Where to stay in Barcelona
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On this leg of our journey, I will be taking you to visit the famous La Sagrada Familia, Parque Güel, the Picasso Museum and on a hike at Montserrat. There is A LOT to do in Barcelona. This busy city is compact enough for logging miles by foot or you can rent a bicycle. But first…. where should you stay? Grab your most comfy shoes and let’s go!
The Gracia Neighborhood
We are not city people, my brother’s and I. We enjoy being out in nature and find the city only palatible for short periods of time. When I travel, I try to find a neighborhood that is quieter and slightly removed from the heart of the city. For this trip, I chose the Gracia neighborhood and it was the perfect home base. It is filled with restaraunts, shops and nightlife but just outside of the ultra-touristy city center.
It has a “locals” vibe and there are several squares where neighbors gather after 7pm for a drink and a visit.
Our apartment was situated on the Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia, the largest plaza in the Gracia barrio. It has an impressive 110 ft clock tower at its center and an interesting history. In 1870 the locals revolted against the army that was forcing 250.000 people to join them to fight in the War of Cuba. The locals refused to join the army, and for 7 whole days the district was circled by the army until the neighbors were defeated and the fighters executed.
Nowadays it is the hub of the neighborhood.
This neighborhood is also just off (about 2 blocks) of the popular Passeig de Gracia… known for it’s shopping and for the world famous Casa Batlló.
We did not tour inside the Casa Batlló but the exterior is remarkable! Designed by Gaudi, it is one of the most famous buildings in the city.
Shopping
The Gracia district is known for vintage finds and shops with handmade goods. My absolute favorite is La-a. It is full of pottery, plants, homemade gifts, etc. The items in the shop are carefully curated and you will definitely find something perfect to take back home with you. It is located at Carrer del Torrent de l'Olla, 86, near the Placa de la Vila de Gracia square.
Cheap Eats
Other neighborhoods to consider
If you are looking for an old world feeling, the Gothic Quarter is a great choice. The neighborhood has remnants of ancient Roman architecture (it used to be a Roman village) and is the oldest part of Barcelona. You will spot old Gothic buildings right next to newer, modern architecture. The streets are narrow and labyrinth- like. Perfect for meandering! It is a popular neighborhood so there is no shortage of restaurants, caffes, and shopping. There are also multiple museums in this quarter and if you visit, check to see if the Castellers are performing in the Placa Sant Jaume.
What are Castellers? They are teams of performers who practice the cultural tradition of building human castles. It is a sight to behold and the audience holds their breath as the final Casteller (a child) climbs carefully up the tower of teammates. The audience grows quite large and on the day we visited the performance, it was crowded and hot so we didn’t wade through the mass of bodies to get a closer look. It is still impressive to watch from a distance. Catstellers typically perform during festivals but also perform in events outside of the festival season. For more information and performance schedules, visit https://castellscat.cat/en
A sampling of the old meeting the new in the Gothic Quarter
El Born Neighborhood
This trendy neighborhood is packed with nightlife, great shopping experiences and midevil streets. Many of the small shop offer locally made and unique items. My favorite shop was the Galleria Maxo. It is packed with unique and quirky artwork and you can take your picture with Dali! Check out the coffee shop a few doors down if you need a large iced coffee (a rare find in BCN).
Where to buy Espadrilles: El Born
We cannot leave the El Born Barrio without visiting the amazing shoe shop: Toni Pons. Their shoes are handmade and they find the PERFECT fitting espadrilles just for you. Take a look at their website to see the process of manufacturing and to view their catalog. I left Toni Pons with 2 pairs in different styles and trust them when they say they will stretch out so you should buy them a little small, depending on the style. Their original shop is located at Carrer de l'Argenteria, 43,, 08003, Barcelona. Their shoes are very high quality and reasonably priced. You will find espadrilles in many shops in Barcelona but Toni Pons is my go-to. Authentic, great quality, and excellent customer service.