I finally had the chance to travel to Spain. Spain is a popular destination for its sunshine, beaches, and food. I planned my trip in January to avoid the cold weather in the UK as well as the tourist crowds in Spain. Catalonia is located in northeastern Spain, near the border with France, along the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of Catalonia is Barcelona where the city is vibrant and surrounded by beautiful landscapes such as beaches, hills, gorgeous pyrenees mountain, and Gaudi’s Masterpiece.
In addition, many local people speak Catalan as their main language, although Spanish is also widely spoken. As Barcelona is part of Southern Europe, winters are typically milder than in Western or Northern Europe.
Some of the places that I managed to visit are as follows :
1. Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia is a catholic church that is still undergoing development after years. It is not just an ordinary catholic church, it is truly a masterpiece church with amazing architecture. Sagrada Familia was designed by Gaudi with a combination of styles such as mosaic, gothic, and engraving. The entrance is not free so you can buy the ticket online here with the option of visiting or not visiting the tower. It is worth going to the Tower and see the Sagrada Familia view from the Top of the Tower.
2. Park Guell
There are several parks and gardens in Barcelona that you must visit especially when the sunshine brightens up the blue sky. The first park that I visited was Park Guell which is one of Gaudi’s works. This iconic park has curved benches covered with mosaics and there is also a museum inside the park. The park and museum are not free but you can buy a ticket to only visit the park that does not include the museum.
3. Casa Battlo
Casa Battlo was a common building until it became extraordinary when Gaudi redesigned it. Gaudi’s style is a genius architecture with a combination of natural curves, colourful design and mosaic styles. I did not go inside and just took a photo from outside which is still beautiful. If you are interested in visiting inside the Casa Battlo, you can find the ticket here . Casa Batllo is part of UNESCO World Heritage, which means visiting this site should be included in the itinerary.
4. Mercat de la Boqueria, La Rambla
The traditional market in Barcelona is colourful with lots of varieties of food in the stall such as exotic fruits, iberico gamon, and nuts. I stopped at the market in Boqueria when I strolled around La Rambla. Although the food is sold in the traditional market, they are overpriced compared to other places like in the local shop or supermarket. It’s still worth visiting La Rambla where there are lots of unique shops with their own characteristics and culture.
5. Museum of Catalan
I spent my last day in Barcelona walking around the Museum of catalan where there are some nice free parks for relaxing such as the botanical garden and Joan Brossa. I did not go inside the museum as I wanted to save my time to go to the coastal area in Barcelona. In front of the museum, there is a magical fountain that will sparkle with the lights in the evening. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to visit as I am always tired in the evening.
6. Barceloneta Beach
Barcelona has nice beaches and seaside that I did not want to skip. One thing that you should know is that Barcelona city is good for pedestrians and cycles. I walked to Barceloneta Beach from Museum Catalan which took nearly one hour. The weather was sunny and not windy like in the UK so it’s comfortable to walk along. The coastal area is still alive with tourists who enjoy the sunset, food or just walking around with a seaside view. However, swimming in the beaches is not common in the winter as the water is still cold.
Where did I stay?
Although hotels in Barcelona offer many options to choose from, they are still quite expensive because it is such a popular tourist destination. This time, I wanted something different, so I chose to stay in an apartment for my holiday instead of a hotel, as it will be my first experience. The apartment is located in Eixample which is near the city centre, sagrada familia and the park Guell. It has 2 bedrooms, kitchen, and living room. This place is not only a great idea for a family, it is also great for a couple who wants more space and a bigger place like stay in the home. The kitchen is already provided with utensils, electric appliances, and tableware. In addition, the apartment also provides towels in the bathroom. MH Apartments Sant Pau
What did I eat?
I enjoy cooking from scratch with different types of food so I was excited to prepare breakfast in the apartment, especially since it provided kitchen utensils and cooking facilities. Cooking breakfast should not be complicated so I made omelets with stir fried Mushrooms and Freshly Squeezed orange juice from the shops.
There are lots of choices to eat out in Barcelona either in cafe shops or restaurants. I also like the sandwiches at the 365 coffee shop, a local chain cafe in Barcelona. Some breakfast dishes that I would recommend trying include patatas bravas, jamón ibérico sandwiches, pan con tomate, and Spanish omelette. For lunch or dinner, seafood paella is a must-try, unless you don’t like seafood, you can try vegetarian paella.
In addition, Spain is well known for its cocktails, which are definitely worth trying. Sangria is a perfect drink to enjoy under the sun. It is made from red wine, soda, and chopped fruits such as apples and oranges, giving it a sweet, citrusy, and refreshing taste.
Final Thoughts
Barcelona is a wonderful city that you can visit at any time of the year. However, Summer can be very hot, making it less comfortable to go outside unless you plan to swim in the sea or relax on the beach. I had a great time visiting Barcelona in winter, which gave me experiences I don’t usually have in the UK. From the food and terrace culture to the coastline and sunny weather. The only place I did not manage to visit was Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey. It’s a monastery located on a mountain about one hour from the city, and you need to take a cable car to reach it. It wasn’t in my list until I realised it on my last day in Barcelona. In a nutshell, Barcelona is a truly exciting city that I would love to visit again and explore further.