Five Colorful Spots in Barcelona You Have to See

Barcelona is a flashy, bold, and jovial city located on the northeast coast of Spain. The city is characterized by its interesting blend of old and modern architecture and is famous for its plethora of art galleries and museums.

I wandered in small shops packed with brightly painted shot glasses, shiny magnets, and delicate handmade jewelry. I craned my neck to admire the towering medieval skyscrapers and then realized I was gawking at a Zara. I sipped sangrias and enjoyed scrumptious tapas (an assortment of Spanish dishes, appetizer size, served instead of one main course) and paella (a Spanish rice dish).

I had a wonderful time venturing through Barcelona, and regardless of whether you follow this guide, you will too. But if you’re looking for some guidance, then you’re in luck: here are five colorful attractions you have to visit.

Park Güell

Built during the 1900s as a means to expand Barcelona, Park Güell is a private garden filled with greenery and animated architecture.

I was enchanted by the mosaic patterns embedded in the cottages, fountains, and benches. People hiked up and down the cobblestone paths, snapping photos and or watching local performers along the path. As I explored, I found the famous mosaic lizard and a fantastic lookout point overlooking the city.

The park is a display of the Modernisme artistic movement and a goal of new urban architecture. For only ten euros, you can experience the wonderful urban garden.

Two large cottages, a part of the grand finale, mark the exit as floods of tourist file through.

The mosaic lizard, a famous landmark in Park Güell, overlooks the city

Local performers play live music and dance along the pathway in Park Güell.

La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia is among the largest and most grand catholic churches in Barcelona, and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church began construction in 1882 and is still being built today! It was designed by pioneer architect Antoni Gaudi, whose innovations paved the way for modern European architecture.

La Sagrada Familia was insanely unique. I had never seen a building with so many small details and sculptures carved into its walls. You could stare at the magnificent church for hours, finding new sculptures and symbols, but I definitely recommend getting tickets to go inside too. If you go during the late afternoon, you’ll be awed by sunlight filtering through the towering stained glass windows, creating a rainbow of prisms lighting up the room.

La Sagrada Familia looms over downtown Barcelona. As you can see, it is still under construction.

Sculptings above the entrance to the church.

The lofty stained glass windows reflect the light from the setting sun into the room as visitors pray.

Montserrat Monastery

Take the journey up the mountain of Montserrat via a cable car, train, car, or on foot (but I recommend cable car) to visit the Benedictine Monastery Santa Maria, a beautifully crafted monastery looming over Spain.

I saw stunning views of the Spanish countryside framed by the ancient arches of the monastery. Then, I went inside to the abbey, whose room was lined with glimmering golden arches and embellishments. Visitors kneeled and prayed quietly, and only quiet whispers echoed around the grand room.

On the sides of the monastery, red, green, blue, and yellow candles line the stone halls. Some are already lit, and others are waiting to be lit. The energy I felt at this hallowed mountain church was truly special.

Sculptures and arches surround the courtyard in the monastery and overlook the mountain and valley below.

The magnificent golden abbey is surrounded by golden arches, walls, and sculptures. People knelt down and prayed on the velvet benches.

Flickering candles lining the outside halls of the monastery.

The Gothic Quarter and La Boqueria Flea Market

The Gothic Quarter is the “downtown” sector of Barcelona. It features local shopping and tapas restaurants nestled in winding alleys. There’s also a public park, where locals and tourists mingle and admire the archway in its center.

The biggest attraction in the Gothic Quarter is Mercado de La Boqueria, a sprawling market stretching through the Gothic Quarter. Vendors gather and sell only the freshest food: raw, red meats, newly caught oysters shelled in front of you, silver fish with bulging eyes still intact, freshly squeezed juices and fruit bundles, an abundance of spice shops selling Himalayan salt, cayenne pepper, and hot and spicy sauces (which I don’t recommend unless you like the feeling of your tongue on fire).

La Boqueria is a fascinating display of local life in Barcelona, and it’s a great journey for the five senses. If you’re interested in diving deeper into local culture, then you’ll love a visit to the Gothic Quarter and La Boqueria.

An arch overlooking a public park in the Gothic Quarter, where tourists and locals mingle.

An oyster stand, one of many shops in La Boqueria selling fresh foods.

A woman sells fresh dough for buñuelos, a Spanish food consisting of fried dough fritters.

Spotify Camp Nou Stadium

Last but certainly not least, Camp Nou, branded Spotify Camp Nou for sponsorship reasons, is the home stadium of the FC Barcelona soccer team. Purchase a pass to get access to the stadium stands and museum featuring displays of past players, coaches, trophies, and more. For a little extra, you can add an interactive element to your tour.

Even though I don’t know much about soccer, I still had a great time seeing the stadium. It was really interesting to learn more about the history of soccer in Barcelona and what a large cultural impact its left on the city.

Works Cited:

https://parkguell.barcelona/en/park-guell/origin-and-creation

https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pla_Cerd%C3%A0

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagrada_Fam%C3%ADlia