48 hours in Barcelona

A combination of Modernism and Gothic, the sights of Barcelona will leave you no time for a siesta. This iconic Spanish city is thriving with culture, sophistication and richness—and even if you have just a couple of days- it’s the quintessential part of your euro-itinerary. Did I mention Tapas?

Hours 0:00—24:00

Morning

Start your morning the Catalonian way with breakfast of good coffee and a pastry. Or try a Churros con Chocolate- the local favorite of pastry dunked in delicious hot chocolate beverage. Yum!
Spend your morning indulging in some art. Beat the lines by arriving early at the Musee Picasso, which houses the early Rose and Blue collections of the Spanish master of Modernism. After feasting your eyes, for lunch try your game of haggling with the locals at the busy market La Boqueria, just off of Las Ramblas at the many stalls serving tasty treats.

Afternoon

Then take the funicular from Avda de Paral.lel to the hill of Montjuic. The park on top of the hill is home to the 1992 Olympics stadium and grounds, and you can spend several hours taking a tour. Juan Miro’s gallery also sits on the hill above the city. Check out some 300 paintings, sketches and sculptures bequeathed by the artist to his beloved city.
Be sure to have your camera handy, as there are some amazing sweeping views of the city to be had before you head back for your afternoon siesta.

Evening

Spanish evenings don’t start pumping til pretty late, so you and your tour buddies have plenty of time to chill out, before you hit Las Rambles, probably Spain’s most famous streets. This is where it’s all happening: there’s endless Tapas bars and plenty of watering holes to try out in this district as well as the Gothic Quarter. Try out five or six spots, and be sure to sample some Txacloi, the local white wine.

A great drinking spot is Marsella, (C/Sant Pau 65), This legendary bar has been the favorite of many artists and petty thieves from way back, attracted by the locally brewed Absinthe, and which- conveniently- is still served today. Chandeliers and draped curtains add a touch of classic glam.
If you are ready to hit the dance floor, check out Renaissance (Marques de l’Argentera no. 25), home to the city’s best hip hop night Bling Bling. Another awesome hang out is Discotheque (Marques de Comillas), which usually has a line up of some Ibiza’s crowd-pleasing DJ”s.

To finish off the night, head towards the ocean, two blocks east of Las Ramblas, where there’s a number of bars including our favorite, Margarita Blue (Carrer de Josep Anselm Clave 6), a raucous but hip little Mexican joint that serves blinding long Margaritas.

Hours 24:00—48:00

Morning
Once you’ve grabbed your morning coffee and pastry, jump on the metro to La Segrada Familia, for a truly mind blowing experience of Antoni Gaudi’s vision and masterpiece. The cathedral has been under construction since 1882 and you will likely see people working on it still. Its truly the greatest and most iconic landmark of the city of Barcelona, and be sure to climb to the top of one of the towers.
For more Gaudi, hop on the Metro to Vallcarca, to see Parc Guell, the rambling botanical structure with sculptures abound all lavishly decorated with the artist’s signature mosaic style. The park itself can take several hours to get round, but is worth it. Have your camera and your photo buddies ready.

Afternoon

If you feel like taking in some sun, then hit the beach: Barcelona’s beaches are located just a Metro ride away and you can take a dip in the Med and cool off and there’s more great eats close by: try Set (7) Portes, which oozes old-world Barcelona charm and is famous for its Paella and seafood. Playa de Mar Bella has a number of hip beach bars including Mochima (www.mochimabar.com), to check out for an aperitif while you take in the rays.

Or depending on the day of the week- try to bag a ticket to see the Barca, Football Club Barcelona, in a home soccer game the Camp Nou Stadium. Tickets are sought after and are usually priced from ?30- ?90. Alternatively, you can pick up a ticket from touts that frequent the outside of the stadium.

Evening

Once you’ve gathered all your tour buddies for a final Spanish sojourn, hit the town in style. Head to La Ribera which has a multitude of Tapas spots. You can munch down more olives, sausage and cheeses, and Sangria of course. Our picks: Cal Pepe, El Xampanyet, and Estrella de Plata, all are affordable spots.

For more glam- try the uber-glam Downstairs@Club13, (Placa Reial 13), a very trendy little bar that plays cutting edge house, nu breaks and hip hop.
Finish up your 48 hours by hitting one of Barcelona’s hottest summer scenes: Terrrazza (Poble Espanyol, Avada Maques de Comillas). Some of the biggest named international DJs play this summer-time outdoor party spot, which is always packed of beautiful senoritas.