The Main Attraction in Barcelona is the Retiro Park
Barcelona is one of the best places to venture your holiday vacation. Annually, Barcelona caters thousands of tourists and holidaymakers all over the world. With its various captivating scenery, nothing can easily beat Barcelona. In fact, some of the Hollywood movies are taped here. Due to its long stretched of beaches and rolling awesome hills and mountains, Barcelona is worldwide famous of being the best location for summer and holiday vacation.
One of the must see attractions in Barcelona is its major park; the Retiro Park. The park is also easy to access on its nearby attractions such like the Prado Museum. The park is the best area for strolling and mind rejuvenation, if you are too tired from work this is the place to be. Lovers, couples, friends, families of both the locales and tourists are found here. There is so much activities that you can do in this park. Since it is the sanctuary to many attractions such like monuments, sculptures, boating lake and more the park deserves to be visited by millions of people the whole year round.
In the 17th century, Retiro Park was only for the royal family. No one is allowed to enter the park during this time and the royal family was only allowed to use it privately. It was here where bullfights, pageants and mock naval battles are held. But the situation does not remain, after that later century the park was then open to the public. But despite that it was already opened to the public, visitors were not allowed to enter if they do not wear formal attire.
In the Retiro Park, you will also find the 19th century Crystal Palace which was built in 1887. The neo-classical Velasquez Palace can also be found here, this palace is mostly the venue for any different events the whole year round. To have the most experience in Retiro Park, planning it ahead of time is necessary.
Barcelona’s top 4 Most Impressive Attractions
So, you are all ready to travel to Barcelona, but the question is, are you also ready or aware where to go in the city? Barcelona is one of the best cities to visit in Spain, and you should have to be aware of this. The city is proud of being surrounded with great sceneries and attractions that lured millions of tourists to come here the whole year round. If you do not know well Barcelona, because it is your first time to visit the city, the attractions below are the best places that you can include in your list of itineraries.
Magic fountains—this is an interesting and impressive fountain that you should have to witness during your visit here. The fountain was built since 1929, and it is one of the rushing attractions in Barcelona. It has been designated as the magic fountain because it features vibrant colors and it dances together with its song.
Palau Nacional—the façade that this edifice has can be deceiving, because at your first glance you would find it as an old building, but it is not actually when you come nearby. The edifice houses the National Art Museum of Catalonia. The building was built in 1992 for the International Exhibition purpose.
Torre Agbar—this is the newest skyscrapers in Barcelona. The building was completed in 2005; the shape that it features draws most of the tourist’s attention. The façade that it has does not only create impressive impression but as well as it’s inside part.
La Rambla—this is the most popular street in Barcelona. Most of the people you can see wandering here are the tourists from all over the country. There is unique captivating scenery that you should have to see in this part of the city so if you are here in Barcelona, try to stroll here in La Rambla as well.
The Most Famous Barcelona Attractions
When you talk about Barcelona’s attractions, you might end up tired of listing all of it, because wherever you gaze around the city, you can always see an amazing and incredible view that you have not seen before.
Barcelona is a blessed city, having been abounding with a paradise like place. No doubt, Barcelona has been included in the list as one of the most visited cities all over the world. But, if you are planning to spend your vacation here, you should have to make your own list of itineraries before going here; because, you might end up wondering or confused where to go first and what to do.
So if you are confused what to include in your list of itineraries, you might like to include the following top most visited attractions in Barcelona.
1. Sagrada Familia—if you are here in Barcelona, this amazing piece of art by Antonio Gaudi is a must see. It is a gigantic temple which is still under construction since 1882. Accordingly, the edifice still has 30 to 80 years to go before it totally finished.
2. The Barri Gotic—this amazing gothic quarter is located east offs the Ramblas. It caters some buildings that date back since the 14th and 15th century. The main attraction of this gothic quarter is the gothic cathedral, Placa del Rei, Palau de la Generalitat and the Ajuntament.
3. La Pedrera Casa Mila—this is another masterpiece of Gaudi’s arts. It is appointed as one of the most rushing attractions in Barcelona. Previously called Casa Mila but recently, the building is now called La Pedrera—which means quarry.
4. Barcelona Zoo—this is the best place to include in your list of itineraries if you go to Barcelona with your kids. A great number of animals could be found here, and it is an amazing experience to see different forms of animal species with your kids.
5. The Picasso Museum—this is an interesting museum to visit, it houses Picasso’s paintings in a chronological order. The paintings he had started from his early time to the current. The idea of arranging his paintings like this would give you insights how he developed his unique way of painting.
Cuisines to try and Impressive Views to See in Barcelona
One of the best reasons why we go to a certain destination aside from the impressive scenery that they got is because of their cuisines. Particularly in Barcelona, when it comes to their foods the city’s foods are just mouth watering. The foods in Barcelona are also called the Catalan food. Since the 13th century Catalans were already written a recipe that depicts about the characteristics of their food, and one of the characteristics is the “mar in muntanya” which could be translated into English as sea and mountain—this is a combination of meat and fish.
Eventually, the Catalans were adding dry fruit to the meat and dishes. The sauces as well have an important role on the Catalan gastronomy. You can try the allioli this is with garlic and oil, a great partner to rice and meat. There is so much to discover about the Catalan’s cuisines, but among all the famous starters the popular dish called “mondonguilles amb sepia” is a cuisine in Barcelona that you should not miss having a try.
Aside from the foods, of course the important places to visit in Madrid should not be missed. As a tourist this is the most important reason why we come over to a certain destination, and for Barcelona the places that you should not miss visiting are the following.
* Sagrada Familia—this is one of the most impressive architectures to see in Barcelona. The architecture was designed by the famous artist in the city, Antoni Gaudi. He got inspired with the nature around him that leads him to design such an enormous and striking architecture of Sagrada Familia.
* Barri Gòtic—this part of Barcelona symbolized the religious and the civic heart of the city. If you want to see some of the medieval architecture of Barcelona, this is the best place to head of. This is also a great place for shopping, bar hopping, business and restaurants.
* Picasso Museum—this museum is located particularly in the three medieval buildings as well as in the other two buildings. It houses more than 3, 600 works segregated into paintings and drawings.
Barcelona is an amazing city of Spain, due to that fact millions of holiday goers come to visit the city every year, and even some of them decided to live here permanently.
Celebrating Valentines Day in Barcelona
Valentines day is about to come, of course everybody seems all excited perhaps except for those who were desperate enough to avoid the celebration. But no matter what, you cannot avoid valentines because it will really come and you cannot escape from it. Well then, if you are about to celebrate this romantic event with your sweetheart or even with your family, friends or coworkers into another place find somewhere else that you think offer a romantic environment. Though Paris France is the common place to go for lovers, the fact is there are still various romantic places to go.
Barcelona Spain is not just about the scenery, vibrant nightlife and beaches the city as well is a perfect destination for lovers. If you do not know, Barcelona has been considered as one of the most romantic destinations all over Europe. What makes Barcelona romantic? Of course, it is because Barcelona provides unique and romantic environment. With good weather Barcelona is perfect for the Valentines Day season.
What to expect during your valentine tour in Barcelona includes the ramblas and cobbled alleys. These are an amazing start to have a romantic experience in the city. Walking around Barcelona with your lover hand-in-hand is a moment you can never forget. If you want to savor the romance of Barcelona it is a great idea if you explore the city by foot. Renting a car is not really necessary unless you have decided to visit other areas of Barcelona that would take an hour before you arrive.
The cobbled stone alleys as well as the ramblas are not the only things to expect in Barcelona. They are just a few of the many things to discover about this romantic place. Bringing your sweetheart in Gaudi’s Cathedral is an awesome experience too. Gaudi—as the most famous artist in Barcelona creates many masterpieces for both lovers and holiday makers to view.
It would be very awkward if you do not bring your lover to a fine restaurant after the tour. Barcelona will amaze you because most of Barcelona’s restaurants served both traditional and contemporary cuisine. You will love the tapas and the wine as well being served to you. Going to Paris is a good choice too, but if you still looking for another place to venture your valentines date Barcelona is just perfect for you.
How to make your Barcelona study cheap
It is not easy to live abroad especially if you came here for the purpose of studying. It is expensive and nostalgic, but the rewards are worthy. If you will allow your child to study abroad there are many things that your kids will experience. Studying abroad will allow students to experience different unique cultures and ways of life. They can also have the chance to learn new languages and build new friendship. Though the everyday accommodation, plane tickets, food and entertainment is staggering there are ways to minimize these that could suit your budget.
If you chose to spend your studies in Barcelona Spain, you must be aware that the city is considered as one of the most expensive cities of Spain. But to make the most of your Barcelona studies there are ways how to fit your budget if you want to explore the beauty spots of the city.
Explore the beaches of Barcelona. One of the best places to visit in Barcelona without paying too much is their beaches. The best time to go here is during the off-season. Usually the people that can be found here are those who are escaping the crowd and are looking for a place to relax and unwind. This is the nice place to go for swimming especially after your examination. You can also bring your friends and classmates here and go have some fun. Since it can be accessible by bus or by train it is not really expensive when you have plans to go in Barcelona’s beaches.
Eat Big Lunches. If you are in a budget for your food, take the opportunity of grabbing some food in Barcelona during their lunch time. Traditionally, Spaniards has a largest meal during their lunch time and after that will precede the siesta or nap. The Spaniards lunch mostly last for an hour. This is the best time to fill your stomach with the very affordable meal since usually during lunch time most of the restaurants offer cheap and affordable meal.
Practice basic Spanish language at the La Boqueria Market. The market it located off La Rambla through interacting with the local vendors you will eventually learn how to speak Spanish in a simple and nice way without paying a tutor to teach you how to pronounce or speak the language. Your Spanish friends as well could be a good help. It is because through the daily conversation with them, you would know when to use the Spanish language and how to use it in the correct manner.
How to know better Barcelona
If you want to know more Barcelona, touring the city is the best thing that you should have to do. Though Barcelona is a huge city with various neighborhoods it is easy to familiarize the city if you know how to differentiate the areas belonged to it. The locals of Barcelona are very proud of the city where traffic is not really tight and where tourists would get impossibly lost. However, not all parts of the city follow the same pattern because there are also areas of Barcelona that really needs time to familiarize it to avoid being lost. Such for example the old centre of town, this area has a narrow streets and disordered streets. It has full of charm however, it could be a maze for those first timer here.
If this is your first time to visit Barcelona, the very first thing that you should do to familiarize the city is to pretend like you are one of the locals. This means that you should have to do strolling around the city, getting familiarize with the street numbers. You can start your tour at the seaside towards the mountains. The best option also to familiarize the city is to tour around through walking and without riding a car. Barcelona has four key thoroughfares; the Passeig de Gracia and the Rambla de Catalunya and the Gran Via and Diagonal. These four keys could help you know better Barcelona.
If you already familiarize the city, then this is your time to hop into the main neighborhoods. You could start at the city center moving down to the sea. The heart of the city which is the Gothic Quarter is a must see. This is one of the most rushing areas visited by thousands of tourists all over the world. Another place to familiarize in Barcelona is the Barceloneta, the Born and La Ribera, the Raval, Gracia and more. If you want to know better Barcelona, then start it now.
Barcelona For Christmas
Although Barcelona lacks the fir trees, lack of snow and reindeer still this Andalucian city is a good place to visit even at Christmas. Elaborate and expensive lighting display all over the streets are being hung and displayed by the government. Even locals are already excited for the evening to come so they can witness the illuminating of lights and starting the Christmas season. The city has been dressed as if getting ready for a Barcelona card shoot.
The Christmas market is one breathing waiting entity, dressed and lighted for Christmas as if waiting for the Kings or Santa Claus. It may not be as flashing and dashing like the rest of Europe but it is still a very good and fun place to be during Christmas.
You do not need a Barcelona Map to go to Barcelona Cathedral, in which the Christmas market is located, for it is in the heart of Barcelona. You can buy freshly picked Christmas tree with varying prices depending on the size. Fresh Christmas trees have a very nice smell compared to a fake Christmas tree. Though, the latter can last a few years than the freshly picked one.
Christmas trimmings can also be bought in the Christmas market. The trimmings came either from locals which can be handmade or imported from other countries like China. If you have friends in Barcelona expect to see nativity scenes inside the home. So, if you want to blend in the Barcelona culture also made one. The accessories of making nativity scenes vary and can be bought on the same place.
You will be fond of the figurines for it has so many expressions you can choose from. Barcelona has locals so creative that collecting them will surely be foremost on your minds. These figurines are the basic decorations that each Barcelona homes have.
Barcelona Safety Tips
Barcelona is one of the greatest cities in Spain it has a lot of things to do and scenery to view. But we cannot deny the fact that there are also dangers as well around. Wherever we go dangers like pick pocketing, snatching and robbery is expected. Tourist should be aware about this that things like this would probably happen for them to know what the precautions to take. Though Barcelona is a great place to visit however, do not just be blinded by its beauty because Barcelona could be dangerous too when you are not aware of the dangers around.
Most of the tourists in Barcelona can be seen carrying maps and seems like lost without thinking of their bags. This could be bait for pickpockets and robbers around. Therefore, it is necessary to follow some tips in order for you to wander around the city safely. If you were in Barcelona, act like you were from there or you were like one of the locales. With this kind of strategy the robbers or pickpockets could not dare to victimize. Always look on your wallet and be very cautious with your personal belongings most especially if you are in Ramblas as well as on the beach.
When you are in Barcelona dress like you are one of the locales or dress appropriately. If possible do not keep your map always visible to the public because this could let robbers think that you are one of the tourists and would take that as their advantage. If you were touring around Barcelona keep your voice low because it can sometimes attract bad people. Be very careful to put your important belongings, it is nice to have an internal pockets compared to the external pockets. Make use of the security provisions which are given by your hotel. If you are going to Barcelona, it is really necessary to know some safety tips for you to have the best Barcelona travel vacation.
Cheap Barcelona Tour
Traveling to Barcelona could be expensive, but if you are in a budget and still you wanted to travel to Barcelona there are ways how to have a cheap Barcelona travel experience. In fact there are plenty of free things that you can do in Barcelona. Though there are many museums that could be found in Barcelona, not all of these museums have entrance fee because there are free museums to visit in Barcelona. For a free Barcelona tour below are the interesting places to visit in Barcelona.
The Picasso Museum. This is one of the interesting museums in Spain. To get a free entrance fee going here during first Sunday of the month would be best. But it is advice that you will go on the place in the early time because it is expected to have a lot of visitors in line coming here. While during Wednesday afternoons, the museum offer free study groups under the age of 16, for further details you can inquire the museum.
The Metronom.This museum was established in 1980. This is a contemporary type of museum which showcases innovative exhibitions, it mostly displays modern technology. This is an interesting museum to see incredible displays that you have not seen before.
The Barcelona Cathedral. This is one of the most incredible places to visit in Barcelona, the Barcelona cathedral. Since the entrance fee is free the visit to Barcelona cathedral is worthy. You can freely wander the Romanesque cathedral from both outside and within.
Parc Guell. This is another work of art by Gaudi. Just like the Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell was also never completed. Parc Guell was actually made as the residential place of the rich and the famous since it did not received the support of the local it never have the chance to be completed. Yet, it still looks incredible and captivating worthy to visit.
