My Advice for Spring Break in Barcelona
When many college students begin planning their Spring break trips, places like Miami and Fort Lauderdale are normally at the top of their lists. When my friends and I began planning, we knew even though we would sacrifice getting a tan, somewhere in Europe would be a much more meaningful trip for us. After debating on every city from Dublin to Paris and comparing flight prices, we landed on Barcelona, which is perfect because it is both a city and has a beachfront, so we could still feel like we were having a somewhat traditional break. Coming from a considerably weathered, but still only 18-year-old traveler, here are some of my tips for managing a trip to Barcelona for spring break!
My first recommendation is to take a connecting flight. Although adding two extra hours to your journey may seem like a lot, once you have already completed an eight hour flight, a one hour layover and one hour flight will feel like nothing, and you will be grateful to save a few hundred dollars! (Extra bonus: if you stop in Zurich like me, you can buy some amazing Swiss chocolate!)
The first, and probably most widely recognized Barcelona location that you definitely have to visit is La Sagrada Familia. This church, designed by Antoni Gaudi (extra fact: also his burial site!), is still under construction. Despite that, you will see incredible architecture on all facades, completed by beautiful stained glass windows and high, boney ceilings. Tickets are only 26€, or 22€ if you present your student ID!
Next on my have-to-visit list is the Picasso Museum. Located right in the center of El Born, a lively, maze-like neighborhood with endless local shopping and restaurants, this museum presents over 4,000 of Spanish artist Pablo Picasso’s works. Tickets were only 9€ with student access, and it was a peaceful, self-guided walkthrough that was perfect for the day after landing when jet lag is still hitting you!
Parc de la Ciutadella, a beautiful tree and flower ridden park with lots of life – the Central Park of Barcelona if you will – is a must see! Once you enter the park, a 15-minute walk in the sun will lead you to a small lake. For 10€, you can rent a paddle boat for 30 minutes. Sounds exhausting, but my three friends and I had no problem rowing around the lake and taking in the beautiful scenery – 30 minutes passed like nothing!
If you’re looking for something that feels like you’re getting out of the city for a day , but is only a ten-minute-drive away, Montjuic is the perfect place for you. A cable car at the base of the mountain will bring you all the way to the top for 17€ each. The glass paneled car offers incredible views of the city the entire way, complete with an amazing castle at the top that was previously a military prison!
The last place on my personal list, but definitely not the last place to visit in Barcelona, is the Cathedral of Barcelona. Although the cathedral was recently plastered with a Samsung advertisement during construction, it is still shockingly beautiful and tucked away inside the historic Gothic Quarter. Outside the Cathedral is also a market of antique vendors, which is a great place to get souvenirs or gifts for loved ones! There are vintage Barcelona postcards, antique jewelry, and all other sorts of items, all averaging between 1€ and 10€!
Don’t worry – I will not forget to mention the food in Barcelona! Because Barcelona is in Spain, most of the local restaurants are for tapas (small plates), which proves to be amazing whether you are looking for a full meal, or just a quick bite. My personal favorite tapa is croquettes, which is a fried ball consisting of Béchamel sauce, potato, ham, and cheese. It normally comes with four to six croquettes which are perfect for sharing. This leads me to the Iberian ham (jamon iberico on the menu), which is unique to Spain and absolutely delicious. The tapa I ate the most would have to be patatas bravas, a native dish made of cubed potatoes, fried, and served with a spicy, creamy sauce. The last tapa you must try is “pan con tomate,” which is quite literally what it sounds like: bread with tomato! Even as a non-tomato lover, I cannot pass up on this crispy toast topped with garlic, olive oil, and a tomato rub! The traditional food in Barcelona is absolutely incredible, and although I do not personally eat seafood, my friends who do said that was outstanding too. The food comes in the perfect sharing sizes and you can order as many tapas as you please to fulfill however hungry you are.
The part many readers may have been waiting for: the going out scene. As many people may want to let loose on their break, I cannot forget to talk about the most fun places for nightlife. Since the drinking age in Spain is 18, finding entertainment is a lot easier – even if you are not interested in drinking, being 18 years old grants you access to more activities there! In Barceloneta, the beach area, there are many adjoining clubs right along the boardwalk that play a variety of Spanish and American music; Opium, Shoko, and Pascha are a lot of fun if you are looking for somewhere to sing and dance with friends! It is super easy (and cheap unlike NYC!) to get taxis to and from everywhere, so don’t stress about looking for a ride late at night.
Barcelona was the perfect place to go for a balanced Spring Break trip – plenty of fun, tourist activities, shopping, and eating! My last tip is: beware of pickpockets!!!!
