Tom After checking out the things to do in Madrid, we headed over to Barcelona – the other must visit city in Spain…
Things to do in Barcelona Spain
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Depending on the dates and class that you’re travelling on, the train ride from Madrid to Barcelona can vary quite a bit. Thanks to Kate’s awesome googling prowess, we were able to snag tickets from Madrid to Barcelona for 64 euros (2 pax) and from Barcelona to Madrid for 97,30 euros (2 pax). This equates to approximately 80 euros per pax for a return trip – which isn’t too bad at all. Upon reaching Barcelona train station, we headed to check in at our hotel, Expo Hotel Barcelona, which is just a 5 minutes walk away.
Although we arrived pretty early, the reception was kind enough to give us our room straightaway, even at 10am! :O This gave us time to wash up and head straight out to fully maximise the day. Breakfast buffet is also available at Expo Hotel Barcelona. Always a great way to start off a day of exploration in Barcelona 😉
Tip: We bought the 10 trips, multi-person ticket for 9,95 euros to get around Barcelona using their subway. Do note that since it’s a multi-person ticket, Kate and I shared the tickets. Meaning, we could take 5 trips together using 1 ticket. This also means that once the first person uses the ticket to pass the gate, he’ll have to hand the ticket over the gate to the second person to use the ticket. Does sound unorthodox, but it isn’t!
Things to do in Barcelona – Nou Camp
Tom played this game known as “Championship Manager” when he was young. Teams would play in Spanish stadiums such as Nou Camp and Bernabeu Stadium where stadium capacities would be in the region of 90,000 to 100,000. This led the young Tom to imagine the grandeur of visiting such a stadium. Thanks to Kate, he was able to visit both stadiums during this visit to Spain!
Things to do in Barcelona – Catedral de Barcelona / Arc de Triomf
After seeing the home of Lionel Messi (and purchasing a set of Messi jersey for our nephew), we took the train to Drassanes station and walked along the waterfront, past the Barcelona Aquarium. We ventured through the old cobbled streets of Barcelona and took a break for lunch
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Our destination was Catedral de Barcelona (aka Barcelona Cathedral), a gothic cathedral from the 14th century. Along the way, we went along the mazy cobbled streets and stumbled upon a restaurant for lunch. There are several restaurants that offered the fixed price of approximately 14 Euros for a 3-course menu (appetizers, mains and desserts). Most times, a drink would be included as well. The meal was simple (not fantastic). Hence, no mention of the restaurant in placed in this post. We then headed over to the Cathedral to take some shots…
As with most tourists attractions, there were many people vying to get a good spot for this photo-op. However, do be mindful that there are still worshipers within the Cathedral, so be respectful of the place when entering the premise. Leaving the Gothic Quarter, we headed over to the Parc de la Ciutadella where we found many locals taking in the sun. Quite a few people also tied bands between trees and were practicing balancing on them. A short walk away, along the Passeig de Lluis Companys, we arrived at the Arc de Triomf of Barcelona…
To end off the evening, we headed over to Placa de Catalunya. El Corte Ingles, a huge shopping chain in Spain (akin to Robinsons in Singapore) was where we winded down the evening. At the top level of El Corte Ingles at Placa de Catalunya, you’ll be able to enjoy panoramic views of Placa de Catalunya, grab a bite and even catch the daily sunsets there.
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That ended our first day at Barcelona. In our next post, we’ll be showing you the architectural wonders of Antoni Gaudi, where we visited the world-renowned La Sagrada Familia and La Pedrera! Stay tuned!
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