Day 1: Gothic Quarter & Montjuïc
Starting in the Eixample district, transversing through Plaça Catalunya and the Gothic Quarter before reaching the waterfront at the Columbus Monument, La Rambla de Catalunya weaves through the heart of central Barcelona. Lined with cafes and shops and full of quirky street entertainers, it has a vibrant energy and attracts thousands of tourists. It’s also home to Mercat de la Boqueria. A sensory overload, but the colourful displays of fresh fruit and sugary treats on offer are pretty cool and with the TikTok craze for Dubai style strawberries, teens will want to visit. Be prepared for some serious crowds so best visited early in the morning if possible.
As you get closer to the port, take one of the roads off to the left and venture into the Gothic Quarter with its narrow streets. Again, very touristy but pleasant to wander around. The cathedral is beautiful and with a blue sky and the sounds of the local buskers playing their instruments, the square just in front is lovely place to sit for a moment and take in the atmosphere.
Head to Plaça Real for a break from the bustling cobbled streets. This palm tree lined square with a pretty fountain is a great spot to enjoy a coffee and people watch.
Back on La Rambla, make your way down to the Columbus Monument. From here, head to the Funicular stop Paral-Lel (10 minutes’ walk). On route, stop at Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies for some cool street art in the El Poble Sec neighbourhood with its more industrial, trendy vibe. For a cheaper option and included in your metro pass, the funicular to Parc Montjuic is a great choice. For a more scenic ride, you can also take the cable car but the queues were crazy and for a family of four, it was quite pricey.
Once you’ve reached the top, head left out of the station and visit the Olympic stadium now a temporary home for Barcelona FC. As you walk around it, there are displays detailing the history of the stadium including its use during the Spanish Civil War. The iconic communications tower built in 1992 to provide TV coverage is also located within the Olympic complex. For sports enthusiasts, there’s the Museu Olímpic i de l’Esport Joan Antoni Samaranch close by. If you’re a fan of Miro’s work, the Fundació Joan Miró can also be found on Montjuic hill. Walking from one sight to another, there are several leafy parks to stroll through. Beautifully landscaped with exotic plants and plenty of secluded spots for a moment of calm and tranquility. If you turn right out of the funicular station, you can walk through more shaded gardens to the Mirador l’alcarbe for views of the port below.
Stop at Salts Bar for lunch with a view and a laid back vibe. The menu with tapas, pizzas and sandwiches is extensive and portions are generous and reasonably priced. Nothing fancy but with a chilled beer, music and views of the city, it’s a great choice. It is also home to the olympic diving pools which clients can enjoy in the summer months.
Day 2: Sagrada Familia, Barceloneta, Parc Ciutadella and El Born
We were too late to get tickets for the Sagrada Família but it would’ve been lovely to see the incredible stained class windows and intricate interior. Visiting on a spring day with blue sky, it was still worth the visit even just to see it from the outside. Wandering through the small park just in front was the perfect way to appreciate this unique and fascinating building.
We jumped off the metro at Barceloneta and after a few minutes’ walk we were in the marina with its buzzing bars and restaurants and lively street market. We admired the super yachts whilst sampling street food and browsing the stalls with artisan products and crafts.
Heading away from the city, there are several town beaches along the coastline. We walked to the closest ones, just after the W Hotel – San Sebastián and Playa de la Barceloneta. I’d read it has an LA sort of vibe and would definitely agree – Volleyball pitches, roller bladers, beach bars and a beach with not a patch of sand in sight. A fun atmosphere though and perfect for a walk along the wide promenade with the sight of the iconic W hotel, which makes you feel like you could be in Dubai.
Next stop was Parc Ciutadella. In search of somewhere green and leafy to escape the city heat and crowds, we made our way over from the marina. It was absolutely heaving with rowing boats filling the lake and families and friends finding shade under palm trees. The park itself is lovely with landscaped gardens with a tropical feel, a zoo and a botanical garden (free entry).
As you exit next to the botanical garden you are now in the El Born district. Narrow streets with a lively café culture and interesting shops, it’s worth a wander and the placa housing the historic El Born Mercat (now used as a museum space) is nice to sit in for a refreshing late afternoon beer.
Day 3: Gothic Quarter/La Rambla de Catalunya shopping and Banksy Museum
For a morning coffee stop to set you up for the day, visit Cuitat Comtal. This popular tapas restaurant has a traditional feel with a sense of old fashioned grandeur. The bar is lined with tasty dishes on display and if you visit in the morning, churros con chocolate is a great accompaniment to your coffee. We wandered back past it at lunch time and the queue was half way down the street.
After a day of getting the miles in, it was fun to do something indoors. Art galleries are definitely not high on my kids’ holiday list but with Banksy’s expression of challenging societal issues, the Banksy Museum was a hit. With around 130 pieces on show, we learnt about his visits all over the world, stances on various political and world issues and many pieces we hadn’t seen before. We also paid the extra €8 for the graffiti workshop where you can choose from several stencils (the iconic ones) and get spraying your own artwork to take home. If it doesn’t quite work out they also have a shop with prints on sale at a reasonable price.
If your teens want to do a spot of clothes shopping, Avenida del Portal de l’Àngel in the Gothic Quarter is good for high street stores including Bershka, Pull & Bear and Zara. At the top of La Rambla before Plaça Catalunya you’ll also find Mango, Subdued and Brandy Melville.
We didn’t visit Parc Guell and Casa Batllo on this trip as the tickets were sold out (noted for next Easter city break to be more organised). I visited with a friend years ago and for teens these are probably two of the most engaging Gaudi creations to visit.
Where to eat
Asugumo Sushi – Sophisticated vibe, excellent sushi and reasonably priced.
Kiltro – Fun Mexican/latin American restaurant with an extensive menu and delicious cocktails and mocktails.
Lazeez – Excellent Lebanese restaurant with a warm and cosy atmosphere and fantastic food including meze style dishes and grilled meats and salads.
Anita – Fabulous ice cream parlour with an array of flavours and toppings. TikTok famous for its Dubai style strawberries too, which were delicious but also €10 a pot.
Demasie – Another TikTok famous eatery from my daughter’s list, Demasie tempts you in with its trays of iced buns and cookies with all sorts of toppings. The pistachio buns and apple and cinnamon buns were very yummy!
Where to stay
On a previous trip, I stayed with a friend in the Gothic Quarter and although it has its benefits being close to the main sights and a lively atmosphere both day and night, I much preferred the Gràcia district where we stayed this time. It has some fantastic restaurants and feels much more like Spain as opposed to being in a tourist bubble. The area is full of life with locals enjoying a beer whilst watching the football and children playing in the placas. Due to the sprawling nature of Barcelona’s sights, it is best explored by metro anyway so being a little further out made no difference. Our Airbnb apartment was ideal for the four of us and with three bedrooms, great for teens.
Fam Full of Wanderlust 