilize this card for the special bus taking you from the airport to the center, you cannot obtain it online and have it printed out. Namely, you can only do so with a reservation. Do book your BCN ticket online, in advance to your journey. A confirmation will be emailed to you, with a bar code.
In order to redeem your actual ticket, you would need to go to a subway station. There are vending machines at the entrance to most of them. I must say, to someone who does 90% of actions online or in an automated environment, this was really not a piece of cake. (Guess it’s a valuable remark for the Barcelona Public Transport Dept.) Fortunately, you can use the vending machines to call for an operator (even at 10 PM), who will give you instructions (in English, as well) how to redeem your ticket. It will be valid from the moment you first use it, and last for a selected duration.
Remember that they can be purchased for multiple-day streaks. If you already have the flight dates, do not buy a 5-day ticket to be on the safe side. Rather calculate how many days you will actually be staying, and book accordingly. If you are staying for 4 days, there is no need to buy the longest-lasting option. On the other hand, a 6-day trip would work out better with two consecutive 3-day tickets. Work this out in advance, so you don’t waste time choosing the plan. Also, if I’m not mistaken, the price is linear, so there’s really no need to waste extra money on the days you won’t be present.
3. Make an excursion to Andorra
The exhilarating fresh breath of Andorra’s breeze inspired a whole post about this magical micro-state. If you’ve missed it, please read it, for your own sake and culture. If I’ve managed to transfer at least 10% of my thrill, you will be utterly astonished!
Thereat you will not require a public transport ticket, as everything is situated at a walking distance. The cars are very uncommon to spot, and most of the capital, Andorra la Vella, is dedicated to the pedestrian lifestyle (my absolute favorite, btw). The global experience and the style of living are very similar to the one in Spain, so it will be a zero-level culture shock. And get your friends some souvenirs, it’s not like someone goes to Andorra every day!
One thing I must warn you about planning your way to Andorra! You can reach it from Barcelona by bus. But beware, there is Andorra the country (the station should be Andorra la Vella) and Andorra, a city in Spain. If you buy return tickets, not only will you have to choose the right Andorra to travel to, but also the right one to RETURN FROM (I know, right)! If your geography lessons in high school were as useless as mine were, you’d want to do your homework ahead of time, but also double-check while at the check-out.
And don’t forget to bring a bathing suit! The Andorran spa is one of its most popular attractions. I forgot mine (and do not repent for it one bit), but for a 12-hour excursion, it sure would’ve been nice to sit down and excrete all the extra tension-toxins through my pores.
PS. Please remember to send me a picture from a payphone.
4. Sagrada Familia
Let’s go back to the quote at the top. In this edifice, you will realize its full splendor. Now, I did dedicate a whole blog post to its architect (a must-read for anyone who wants to visit Barcelona or is lacking inspiration in life!) and this excursion will be eye-opening.
Imagine walking around a concrete forest, with the whole spectrum of the rainbow shining through the boughs. Although a dead space, you will feel a strange surge of life, running through these lifeless concrete walls, acting as a sightline in the distance. And the atmosphere delivered will be nothing like any other religious object in the world. In fact, the atmosphere inhales into its visitors all the joys of life and nature. After all, isn’t every religion supposed to represent exactly that?
The excursion to this sacred object, where the late architect still runs the construction, and will continue to do so until completion, should not take more than 2 hours in total. This is a great morning to noon activity, which will leave you a generous amount of time to pick another important monument to visit. Seize the days wisely, yet do not check-list everything – remember to become your utmost self, feel the unity with the Barcelona Spirit, and breathe in its magical life force. The key is in this part solely.
5. The Barceloneta
Am I talking about the whole neighborhood, the beach or the Burj-Khalifa-shaped building at its end? No one cares! And no one should! I’m talking about the whole feeling and the special aura, residing at where the sea kisses the land of this enchanted place.
Is it the winter? Is it cold? So what?! In which stone is it inscribed that humans may only visit sandy shores between late June and late August?! Put your cap on (you really don’t want to mess with the winds blowing from the sea) and stride along the border of the water. Feel the urban sea air fill your lungs. True, I must admit, it is not the same salty sea air, which can be felt in small, barely inhabited coastal towns. But it is invigorating, nonetheless! Feel it, acquire it, live it.
My favorite thing to do here, and a must-remember, do try some sea-food paella. But beware, you won’t be able to remove the… fragrance of the sea food from your fingers for 3 days. This is how you’ll know the paella was good! Clams, shrimp, octopus, different sorts of fish, you name it. Again, What the water gave me by Florence + the Machine playing smoothly in the background.
6. Antoni Gaudi’s heritage
Two houses – Casa Batllo and Casa Mila – as well as Park Guell. Why did I separate them from Sagrada Familia? Because people used to live in them? Nah, probably because these are already erected and have been used at some point in time. Also, anyone planning a voyage to Barcelona for less that 3 days will most probably want to visit Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and one of the Casas.
I can’t tell you what to do, go for what you fell to be the most valuable. You’ve read my impressions already. And what I love about it is the fact that I’ve never said anything like “You should see things A, B and Z in place XY” – I’ve described all of them as extraterrestrial manifestations of someone’s mind. And that, for a fact, truly is what they are!
What I can tell you to do for sure, inform yourself well about all of them – what you will receive for your money, what’s included in the ticket price. Also, don’t be stingy – for example, you can waste one whole huge aspect of Casa Mila by not paying a bit extra to have the VR tour.
7. Walk around the Marina
The Columbus statue, the ships with (to most humans) barely known flags of the Caribbean countries, the overpriced cafes and restaurants with chill employees inviting you inside to share a piece of their atmosphere…
But the best of all – everyone is vibing in their own vibe. You will feel a mix of auras, where everyone is just simply being what they truly are, not minding anyone else or causing anyone any drama. It’s a world of its own, where everyone is their own self, in a world full of differences.
You know how people often say that everyone has their own personality? The Marina in Barcelona is one of the places where you can feel the essence of this saying. As if domed by a feeling of security and lack of worry. What did you wear? Nobody cares. What is anyone going to think? Nobody cares. OMG look at that person, wearing Maleficent horns and gargoyle wings! You don’t care. Just like nobody else cares. That is that person’s vibe. And it’s not intruding your personal space. If humans decided to make a place of love and respect, they would make Barcelona.
8. Get lost around Park Guell
Bad news for all you relentless walkers out there (Welcome to the club!) – Barcelona is one of those logical cities, where there is no chance to get lost. Oh well, it is what it is. You can definitely quit looking at the map for an amount of time. But why around Park Guell? Well, after you’re done with the visit, you’ll want to explore the perimeter and the outlying areas. Plus, it is not in the city center anymore. You are free to feel this other side of Barcelona, off the beaten path.
Will you find something so extraordinary there, that will make you want to come back? Probably not. Will it be worth your while? Yes, it definitely will. Just don’t forget about the siesta – you don’t have a generic fast-food chain every few feet apart, at this part of the city.
9. Eat a chocolate croissant with some espresso
Lifestyle of the French. Yet, it’s got a great footing in Italy and Spain, as well. What’s so special about the croissants and espresso here, that makes Barcelona so much better than the other mentioned places? Simple, the city spirit. The omnipresent feeling of Barcelona. Sit down, have your nice espresso, eat some sweet breakfast, while observing the flow of this vibrant and colorful atmosphere.
Fun activity: try ordering a croissant by saying “quaso”.
10. Walk down La Rambla, for goodness’ sake!
This one goes without saying. Unless you’re us, who forgot to put this point onto our list (yeah, we went with a list – beginners’ mistake). And what was the result? On the last day, we realized we’d been doing this very activity for the third day in a row, without even noticing.
Countless fast-food joints, restaurants with fine pricing and great food options, people buzzing about and spreading their own aura on the more continental part of Barcelona… Plus, another chance to go past Antoni’s Casas. Take your time, don’t chase, just feel.
Statistically, this has been my longest blog post, so far. You know what the strangest thing is – I can go on like this for days, without ever getting tired. But there is a (not so) hidden point in this one, as well as the previous posts about this city of splendors – visit it yourselves! There will always be something new and undiscovered to do in Barcelona. The first time around, I didn’t get to visit Pablo Picasso or Salvador Dali’s museums. I naturally didn’t even choose to go to “The Stadium”. More stuff left to do the next time around, or not enough time? Or both? Or neither? We may never know.
BUT, whatever you plan to do, remember to leave some empty space in your calendar. And not even some, but rather quite some. Whatever you decide to do, or whatever you decide not to, Barcelona’s spell will take you to a different and uninvestigated road, whatever vibes along with you. Thank me later, but also inform me of the magic experienced along the path.
Comments
[…] headline stayed from the post I worked over to prepare this one. At first, I thought to myself – is it possible to run out of inspiration after only 8/10 steps? […]
[…] at first glance? The city is alive! All those beautiful spirits that make up for the atmosphere in Barcelona, Antwerp and Vienna, are consorted with the one in the Portuguese […]
[…] at first glance? The city is alive! All those beautiful spirits that make up for the atmosphere in Barcelona, Antwerp and Vienna, are consorted with the one in the Portuguese […]
[…] at first glance? The city is alive! All those beautiful spirits that make up for the atmosphere in Barcelona, Antwerp and Vienna, are consorted with the one in the Portuguese […]
[…] at first glance? The city is alive! All those beautiful spirits that make up for the atmosphere in Barcelona, Antwerp and Vienna, are consorted with the one in the Portuguese […]
[…] – Barcelona Top 10 and […]
Leave a Reply