Three days of heat. Four monuments. One hostel
The idea of going to Spain started with my birthday. But after a cruise around Skyscanner, we had our hostel booked, a series of venue tickets and one cheap flight to Barcelona. We were on our way for heat, sights and long long nights. Here’s how it went.
Getting around Barcelona
We took off from East Midlands airports at 6AM, starting at 2:30AM. However, we landed in the city at 9AM with the whole Friday ahead of us. Storm clouds rolled away over the mountains with fresh rain steaming off the pavement.
Using your Hola Barcelona Travel card, you can access all of the public transport, including the direct metro from the airport into the city. Make sure you head across the bridge, over the road from inside the airport. From here you’ll be able to access the metro line and hit the city for a fraction of a taxi.
Once you’ve got your bearings, the metro will become your best friend. Open practically 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays, your feet will thank you by the end of the trip.
The Hostel
This was my first time in a hostel. And in all honesty, it was great. Unite Hostel is a huge glass-fronted building like something from a sci-fi novel. With eight people in a room and twenty rooms per the six floors, there were plenty of people to meet but still stayed comfortably quiet. With a cheap on-site bar/restaurant and luscious rooftop terrace and five minutes from the beach, it’s a social heaven.
The hostel was where most of our nightlife began. With three Austrian roommates, we’d jump on the metro to the Gothic quarter and bounce down back alleys from bar to bar. We met other strangers from Canada and America and at one point a German named Ben. He sold us on a Reggie bar at what seemed like twenty miles across town. We arrived and immediately left. It was so hot sweat poured off my nose and into my drink faster than I could down it. But guess that’s what happens when you follow strangers around.
We came across other magic-themed bars and the only nightclub (space cowboy) I’ve ever been to that allows dogs on the dance floor. We often crashed back in the hostel at three AM meanwhile the city only just seemed to be getting ready for a night out.
Beaches and back alleys
With most great European cities often wandering aimlessly takes you to some of the best places. We spent hours scooting through narrow Catalonian canyons of apartments that dissect the Gothic Quarter. Hiding gems such as the cathedral, national museum and quaint decorative squares. Great to explore in the cooler mornings and has a completely different vibe at night, it’s also only ten minutes from the beach.
The most annoying thing about the beaches – is they’re not real. Even though they look it. A perfect place to chill out, cool off and explore some bars. Do note that the Spaniards are all down for public nudity – take of that what you will.
Park Guell and Rainforests
Parce Guell is a must-see, world-famous spot to visit in Barcelona. On the contrary, the indoor rainforest at the science museum has half the notoriety. Both are worth the trip. Using your travel card, you can take the Metro up to the base of Mount Tibidabo to hit both of these spots.
The science museum takes you through quiet neighbourhoods with hidden pockets of unique architecture. Approaching the museum a walkway takes you high over the canopy of the rainforest. For only eleven euros you can explore exhibitions on the solar system, geology and a range of biological life as you make your way to the forest. Full of prehistoric fish, exotic plants and towering trees it’s a unique experience rare to find in any other city.
From the museum, you can trace your steps back through the neighbourhoods and dusty parks towards Parc Guell. A project between Eusebi Güell and Antoni Gaudí it’s a masterpiece in urban design. Packed with sprawling mosaics, unimaginable rock formations and what to me looked like a gingerbread house, I’d say spend a whole day here.
Art and Architecture
Our final day was just as packed as the others. We hit two of Barcelona’s more popular spots. First was the Picasso Museum. One for more of the artistic culture vultures it’s buried deep in the Gothic Quater. The museum takes you through the grounds of the cubist grandmasters home. Split between two courtyards, each room presents the progression of Picasso’s career as an artist right up to his most ‘modern’ masterpieces.
Our final stop of the trip was a classic. The Sagrada Familia. A masterpiece in modern architecture it’s the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. Through it’s grounds, you’ll trace the changes in its design over the years of construction as you work your way through the site. Inside and out you’ll see architectural inspirations from the surrounding city bringing colour and life to the huge space.
After three days and about eight hours of sleep across them, we crashed back into the UK. Barcelona is certainly a city that never sleeps and knows how to get you up and out again. Full of culture and adventures that won’t rupture your Monzo account add it to your travel list.