Things to see, Things to do:

  1. Casa Batlló
  2. Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
  3. Park Guell
  4. La Sagrada Familia
  5. Go for a run along the beach
  6. Gothic district (find the original 4 pillars)
  7. Go into the Cathedral
  8. Walk down La Rambla and get lost in the side streets
  9. Check out Plaza Real- Home to great Restuarants
  10. Go to Barrio Borne as often as possible, All the best restaurants
  11. Santa Maria del mar- A famous church in Barrio Borne
  12. Barceloneta- Walk around the W and down the strip to the beach clubs. Best beach
  13. Port of Barcelona
  14. Cuitadella Park
  15. Explore Raval
  16. Arc de Triomphe
  17. Montjuic- Hiking, Castell on top of hill, Miro foundation museum, Olympic stadiums
  18. Plaza Espanya and The Magic Fountain show (check times)
  19. Walk up Passeig de gracia
  20. Walk up Diagonal
  21. Tibidabo Mountain- Hiking, Funicular to top to see amusement park and byztantine church. Best views of the city
  22. Camp Nou- Go to a futbol game or tour
  23. Palau de la musica- Tour and or see a concert, beautiful modernism building
  24. Picasso Museum- works from his early years
  25. Dali museum
  26. Study a map, you can walk from one place to the next

Day Trips:

Tossa del mar- beautiful beach town, only go when it’s warm

Sitges- beach town with cute white city, only go when it’s warm.

Montserrat- Hike in ancient hills

Tarragona- Roman ruins scattered through a beach town, Try do it when it’s warm, but don’t let the weather stop you.

Restaurants:

A general word on restaurants: Barcelona is a city with a bustling international prescence and therefore you can find any type of food you desire. However, trust me when I tell you, it isn’t the type of European city where you can just wonder along a street and stumble into a café with delicious food. You need to know where you want to eat before you go, or else you will be in trouble! Set yourself up for success and you’ll eat like a happy camper. Latte’s, Bagels, sandwiches etc are very difficult to find and they aren’t as accessible as they are in the states. You need to drop your food expectations, or follow recommendations.

Lactuca: My favorite salad place, to go salads for 3.75 euro. Different toppings everyday and very fresh. Get the olive oild with hummus mix as part of your salad dressing. Or they have an all you can eat buffet for 10 euro. Very fresh, different meats and vegetables to stir fry. Soups and Pizza’s. Located in Urquinona.$

Balthazar: Located off Diagonal. Reasonable prices. Get the salmon with apple compote or pear pasta. Best bread I had in Barca. Located a block away from Urquinoana. $

La Luna- Very cool restaurant in Barrio Borne. Get the chicken salad or the goat cheese salad. Cava sangria is known to be some of the best in the city. $$

Bo de B: Best sandwhiches you will find in Barcelona. If you have time, sit inside and get the “Plato de pollo.” They are known for their chicken and sauces. It is a salad plate of fresh vegetables and a mix of sauces (6 euro). If you want to-go?  Wait out front and get a sandwich to go. Order “Los tres” for sauces. They are 1) avocado sauce 2) Tzatiki 3) Pestro cilantro sauce. If you like spicy food, don’t miss out on the picante. (3.50 euro for a sandwich). Watch out, it opens after 1 and is usually very busy from 2:30-4:30.  Go on off hours to miss lines. Located in Barceloneta. $

Bar Lobo: Located in La Rambla in a perfectly European square. When it’s nice weather, don’t miss an opportunity to sit on the terrace while munching on grilled vegetables, hummus, and fajitas.

Flash Flash: A tortilleria, a must go to. Off diagonal. $$$

Milk/Marmalade: American Breakfast. This was our weekly joint. Hipster and chill/reggae feel. Get the vegetarian omelette or milks fry up. One of the only places you’ll find in the city with real smoothies. Very berry banana smoothie is excellent. $$

Rosa Negra: Deliciou Mexican food off Via Lateana. Order the chicken burrito, chicken salad or chicken quesadillas. Great sauces, spicy included! Good for groups. $$

Buenas Migas: All over the city. Coffee shop with flat breads, yogurt with granola and soups. $$

Pizza del borne: The only option for amazing pizza. Chicken empanada things are to die for. Located in Barrio borne. $

Pim Pam Burger: Do it at least once. Amazing fries, very popular. Great beef and chicken burgers. Super efficient and quick. Barrio Borne. $$

La Bascula: All vegetarian restaurant located in Barrio Borne. Fresh food every day, funky and hipster feel. Free wi-fi. Tables are old fashioned doors. $$

Da Greco: Great Italian food. Whatever pasta you order, they bring out a sample for the table so you get a lot of food. Get the three plate sampler and split with someone. Pasta’s are a sprise, but you’ll be sure not to be disappointed. Caprese salad is also delicious. $$$

Cerveceria Catalana: Traditional tapas. Very touristy. They don’t accept reservations, so go early if you don’t want to be waiting for 30-45 mins. Some of the best tapas in Barna. $$$

Cal Pep: Most famous, but most expensive tapas bar in Barcelona. Barrio Borne. No menu, they serve what they have prepared. Excellent. $$$$

Lonjas de tapas: my favorite tapas joint. Barrio borne. Get the green salad, chicken croquettes, Spanish omelette, and chicken skewers. Beware of the prawns, they come with the shell on and can be very messy. Best pan con tomate. $$

Best supermarket: Mercadona

Chupitos

Bars:

Shakkerato: Best 7 euro mojitos in Barcelona. Authentic Spanish joint, plays American music but a good place to practice Spanish. Barrio Borne. $$

Le Cyrano: Great for groups, free popcorn. They let you pour your own drinks. Go to dinner at Balthazar and then chill out here before hitting up Sutton. Diagonal $

Dow Jones: Really cool bar where it mocks the stock market. Depending on what people are buying, the prices change. This can get very strategic. $

George Payne: American Sports bar, good for groups. Located in Urquinoana. $

L’Ovella negra: They sell large tubs of beer or sangria that a large group shares with small cups. Really cheap, great for groups. Catalunya or off of Marina. $

Chupitos: A shots only bar. Shots are 1 euro on Mondays, very creative. Notable shots: The Boy scout, Harry Potter, Finding Nemo. Do not do the Monica Lewinsky, you’ll see why.  Near Diagonal $

Xhampagnyeria: Cava, brunch bar. They play fun music and apparently gets really crowded but a fun environment for a weekend brunch. Smaller groups. $$

Pippermint: Ideal for groups, they sell large glasses with drinks and a hundred straws to share. Chips on the house. Diagonal. $$

Cheers: Traditional American pub with live music and comfy booths. $$

Hot Bar: Place to hang out before Sutton. $

Clubs:

Sutton: Wednesdays with americans, Saturdays there are a lot of Spanish people.  Busy all the time. Where most of the athletes go and or most famous people.

Opium: Largest, most popular beach club. At 2am you can walk out of the club and onto the sand. Large outdoor patio with couches. Great music.

Shoko: Same as Opium but smaller. Still a lot of fun.

Carpe Diem Lounge Club (CDLC): Go with a large group. Amazing scene, very fun and chill. Asian fusion feel, buddhas everywhere and very trendy.

Apolo: Mondays. Just go once. It’s all you’ll need to know what “Nasty Mondays” are. Don’t wear nice clothes! And leave all valuables at home! 13 euro cover. Go to the room at the right not the one when you first go in.

Bikini: Go with a big group. Diagonal area. Large underground club. Great old school music. A room with only salsa dancing, lots of rooms to hang out in.

Elephant: Go with a big group.

Otto Zutz: not a fan, sweaty small and dirty.

Broad Bar: American Music. Fun Scene.

Gym: Holmes Places

Phones: Orange or Vodaphone are the cheapest. Blackberry over flip phone, flip phone will end up being more expensive plus you can talk to people in the states. Careful of pick pocketing. I got my phone taken. Twice.