Visit Barcelona A city that you either love or hate – it seems there is no real middle ground.
Oddly enough it seems to me that Barcelona is a city that is judged super fast, almost by snap decision. I am tempted to suggest that ones’ emotional state at the very instant you visit Barcelona will dictate how you will feel about the city thereafter.
Personally, I must have been in a great frame of mind when I got to Barcelona for the first time. It was love at first sight.
However, friends who were with me at the time and others who traveled before or after, all seem to have a diverse opinion about their visit to Barcelona. It is a reaction unlike any other I have seen or experienced of foreign cities.
Most cities reveal themselves with the same tacit ebb of familiarity you have when meeting a stranger.
It is usually a slow process of getting to know each other, culminating in a like or dislike conclusion. Visit Barcelona and, from a distinctly male perspective, it is like a fiery woman to me. She is garish, subtle, exciting, gentle and seductive.
Introducing her to fellow travelers evokes mixed responses. Some of suspicion, others of doubt, many of love and then the just plain blah reactions.
I have thought about it. Perhaps she lacks the classic aplomb of her more cultural sisters of Madrid and Oviedo among many others. Her soul is infused with the spirit of her famous son being Antoni Gaudi.
The city acts as his confusing canvas of maverick art that pokes a rude finger in the eye of fundamentalist Renaissance and Baroque religious art.
This in a predominantly Catholic nation. Many thought of Gaudi as a complete nutter – a madman set free to decorate a city with his own misunderstood and perceived ill disciplined aspects of line and angle.
We reject that which we do not understand. Perhaps, we are too quick to judge. Visit Barcelona and you will, at least, not be bored.
Perhaps Barcelona is more delicate and complicated than the eye can see at first glance. I would contend that she is in need of more attention from those who dismiss her.
Investigate. Taste her. Touch her. Delve beneath the surface. Forsake instant gratification and enjoy the impartial walk into the inner sanctums.
She is a treasure that would happily reveal to those who have the patience to navigate her entirety.
When to go?
As a rule with most of Europe, if you want generally good weather and less crowds, aim for the shoulder months of the season. Visit Barcelona in May and June and September will also bring you some good weather and less tourists.
Barcelona will always have tourism. It is a beautiful city and a very popular destination to visit.
Costs depend on whether you are looking for a budget vacation or you are happy to spend more. The summer peak months of July and August will offer the heat, the most activities and the crowds but, it will not be kind to your pocket.
However, winter time in Barcelona is not bad either. No beach or warmth but you will get a very different feel of the city with the festivities and the food.
New Year is a blast and Christmas time is very special, however, this is another time when the crowds are in the city.
January through to April will be the best months to go to Barcelona if you are watching your budget and looking for great prices.
Frankly, I think Barcelona is one of those cities you could visit any part of the year and enjoy. It is a great Foodie destination and if you’re a wine lover, you certainly will not be disappointed.
The restaurants, cafes and eating establishments are plentiful and just being able to sit and watch the world go by from any vantage point in Barcelona is a real treat.
Daily costs of travel in Barcelona
Moderate/Expensive.
Spain has always been envisaged as the bargain travel destination but, in truth, that is not true everywhere in the country. Depending on the region, prices can be comparative with the rest of Western Europe.
Low end hotel or hostel – €45-55 per day
Food – €10-15 per day per person
2 drinks per day €5-8
€50 : Suggested Daily Budget for ‘bare bones’ travel (hostel rooms, public transport, food from stalls or supermarkets etc) with a few sightseeing highlights per week
€ 120+ Suggested Daily Budget for ‘average’ travel (Mid-range hotels, food from the occasional restaurants and stores, sight seeing attractions and transport .
Travel Notes
Part of the pleasure of Barcelona is simply exploring the city, wandering through its streets, finding the many hidden squares, and soaking up the great atmosphere. This is particularly enjoyable in the Barri Gotic.
There are many major attractions around the city. The Temple of Augustus is impressive and is found inside a building that now has four columns and Corinthian fluted shafts, and a architrave of the podium. The Temple was built by the Romans during the Imperial period in the colony of Barcino (which is now Barcelona). It was a place of worship for Emperor Augustus.
The most famous building in the city is La Sagrada Familia. The church is still incomplete and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s impressive height and details make it a breathtaking place to visit. The building began about a century ago and is still in progress.