find some adventure.

While you're in town for our celebration, you may want to go off and explore / experience Barcelona and the surrounding area...

Barcelona
Recommendations

Favorite restaurants / bars

- Terraza Colón (rooftop bar with great view of the Barcelona Cathedral)
- Ziryab Fusion Tapas Bar (Casual Tapas Bar in Barcelona - Sierra's favorite!)
- Sagrades Tannines (casual Tapas bar near La Sagrada Familia, tapas are shareable dishes that are typical in Spain)
- Bar Celta Pulperia (the tapas and fresh octopus here are amazing!)
- Torre d'alta mar (very fancy; panoramic view of the Barcelona coastline)
- Get street gelato anywhere!

things to do in barcelona

1. Discover the streets of El Gotico, stopping at the Cathedral of Barcelona with its gothic cloisters. Continue walking to Plaça Sant Jaume where Barcelona's town hall and Catalonia’s Government are located.

2. Walk around Passeig de Gracia and admire the Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, both created by Antonio Gaudí. This is the perfect neigborhood for well deserved shopping. Rambla Catalunya one street over has plenty of nice terraces for small coffee or cocktail breaks.

3. Stroll down Plaça Catalunya and Las Ramblas (where the famous Liceu theatre and the Boqueria Market are located) 

4. El Born is a charming neighborhood where you'll find plenty of quaint stores and the stunning basilica of Santa Maria del Mar. The Picasso Museum and Moco Musem are also located in this quarter.

5. Sagrada Familia. The most famous Barcelona landmark. This massive basilica was the work that Gaudí was laboring over when he tragically died. Construction started in 1882, although by the time of Gaudí’s death in 1926 it was still less than a quarter finished. At time of writing, it’s still not complete.

6. Recinte de Sant Pau. Originally built as a hospital, this series of buildings is one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Europe, and has been awarded UNESCO world heritage status alongside the Palau de la Música Catalana in the Gothic Quarter.

7. Situated on the hills towards the north of the city, Park Güell is another of Gaudí’s works. This is a little bit different though, being as it is a large, beautiful park area with a number of nooks and crannies to explore and visit. It has magnificent, iconic views of Barcelona.

8. Tibidabo is Spain’s oldest amusement park, the second oldest in Europe and one of the first ever built in the world.

9. If you are a football fan you cannot miss the FC Barcelona stadium Camp Nou. It is the second largest stadium in the world.

10. Montjuïc and its Olympic Ring hosted the 1992 Olympic Games. This hill also hosts the Fundació Miró and Poble Espanyol.

Day trips outside of barcelona city

1 day trip suggestions:

El Penedès: The famous wine and cava region (near our wedding venue) located only 40 minutes away from Barcelona and accessible by train. It is home to over 300 wine producers, offering a large variety of wines to be discovered.

Sitges: If you’d like to discover another side of Catalonia while enjoying a change of scenery, Sitges is a great option, just 30 min south from Barcelona. It boasts a beautiful coastline, charming little streets and spectacular mediterranean light!

Montserrat: Home to a Benedictine monastery and a basilica famous for the Virgin of Montserrat aka the Black Madonna. The Montserrat Monastery dates back to the 10th century and is still home to some 150 monks. It’s also one best places for hiking in the region due to the sheer variety of trails.


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3-4 day trip suggestion:

Costa Brava & Girona: Leave Barcelona behind, and head to the medieval city of Girona and the scenic Costa Brava. While Girona is accessible by train, to really explore Costa Brava’s best hidden gems, a car is the best way.

look into: Girona, Besalu, Cadaques, Begur (Sa Tuna beach town), Rupit, Calella de Palafrugell, Tossa de Mar, Pals, Peratallada, Palamos, etc...we are sure you will love all of these places as much as we do!

Let us know if you need more recommendations, we'd be happy to help!


Useful
tips

"Cheat Sheet" for First Time Visitors:

Taxis and Transport: Taxis are abundant and inexpensive all around the city. Uber does not operate in Barcelona, but Cabify and FREE NOW offer similar services. Public transport is also ubiquitous, inexpensive, and reliable. 

Tipping: There is no obligation to tip in Spain. Of course, you are free to leave a tip if you are satisfied with the service but there is no expectation to do so. Some establishments may charge a service fee for large groups.

Credit Cards and Cash: Visa/Mastercard are widely accepted, with American Express only accepted in some hotels and establishments. Cash (Euros) isn't necessary, but may be useful to keep small change for incidentals or street markets, etc.

Safety & Security: Spain (and Barcelona) is generally very safe, but petty theft is common in tourist areas. Please be vigilant with your belongings and try not to be the easiest target for pick pockets by looking distracted and unaware. Use purses and bags that zip/clip shut.

Emergencies: Dial "112" for emergencies. For urgent medical concerns, Spain boasts one of the best healthcare systems in the world and multiple clinics and hospitals are easily accessible should you require it. 

Speaking Spanish (or lack thereof): Barcelona is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Unless you've decided to go off the beaten path, basic English is widely spoken in the metro area, enough to get around and order food and drinks. If you're lucky, you may even catch a bit of the Catalan language as well!

Hotels
+ more

- HOTEL: Choose a hotel that works best for you. You may opt to stay in the city where you can easily access the metro and enjoy all there is to do and see, or stay near to the wedding venue Masia Cabellut for a swift taxi ride home after all the wedding day events! You can also choose a hotel about 45 minutes north of the city near Sant Celoni which is the town where Uri and I's home is (although there is not much to do in this town, you'll be closer to many incredible off the beaten path towns & gems in Girona and Costa Brava). Or indulge in a mix of some or all of the above hotel options!

- For any other concern please reach out to Uri or Sierra with questions.