- Week Nine - The next stop in our Reading Week trip itinerary is Barcelona, Spain! Known for their Gaudi architectures, Barcelona is a beautiful city filled with so much culture, food and sightseeing opportunities. Being the capital of the Catalonia region, this city is not one to miss on your next trip to Europe! THE TRANSPORTATION We booked a flight from Lisbon to Barcelona through Vueling Airlines. Similar to easyJet, Vueling asks customers to print their boarding passes prior to arriving at the airport. One perk Vueling has over easyJet is that they allow one cabin bag + an additional personal item on all flights. Barcelona itself is a very walkable city, so we purchased a T10 transportation card that is good for 10 intermodal trips from zones 1 to 6. Passengers have 75 minutes per trip to take as many transfers as they like to get to their destination. You can purchase this ticket at the Tobacco Shop right at the entrance of the airport. THE ACCOMMODATION We rented a comfortable Airbnb in the middle of La Rambla (a famous shopping street), located right next to Liceu station. The location was perfect as it was in walking distance from places like Boqueria Market (5 mins), Gothic Quarter (6mins), Arc de Triomf (20 mins), Casa Batllo (25 mins), and Casa Mila (30 mins). Since Barcelona is a very walkable city, you can basically see all the popular landmarks in a day or two! THE ITINERARY Barcelona has the most beautiful architectures, inspired by famous architects like Antoni Gaudi. You'll never be bored since there is so much to eat and see in this large city! (Note: this will be a long one) 1. GOTHIC QUARTER This area is surrounded by narrow, medieval streets filled with restaurants, cafes, and shops. It's a great area to grab a drink at a trendy bar or simply appreciate the gothic architectures. 2. LA RAMBLA & BOQUERIA MARKET This famous street is approximately 1.2 km long and filled with restaurants and souvenir shops. There are a ton of things to do and see in this area, so you definitely won't be bored! Located in La Rambla is the most famous market in Barcelona. Boqueria Market has a large variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seafood stands. There are also a plenty of places to eat in the area, making it a perfect place to grab breakfast, lunch or dinner. 3. CASA BATLLO Designed by Antoni Gaudi, this modernist building is now a museum. You can walk through the interior of the building for €25 and enjoy the beautiful architecture and designs. 4. SAGRADA FAMILIA Another work by Antoni Gaudi, the Sagrada Familia is one of the most iconic architectural structures in Barcelona. Although the Basilica is unfinished, it is still a marvel to look at in person. 5. LA BARCELONETA You can't go to Barcelona without visiting the beach! La Barceloneta is a seaside neighborhood surrounded by Port Vell on one side and the beach on the other. This is the perfect area to go for relaxation. 6. PARK GÜELL Park Güell, also designed by Gaudi, is a public park located on Carmel Hill. While the majority of the park is free, you can also purchase a ticket to view the monumental zone (where Cheetah Girls was shot!) and "strut like you mean it". 7. CARMEL BUNKERS These bunkers are located even further up the mountain from Park Güell. Although it is a bit of a hike (15 mins from the bus stop), the Carmel Bunkers definitely have the best panoramic views of the city. If you have enough time, I would highly recommend checking this place out the next time you're in Barcelona! 8. ARENAS DE BARCELONA & MONTJUÏC MAGIC FOUNTAIN Arenas de Barcelona is a large shopping center with a roof terrace. Inside, you can find a variety of restaurants and stores to shop at. Located right next to the shopping center and underneath Monjuïc mountain is a fountain created during the Great Universal Exhibition of 1929. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday (dates vary), the fountain lights up and performs a spectacular water show with music. 9. ARC DE TRIOMF & PARC DE LA CIUTADELLA While you're probably more familiar with Paris' Arc de Triomphe, did you know Barcelona has one too? Built in 1888, the purpose of this arch was to signal the entrance to the 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition which took place in Ciutadella Park. The park is the perfect place to go on a long walk, have a picnic or even ride a bike! 10. MONTSERRAT Montserrat is a mountain range in the Catalonia region. The journey from Barcelona to Montserrat took around an hour via train and funicular (alternatively you can take a cable car). When at Montserrat, there are a variety of hiking trails and landmarks to see. You can visit the Montserrat Monastery and even touch the hand of Black Madonna for good luck. The views from the top of the mountain are breathtaking and a must-see when visiting Spain! As you can see from the above list, there are an unlimited amount of things you can do in Barcelona! It was super jam-packed trip, but we had so much fun exploring the Gaudi architectures and tasting local cuisines. Being one of my favorite cities so far, I would highly recommend visiting Barcelona on your next trip in Europe!
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AKI'm truly grateful for this opportunity to study abroad and would like to share my experiences with all of you! Ranging from pre-departure tips to recommended travel destinations, I hope this blog will serve as a inspiration and reminder to always explore. Archives
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