Barcelona for Beginners
Situated in the north-east coast of Spain, Barcelona is the capital of Catalunya that has its own unique culture, cuisine, and traditions. First-time visitors to Barcelona will be blown by the spectacular architecture, dynamic atmosphere, vibrant and friendly locals, and mouth-watering and delectable food. My first trip to Barcelona certainly wouldn’t be my last. Barcelona can be fully explored in a week or so, and you can opt for a longer trip to visit neighboring towns like Montserrat and Girano, among others. It was really easy to get around the city and most of the attractions are walking distance or a couple of metro stops away from one another.
Transportation Tips:
If you don’t anticipate making multiple trips per day on the metro or bus, you can skip buying the unlimited Barcelona card that costs €20 per person and lasts for only two days. Instead, get the T10 card that has 10 trips stored in one card at any of the ticket machines in metro stations. It costs €10.20 and more than one person can use the same card. It’ll help you save time from constantly having to buy individual tickets for every trip, and save money by sharing the same card with your friends.
Plaça de Catalunya is a central metro station that you’ll probably be traveling to and from. Be aware that even though it’s a large station, the numerous entrances for different lines are scattered throughout the area. So look for the entrance for your particular line (let’s say R1) instead of assuming all the entrances lead to multiple lines underground. Don’t make the same mistake I did!
Must-See Attractions:
Placa de Catalunya
If you love shopping, you’ll enjoy Placa de Catalunya with multiple clothing and shoe shops lining the streets. Zara’s flagship shop is located in the area and the architecture itself is worth a visit. Note that there are actually two Zara stores within walking distance to each other so don’t go to the wrong one or you’ll be sorely disappointed!
Flagship Zara Address: Plaça de Catalunya, 5, 08002 Barcelona
Opening Hours: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. (closed Sundays)
With more than 17 hectares, Park Guell is one of the largest green spaces in the city. Most of it is actually free and open to the public, but tourists flock to see Antoni Gaudi’s whimsical and colorful architectural designs in the square where it is ticketed. Tickets can be bought online and are timed. During the high season (late spring to summer), it’s better to book a ticket prior to the 10 a.m. time slot. This way, it’s not too hot and you can avoid the hordes of tourists taking multiple selfies!
Your ticket entitles you to a free return shuttle ride from the Alfons X metro station and it’s about a 15 minute ride the park.
Opening Hours: Autumn-Winter 8:30 a.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Spring 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Summer 8 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Metro Station: Alfons X
El Born
El Born is an eclectic and trendy neighbourhood characterized by its ancient narrow medieval streets and artistic vibes. Pablo Picasso moved to El Born when he was 15 and it was there where he embraced the progressive art movement that led him to create Cubism. You can learn more about his life in Barcelona at the Picasso museum which is steps away from my favorite tapas bar El Xampanyet. There also are multiple restaurants and bars in the area, as well as Santa Caterina Market where the locals shop for cured meats, produce, seafood, and cheeses.
There is a huge Gothic cathedral, Catedral de Barcelona also known as Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia in the heart of the neighbourhood. You may want to check out a small market at the square right outside the cathedral with people selling all sorts of interesting antiques.
Catedral de Barcelona 
Antiques market in the square
In my opinion, Sagrada Familia is absolutely the most spectacular and magical cathedral I’ve ever set foot in. Designed by Gaudi, the building is a combination of Gothic and art nouveau styles, making it look like it’s a futuristic castle from another dimension. When Gaudi died in 1926, the cathedral was only one quarter built, and construction slowly continued throughout the years using private donations. It’s actually still under construction and is anticipated to be finished by 2026.
It’s probably the most popular tourist destination in Barcelona so I highly recommend buying tickets online instead of getting stuck in the long queue for tickets. Even if you do have tickets, you should get there ten minutes before your stated time because there’s also a queue just to get into the building. It was worth buying the option for tower tour with audio guide. There’s an elevator that goes up to the tower but be warned that you will have to walk 300+ steps down a narrow stairway. The views were incredible and it was quite the experience gingerly walking down a claustrophobic tower! There is a choice of two different towers and the Nativity façade has better views. If your schedule permits, I highly suggest picking a time slot an hour or so before sunset. Gaudi designed the stained glass windows in a way that will catch the sun setting. The entire interior of the cathedral is bathed in rainbow lights and it’s such a glorious sight. My photos don’t do it enough justice, you really have to experience it yourself.
Opening Hours: November through February 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
March 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
April through September 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
October 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
25 and 26 December, 1 and 6 January 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Metro Station: Sagrada Familia (You will see the cathedral the second you walk up the stairs!)
At the suggestion of a friend, I checked out Sant Pau Recinte Modernista, formerly known as Hospital de Sant Pau, having done zero research into it (very unlike me). Even though I went in the height of summer, it wasn’t packed with tourists at all. In fact there were probably just a dozen of us roaming the area filled with beautiful buildings that made up the hospital complex. The exhibition space explains the hospital’s origins since its founding in 1401, and how the wards and medical care have evolved over the years. In fact, it was a fully functioning hospital until 2009, and was restored into a museum and cultural center in 2014. It’s about a ten minute walk to Sagrada Familia so you can schedule a visit to both places on the same day.
Opening Hours: November through March, Monday to Saturday: 9:30 a.m – 5:30 p.m., Sundays and holidays: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Closed Dec 25)
April – October, Monday to Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sundays and holidays: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Montjuïc castle is at the summit of Montjuïc Mountain, which is 173 meters above sea level with 360 degree views of the city. To get to the castle, take a cable car ride that starts at the funicular station adjacent to Montjuïc Park. The views from the ride are already pretty spectacular!
The first fortress of the castle was built in 1640 during the Reapers’ War, and the castle was used as a prison in the late 19th century. The castle has a watchtower, moat, bridge, and a 155-meter long sea-facing wall, as well as a café and an exhibition space.
View from the cable car 
Brunch in the Park
You can buy tickets online for admission to the castle. There’s a guided tour, which I didn’t do but it sounds quite interesting. You get to go to places not open to the public like the jail cells, watchtower, and the reservoir.
Every Sunday in June until September, there’s a music festival called Brunch in the Park at Jardins de Joan Brossa at Montjuïc. On the return cable car trip, you can hop off at Joan Brossa gardens and enjoy music spun by international and local DJs.
Get the cable car tickets from Teleférico de Montjuïc.
Opening Hours for Montjuïc Castle: Daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Curious about where to eat in Barcelona? Check out my article on tapas bars and restaurants in the city.
This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.