How To Do Barcelona…in 48hrs

Where to stay –

Casa Gracia is by far the nicest hostel I’ve ever stayed in. The place was clean and modern, the staff were incredibly helpful and they have great communal areas, all with a full kitchen, a spacious courtyard and free coffee (what could be better than that?). The hostel is conveniently located near to a metro station, but key areas of the city are easily accessible by foot. We even managed to get a balcony over looking the main street, which was perfect for winding down on a hot evening.

Where to Eat –

Breakfast in Demeritas – A great local cafe for breakfast. It offers the best coffee I had during my time in Barcelona, as well a a good selection of foods. The quiet location means that you’re able to sit peacefully out in the sun. The interior is very warming. You’ll find a number of locals working on laptops or meeting with friends. A few were already drinking bottles of Estrella when I arrived for breakfast.

Mercat de La Boqueria – The most famous market in Barcelona: It’s existed for just over a 100 years and is the perfect place to get lunch on a hot summers day. There’s a such a wide range of foods and drinks too choose from, you’ll almost certainly have to return to make sure you get to try everything you want. I personally recommend the the oysters and the ‘Vidal Pons’ juices.

Federal Cafe – Hands down one of the best cafes I’ve come across, however, this one’s no secret, the cafe has a big reputation amongst locals and tourists. Expect to find a queue outside the door, the seating is limited and the queue is usually short and fast moving, but trust me the wait is worth it. I found it hard to choose just one thing off the menu, so my light lunch ended up being a mushroom and asparagus omelette, a jam and marscapone croissant and a raspberry smoothie.

What to See –

Nou Camp – Plan your trip to Barcelona around an FC Barcelona home game at the Nou Camp. Wether you’re ambivalent to football, or a die hard football fan, everyone will find enjoyment in a match at the famous stadium. As you make the long walk amongst the hordes of fans, you will be in awe of the enormous stadium, a true modern day amphitheatre. Despite the size, there’s not one bad seat in the house, with a great view from top to bottom. The football is like none other, the exciting play style means you won’t be able to take your eyes off the game. The atmosphere continues way beyond the game as fans take over the streets, chanting and cheering, much to the dismay of locals trying to drive around the area.

Park Guell – Park Guell was the brainchild of famed Catalan artist Gaudi. It was by far my favourite sight to see of Gaudi’s. It’s located on top of a hill so getting there isn’t to easy: A metro will bring you to the foot of the hill, but from there you will be amongst the crowds going up stairs and escalators. However, the view across the city are very rewarding. I recommend getting some sort of guide so that you can better understand the different parts of the park. The general atmosphere is lively with a number of musicians playing, helping bring the park to life.

Barceloneta Beach – Most cities that you visit are unlikely to have a beach, but Barcelona has one of the largest and beautiful beaches. It’s long just perfect for a stroll and good people watching. Like any beach, during peak times it’s likely to be pretty packed, so I found it best to visit later in the day.The surrounding neighbourhood is famous for its seafood where you won’t be short of options to choose from.

Cycling the City – One of the best ways to get a good feel for the city is to rent a bicycle. I recommend Deviant Cycles, they offer great rates on some fantastic single speed bikes. Although you’ll probably want to be confident on a bike to deal with hectic city. I decided to ride up Tibidabo on a single speed which probably wouldn’t be for everyone, but as with Park Guell the views over Barcelona were more than worth it.

By Thomas Rofe